Foreign Bodies

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Cities and countries engulfed by panic and death, desperate for vaccines yet fearful of inoculation—this is the reality of the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Simon Schama explores this theme through gripping narratives set in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, illustrating humanity's vulnerability to contagion and the ingenuity of science. He recounts the devastation of smallpox in London, cholera in Paris, and plague in India, weaving through scenes of terror, suffering, and hope in diverse settings like hospitals, prisons, palaces, and slums. An unforgettable cast of characters emerges, including a philosopher-playwright afflicted by smallpox, a dedicated doctor making house calls in Halifax, and a pioneering woman doctor in south India navigating her inoculator-carriage through devastated streets. The narrative also takes us into laboratories where significant breakthroughs occur in cities like Paris, Hong Kong, and Mumbai. Central to the story is Waldemar Haffkine, a Jewish microbiologist who became known as 'the saviour of mankind' for vaccinating millions against cholera and plague in British India, despite facing rejection from the medical establishment. The work traverses borders between east and west, rich and poor, politics and science, emphasizing the interconnectedness of humanity and nature. Ultimately, Schama conveys a powerful message: as we confront contemporary challenges, 'there are no foreigners, only f