Resurrectionist The Lost Work & Writings of Dr Spencer Black

What Our Readers Are Saying

Share your thoughts on this title!

Average customer rating 4 (1 comments)

---

`

I wish that I could give different ratings to this book as it is really two books in one. “The Resurrectionist” by E.B. Hudspeth contains a story set in the mid to late 1800s about a doctor named Spencer Blank. His story is told through narrative, letters, and diary excerpts. When Spencer Black was a child, both he and his brother would help his father steal corpses from their graves. Their father was a renowned surgeon who would use the corpses to further his research. Spencer Black followed in his footsteps to become a renowned doctor in his own right. Dr. Black becomes obsessed with deformities, which becomes his downfall as this obsession takes over his life and ends up turning him into a mad scientist. This story is not for children. It is rather disturbing (especially with Dr. Black’s wife and the poor beagle) and may give a person some sleepless nights. The story is a fairly quick read as it is only 65 pages long. I am not a fan in general of horror stories, but those who are would probably like to see this as a full novel. I did like the way that the story took place, through narrative, letters and diary entries. It gave it an authentic feel. All in all, I would give this section three stars. The second half of the book I loved. It is illustrations that are supposedly drawn by Dr. Black. Dr. Black through his madness feels that mythological creatures did exist and he gives us detailed anatomical illustrations of such creatures as the sphinx, minotaur, chimaera, and Pegasus to name a few. Just an example of how detailed the illustrations are, let us take a look at Sphinx Alatus. Dr. Black includes the kingdom (Animalia), Phylum (Vertebrata), Class (Echidnae), Order (Praesidium), Family (Felidae), Genuis (Sphinx), and Species (Sphinx altus). There are a couple of paragraphs dedicated to the history of the sphinx. Then we get to the drawings. There are seven pages where we can see and learn every bone in the sphinx and the musculature. We see the sphinx from the front, back and sides. Each bone and each muscle are labeled. I almost feel as though this creature was real! The drawings are excellent and no detail is left uncovered. This half of the book could have been a stand alone. This section I give five stars. So, between the first and the second half, I will give it four stars all together. If you are a fan of disturbing stories, then you will love this book. If you are a fan of detailed anatomical drawings, then you will love this book. I do feel that the first part could have been more fleshed out, but it was a nice setup to the second half of the book. This book is not for everyone, but I am glad that I gave it a try. It is appropriate for teenagers and up, although the drawings would probably appeal to children.