An Infidel Body-Snatcher and the Fruits of His Philosophy

I got this book after listening to the author chat about it in an online book club for a completely different book/topic. I found the author's YouTube site where he was posting his own audio readings of the chapters and I was hooked.

I'm amazed that Dr. Charles Knowlton's biography hasn't been written sooner! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the narrative of his life and the picture of rural America communities in the early 1800s that came to life in this book. I even found mention of a distant relative of mine (Hiram Hotchkiss) included in the story–another way I found the whole book such an engaging read.

The print version has some great notes on resources and Mr. Allosso's own thoughts and informed interpretations as well. I can see myself using this book as a source for other lines of research and reading–the freethinkers movement, the history of medicine, rural American economy (peppermint oil!) and of course, the birth-control and population control controversies of the time.

If you're into reading history/biography written in an accessible and entertaining manner, this book should go on your TBR list.