In <i>The Facemaker</i>, Lindsey Fitzharris recounts the story of how plastic surgeon Harold Gillies dedicated himself to reconstructing the faces of those injured in World War I. The audiobook was narrated by Daniel Gillies, the great-great-nephew of Harold. He did a fantastic job with the audiobook, and the fact that they are related makes it that much more special. I was absolutely fascinated to learn how much the medical field advanced due to the work of Gillies and others over those few years. This book was both informative and highly readable. I recommend checking it out!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

This was a fascinating look at the beginning of plastic surgery and specifically facial reconstruction surgery during World War 1. I really didn't know anything about the medical advances that took place around World War 1, so it was very interesting to learn about the factors that made survivable facial injuries more common, and the innovative work Dr. Gillies did to repair the damage.

I'm a fan of Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris for a while. I absolutely loved this new title from her. Her work is flawless and I trust her research sources. Well written and with so much exciting insightful information that will surely keep readers engaged.

Daniel Gillies narrates this new audio adaptation of Lindsey Fitzharris' new book, The Facemaker, which explores the traumatic world of facial surgery during the First World War. Dr. Harold Gillies became fascinated with trying to reconstruct the faces of men who had been horrifically injured in the violent accidents of war. Millions were left wounded and disfigured in gas attacks, bullets and even bomb attacks. Dr. Gillies help create one of the world's first hospitals dedicated entirely to facial reconstruction, in a hope to bring back a sense of pride to those injured in war. The Facemaker explores not only the brutal outcomes of war, but also the important people who worked to try to repair both faces and spirits. 

The Facemaker does not shy away from graphic descriptions, and it can be a bit much to take at times. While I have a strong stomach for medical descriptions, even I had to take a few breaks with this book. Still, Lindsey Fitzharris again puts the importance of the human being front and center in her writing and holds the hand of the reader, or listener as the case may be, to make sure that one understands not only the horrors of war, but the trials and triumphs of facial reconstruction and the important work done by doctors. 

The Facemaker is now available.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Great read, very interesting! i read a book last year that was a fictional story of one of the "Silver masked" men and another one earlier this year about transplants so there was some stuff i already knew and cases i had heard of before but this was much more in depth and detail. would buy!

A whole lot more than I bargained for. The book ran me through a gamut of emotions. During WW I men were losing limbs and their faces. As far as their faces, they lost sight, skin, and parts or all of their noses and lips.

This is the story of the beginning of facial reconstruction surgery. The author speaks to the need and pushes bureaucrats to help the soldiers with innovative on the fly techniques. Also, he writes how they were so disfigured women would faint and others would break off engagements. Made me wonder was there ever a period when people were not shallow.

The story itself is interesting, as well as heartbreaking.

The narrator is okay. I do believe he plays a pivotal role. His accent kept me focused on the story location.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for accepting my request to read and review The Facemaker.

Brilliant and heartbreaking, this fascinating book is a must read. Fitzharris abandons her scholarly.objectivity to a degree when writing of Dr. Harold Gillies, the visionary plastic surgeon who is her main protagonist, but this is hardly surprising. There are heroes in the world and Dr. Gillies was one of them. I certainly can’t blame her for wearing her heart on her sleeve over him. I listened to the audiobook version, which was narrated by Daniel Gillies, the actor grandson of Dr. Gillies. A bit of a gimmick there, or it would have been had he not done such a skillful job with the narration. As it was, the connection between the two men simply added to the perfection of the finished product

Many, many thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

WWI was the first war when man's capacity for cruelty far exceeded its medical ability. Mustard gas, ammunition, tanks, and shrapnel all made to cause destruction to both the enemy and its wielder. The Facemaker is the story of the man who ushered the modern era of plastic surgery into what we recognize it to be today. But it's also about the kindness disfigured people rarely saw.
The story covers the men who were on the front lines and in the trenches of WWI and the gruesome injuries they endured. It covers the way we knew so little about saving lives in the field and the horrific aftermath of lack of penicillin. It covers what passed at the time for assistance for those patients with facial and jaw deformities from war. It also shows the mental cost of both the war (shell-shock and the early understanding of PTSD) and the life of a casualty who's become a monster to his loved ones.
There's gory details of the battlefield, horrific imagery and disgusting details, all are required to really establish the importance of what Gillies did. Some details were a little boring, mainly the small anecdotes about Gillies life. I found the story more interesting when it detailed the average men who Gillies helped. Those small stories that brought the war and what plastic surgery did for them home.
While today we dismiss plastic surgery as a symptom of vanity and a sad attempt at reclaiming youth, this book really brought home the aspect many people forget- how much it can mean to a person, how much it affects mental health, how its a life saver in many ways. This book reminds us how far medicine has come, how far cruelty has come, and how we can always find a way to show compassion.

I knew a tiny bit about the subject of facial reconstruction [and the masks that were also used to cover defects that could not be corrected by surgery] that started in WW1 due to an excellent historical mystery series that talks about it is several of its book [Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear], but didn't know how it started and the Doctor that really created it and kept it going.

The author is a really good writer [and the narrator that was picked was also excellent] and there were moments when I could hear the bombs falling and the men screaming and it was very disturbing while also being educational. There is so much about that war [and war in general, but particularly WW1] that was horrific and the battles that rages for months at a time and it was almost too much to read at times, and heartbreaking always.

And yet, in the midst of all that horror, there was Dr. Gillies. He was an amazing man who just wanted to give these poor men their lives back in the best way possible and while he didn't always accomplish this, he did the very best he could and I think he should have gotten every medal possible for the work he did [and then did again in the second world war] and the men and women he trained in how to care for such injured men. It is a powerful story that will not soon leave a person [I know I will never forget this one] and you will forever be changed by these stories and the Dr. who leads them.

I have the author's other book about Joseph Lister and once I have settled from this one, I think I will dive into that one. She is a very gifted writer and I know I will be reading anything she writes.

I was also granted a audiobook ARC for this book and wow, was that narrator fantastic - he is now added to my "favorites" list [and I will be looking for more books that he narrates in the future]. He really makes the story come alive and reads the stories of war and destruction and battle scenes with such reverence and respect - I am not sure how he read some of this book without breaking into tears, Kudos to him and a job very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lindsey Fitzharris, Daniel Gillies - Narrator, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, and Macmillan Audio for providing this ARC and audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fascinating -- well written and an interesting slice of history.


Review copy provided by publisher.

Listened to the audiobook.
I received a free Advanced Reading Copy via NetGalley in exchange for a complete and honest review.
Super interesting and I absolutely loved how well it explained everything to someone who does not know all the details of plastic surgery!!

What an absolutely fascinating audio book.
Full disclosure, I work in medicine, specifically surgery, and have always been fascinated with wounds and reconstruction. I have, in the past, gone down rabbit holes regarding how war wounds have been handled.

World War I: The advancement of medicine was far behind the advancement of weaponry. This book details how Dr. Harold GIllies made huge discoveries and advancements in facial reconstruction during WWI. As was stated in the book, a soldier with a prosthetic arm/leg garners sympathy...a soldier with a facial wound garners repulsion. The book makes references to diary entries and recollections of staff/nurses and patients. Details the opening of the hospital and how it takes time to build back a face through multiple procedures. This was a well researched book.

The narrator Daniel Gillies was excellent. I also realized at the end, he is related to Dr. Harold Gillies which just made it all the better.

I will be purchasing or borrowing a print copy of this book to look through as I found myself googling many of the people mentioned.