this book is a biography of sorts that focuses on a surgeon who experiments with cocaine to be used as local anesthesia, until things got out of hand and he starts becoming addicted to cocaine. it explores the character's addiction to the drug and the difficulties he had to bear along with his loved ones. i really enjoyed reading about william's and caroline's resilience with his addiction as it was a very difficult thing to deal with at the time. it was also lots of fun reading about the surgeons in the hospital performing surgeries and all the insightful information regarding what they were doing with a certain patient. the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter were also a fun addition and really made you feel like you were living in the story.

Highly interesting and emotional novel as well! I enjoyed the writing with original quotes from articles or letters at the beginning of each chapter. It reminds the reader how real it all was! I found it fascinating to read about how surgery progressed through exceptional hands. Brilliant minds and fingers were at work, friends as well... The novel clearly shows how drug addiction was extremely difficult to heal at the time particularly. Indeed what started as experimentation led to more knowledge than one might have wanted to have and feel... I was impressed by all these medical people (not only William) who furthered the art of surgery . I really enjoyed this biographical novel!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

What a clever title and reportage style of doctors days works so well in conveying the academic nature of the novel. A hit