Moore could not have made it much more academi...c and boring. She has a bombshell of a topic with some extremely colourful and sometimes notorious historical events and individuals. Somehow she managed to reduced the players and places to an almost parched, gasping for air - recitation, something on the level of an A Level research paper. I appreciate that Moore has treated the primary figures with a lot of respect and I was certainly enlightened as to the profligacy of mesmerism, hypnotism and other psychic and psychological treatments throughout the 19th century. What I did not enjoy was the constant recounting of the inbattles without much of the documented specifics of what was said or by whom. I suppose I couldn't figure out if it was a biography of an individual, Dr Elliotson or not. I thought it was going to focus more on the actual establishment of UCH, rather than his trials and tribulations with the press. It also failed to explore how the two young ladies managed to delude the good doctor FOR YEARS. It required a certain level of either willing deception, or utter naivite which did not seem to be present in the rest of his life. As he was an implied homosexual, whatever hold these girls had over him was not that. Again, this could have added some "umph" the story. By the time I finished it, I was just glad to be done with it. Well written and researched, yes, but boring beyond reason. I suppose it is good for anyone who wants to have ancillary information about UCH and Elliotson, but I do not think it warrants much attention. The cover art was beautiful, and I enjoyed that. Would I recommend it - to friends who are associated with the hospital or in the medical profession perhaps. Also so anyone who is interested in NLP, again, as background to what has led to this form of mind control and training.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned