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The Empress and the English Doctor

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The Empress and the English Doctor

By: Lucy Ward
Narrated by: Malk Williams
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About this listen

A killer virus, an all-powerful empress, an encounter cloaked in secrecy...the astonishing true story.

No disease sparked as much dread in the 18th century as smallpox. The virus killed millions across the globe, carrying off one in every five victims and disfiguring survivors with tell-tale pitted scars. But one mysterious method offered hope: inoculation, the practice of piercing the skin to insert a drop of infected matter and induce a mild case of smallpox. Those inoculated safely were protected from the ‘Speckled Monster’ and stayed immune for life.

Only one problem remained: convincing people to accept the treatment. Arguments raged in Europe over its risks and benefits, and public resistance ran high. In Russia, Catherine the Great took a momentous decision: to undergo inoculation herself to set an example in her empire and beyond. In 1768, she summoned the Quaker physician and inoculator Thomas Dimsdale from his Hertfordshire surgery to her glittering court in St Petersburg to carry out the secret mission that would transform both their lives.

This is a fascinating history of Enlightenment ideals, female leadership and the fight to promote science over superstition.

©2022 Lucy Ward (P)2022 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Europe History & Commentary Medicine & Health Care Industry Russia Scary

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Critic reviews

"A fascinating and beautifully told story about courageous vaccination pioneers." (Kate Bingham, chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce)

"It is hard to imagine a more timely or important book than The Empress and the English Doctor. Mirroring so many of the vaccination issues of our modern age, as well as those of bodily autonomy, feminism and power, Lucy Ward's lively and in-depth exploration is a must-read." (JoJo Moyes, author of Me Before You)

"Packed with political intrigue and scientific insight, this is a fascinating narrative revealing how early inoculation pioneers overcame superstition, prejudice and misinformation. Move forward more than two centuries and the parallels with the current COVID-19 pandemic are incredible!" (Jonathan Ball, professor of virology, University of Nottingham)
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I had very high expectations after reading Maggie Oagani’s review in Reaction, so inevitably I suppose I was a bit disappointed. It’s interesting but it’s not “wow” interesting. It’s read reasonably well, although it beats me completely how many names these narrators just can’t get. Tsarskoe Selo might be tricky but it isn’t hard to ask a Russianist. And Caius, in the context of Gonville and Caius… well if you don’t know it’s pronounced “Keys”, then you really shouldn’t be a narrator.

Moderately interesting

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The history of smallpox inoculation and the roles of Catherine the Great and Thomas Dimsdale is no dry historical time, but an intimate and engaging story that has huge resonance for the covid era.
Lucy Ward’s style is that of a true storyteller and she captures the great sweep of history with ease.
There are a few pronunciation errors, but otherwise the reading flows well and the various languages add to rather than detract from the sense of a cracking story.

Fascinating with strong contemporary resonance

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I absolutely loved this book. So many facts weaving through the main story, which is how Catherine The Great got inoculated against smallpox and started an inoculation drive in Russia. We learn about how smallpox inoculation came about, the challenges faced by those heralding it. Such human bravery and perseverance, not mentioning scientific intrigue! I loved the overall view of Europe at the time, as we so rarely look at history across an era and connect more than one or two countries, so I found this aspect of the book fascinating too. For me, the narrator was great. He really kept my attention and whether things were pronounced quite right or not (here I am referring to another review), I don’t know but for me, his voice and intonation were perfect. Highly recommend this book. Thank you Lucy Ward for writing in. What research must have gone into it!

What an incredible book

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Very interesting particularly after the discovery of the COVID vaccine. The path to that started long ago

Most interesting

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I don’t often listen to non-fiction audiobooks but I’m so glad I listened to this. It’s a fascinating story and an important one, but it’s told in a free-flowing style which draws you in so that there’s actually a sense of suspense. It’s very well-read too - the reader has a nice voice, tells a dramatic story without over-dramatising, and takes care over pronunciation.

An important story - and entertaining too

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The story is interesting and reasonably well told. The reader has an odd bbc quality about his elocution. Would have preferred a female voice for a book written by a woman.

Interesting story

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