The Matter of the Heart

"Because of that rich cast of characters, The Matter of the Heart is more than a litany of medical advances—it's the story of the gritty, bloody and deadly experiences that underlie scientific progress."—The Washington Post

"Thomas Morris has written not a history of medical ideas about the heart, but a history of heart surgery . . . Morris has made something unique: a history less of people than of procedures, but lively, enthusiastic and brimming with detail."—Gavin Frances, New Statesman

"The research that has gone into this book is simply staggering, and Morris has achieved much more than a history of heart operations . . . It is a study of human beings driven by Olympian ambition and bottomless curiosity."—Frances Wilson, The Daily Telegraph (UK)

"Gripping... The Matter of the Heart details the breathtaking advances that have been made in the past 100 years."—John Crace, The Guardian (UK)

“Thomas Morris provides us with a thoughtful, engaging and rigorous account of how cardiac surgeons through history have sought to undo the ravages wrought on the heart . . . The results are a triumph of both the human imagination, emotional resilience and supreme self-confidence . . . It is peppered with vibrant anecdotes as well as biographical accounts of the individuals who made these important contributions.”—Adrian Woolfson, The Spectator

“Standing outside this precious and pressured world, Morris provides an even-handed and honest survey of the pioneers and their breakthroughs . . . intelligent.”—Wendy Moore, The Times (London)

“With the cut and thrust of cardiac surgery now demystified, we forget that venturing into the thoracic cavity once seemed as daunting as polar exploration. Or more so: as Thomas Morris reveals in this stirring chronicle, even touching a beating heart was long viewed as impossible . . . Told through 11 pivotal operations, it’s a tale of ingenuity . . . It’s rich, too, in alarming details—not least, the injections of strychnine and whisky that featured in early surgery.”—Barbara Kiser, Nature

“Morris’s book is where readers should go for riveting historical accounts of surgical brilliance.”—Joanna Bourke, Prospect

“Tremendous. An exhilarating sweep through ancient history and contemporary practice in surgery of the heart. It’s rich in extraordinary detail and stories that will amaze you. A wonderful book.”—Melvyn Bragg

“[Thomas Morris] succeeds where many such experts have failed in distilling the complexity of this organ into a highly readable and fascinating narrative . . . in 350 easy-to-read pages . . . [he] captur[es] the majesty and pace of more than 80 years of scientific innovation . . . the degree to which this book has been researched is breathtaking.”—David Warriner, Independent Nurse

"This is a book of learned asides and extensive trivia, but it's always enfolded in a well-developed narrative with no end of heroes . . . and no end of technical problems to overcome. Just the thing for aspiring heart surgeons, who may one day soon be 3-D printing new hearts that will be 'dispatched in drones to wherever they are needed.'"—Kirkus Reviews

"Morris’s expert guided tour of cardiac surgery and its quirky, brilliant innovators covers a dazzling and dizzying array of procedures and hints at tantalizing prospects for future surprises."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)