WELLINGTON author Suzie Grogan gave a sell-out talk at Brendon Books in Bath Place, Taunton, as part of Taunton Literary Festival.

Suzie has spoken previously on her last book ‘Shell Shocked Britain: The First World War’s Legacy for Britain’s Mental Health’, also to a packed house.

Suzie said: “Brendon Books is a fabulous place to give a talk, and the Literary Festival is a wonderful showcase of local and national writing, so I was thrilled to be part of the event. And the audience was very friendly and interested in my work.”

Suzie’s latest book, ‘Death Disease & Dissection: The Working Life of a Surgeon-Apothecary 1750-1850’ details the horrors of Georgian and early Victorian medicine, including surgery without anaesthetic in an era with no knowledge of how infection was spread and the dangers of ‘quack medicines’.

The audience was treated to images by turns gruesome and humorous and heard stories of surgical nightmares and medical breakthroughs. The poet John Keats – Suzie’s lifelong passion and the subject of her next book – trained as a doctor for many years, and his experience, with that of others such as James Parkinson – after whom Parkinson’s disease was named, Henry Stephens – doctor and inventor of the famous Stephen’s Ink, and Robert Storrs highlighted the work of many committed men determined to ensure good medical care was available to all.

Suzie ended her talk with a dedication to the 21st Century medical profession who still work so tirelessly on patients’ behalf.

‘Death Disease & Dissection’ is published by Pen and Sword Books and is available from Brendon Books and all other good bookshops and online retailers.