As Prof. Lisa T. Sarasohn explores and explains in her new book “Getting Under Our Skin; The Cultural and Social History of Vermin,” these ubiquitous long time companions of our species at some point in our history, became something more than the mundane nuisances that vexed our mythological first forefather Adam.
My mother never talked about it, but since being by the side of my beloved wife as she entered and experienced it, I think it’s incumbent upon me – not only as one aspiring to be continually improving my understanding of the histories of natural history, science, and medicine but also, and even more importantly, as one seeking to be a good husband – to learn more about menopause; not only to understand the biological elements of it, but to be able to perceive and better understand its many historical and sociological aspects as well.
For most naturalists today, Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection,” published in 1859, is a cornerstone work. It is also one that, while its propositions caused considerable stir in Darwin’s own time as well as in the decades following his death, now only seems to trouble those outside of natural history circles. His 1871 work “The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex” is another matter indeed.
Quite honestly, I’m not sure what I could reasonably write following the words “books bound in human skin” that would have any greater power to induce anyone horrified at the prospect of reading a book about such a subject to overcome their aversion, or for that matter that would inspire anyone already keen to take up a such a subject even more willing to do so. Such is the division the long-whispered rumours of anthropodermic book binding has upon people.
Nevertheless, I’ll have a go.