Spare Parts: A Surprising History of Transplants, by Horizons lecturer Paul Craddock, has been published to wide acclaim.

How did an architect help pioneer blood transfusion in the 1660s?

Why did eighteenth-century dentists buy the live teeth of poor children?

And what role did a sausage skin and an enamel bath play in making kidney transplants a reality?

These questions and more are answered in Dr Paul Craddock's debut book.

Spare Parts: A Surprising History of Transplants

Published in August by Fig Tree/Penguin, Spare Parts has since been awarded the Special Commendation of the Royal Society of Literature Giles St Aubyn Awards and made 'Book of the Week' by the Daily Mail.

Reviewers praise Paul Craddock for the manner in which he brings to life the subject matter with both humanity and humour. Science writer and author Michael Brooks, says of it:

"I read Spare Parts with my mouth open, my eyes popping and my brain fizzing. It’s a fascinating exploration of just how far humans will go to stay on the right side of death. I can’t think of any other book whose pages will make you laugh, gasp, grimace and wince. Spare Parts is a triumph of medical story-telling".

Read further reviews of Spare Parts (paulcraddock.com)

Videos

Paul is also experienced in generating video content on his research to bring it to a wider audience. His series covering 'The History of Transplants in 10 Objects' can be viewed on YouTube and includes objects ranging from an apple, to a lake, to an aeroplane. His video work has led him to appearances with Monocle, How To Academy and the BBC.

Watch Paul Craddock's Videos on the History of Transplants (YouTube)

About Paul Craddock

Dr Paul Craddock is a cultural historian and author based in London. He is a Science Museum Group Senior Research Associate (SMGSRA) and an Honorary Senior Research Associate of UCL’s Division of Surgery. He teaches 1st Year module Video Production for Mobile Devices on the Imperial Horizons Programme.