The Speckled Monster

A Historical Tale of Battling Smallpox

By: Jennifer Lee Carrell

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 19 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

The Speckled Monster is both a hair-raising tale of courage in the face of the deadliest disease that has ever struck mankind, and a gripping account of the birth of modern immunology. Jennifer Lee Carrell's dramatic story follows two parents who, after barely surviving the agony of smallpox themselves, flouted 18th century European medical tradition by borrowing folk knowledge from African slaves and Eastern women in frantic bids to protect their children. Their heroic struggles gave rise to immunology, as well as the vaccinations that remain our only hope should the disease be unleashed again. Carrell transports readers back to the early 18th century to tell the tales of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and Dr. Zabdiel Boylston: two iconoclastic figures who helped save London and Boston from this scourge.

©2003 Jennifer Lee Carrell (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Highly engrossing...Carrell tells the gripping story with ardor and skill." (Smithsonian)

"Written in a compelling, almost novelistic voice, Carrell details two eighteenth-century figures who struggled valiantly against smallpox. The disease becomes a character in the book, claiming the poor, the rich, and the royal without distinction." (USA Today)

Inevitability Meets Innovation

This book offers a phenomenal glimpse to an era long before Jenner introduced vaccination with cowpox. Set in a period where smallpox was viewed as the inevitable cost of life in a city or the will of God, two people step forward and dare to question the rarity of smallpox in other parts of the world. Inoculation and the controversy surrounding it creates transfixing tension, while the ongoing ebb and flow of an epidemic in America and an endemic scourge in Britain builds urgency. A must read or epidemiologists, bioethicists, fans of historical dramatization, and anyone interested in this ancient enemy of humankind.

Fascinating

This is a great study in mankind. I was fascinated how the author explained the various factions and power plays weaved themselves into a social fabric affected by the pox, or speckled monster.

Were some of the descriptions gross and hard to stomach? Yes. However i believe that was necessary to help the modern reader understand something that no longer affects our daily lives. This disease was awful and devastating, not only for the individual, but for society at large. The author does a fabulous job of bringing the reader into that world.

As a historical fiction story much research went onto the lives of the power players on both sides of the Atlantic. I was left fascinated by life in the late 1600 and early 1700.

Heroic story about an absolutely terrible disease

Any additional comments?

I listened to this book because I was surprised to hear Rand Paul mentioned it in one of the presidential debates. I enjoyed it and found myself drawn in by the author's portrayal of the main historical characters. If it's hard to imagine what a monstrous killer small pox was, just google some photographs of it. The debt we all owe to the pioneers of the practice of inoculation cannot be overstated. Zabdiel Boylston reminded me of George Washington in terms of his courage and modesty. And I am glad the letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu still exist and look forward to reading them in current published volumes. What author Carrell does particularly well is to bring to life the hysteria that these first Western forays into vaccination stirred up. It was human nature to fear the unknown then just as it is today.

As with many historical audiobooks, The Speckled Monster can be difficult to follow at times as it jumps from one set of characters to another, from one country to the next, and between different people who share the same first name. I wish the breaks between chapters were made obvious so I could mentally shift without having to play catch-up.

If like me you're fascinated by the 1600s-1700s then you'll enjoy this historical narrative about a hugely important turning point for Western Civilization and the world.

An excellent story of science and courage

This is a wonderful look into the emotional side of the courage it took for smallpox to be overcome. The disease was so terrible that people were paralyzed with fear and the effort it took to overcome that fear and turn to rational science is extraordinary. The book also credits the often forgotten original inoculators: the women of Africa. Fascinating and thought provoking. It left me glad for the knowledge and fearful of a disease that the world has ‘vanquished’ … hopefully forever.

Fascibating story, a little bit long

Great story with historical accuracy. It's the kind of book that needs to be heard more then once, and with each subsequent hearing it gets better. Sometimes it's s little slow though. Overall however, a very good read.

Small pox

The writer presented the history of mankind concurring small pox in both UK and America in such a way that I felt I was there too.

Wish it was another 19 hours long!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The story brings home what a horrible disease smallpox was and the dangers faced by those who wanted to prevent the disease with inoculation. But it reads like a thriller -- you can't wait to find out what happened to this person or how that situation was resolved.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Speckled Monster?

The entire story of Zabdeal Boylston was entrancing. I had never heard of him, although I grew up near Boston. He comes alive in this book, not as a colonist, not as a historical character, but as a family man and conscientious doctor who has to fight on multiple fronts to do what he believes is right.

Which scene was your favorite?

No one scene sticks out. But I had never realized, as someone who received a routine vaccination as a baby, what a miracle it was that I was safe from what had been a common and devastating scourge. The descriptions of how people actually suffered and died from smallpox changes an abstract idea into a horrible, painful reality for so many generations of people.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Zabdeal Boylston's family's experience with the pox was absolutely wrenching.

Any additional comments?

I don't remember when I have enjoyed listening to a book so much. And the fact that, after 19 odd hours, I was disappointed to have it end -- well, I'm seriously considering going back to the beginning and listening again!

Novel of small pox

This is a well written novel who’s main star is smallpox but there was a lot of extra story that I wasn’t particularly interested in, since I was mainly after the history of smallpox.

Very Dry

I couldn't get into it. The book was to dense to listen to. Might be better if you read a physical copy but it was like listening to white noise.