Lucy Ward – ‘The Empress and the English Doctor’

We’re thrilled to welcome writer and journalist Lucy Ward to Hart’s Books. Lucy will be discussing her acclaimed new book ‘The Empress and the English Doctor: How Catherine the Great defied a deadly virus.’

A killer virus… an all-powerful Empress… an encounter cloaked in secrecy… the astonishing true story.

Within living memory, smallpox was a dreaded disease. Over human history it has killed untold millions. Back in the eighteenth century, as epidemics swept Europe, the first rumours emerged of an effective treatment: a mysterious method called inoculation.

But a key problem remained: convincing people to accept the preventative remedy, the forerunner of vaccination. Arguments raged over risks and benefits, and public resistance ran high. As smallpox ravaged her empire and threatened her court, Catherine the Great took the momentous decision to summon the Quaker physician Thomas Dimsdale to St Petersburg to carry out a secret mission that would transform both their lives. Lucy Ward expertly unveils the extraordinary story of Enlightenment ideals, female leadership and the fight to promote science over superstition.

Please note before booking tickets for talks
The purchase of a ticket will be taken as confirmation that you have read and understood the following notes about our Covid-19 safety policy for events.

Following the end of legal restrictions relating to Covid-19, we have taken steps to keep you safe when you attend events here at Hart’s Books. Talks take place in an indoor space which we will ensure is well ventilated. We have limited our current capacity to allow for good social distancing. We ask for masks to be worn by all attendees except for those who are exempt and whilst eating or drinking. We will retain temporarily the details of those attending in case they are required by NHS Track and Trace. We recommend that all those attending are fully vaccinated and ask that they take a Lateral Flow Test on the day of the event.

Please note that you must not attend if you feel unwell, have any symptoms of coronavirus, have tested positive for coronavirus or have been instructed to self-isolate.