A very compelling almost novelistic presentation of the battles of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu in London and Dr. Zabdiel Boylston in Boston to persuade the powers that be of the efficacy of smallpox inoculation, standard practice in Turkey and Africa but first unknown and then feared in London and Boston, a first precursor to Jenner's better-known struggle to introduce smallpox vaccination.

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This book reads almost as a historical novel, it's written in such an interesting and compelling way. It depicts the efforts of two very different people who popularized inoculation for the sake of saving their children from a horrible disease. Makes you truly thankful to live in a world where we don't have to worry about smallpox anymore!

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Amazing historical account of the battle with smallpox on two sides of the ocean, both occurring without knowledge of the other; London and Boston. I enjoyed the book very much but dd feel that it got bogged down in too many details of peoples' lives. Good explanations of the history of inoculation and the disease and peoples fears and misunderstandings

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I thought it was a surprisingly entertaining read, especially considering the subject matter! Carrell is a good writer and the whole plot moved along quickly and informatively.

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