The Diary of a Resurrectionist, 1811-1812 To Which Are Added an Account of the Resurrection Men in London and a Short History of the Passing of the Anatomy Act

"The Diary of a Resurrectionist, 1811-1812" by James Blake Bailey is a late 19th-century historical exploration of body-snatching in early 19th-century London, as told through diary entries. The story shines a light on the ethical dilemmas faced when obtaining cadavers for anatomical study, a controversial practice due to societal respect for the deceased. It unveils the world of resurrection men, who illegally exhumed bodies to meet the needs of medical schools, and it shows the conflict between the need for medical advancement and the public’s disapproval of violating graves, creating a tense atmosphere of fear and criminality.