‘Lost Work’ a rare find
One of the coolest things about having a bookstore is that we come across books of every subject one can think of (and sometimes, don’t want to think of).
But we must say, this amazing book is quite unlike any we have seen before.
“The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black,” by E. B. Hudspeth, is a beautifully illustrated compilation of the meticulously detailed anatomical illustrations of our world’s mythical and legendary creatures.
Presented in a similar way as “Gray’s Anatomy”, beings such as the minotaur, sphinx, the oriental dragon, centaurs, chimeras, and even Ganesha, are shown in their full anatomical detail, revealing their muscular and skeletal make-ups.
It is fascinating to see these beautiful creatures of lore literally inside and out.
The book begins with chronicling Dr. Spencer Black’s life, starting as the son of a graverobber, being exposed to the life of exhuming cadavers, we learn how throughout his medical training he began to conceive how these fantastic creatures from the stories of old were possible: a “missing link” of sorts; an offshoot in the evolutionary process. His theories take him into a journey across a strange array of places and situations, eventually culminating in his disappearance. What is left behind is this body of work, “The Codex Extinct Animalia: A Study of the Lesser Known Species of the Animal Kingdom”, the compilation of anatomical drawings of several of the world’s mythical beings.
Certainly, we have yet to see another book like it! It is an artful treat for anatomy enthusiasts and creature-philes alike who have yearned to experience these creatures up close and personal.
Fans of Neil Gaiman, Hieronymus Bosch, and the Mütter Museum are sure to love it, and the rest will certainly be both astounded and intrigued by what you find inside!
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Ed and Cynthia Justus are owners of The Bookstore in Hanapepe.