The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
ISBN-10
0330533444
ISBN-13
9780330533447
Series
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Category
Biography & Autobiography
Pages
431
Language
English
Published
2011
Publisher
Pan Publishing
Author
Rebecca Skloot

Description

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. Born a poor black tobacco farmer, her cancer cells -- taken without her knowledge -- became a multimillion-dollar industry and one of the most important tools in medicine. Yet Henrietta's family did not learn of her 'immortality' until more than twenty years after her death, with devastating consequences . . . Rebecca Skloot's fascinating account is the story of the life, and afterlife, of one woman who changed the medical world forever. Balancing the beauty and drama of scientific discovery with dark questions about who owns the stuff our bodies are made of, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is an extraordinary journey in search of the soul and story of a real woman, whose cells live on today in all four corners of the world. 'A fascinating, harrowing, necessary book' Hilary Mantel, Guardian 'A heartbreaking account of racism and injustice' Metro 'A fine book... a gripping read...The book has deservedly been a huge bestseller in the US. It should be here, too' Sunday Times

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