Robin Cook "Blight"

Author: Robin Cook Original title: Contagion First edition: 1995 Medical topic: forensic pathology, infectious diseases Description: The main theme of this 400-page novel by Cook is the adventures of a pathologist who uncovers a scandal involving mysterious cases of infectious diseases in New York. All of these cases involve patients and staff at Manhattan General Hospital. As the plot unfolds, the theme of the reliability of medical advertising and the commercialization of healthcare also becomes increasingly prominent. Undoubtedly, the novel’s greatest strength is its protagonist—Jack Stapleton, an employee of the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office, a pathologist with one year of experience as a medical examiner who previously worked as an ophthalmologist but could not accept the changes brought about by the “politics” of large medical corporations. Jack lives in Harlem, plays basketball with local youth gangs, rides his bike to work, averaging about four near-collisions with taxis every day. He is cynical, keeps his personal life private, isn’t afraid of his superiors—and at the same time is very sharp and sets out to solve the mystery. In short, a return to the “world of microbes” with plenty of fast-paced action. It should also be noted that pathologists, virologists, lawyers, and even a consultant on basketball and rap culture ensured the factual accuracy of the story.