J. Thorwald "Blood of Kings. The dramatic history of hemophilia in European princely families"

Author: Jurgen Thorwald Title: The Blood of Kings: The Dramatic History of Hemophilia in European Royal Families. Year of publication: 2010 Description: Another work by Thorwald, who introduces us to an extremely fascinating topic in the history of European medicine. This time, he turns his literary hand to one of the strangest and most insidious diseases—hemophilia, also known as the “disease of kings.” It owes this literary name to Queen Victoria of Great Britain, who was a carrier of the disease and who, through the marriages of her children, contributed to its spread among European courts. Given the state of knowledge at the time, hemophilia posed a significant problem for successive members of royal families across Europe, forcing the male descendants of these lineages to lead an extremely cautious lifestyle. Thorwald attempts to shed light on the issue by telling the story of three princes: Alfonso, heir to the Spanish throne; Waldemar, Prince of Prussia; and Tsarevich Alexei. Despite the wealth surrounding them and the abundance of medical care available, in the end, each of them faced the helplessness of the doctors of the time and was left alone with his own illness. No possessions or privileges could compensate them for the many years of restrictions, sacrifices, and the awareness of a ticking time bomb within their own bodies, turning them into people who were, in essence, lonely and withdrawn.