From Ancient Greece to Eritrea and to the reaches of the Roman Empire, references to human deformation abound. After all, Charlier explains, if deformations affect up to 3% of births today, they must have occurred much more in ancient times, given advances in health since then, socioeconomic factors, and widespread inbreeding in rural areas. Using a unique multidisciplinary approach, Philippe Charlier shows how malformed individuals, considered anything from monstrous to mythical, were treated and seen by these societies.

Putting his skills as a historian and medical examiner to work, he uses the latest techniques in genetics, epidemiology, and clinical medicine, as well as references in literature, to find out what life was like for individuals with birth defects. There is evidence of elimination but also of special care for those sometimes referred to as “monsters.” Along the way, he discusses the most commonly referred-to cases, such as cyclopsism, sirenomelus, sexual ambiguity, limping, Siamese twins, and extra limbs and appendages.