Arrigo Lessana's 'L'aiguille': A Heart Surgeon's Literary Craft

Jacques Henric reviews Arrigo Lessana's book 'L'aiguille', praising the heart surgeon's unpretentious account of his profession. Lessana describes the fatigue, fear, and guilt inherent in surgery, drawing parallels between a heart operation and a boxing match. He notes the surprising resemblance between a boxer's hands and a surgeon's: both are fine and gentle. Lessana also credits Alexis Carrel, a medical student who learned sewing from lacemakers in Le Puy to improve suturing techniques. The book opens with 'J'en ai marre' ('I'm fed up'), setting a tone of honest exhaustion. Lessana's grandfather was a Jewish tailor in Venice, linking his literary and surgical craftsmanship.