For much of the twentieth century polio inspired terror as the 'morning paralysis' which could break into any home & disable or kill a previously healthy person. The cruelty of the disease is epitomised by the iconic images of the crippled child & the iron lung. This story of mankind's struggle against polio is compelling exciting & full of twists & pardoxes. One of the grand challenges of modern medicine it was a battleground between good & bad science. Some research won Nobel Prizes; other work was flawed or fraudulent holding up progress & endangering patients' lives. Gareth Williams takes an original view of the journey to understanding & defeating polio exploring the profoundly moving experiences of victims alongside the medical & scientific landmarks in the history of the disease.