Description
By: Charles Warren Stoddard
The Lepers of Molokai is a heart-wrenching and eye-opening account of the lives of those afflicted with leprosy and exiled to the remote island of Molokai in Hawaii. Charles Warren Stoddard gives a comprehensive and compassionate portrayal of the challenges faced by these individuals, both physical and emotional.
Through his vivid descriptions and intimate conversations with the residents of Molokai, Stoddard sheds light on the stigma and isolation experienced by the lepers, as well as the incredible resilience and strength they demonstrate in the face of their affliction. The author’s personal experiences and interactions with the inhabitants of Molokai provide a unique perspective on this often-overlooked chapter in history.
Overall, The Lepers of Molokai is a poignant and thought-provoking read that challenges readers to reconsider their perceptions of illness, humanity, and compassion. Stoddard’s eloquent writing and deep empathy make this book a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of those who have been marginalized and forgotten.
Book Description:
This is the story of the lepers of Molokai and of the Roman Catholic missionary, Father Damien, who ministered to those who languished in that desolate place, waiting for death to release them from a most intense form of physical and mental suffering. Fr. Damien, born Jozef De Veuster, was a Roman Catholic priest from Belgium and member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, a missionary religious order. He won recognition for his ministry to people with leprosy (Hansen’s disease), who had been placed under a government-sanctioned medical quarantine on the remote island of Molokai in the Kingdom of Hawaii. He, himself, contracted and died of this dreaded disease after caring for the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of the people in the colony for sixteen years. (Adapted from Wikipedia)
