Vaccines & Bayonets by Bee Bloeser #audiobook #giveaway #history #memoir #nonfiction #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

 

 

Fighting Smallpox in Africa amid Tribalism, Terror and the Cold War

Historical Memoir

Publisher:  Audiobook Empire

Narrator: Claudia Dunn

Run Time: Estimated 9.5 hours to 10 hours

 

Step into the heart of a turbulent era with Vaccines & Bayonets, a gripping historical memoir that chronicles one woman’s extraordinary journey through Africa. In this vivid recounting, Bee Bloeser unveils the raw reality of her family’s part in the mission to eradicate smallpox, revealing the triumphs and trials faced along the way.

As a young wife, Bee Bloeser followed her husband, Carl, to Africa, driven by ideals and a sense of duty. In Nigeria the ravages of civil war and the plight of starving Biafran children captured global attention. Amidst the chaos, she witnessed the horrors of smallpox and leprosy, yet found moments of beauty in the vibrant local culture.

Their journey continued in Equatorial Guinea, a nation newly independent but plagued by the terror of a brutal dictatorship. In this land where secrecy shrouded the people, Bee Bloeser confronted a world far removed from her idealistic expectations. Forbidden from forming connections with locals and surrounded by a landscape of oppression and suspicion, she documented her experiences in hidden notes, capturing the essence of a desperate struggle.

Through her eyes, listeners experience the intense battle against a relentless virus and against tyranny. This memoir is not just a story of medical triumph but also a poignant reflection on humanity’s capacity for courage—the indomitable spirit of those who risk everything for a better future.

Review

The author writes with a voice that is both compassionate and practical. You're reading about history and something that actually happened but in the words and experience of someone who lived it and was on the front lines.

Bee Bloeser does an amazing job of allowing us to see her compassion. Through her experience, we learn about the lives and culture while experiencing the heartache and dark times.

At times a difficult read, it also brings such an important topic and time in history to light. It's not just a subject, it's real life that actually happened to real people. Not just those affected by the illness and harshness but those who sacrificed selflessly to help.

About the Author

Bee Bloeser has lived and worked in Africa, the Middle East and Native American nations with her husband’s global public health work and her career in speech-language pathology. An award-winning author, she is a sought-after public speaker on topics related to her historical memoir. She lives and writes in California.

 

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