The Anatomist

work by Bridie

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

"The Anatomist" is a play by James Bridie, a Scottish playwright known for his witty comedies. The play, based on a well-known criminal case, achieved success in London in 1931.1

The case that inspired the play involves William Burke and William Hare, infamous murderers for profit in Edinburgh. They killed at least 15 people and sold their corpses to an anatomist, Robert Knox, for scientific dissection. Their crimes were discovered in 1828, leading to Burke's execution and Hare's testimony against him. This case significantly impacted the study of anatomy, highlighting the demand for cadavers for medical education.23

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

James Bridie
…with his London production of The Anatomist (1931), based on a well-known criminal case. Considered distinctively Scottish in their unexpected twists of fancy and thought-provoking contents, his plays include Jonah and the Whale (1932); A Sleeping Clergyman (1933), also based on a criminal case; Marriage Is No Joke (1934); Colonel…
Read More
…with his London production of The Anatomist (1931), based on a well-known criminal case. Considered distinctively Scottish in their unexpected twists of fancy and thought-provoking contents, his plays include Jonah and the Whale (1932); A Sleeping Clergyman (1933), also based on a criminal case; Marriage Is No Joke (1934); Colonel…
Read More