ABSTRACT
The scientific accomplishments of Alexis Carrel (1873-1944) are well known to the surgical and medical community. His life has been well narrated,1"4 describing both his scientific prowess and his extraordinary surgical research in detail.4'7 Yet little is known about his personality, his character, and his beliefs. Little is known about Carrel the man, the writer of Man, The Unknown, the man who explored the human being and through his writings revealed himself. This article briefly describes the soul and spirit of Alexis Carrel and explains why he should be considered one of the founders of modern surgery as well as the father of transplantation.
