Preface; An accident at White Creek Lodge; Our bodies, ourselves; Nervous disorder; Right hands; The daily drama of the body; Living corpses; Old bones; Two in one; The law of uncivil actions; Accidental bodies.

"A new book by Ann Oakley always engages us. Fracture weaves her personal story with a very fine meditation on the body. Reading it opens up important questions about the meaning of where we live from." Susie Orbach, psychoanalyst and writer "In a remarkably scholarly essay which includes a wide range of clearly explained references to the neurology of action and perception, the basis of the subjective body image, the supremacy of the right hand, not to mention many other themes, social and psychological, Professor Oakley re-introduces the reader to the overlooked significance of being an embodied self. What an admirable work." Jonathan Miller, physician, satirist, writer, theatre director and television presenter "A fascinating reflection on the meaning and experience of embodiment through the lens of an accident and its aftermath. Oakley draws on her distinguished career as a social science researcher and feminist to explore the interconnections between the body, medicine and ordinary life. A profoundly human book that sheds light on the common experiences of the body and age." Julia Twigg, Professor of Social Policy and Sociology, University of Kent