Describes the politics, vendettas, plots, and international intrigues in the battle of the emerging practice of blood transfusions in seventeenth-century Europe and how the events in some ways mirror modern discussions over stem cells and cloning.

Happiness begins with a charming courtship between hopelessly attracted opposites: Heather, a world-roaming California girl, and Brian, an intellectual, homebody writer, kind and slyly funny, but loath to leave his Upper West Side studio. Their magical interlude ends, full stop, when Heather becomes pregnant, Brian is sure he loves her, only he doesn't want kids. Heather returns to California to deliver their daughter alone, buoyed by family and friends....