"An Infidel Body-Snatcher and the Fruits of His Philosophy" is the story of a freethinker. Charles Knowlton called himself a "free enquirer"-his enemies called him an "Infidel." Knowlton was also a "Body-Snatcher." As a medical student, Charles Knowlton stole corpses to dissect. Charles was caught and convicted, and served time in jail.

After a troubled youth, Knowlton became a doctor and wrote America's first birth control book, "Fruits of Philosophy," in 1831. He was convicted and imprisoned for that as well-this time with hard labor. Charles was an outsider for most of his life,...