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This Way Madness Lies
The Asylum and Beyond
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This Way Madness Lies
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Explores the meaning of mental illness through the successive incarnations of the institution that defined it: the madhouse, designed to segregate its inmates from society; the lunatic asylum, which intended to restore the reason of sufferers by humane treatment; and the mental hospital, which reduced their conditions to diseases of the brain.
A compelling illustrated exploration of the evolution of the asylum and attitudes to the insane from the 17th century to the present day
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Description
Is mental illness—or madness—at root an illness of the body, a disease of the mind, or a sickness of the soul? This Way Madness Lies is a thought-provoking exploration of the history of madness and its treatment as seen through the lens of its proverbial home: the Royal Bethlem Hospital, London, popularly known as Bedlam.
Organised chronologically, the book explores the meaning of mental illness through the successive incarnations of the institution that defined it: the 18th-century madhouse, the 19th-century asylum, and the 20th-century mental hospital.
Moving and sometimes provocative illustrations sourced from the Wellcome Trust's exceptional collection and the Royal Bethlem Hospital's archive highlight the trajectory of each era of the institution: founded in the optimistic spirit of humanitarian reform but eventually dismantled amid accusations of cruelty and neglect.
Each chapter concludes with a selection of revealing and captivating artwork created by asylum patients and other artists from each era of the institution and beyond. Compelling and intriguing, these artworks express the personalities and attitudes of the originators far more powerfully than descriptions of their conditions.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The book offers a compelling exploration of its subject, praised for its fascinating insights and extensive illustrations. It has been described as superb, providing clear understanding of complex themes. Its meticulous research makes it considered essential reading by critics.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780500518977
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 15 September 2016
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Thames & Hudson Ltd
Illustration: with over 600 photographs and illustrations
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 179.0mm
Height: 279.0mm
Weight: 1200g
Pages: 256
About the Author
Mike Jay has written widely on the cultural history of science, medicine and the mind. His books include The Influencing Machine, The Story of James Tilly Matthews and his Confinement in Eighteenth-century Bedlam and High Society: Mind-altering Drugs in History and Culture. He reviews regularly for The London Review of Books and The Wall Street Journal. This Way Madness Lies was written in conjunction with the exhibition 'Bedlam: the asylum and beyond', which he co-curated for the Wellcome Collection in London. He is a research affiliate of the Health Humanities Centre at University College London and a trustee of the Bethlem Art and History Collection.
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