Sad Mad and Bad; Women and the Mind : A History of Women and the Mind Doctors from 1800

by Lisa Appignanesi

Book Overview

This fascinating history of mind doctors and their patients probes the ways in which madness, badness, and sadness have been understood over the last two centuries. Lisa Appignanesi charts a story... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1552786765
• ISBN13: 9781552786765
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: McArthur Publishing
• Length: 484 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.8" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Absolute aanrader

Al na het lezen van de inleiding wist ik het: dit is een topboek. Zorgvuldig, grondig, uitgebalanceerd en prikkelend om te lezen en vooral om over na te denken. En ik hou van nadenken.

A Great Introduction to the Subject

The author demonstrates how, from its origins in English asylums run by "carers" to the world's first modern psychiatric facility in revoutionary France, the image of women and of mental illness ("madness") mutually informed each other. These images changed across the decades, and with them, both the prospects and limitations on women, and the understanding of emotional suffering that gave rise to varied diagnoses. Though studded with Britishisms, this is a highly readable introduction to the subject of mental illness and especially the role of the "mind doctors" in both helping and hindering half the world's prospects for a sane and free life.

Enlightenment

This book heralds a new and renewed enlightenment about women, the mind, literature, and history. Recently I purchased the American edition and can not speak highly enough for it. The writing is superb and the text opens so many windows and doors. It is not easy to put down as it sails forward. I highly recommend it to everyone and that must be a wide audience of public and scholar alike. The book is a treasure.