Theaters of Madness: Insane Asylums and Nineteenth-Century American Culture

by Benjamin Reiss

Book Overview

In the mid-1800s, a utopian movement to rehabilitate the insane resulted in a wave of publicly funded asylums--many of which became unexpected centers of cultural activity. Housed in magnificent structures with lush grounds, patients participated in theatrical programs, debating societies, literary journals, schools, and religious services. Theaters of Madness explores both the culture these rich offerings fomented and the asylum's place in...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226709647
• ISBN13: 9780226709642
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.8"