Madness and Society in Eighteenth-Century Scotland (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780198207870)

How did people view mental health problems in the eighteenth century, and what do the attitudes of ordinary people towards those afflicted tell us about the values of society at that time? Here, Rab Houston draws upon a wide range of contemporary sources including asylum documents, civil and criminal court records, including the written and spoken words of sufferers themselves, to present unique insights into the many issues related to madness. A detailed yet profoundly humane and compassionate study, this book describes the everyday experiences of those suffering mental impairments ranging from idiocy to lunacy and explores the many meanings and implications for society in the eighteenth century.

Author: R. A. Houston
ISBN-10: 0198207875
ISBN-13: 9780198207870
Publisher: Clarendon Press
Language: English
Published: 03/16/2000
Pages: 464
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.63lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 1.19d