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Life in the Victorian Asylum: The World of Nineteenth Century Mental Health Care

Life in the Victorian Asylum: The World of Nineteenth Century Mental Health Care

by Mark Stevens
Life in the Victorian Asylum: The World of Nineteenth Century Mental Health Care
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Life in the Victorian Asylum: The World of Nineteenth Century Mental Health Care

Life in the Victorian Asylum: The World of Nineteenth Century Mental Health Care

by Mark Stevens

Overview

A vivid portrait of the day-to-day experience in the public asylums of nineteenth-century England, by the bestselling author of Broadmoor Revealed.
 
Life in the Victorian Asylum reconstructs the lost world of nineteenth-century public asylums. This fresh take on the history of mental health reveals why county asylums were built, the sort of people they housed, and the treatments they received, as well as the enduring legacy of these remarkable institutions.


 
Mark Stevens, a professional archivist, and expert on asylum records, delves into Victorian mental health hospital documents to recreate the experience of entering an asylum and being treated there—perhaps for a lifetime. 


 
Praise for Broadmoor Revealed


 
“Superb.” —Family Tree magazine


 
“Detailed and thoughtful.” —Times Literary Supplement


 
“Paints a fascinating picture.” —Who Do You Think You Are? magazine

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781473842380
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date: 01/31/2020
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 176
Sales rank: 805,503
File size: 7 MB

About the Author

Mark Stevens is Senior Archivist at Berkshire Record Office, responsible for looking after the Broadmoor Asylum archives.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

Preface viii

Part I The Victorian Asylum Patient's Handbook 1

Chapter 1 Lunacy and lunatics in Victorian England 7

Chapter 2 Admission to the Asylum 14

Chapter 3 Accommodation 22

Chapter 4 Diagnosis 40

Chapter 5 Staff 54

Chapter 6 The Daily Routine 73

Chapter 7 Treatment 91

Chapter 8 General Health and Patient Care 104

Chapter 9 Patient Rights 111

Chapter 10 Discharge from the Asylum 117

Chapter 11 Useful Information for Patients' Friends and Family 121

Part II The History of the Victorian Asylums 129

Chapter 1 Moulsford Asylum: The Inspiration for this Book 130

Chapter 2 A Word about Broadmoor 144

Chapter 3 The Victorian Asylum: What Happened Next? 147

Chapter 4 Become a Friend of the Victorian Asylum: Researching in Archives and Visiting Remaining Sites 154

Chapter 5 Before You Go: Moulsford Patient Portraits 161

Sources 167

Bibliography 170

Index 172

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