Through an examination of the fascinating lives and careers of a series of nineteenth-century "mad-doctors," Masters of Bedlam provides a unique perspective on the creation of the modern profession of psychiatry, taking us from the secret and shady practices of the trade in lunacy, through the utopian expectations that were aroused by the lunacy reform movement, to the dismal realities of the barracks-asylums--those Victorian museums of madness within which most nineteenth-century alienists found themselves compelled to practice. Across a century that spans the period from an unreformed Bedlam to the construction of a post-Darwinian bio-psychiatry centered on the new Maudsley Hospital, from a therapeutics of bleeding, purging, and close confinement through the era of moral treatment and nonrestraint to a fin-de-siécle degenerationism and despair, men claiming expertise in the treatment of mental disorder sought to construct a collective identity as trustworthy and scientifically qualified professionals. This fascinating series of biographies answers the question: How successful were they in creating such a new identity?. Drawing on an extensive array of sources, the authors vividly re-create the often colorful and always eventful lives of these seven "masters of bedlam." Sensitive to the idiosyncrasies and peculiarities of each man's personal biography, the authors replace hagiographical ac-counts of the great men who founded modern psychiatry with fully rounded portraits of their struggles and successes, their achievements and limitations. In the process Masters of Bedlam provides an extremely subtle and nuanced portrait of the efforts of successive generations of alienists to carve out a popular and scientific respect for their specialty, and reminds us repeatedly of the complexities of nineteenth-century developments in the field of psychiatry. Originally published in 1996. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Originally published: London: Simon & Schuster, 2008.

This book is a study of the pioneer early county asylums, which were intended to provide for the 'cure', and 'safe custody' of people suffering from the ravages of insanity. It considers the origins of the asylums, how they were managed, the people who staffed them, their treatment practices, and the experiences of the people who were incarcerated. 'Community care' in the late 20th century has led us to abandon the network of nineteenth century lunatic asylums. This book reminds us of the ideals that lay behind them. The book contains extensive material regarding particular cities/counties, e.g. Nottingham, Lincoln, Stafford, Wakefield, Lancaster, Bedford, West Riding, Norfolk, Cornwall, Dorset, Suffolk, etc.

Madmen may see monsters – but some monsters hide in plain sight From a basement office in London’s notorious Bethlehem Hospital, former policeman and Pinkerton agent, Sebastian Becker investigates those whose dubious mental health may render them unfit to manage their own affairs. When Becker is sent to interview wealthy landowner Sir Owain Lancaster, he claims that the same dark creatures who killed his family and colleagues in the Amazon have followed him home and are responsible for the deaths of two local young girls. It is not the first time that children have come to harm in his rural countryside town, though few are willing to speak of incidents from the past. Becker must determine whether this mad nobleman is insane and possibly a murderer, or if something more sinister is at work. From dank asylums to the lush and treacherous Amazon, through the makeshift studios of the early film industry and a traveling fair of freaks and illusions, Sebastian Becker’s search for answers brings him face to face with madmen and monsters, both imagined and real.

THE REBEL SLAVES NEED A LEADER. EVEN IF HE'S A WIZARD. EVEN IF HE'S DEAD... The revolutionary DeCade died generations ago, leading the last great revolt of the planet Melange's churls against their despotic feudal masters. His staff and bones were broken and lost; only his songs remain. The churl Dulain joined the Resistance in his youth - an exile Resistance, devoted to readying the churls for their next great attempt at freedom. Now that moment finally nears. Back on Melange for the first time in years, Dulain must now hasten that revolt... or die. The Giant Gar is the mysterious stranger whom no one knows, a power greater than he seems. More powerful, perhaps, than churls, masters, or even the Resistance... This ebook edition contains new cover art by Ashley Cser, and an introduction by the author.

From the editorial head of MTV International and the author of the acclaimed first novel A&R comes a hugely entertaining black comedy about a big time NYC network television exec whose sudden firing forces him into a season in the wilderness as the head of a sorry family-run New England cable TV empire in the fictional town of New Bedlam, RI. Both wicked and big-hearted and often spit-take-level laugh-out-loud funny, New Bedlam is a wonderfully sharp, fun entertainment with real bite. Bobby Kahn fired people. It was the only bad part of a job he loved. If you asked him about it he would say the same five words each of the other 24 network vice presidents said when you asked any of them: “It comes with the turf.” That’s how they talked. They were proudly unoriginal. It’s why they made good television executives. But then one day 36-year-old network golden boy Bobby Kahn of Massapequa Long Island gets the ax himself, the scapegoat for a programming scandal. As he falls from his perch, he grasps for any branch to cling to, but the only lifeline within reach is the once-unthinkably-ignominious opportunity to relocate to the Rhode Island seaside town of New Bedlam and assume the reins of a family-run cable business with a local pipeline monopoly and three small vanity stations.

Eric Banyon, a Renaissance Faire musician, must help Korendil, a young elven noble, prevent an evil elven lord from conquering California.