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ellejaoy's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this very interesting book.
I have wanted to read this for a while and it only came to the top of the pile (like so many other books) this week. I knew from the start I would like it as I was completely hooked within pages.
It gives a really interesting view of life back in Broadmoor and wasn't nearly as horrific as I thought it was going to be. It actually really surprised me at how humanely these people where treated.
It would of easily got 5 stars if it wasn't for the amount of time spent at the end on escapes. While interesting at first, after the first few tales, it got boring quite quickly. The bits I enjoyed the most where births at Broadmoor and learning about peoples crime.
I have wanted to read this for a while and it only came to the top of the pile (like so many other books) this week. I knew from the start I would like it as I was completely hooked within pages.
It gives a really interesting view of life back in Broadmoor and wasn't nearly as horrific as I thought it was going to be. It actually really surprised me at how humanely these people where treated.
It would of easily got 5 stars if it wasn't for the amount of time spent at the end on escapes. While interesting at first, after the first few tales, it got boring quite quickly. The bits I enjoyed the most where births at Broadmoor and learning about peoples crime.
nicolewilson's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book but what I enjoyed even more were the reactions I got when I told people what I was reading :P
clairereviews's review against another edition
3.0
I read this because I am interested in the history of mental health and psychiatry. It gives an insight into some of the practice's and 'treatments' that went on in the Victorian era. Very interesting and informative.
ros77uk's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent read; not sensationalist, but not dry and dull either. A fascinating look into Victorian thinking.
ellejayz's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this very interesting book.
I have wanted to read this for a while and it only came to the top of the pile (like so many other books) this week. I knew from the start I would like it as I was completely hooked within pages.
It gives a really interesting view of life back in Broadmoor and wasn't nearly as horrific as I thought it was going to be. It actually really surprised me at how humanely these people where treated.
It would of easily got 5 stars if it wasn't for the amount of time spent at the end on escapes. While interesting at first, after the first few tales, it got boring quite quickly. The bits I enjoyed the most where births at Broadmoor and learning about peoples crime.
I have wanted to read this for a while and it only came to the top of the pile (like so many other books) this week. I knew from the start I would like it as I was completely hooked within pages.
It gives a really interesting view of life back in Broadmoor and wasn't nearly as horrific as I thought it was going to be. It actually really surprised me at how humanely these people where treated.
It would of easily got 5 stars if it wasn't for the amount of time spent at the end on escapes. While interesting at first, after the first few tales, it got boring quite quickly. The bits I enjoyed the most where births at Broadmoor and learning about peoples crime.
soniek's review against another edition
3.0
This book's length should be enough to inform you that it's not a comprehensive coverage of any aspect of life in a lunatic asylum. Instead, it briefly touches a few aspects: the evolution of mental health system in England (rather, its humble beginnings in the 19th century), the evolution of laws around mental illness and crime (crimes driven by lunacy, crimes and lunacy and lunacy after crime), the society's attitude towards mental illness and its patients, the evolution of asylum layouts, living and security arrangements, documentation and dealing with matters like childbirth, institutionalization of patients etc through experience.
Keeping this book's small scope in mind, it's an entertaining read. Despite its shortness, it's well researched (the end consists of all the resources the author referred to). The author has also provided sources for further reading. And he admits that he knew very little about Broadmoor while writing this book, and more detailed works have been published.
This book can serve as a light or an introductory reading for anyone who's starting to read about mental illnesses and mental asylums. As an outsider, I was unaware about Broadmoor Hospital and its significance. But now, having learned that it's still operating, I'm interesting in reading more about it.
Keeping this book's small scope in mind, it's an entertaining read. Despite its shortness, it's well researched (the end consists of all the resources the author referred to). The author has also provided sources for further reading. And he admits that he knew very little about Broadmoor while writing this book, and more detailed works have been published.
This book can serve as a light or an introductory reading for anyone who's starting to read about mental illnesses and mental asylums. As an outsider, I was unaware about Broadmoor Hospital and its significance. But now, having learned that it's still operating, I'm interesting in reading more about it.