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kristick's review
4.0
Around the Year (ATY) Prompt 17. A book with a neurodiverse character
Robert Lowell, the New England poet had a severe case of bipolar disorder (or manic-depressive as it was described during his life). The author, Kay Redfield Jamison is a researcher in mood disorders who also has bipolar disease. In this book she reviewed his life and work through the lens of his disease.
I found the history and science fascinating. The treatments he endured during his multiple hospital stays during manic stages, the poetry he was able to create, and his relationships were all interesting. Lowell's daughter gave Jamison access to family papers as well as her father's medical records.
I think Jamison goes a bit too easy on Lowell, allowing for his inability to control his actions during his manic phases to forgive events that happened even when he wasn't in an extreme manic phase.. Still, it was an interesting look at an interesting man.
Robert Lowell, the New England poet had a severe case of bipolar disorder (or manic-depressive as it was described during his life). The author, Kay Redfield Jamison is a researcher in mood disorders who also has bipolar disease. In this book she reviewed his life and work through the lens of his disease.
I found the history and science fascinating. The treatments he endured during his multiple hospital stays during manic stages, the poetry he was able to create, and his relationships were all interesting. Lowell's daughter gave Jamison access to family papers as well as her father's medical records.
I think Jamison goes a bit too easy on Lowell, allowing for his inability to control his actions during his manic phases to forgive events that happened even when he wasn't in an extreme manic phase.
Spoiler
She is forgiving of his blatant affairs during his manic phases, but barely mentions the affairs he had at other times. His use of the letters his wife wrote when they were divorcing in his poetry is ameliorated by a quote by Ernest Hemingway about the need to get the words on paper
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