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raulbime 's review for:
The Alienist
by Machado de Assis
I'd first like to thank Márcio for recommending this writer to me. I knew close to nothing about Machado de Assis priori to his recommendation.
Simão Bacamarte, a respected and great doctor, leaves Portugal and journeys back to his town of Itagua in Brazil to undertake scientific study. He takes psychopathology as his area of study, and with the help of the town officials opens the green house which he uses to constrain and heal his patients. This story is a fascinating parable exploring madness (as the doctor tries to define it, measure it, compare it, heal it), and power as the green house soon becomes the center of the town's focus with suspicions of political intrigue, and later becomes the reason for upheavals. A short book that leaves the mind churning when finished.
Simão Bacamarte, a respected and great doctor, leaves Portugal and journeys back to his town of Itagua in Brazil to undertake scientific study. He takes psychopathology as his area of study, and with the help of the town officials opens the green house which he uses to constrain and heal his patients. This story is a fascinating parable exploring madness (as the doctor tries to define it, measure it, compare it, heal it), and power as the green house soon becomes the center of the town's focus with suspicions of political intrigue, and later becomes the reason for upheavals. A short book that leaves the mind churning when finished.