A History of Fatigue - From the Middle Ages to the Present

The term "fatigue" has expanded to include many aspects of life in the 20th and 21st centuries, reflecting changing social mores and broader aspects of social and political life. This book explores the history of fatigue from the Middle Ages to the present, arguing that increased autonomy, individuality, and independence have made it more difficult for us to withstand anything that constrains or limits us, leading to weariness and dissatisfaction.

Format: Hardback
Length: 424 pages
Publication date: 28 October 2022
Publisher: Polity Press

The twenty-first and twenty-first centuries have seen an unrelenting expansion of the meaning of fatigue, with its tentacles infiltrating every aspect of our lives, from the workplace to the home, from relationships with friends and family to the most intimate moments. We are living in a "burn-out society," where fatigue has become the norm. This pioneering book delves into the rich and little-known history of fatigue, from the Middle Ages to the present. Vigarello argues that the increased autonomy of people in Western societies, the positing of a more individualized self, and the ever-expanding ideal of independence and freedom have made it increasingly difficult for us to withstand anything that constrains or limits us. This painful contradiction leads to weariness and dissatisfaction, as fatigue spreads and becomes stronger, permeating everything, seeping into ordinary moments and unexpected places. This history of fatigue spans various aspects, including war, religion, work, the body, the senses, and intimacy, revealing how something that seems permanently centered in our bodies has also been ingrained in our minds, ultimately affecting the innermost aspects of the self.

Weight: 790g
Dimension: 162 x 235 x 41 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509549252