Itineraries and Languages of Madness in the Early Modern World: Family Experience, Legal Practice, and Medical Knowledge in Eighteenth-Century Tuscany

This book explores the spaces in which madness was recorded in Tuscany during the eighteenth century, proposing the notion of itineraries of madness to examine records of madness across different spaces. It emphasizes the role of families in shaping new understandings of madness and how lay notions interacted with legal and medical knowledge.

Format: Hardback
Length: 284 pages
Publication date: 06 July 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Drawing from a diverse array of sources, including interdiction procedures, criminal justice records, documentation from mental hospitals, and medical literature, this comprehensive book delves into the spaces of madness in Tuscany during the eighteenth century. It introduces the concept of itineraries of madness, serving as a heuristic tool to explore records of madness across various locations where it was disclosed. By examining these records, the book sheds light on the interconnectedness between how madness was understood and experienced, the language used to describe it, and the public and private responses formulated to address it. At the heart of its analysis, this book emphasizes the profound impact of the emotional experiences of Tuscan families on shaping new understandings of madness. It underscores the central role of families in shaping these understandings and the interplay between lay notions and legal and medical knowledge. The book argues that perceptions of madness in the eighteenth century were intricately linked to emerging cultural concerns surrounding family relationships and roles, leading to a significant shift in the meanings and attitudes toward mental disturbances.

Drawing from a diverse array of sources, including interdiction procedures, criminal justice records, documentation from mental hospitals, and medical literature, this comprehensive book delves into the spaces of madness in Tuscany during the eighteenth century. It introduces the concept of itineraries of madness, serving as a heuristic tool to explore records of madness across various locations where it was disclosed. By examining these records, the book sheds light on the interconnectedness between how madness was understood and experienced, the language used to describe it, and the public and private responses formulated to address it. At the heart of its analysis, this book emphasizes the profound impact of the emotional experiences of Tuscan families on shaping new understandings of madness. It underscores the central role of families in shaping these understandings and the interplay between lay notions and legal and medical knowledge. The book argues that perceptions of madness in the eighteenth century were intricately linked to emerging cultural concerns surrounding family relationships and roles, leading to a significant shift in the meanings and attitudes toward mental disturbances.

Weight: 590g
Dimension: 161 x 242 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367528287