Hearing Voices: The History of Psychiatry in Ireland

This monumental work by one of Ireland’s leading psychiatrists encompasses every psychiatric development from the Middle Ages to the present day, and examines their far-reaching social and political effects. From the “Glenn of Lunatics,” said to cure mental illness, to the overloaded asylums of later centuries, Ireland has had an extensive and often unsettled history in the practice and perception of psychiatry. Kelly’s definitive work examines Ireland’s unique relationship with conceptions of mental illness throughout the centuries, delving into each medical breakthrough and every misuse of authority. Through fascinating archival records, Kelly writes a crisp and accessible history, evaluating everything from individual case histories to the seismic effects of the First World War. Hearing Voices is a marvel that affords incredible insight into Ireland’s social and medical history while providing powerful observations on our current treatment of mental ill health in Ireland.

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