Mesmerized: Powers of Mind in Victorian BritainAcross Victorian Britain, apparently reasonable people twisted into bizarre postures, called out in unknown languages, and placidly bore assaults that should have caused unbearable pain all while they were mesmerized. Alison Winter's fascinating cultural history traces the history of mesmerism in Victorian society. Mesmerized is both a social history of the age and a lively exploration of the contested territory between science and pseudo-science. "Dazzling. . . . This splendid book . . . gives us a new form of historical understanding and a model for open and imaginative reading."—James R. Kinkaid, Boston Globe "A landmark in the history of science scholarship."—John Sutherland, The Independent "It is difficult to imagine the documentary side of the story being better done than by Winter's well-researched and generously illustrated study. . . . She is a lively and keen observer; and her book is a pleasure to read purely for its range of material and wealth of detail. . . . Fruitful and suggestive."—Daniel Karlin, Times Literary Supplement "An ambitious, sweeping and fascinating historical study. . . . Beautifully written, thoroughly researched, and well-illustrated."—Bernard Lightman, Washington Times |
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Ada Lovelace anesthesia animal magnetism audience authority Bagehot became body Britain British broadsheet Calcutta Carpenter century claimed clairvoyant controversial culture debate developed Dickens display doctors Dupotet effects electric Elliotson Esdaile Esdaile's ether experimental eyes Faraday Faraday's FIGURE Hall hand Harriet Martineau Henry Crabb Robinson Houghton Papers Howard Morpeth human Indian individuals influence Institute intellectual involved John Elliotson journal knowledge Lancet Lardner lectures Letters Library London Martineau to Monckton Mary Russell Mitford medicine ment meric merism mesmeric anesthesia mesmeric experiments Mesmeric Hospital mesmeric phenomena mesmeric subject mesmerism's mesmerist Michael Faraday mind Mitford Monckton Milnes Morpeth natural nervous notion O'Key O'Key's one's pain patients phrenological physical physiology political practice produced psychic Purland Papers readers reform relations Sandby scientific Scoresby sensation sense sickroom sleep social society spiritual status surgeon surgical table-turning Thomas Wakley thought tion trance trial University College Hospital Victorian Wakley woman