Description
Book Synopsis: Its landscaped ground, chosen by Frederick Law Olmsted and dotted with Tudor mansions, could belong to a New England prep school. There are no fences, no guards, no locked gates. But McLean Hospital is a mental institution-one of the most famous, most elite, and once most luxurious in America. McLean "alumni" include Olmsted himself, Robert Lowell, Sylvia Plath, James Taylor and Ray Charles, as well as (more secretly) other notables from among the rich and famous. In its "golden age," McLean provided as genteel an environment for the treatment of mental illness as one could imagine. But the golden age is over, and a downsized, downscale McLean-despite its affiliation with Harvard University-is struggling to stay afloat. Gracefully Insane, by Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam, is a fascinating and emotional biography of McLean Hospital from its founding in 1817 through today. It is filled with stories about patients and doctors: the Ralph Waldo Emerson protégé whose brilliance disappeared along with his madness; Anne Sexton's poetry seminar, and many more. The story of McLean is also the story of the hopes and failures of psychology and psychotherapy; of the evolution of attitudes about mental illness, of approaches to treatment, and of the economic pressures that are making McLean-and other institutions like it-relics of a bygone age. This is a compelling and often oddly poignant reading for fans of books like Plath's The Bell Jar and Susanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted (both inspired by their author's stays at McLean) and for anyone interested in the history of medicine or psychotherapy, or the social history of New England.
Details
Discover the captivating and emotional world of McLean Hospital in Gracefully Insane: Life and Death Inside America's Premier Mental Hospital. This enthralling biography by Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam takes you on a journey from its illustrious beginnings in 1817 to the challenges it faces in the present day. With its stunning landscaped grounds and Tudor mansions, McLean resembles a prestigious New England prep school rather than a mental institution. This is a testament to its commitment to providing a genteel environment for the treatment of mental illness.
In Gracefully Insane, you'll encounter an array of fascinating stories about the patients and doctors who have graced McLean's halls. From the tragic tale of the brilliant Ralph Waldo Emerson protégé whose madness overshadowed his brilliance, to the poetry seminar led by Anne Sexton, this book offers an intimate glimpse into the lives affected by mental illness. You'll also delve into the evolution of psychology and psychotherapy, as well as the societal changes that have shaped our understanding of mental health.
McLean's alumni list reads like a who's who of the rich and famous, with names like Robert Lowell, Sylvia Plath, James Taylor, and Ray Charles discreetly associated with the institution. These individuals, along with many others, have found solace and healing within the walls of McLean. Now, you have the chance to explore their experiences and the legacy they left behind.
Gracefully Insane is a must-read for fans of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar and Susanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted, both of which were inspired by their authors' time at McLean. If you have an interest in the history of medicine, psychotherapy, or the social history of New England, this book will captivate and enlighten you.
Join us on this extraordinary journey through the historical halls of McLean Hospital. Don't miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the compelling world of Gracefully Insane. Order your copy today and uncover the secrets hidden within America's premier mental hospital.
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