Medical Malpractice

What are some good books about insane asylums?

I'm looking for books about insane asylums in the 1800s. I'm mostly interested in American and English/British insane asylums, but books about mental health treatment facilities in Europe would be interesting as well. I'm looking for non-fiction, but fiction would be helpful too, so long as it's somewhat accurate. Sorry if this is in the wrong category.

Public Comments

1. I was going to suggest GIRL INTERRUPTED as the movie was based on the biography. Good luck with your search as this seems to be a hard one. Maybe you should try GOOGLE.
2. Hey I haven't read it personally yet (its my next years school book) But apparently "One flew over the cuckoos nest" is really really good. Thats about a mental asylum. I know heaps about mental disorders but thats the only one I know about an asylum. Hope that helps.
3. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest Good movie too
4. Two books to check out-both are non-fiction:Under Observation: Life Inside the McLean Psychiatric Hospital by Lisa Berger and Alexander Vuckovic and The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic with Author Peter Stastny and Photographer Lisa Rinzler. Both are available at Amazon so you can get them through your library (maybe inter-library loan). They don't meet the criteria of the 1800s per se but do serve as a resource with some historical references. For Documentaries take a look at Titicut Follies by Frederick Wiseman (1960s) filmed at Bridgewater (MA) State Hospital -horrific scenes of the everyday lives of the inmates. I'm not sure where you can find it -you might have to ask at YA -movies (I'm sure someone knows how to get it).