Description
Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive account of how medical insight and folk psychology met in the courtroom, this book makes clear the tragedy of the crimes, the spectacle of the trials, and the consequences of the diagnosis for the emerging field of forensic psychiatry.
Trade ReviewEigen has gone deeper than anyone to date in analysing the course of the insanity defence in English law. His trilogy is the go-to source for this fascinating and distressing topic. Times Higher Education An unlikely subject for vacation or bedtime reading? On the contrary, the 'mad-doctors" task is unequivocally compelling. Eigen translates his extensive research clearly as a scientific rather than sensational exposition. Readers interested in criminal jurisprudence, the complexities of temporary insanity, and contemporary criminal procedure in light of the historical background will be fascinated. Seattle Book Review From a historical perspective, the narrative is very interesting and easily flows. The work is highly recommended for undergraduates, graduate students in psychiatry and forensic medicine, and researchers in jurisprudence. Choice
Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Chapter 1. Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Criminal Trials before the Lawyer Chapter 2. Delusion and Its Discontents Chapter 3.When Practitioners Become Professionals: The Alienists' Claim to KnowledgeChapter 4. The Diagnosis in the Dock Chapter 5. The Witness Takes the Stand Chapter 6. Homicidal Mania: Provenance and Cultural Context Chapter 7. The View from the Bench: Judicial Discretion and Forensic-Psychiatric Evidence Conclusion. On the Origins of Diagnosis Notes Index
