Winter, an American Associate Professor of History, gives an
extremely erudite account of the Victorians' fascination with
hypnotism, very relevant for today if you want to understand the
current popularity of hypnotism as demonstrated by the massive
popularity of TV stage hypnotists. By the 1840s most Victorians
would have attended a mesmeric seance, either as part of a small
group in a parlour, or amongst thousands n a crowded hall. The
mesmerist would seat the subject before him - everyone would fall
silent and watch. Mesmerist and subject would stare into each
other's eyes as he made magnetic passes over her. These passes were
long sweeping movements of the hands skimming the surface of the
skin without actually touching it, so close that each felt the heat
of the other's body. After a period the subject would sink into a
state known as the mesmeric trance or coma. The subject appeared to
sleep though her eyes might stay open for a short time. A strange
communion would develop between the mesmerist and her; she would
speak his thoughts, taste the food in his mouth, move her limbs in
a physical echo of his. If mesmerism could transform a conscious
individual into a living marionette, still more extraordinary were
the active powers it gave to the mermeric subject once she slipped
deeper into a mesmeric state. A new sense would open to her shut
eyes. Subjects might claim to see events occurring in the future,
inside the body, in distant lands and even in the heavens. The
Victorians who attended these wonders of the age recorded
fascinating, disturbing and sometimes even life-changing
experiences. Many saw in them the fulfilment of the mind's greatest
potential. But was the subject faking? To prove that the ordinary
senses had been suspended, the mesmerist and members of the
audience fired pistols near the subject's ears, pricked her skin
with needles, poured acid on her skin, thrust knives under her
fingernails, ran electric shocks through her arms and placed
noxious tastes in her mouth. If the tortures produced a response
skeptics dismissed the experiment, if there were none, the trance
was all the more plausible. The complex psychology and sociology of
the dance between the hysteric willing to play act on stage, the
showman doctor and the gullible audience, is entertainingly and
open-mindedly depicted by Winter's scholarly research, providing
some useful insights into the modern day parallels of TV stage
hypnotists. There is, however, an emphasis on seeking cultural
explanations linked to Victorian preoccupations of why mesmerism so
came to the fore in the 18th Century, and a neglect of the
long-standing need of the public to be amazed and intrigued by the
mind. Although the subject matter may appear obscure, anyone
interested in history, particularly that of Victorian Britain, or
bizarre behaviour, and especially the politics of the experts'
understanding of mind in contrast to the public's, will find this
an intriguing book. In particular the detail provided on the
Victorian sensibility is exquisite, making this essential reading
for anyone fascinated by Victorian times or literature. Review by
RAJ PERSAUD Editor's note: Dr Raj Persaud is a Consultant
Psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital in London. (Kirkus UK)
Across 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"
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
