Damnation Island - Poor, Sick, Mad, and Criminal in 19th-Century New York (Paperback)

"Enthralling; it is well worth the trip." --New York Journal of Books Conceived as the most modern, humane incarceration facility the world had ever seen, New York's Blackwell's Island, site of a lunatic asylum, two prisons, an almshouse, and a number of hospitals, quickly became, in the words of a visiting Charles Dickens, "a lounging, listless madhouse." Digging through city records, newspaper articles, and archival reports, Stacy Horn tells a gripping narrative through the voices of the island's inhabitants. We also hear from the era's officials, reformers, and journalists, including the celebrated undercover reporter Nellie Bly. And we follow the extraordinary Reverend William Glenney French as he ministers to Blackwell's residents, battles the bureaucratic mazes of the Department of Correction and a corrupt City Hall, testifies at salacious trials, and in his diary wonders about man's inhumanity to his fellow man. Damnation Island shows how far we've come in caring for the least fortunate among us--and reminds us how much work still remains.

General

Imprint:	Algonquin Books (division of Workman)
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	May 2019
Authors:	Stacy Horn
Dimensions:	208 x 137 x 20mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Trade
Pages:	320
ISBN-13:	978-1-61620-935-3
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > Psychology > General Books > Medicine > General issues > History of medicine Books > Humanities > History > World history > 1750 to 1900 Books > Humanities > History > American history > General Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social issues > Poverty Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social issues > Unemployment Books > Medicine > General issues > Health systems & services > Mental health services Books > History > American history > General Books > History > World history > 1750 to 1900
LSN:	1-61620-935-6
Barcode:	9781616209353

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