annieb123's Review of Broadmoor Women

by Thomas, Kim E

Broadmoor, Britain's first asylum for criminal lunatics, was founded in 1863. In the first years of its existence, one in five patients was female. Most had been tried for terrible crimes and sent to Broadmoor after being found not guilty by virtue of insanity. Many had murdered their own children, while others had killed husbands or other family members.

Drawing on Broadmoor's rich archive, this book tells the story of seven of those women, ranging from a farmer's daughter in her 20s who shot dead her own mother to a middle-class housewife who drowned her baby daughter. Their moving stories give a glimpse into what nineteenth-century life was like for ordinary women, often struggling with poverty, domestic abuse and repeated childbearing. For some, Broadmoor, with its regime of plain food, fresh air and garden walks, was a respite from the hardships of their previous life. Others were desperate to return to their families.

All but one of the women whose stories are recounted in this book recovered and were released. Their bout of insanity was temporary. Yet the causes of their condition were poorly understood and the treatment rudimentary. As well as providing an in-depth look at the lives of women in Victorian England, the book offers a fascinating insight into the medical profession's emerging understanding of the causes and treatment of mental illness.

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Broadmoor Women is a succinctly written collection of short biographies of 7 residents of Broadmoor by Kim Thomas. Due out 30th June 2022 from Pen & Sword, it's 240 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is a very well researched and meticulously annotated history of some of the women who were committed to the institution for the criminally insane in the middle to late Victorian era (1863 - 1896). It was interesting and more engaging to me because the author chose to concentrate on a more detailed history with a narrower focus (7 particular women) rather than a more general and less detail oriented survey of the hospital. The introduction does give a general overview of the classification and treatment of mental health and illness in those days as well as a short history of Broadmoor.

The biographies of the subjects are full of pathos and it's easy to feel compassion for the women who were often desperate and otherwise powerless.

The writing is accessible and flows well. It's academically competent, but not overwrought or intentionally obfuscated. The chapter notes and bibliography are well worth a perusal and will provide many hours of additional reading.

In many places, I found the reading difficult and sad. Nobody who was resident at Broadmoor had an easy time of it, and most of these women lived exceedingly difficult lives full of pain and sorrow. The author does a very good job of showing despite vastly different backgrounds, they all came for a time to the same place (over a 30 year period).

Four stars. Fascinating (if somewhat depressing) history.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Broadmoor Women

by Thomas, Kim E

Reviewed by annieb123 on Apr 25, 2022

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