September 19, 2005
Madness in literature:
In light of the new book by novelist Sebastian Faulks that focuses on psychiatry and madness, the BBC have put a piece online about the history of mental disturbance in literature.
Many highly regard authors have been diagnosed with some form of mental illness, not least of whom is Faulks himself, who has been treated for depression in the past.
Other famous examples, such as poet Sylvia Plath and novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky, wrote about their own experiences and played a significant part in de-stigmatising mental distrsss.
Faulks discusses his own experiences and the development of his new novel, entitled Human Traces, in a recent newspaper article.
Link to BBC article " Literature's love affair with the mind"
Link to article and interview with Faulks.
