The metamorphosis of autism: A history of child development in Britain (Social Histories of Medicine, 2) - Hardcover

Evans, Bonnie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0719095921 ISBN 13: 9780719095924

Publisher: Manchester University Press, 2017

Synopsis

This book is available as an open access ebook under a CC-BY-NC-ND licence.

What is autism and where has it come from? Increased diagnostic rates, the rise of the 'neurodiversity' movement, and growing autism journalism, have recently fuelled autism's fame and controversy. The metamorphosis of autism is the first book to explain our current fascination with autism by linking it to a longer history of childhood development. Drawing from a staggering array of primary sources, Bonnie Evans traces autism back to its origins in the early twentieth century and explains why the idea of autism has always been controversial and why it experienced a 'metamorphosis' in the 1960s and 1970s.

Evans takes the reader on a journey of discovery from the ill-managed wards of 'mental deficiency' hospitals, to high-powered debates in the houses of parliament, and beyond. The book will appeal to a wide market of scholars and others interested in autism.

About this title

About the Author

Bonnie Evans is Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellow in the History Department at Queen Mary, University of London

Review

‘Undoubtedly, this book will serve as a central text for those interested in the history of children, medicine, and psychology in twentieth century Britain. To all its readers, The Metamorphosis of Autism offers a masterclass in the creation of a cogent and stimulating historical analysis.’ David Kilgannon, MedHum Daily Dose July 2017 ‘This is a worthwhile resource for anyone looking at the evolution of the syndrome of autism spectrum disorder from the original use of the term autism within psychiatry.’ Peter Carpenter, May 2017, British Society for the History of Medicine 'Bonnie Evans's great history of autism in UK sets the bar high! Professor Jonathyne Briggs, History Department, Indiana University Northwest 'Read Bonnie Evans's excellent recent book' Dr Carsten Timmerman, Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, Manchester University, and Chair of the Executive Committee of the Society for the Social History of Medicine 'Great to see launch of Bonnie Evans's fabulous new book' Professor Stuart Murray, Director of the Leeds Centre for Medical Humanities, Leeds University ‘It offers a complex but commendable and important account of historical development, which can also be used as a comprehensive reference work with a detailed keyword index.’ Raphael Zahnd, H-Net Reviews, January 2018 'an excellent history of autism in Britain, and a volume which historians of childhood, child welfare, social policy, and the social sciences would be foolish to ignore.' Prof. John Stewart, The Journal for the History of Childhood and Youth

Edition details

• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0719095921
• ISBN 13: 9780719095924
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 512