About the book
On the outskirts of Havana lies Mazorra, an asylum known to — and at times feared by — ordinary Cubans for over a century. Since its founding in 1857, the island’s first psychiatric hospital has been an object of persistent political attention. Drawing on hospital documents and government records, as well as the popular press, photographs, and oral histories, Jennifer L. Lambe charts the connections between the inner workings of this notorious institution and the highest echelons of Cuban politics. Across the sweep of modern Cuban history, she finds, Mazorra has served as both laboratory and microcosm of the Cuban state: the asylum is an icon of its ignominious colonial and neocolonial past and a crucible of its republican and revolutionary futures.
From its birth, Cuban psychiatry was politically inflected, drawing partisan contention while sparking debates over race, religion, gender, and sexuality. Psychiatric notions were even invested with revolutionary significance after 1959, as the new government undertook ambitious schemes for social reeducation. But Mazorra was not the exclusive province of government officials and professionalizing psychiatrists. U.S. occupiers, Soviet visitors, and, above all, ordinary Cubans infused the institution, both literal and metaphorical, with their own fears, dreams, and alternative meanings. Together, their voices comprise the madhouse that, as Lambe argues, haunts the revolutionary trajectory of Cuban history.
Editions of Madhouse
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469631011
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469631028
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469631042
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890851185
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469631035
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890851178
Read an Excerpt
On the outskirts of Havana lies Mazorra, an asylum known to — and at times feared by — ordinary Cubans for over a century. Since its founding in 1857, the island’s first psychiatric hospital has been an object of persistent political attention. Drawing on hospital documents and government records, as well as the popular press, photographs, and oral histories, Jennifer L. Lambe charts the connections between the inner workings of this notorious institution and the highest echelons of Cuban politics. Across the sweep of modern Cuban history, she finds, Mazorra has served as both laboratory and microcosm of the Cuban state: the asylum is an icon of its ignominious colonial and neocolonial past and a crucible of its republican and revolutionary futures.
From its birth, Cuban psychiatry was politically inflected, drawing partisan contention while sparking debates over race, religion, gender, and sexuality. Psychiatric notions were even invested with revolutionary significance after 1959, as the new government undertook ambitious schemes for social reeducation. But Mazorra was not the exclusive province of government officials and professionalizing psychiatrists. U.S. occupiers, Soviet visitors, and, above all, ordinary Cubans infused the institution, both literal and metaphorical, with their own fears, dreams, and alternative meanings. Together, their voices comprise the madhouse that, as Lambe argues, haunts the revolutionary trajectory of Cuban history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Madhouse about?
On the outskirts of Havana lies Mazorra, an asylum known to — and at times feared by — ordinary Cubans for over a century. Since its founding in 1857, the island’s first psychiatric hospital has been an object of persistent political attention. Drawing on hospital documents and government records, as well as the popular press, photographs, and oral histories, Jennifer L. Lambe charts the connections between the inner workings of this notorious institution and the highest echelons of Cuban politics. Across the sweep of modern Cuban history, she finds, Mazorra has served as both laboratory and microcosm of the Cuban state: the asylum is an icon of its ignominious colonial and neocolonial past and a crucible of its republican and revolutionary futures.
From its birth, Cuban psychiatry was politically inflected, drawing partisan contention while sparking debates over race, religion, gender, and sexuality. Psychiatric notions were even invested with revolutionary significance after 1959, as the new government undertook ambitious schemes for social reeducation. But Mazorra was not the exclusive province of government officials and professionalizing psychiatrists. U.S. occupiers, Soviet visitors, and, above all, ordinary Cubans infused the institution, both literal and metaphorical, with their own fears, dreams, and alternative meanings. Together, their voices comprise the madhouse that, as Lambe argues, haunts the revolutionary trajectory of Cuban history.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Madhouse?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Madhouse?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469631011
How long is Madhouse and how many pages does it have?
Madhouse has 344 page(s)
Is Madhouse part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Envisioning Cuba
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Madhouse?
Jennifer L. Lambe
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Madhouse is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469631011) and paperback(ISBN 9781469631028) and ebook(ISBN 9781469631042) and ebook(ISBN 9798890851185) and ebook(ISBN 9781469631035) and pdf(ISBN 9798890851178)
Where can I buy Madhouse online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Madhouse from below
Where can I buy Madhouse?