The Idea of Epilepsy: A Medical and Social History of Epilepsy in the Modern Era (1860–2020)

Epilepsy has a fascinating history. To the medical historian Oswei Temkin it was 'the paradigm of the suffering of both body and soul in disease'. It is justifiably considered a window on brain function. And yet its story is more than simply a medical narrative, but one influenced also by scientific, societal and personal themes. Written for a medical and non-medical readership, this book describes the major developments in epilepsy between 1860–2020, a turbulent era in which science dominated as an explanatory model, medical theories and practices steered an erratic course, and societal attitudes and approaches to epilepsy fluctuated dramatically. In the middle of this maelstrom was the person with epilepsy at the mercy of social attitudes and legislation, and at times harmed as well as helped by medicine and science. So entangled is the history that intriguingly, as an entity, epilepsy may now be thought not even to exist.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Section 1. The voyage of the good ship epilepsy:; Introduction:; Prologue: a note on the concept of epilepsy; Section 2. 'A plague upon your epileptic visage'; 1. 1860–1914 the birth of modern epilepsy; 2. 1914–1945 epilepsy in the age of catastrophe; 3. 1945–1970 epilepsy and the new world order; 4. 1970–1995 epilepsy in a globalised world; 5. 1995–2020 the epilepsy floods are too recent; Section 3. Epilepsy: The paradigm of the suffering of both body and soul in disease; Epilogue: The separation of the wheat from the chaff; Appendix 1. The epilepsy balance sheet; Appendix 2. Obsolete or failed theories and treatments; Appendix 3. The international league against epilepsy; Glossary of scientific and medical terms in the field of epilepsy; Bibliography; Index of names; Index.

About the Author :
Simon Shorvon is Emeritus Professor of Clinical Neurology at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Hon. Consultant Neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, where he has worked as a clinical academic specialising in epilepsy for over four decades. He has also served as the Vice President of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), Harveian Librarian at the Royal College of Physicians, co-Editor-in-Chief of Epilepsia, and as Chair of Neurology at University College London. He has won lifetime achievement awards for his work in epilepsy from the American Epilepsy Society, Epilepsy Europe, the British Branch of the ILAE and the Shrinivasan and GopalaKrishna foundations in India. He has, with others, published series of textbooks including: Neurology (2 editions 2009, 2016), Epilepsy and Epileptic Seizures (2013), Treatment of Epilepsy (4 editions 1996–2016), and Causes of Epilepsy (2 editions 2011, 2019). He has, with others, also published books on neurological history, including ILAE 1909–2009: A Centenary History (2009), Physicians at War (2016), 500 Years of the Royal College of Physicians (2018), Queen Square, A History of the National Hospital and its Institute of Neurology (2019).

Review :
'We can only be grateful for this great work...a masterpiece.' Jürg Kesselring, Swiss Archives of Neurology, Psychiatry and Psychotherapy '… a beautiful study book, perfect to work with on a desk; however, it is much more than a study book, it is a book to be read and read again.' Walter van Emde Boas, Brain Review 'Shorvon is encyclopedic at least for the first three periods whose description is truly outstanding. It is amazing how many details about persons, exchanges and disputes the author knows, and he tells them with elegance and humor that make these chapters not only enlightening but also most pleasant reading.' Peter Wolf, Epilepsia Open 'a 'magnum opus' … its over 600 pages are packed with a compelling account of the interaction of scientific, medical and societal approaches to epilepsy and how these were reflected in the perspectives of people living with epilepsy.' Markus Reuber, Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy '… a rich source of interesting aspects of the history of epilepsy in the past 160 years.' Peter Koehler, World Neurology 'Shorvon addresses the changing concepts of epilepsy in the second section of the book, which provides a fascinating and detailed chronological narrative.' Francesco Brigo, Journal of The History of the Neurosciences 'There is no doubt that this volume is something that any epilepsy specialist should have on their shelves. It will represent a starting point for subsequent historical books on the subject and it may influence future discussion about the concept and 'idea' of epilepsy.' Marco Mula, Epilepsy & Behavior 'In a word, splendid. … astoundingly clear, erudite, and fascinating. … Simply put, I could not put it down.' Phillip Pearl, Epigraph 'This book is a resource that belongs in every library. …The Idea of Epilepsy is suitable not only for epileptologists and neurologists but also for anyone with an interest in the history of medicine.' Gunter Kraemer, The Lancet Neurology