About the Book
As a psychiatric term ‘depression’ dates back only as far as the mid-nineteenth century. Before then a wide range of terms were used: ‘melancholy’ carried enormous weight, and was one of the two confirmed forms of eighteenth-century insanity. This four-volume set is the first large-scale study of depression across an extensive period.
Table of Contents:
Volume 1: Religious Writings Henry More, Divine Dialogues (1668); Edward Fowler, The Principles and Practices of Certain Moderate Divines of the Church of England (1670); Richard Baxter, God's Goodness Vindicated (1671); Joseph Glanvill, Anti-Fanatical Religion, and Free Philosophy (1676); Richard Baxter, The Cure of Melancholy and Overmuch Sorrow by Faith and Physick (1683); Frances Norton, Memento Mori: or, Meditations on Death (1705); Richard Davies, An Account of the Convincement, Exercises, Services and Travels of that Ancient Servant of the Lord, Richard Davies (1710); John Stevenson, A Rare Soul Strengthning (1729); William Crawford, Zion's Traveller: or, The Soul's Progress to Heaven (1729); Samuel Clarke, Sermon XIV. Of Religious Melancholy (1731); Anne Dutton, A Brief Account of the Gracious Dealings of God with a Poor, Sinful, Unworthy Creature (1750); John Wesley, The Wilderness State. Heaviness thro' Manifold Temptations (1760); John Langhorne, Letters on Religious Retirement, Melancholy and Enthusiasm (1762); Elisabeth West, Memoirs, or Spiritual Exercises of Elisabeth West (1766); Benjamin Fawcett, Observations on the Nature, Causes and Cure of Melancholy (1780); John Howie, Memoirs of the Life of John Howie (1796) Volume 2: Medical Writings Gideon Harvey, Morbus Anglicus: or, The Anatomy of Consumptions (1666); Thomas Willis, Dr. Willis's Receipts for the Cure of all Distempers (1701); David Irish, Levamen Infirmi: or, Cordial Counsel to the Sick and Diseased (1700); 'Sir John Midriff', Observations on the Spleen and Vapours (1721); Anon., A Treatise of Diseases of the Head, Brain, and Nerves (1721); William Stukely, Of the Spleen (1723); Sir Richard Blackmore, A Treatise of the Spleen and Vapours (1725); John Woodward, Select Cases, and Consultations, in Physick (1757); Richard Browne, Medicina Musica (1729); Edward Synge, Sober Thoughts for the Cure of Melancholy, especially that which is Religious (1749); Anon., A Treatise on the Dismal Effects of Low-Spiritedness (1750); Robert Whytt, Observations on the Nature, Causes, and Cure of those Disorders which have been commonly called Nervous Hypochondriac, or Hysteric (1765); William Smith, A Dissertation upon the Nerves (1768); 'William Wishwell', A Cure for Melancholy (1777); John Leake, Medical Instructions Towards the Prevention and Cure of Chronic Diseases Peculiar to Women (1781); Benjamin Fawcett, Observations on the Nature, Causes and Cure of Melancholy (1780); Friedrich Hoffman, A System of the Practice of Medicine (1783); John Wesley, Thoughts on Nervous Disorders (1784); William Perfect, Cases of Insanity, the Epilepsy, Hypochondriacal Affection, Hysteric Passion, and Nervous Disorders (1785); William Rowley, A Treatise on Female, Nervous, Hysterical, Hypochondriacal, Bilious, Convulsive Diseases (1788) Volume 3: Autobiographical Writings Antony Wood, The Life of Anthony a Wood (1637-69); Alice Thornton, A Booke of Remembrances (1660-1); Edmund Berry Godfrey, Letters to Valentine Greatracks (1666-71); Elizabeth Freke, Some Few Remembrances of my Misffortuns (1671-1713); Anon, An Abstract of the Remarkable Passages in the Life of a Private Gentleman (1715); George Drummond, Diary (1736); Thomas Blacklock, 'An Hymn to Fortitude' (1754); Andrew Erskine, 'Ode I. To Indolence' (1762); Andrew Erskine, Letters between the Honourable Andrew Erskine and James Boswell Esquire (1763); Sylas Neville, Journals and Letters (1767-73); Charlotte Forman, Letters to John Wilkes (1768-9); Georgiana Cavendish, Letter to Mary Graham (1778); John Logan, Letters to Alexander Carlyle (1781); James Boswell, Letter to Edmund Burke (1782); Robert Burns, Robert Burns' Commonplace Book (1783-5); John Gambold, The Rev J G To E V Esq (1740); John Gambold, 'On Lowness of Spirits' (1789); John Gambold, 'A Piece Written at a Time when under Apprehension of Losing his Senses' (1789); Joseph Wright, Letters to John Leigh Phillips (1799-96); Hannah Robertson, The Life of Mrs Robertson (1791) Volume 4: Popular Culture Anon, The Lovers Mad Fits and Fancies ([c.1663-5]); Anon, The Discontented Plow-Man ([c.1674-9]); Anon, The Love-Sick Maid; or Cordelia's Lament ([c.1670]); Anon, The Love-Sick Maid of Waping ([c.1682-8]); Charles Gildon, The Post-Boy Robb'd of his Mail (1706); Edward Ward, Nuptial Dialogues and Debates (1710); Thomas D'Urfey, The Comical History of Don Quixote (1729); Thomas Gordon, The Humourist. Essays upon Several Subjects (1730); Anon, The Hyp (1737); Wetenhall Wilkes, The Humours of the Black-Dog (1737); Anon., The Temple of Dulness (1745); Thomas Sheridan, The Simile: or, Woman a Cloud. A Poem (1748); Anon, 'Society of the Court of Comus' (1757); Joseph Bromehead, The Melancholy Student. An Elegiac Poem ([1765/9]); Ashley Cowper, 'To a Lady' (1767); Pierre John Grosley, A Tour to London (1772); [Matthew Green], The Wag: or Life of Honour, and the Soul of Whim. 'The Spleen An Epistle' (1773); J M [James Murray], The Travels of the Imagination. A True Journey from Newcastle to London (1773); Anon., Mirth, A Poem in Answer to Warton's Pleasures of Melancholy ([1774]); George Colman, The Spleen, or Islington Spa (1776); John Rubrick [William Kenrick], The Spleen, or the Offspring of Folly (1776); H Bate Dudley [Sir Henry Bate], The Magic Picture, A Play (1783); Robert Sadler, Wanley Penson; or, The Melancholy Man (1792); Edward Walsh, 'Ode to Hypochondria' (1793); Thomas Bellamy, Sadaski; or, The Wandering Penitent (1798); John Macgowen, Infernal Conference, or, Dialogues with Devils (1799); Anon., The Budget of Momus (1800); C C, A Melancholy but True Story ([1800]); Charles Kemble, The Point of Honour (1800); Anon., 'The Man of Spleen', The Governess, or Evening Amusements at a Boarding School (1800)
Review :
'an excellent anthology suited for introductory as well as advanced purposes of study.' BARS Bulletin
