Holy Anorexia

Description

Is there a resemblance between the contemporary anorexic teenager counting every calorie in her single-minded pursuit of thinness, and an ascetic medieval saint examining her every desire? Rudolph M. Bell suggests that the answer is yes. "Everyone interested in anorexia nervosa . . . should skim this book or study it. It will make you realize how dependent upon culture the definition of disease is. I will never look at an anorexic patient in the same way again."—Howard Spiro, M.D., Gastroenterology "[This] book is a first-class social history and is well-documented both in its historical and scientific portions."—Vern L. Bullough, American Historical Review "A significant contribution to revisionist history, which re-examines events in light of feminist thought. . . . Bell is particularly skillful in describing behavior within its time and culture, which would be bizarre by today's norms, without reducing it to the pathological."—Mary Lassance Parthun, Toronto Globe and Mail "Bell is both enlightened and convincing. His book is impressively researched, easy to read, and utterly fascinating."—Sheila MacLeod, New Statesman Contents ......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 1. Recognition and Treatment......Page 14 2. I, Catherine......Page 35 3. The Cloister......Page 67 4. Wives and Mothers......Page 97 5. Historical Dimensions: Ascent......Page 127 6. Historical Dimensions: Decline......Page 180 Epilogue......Page 209 Notes......Page 220 Bibliography......Page 244 Sources for Figures......Page 267 Index......Page 270 Illustrations follow page 116......Page 130