A History of Delusions

7.15pm Wednesday 25 May 2022

£8 / £5 concessions (Advance tickets)

£5 Live Stream (Tickets)

Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL

Tube: Holborn

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The brain can misfire in extraordinary ways…

Where do delusions come from and what do they mean? For centuries, delusions have been dismissed as something for doctors to sort out behind closed doors. But delusions are more than just bizarre quirks: they hold the key to collective anxieties and traumas.

The King of France – thinking he was made of glass – was terrified he might shatter…and he wasn’t alone.

After the Emperor met his end at Waterloo, an epidemic of Napoleons piled into France’s asylums.

Throughout the nineteenth century, dozens of middle-aged women tried to convince their physicians that they were, in fact, dead.

For centuries we’ve dismissed delusions as something for doctors to sort out behind locked doors. But delusions are more than just bizarre quirks – they hold the key to collective anxieties and traumas..

Based on the Radio 4 series of the same name, Victoria Shepherd’s book A History of Delusions is a groundbreaking history which uncovers stories of delusions from medieval times to the present day.

Victoria Shepherd conceived and produced the ten-part series A History of Delusions for BBC Radio 4. She has produced scores of documentaries and major strands for BBC Radio 4. She holds an M.A. in creative writing from the University of East Anglia.

7.15pm Wednesday 25 May 2022

£8 / £5 concessions (Advance tickets)

£5 Live Stream (Tickets)

Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL

Tube: Holborn

Directions

Mailing List

Facebook event page

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Time-Slips

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