R. D. Laing, Wisdom, Madness and Folly

Daniel Burston (Duquesne University); Gavin Miller (University of Glasgow)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.09: English Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary Britain , 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Gina Lyle (University of Glasgow), Graham MacPhee (University of Manchester), Kerry Myler (Birmingham Newman University), Jenni Ramone (The Nottingham Trent University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1985

Places

Scotland (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Autobiography (any)

Resources

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In some ways, R.D. Laing's autobiography is a curious work. Laing cautions readers that they will find little on his sex and family life, on his friends or social circle, or even on the scholarly background to his theories. This warning is not entirely true: there are lengthy passages on his family of origin, and frequent philosophical and psychiatric references. The text also follows a clear historical narrative, tracing the author's life from family and schooling, through to university, military service, and his early work in mental hospitals. Nonetheless, the gist of Laing's warning is accurate. Instead of writing a conventional autobiography, he uses the template of a life story to bring together the many incidents and scenes that led him to oppose conventional psychiatric practice.…

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1688 words

Citation: Burston, Daniel, Gavin Miller. "Wisdom, Madness and Folly". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 August 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=16856, accessed 24 April 2024.]

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