Diagnosing Literary Genius

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The exploration of psychiatry's evolution in Russia between 1880 and 1930 reveals its deep connection to literature. Irina Sirotkina illustrates how psychiatrists viewed literary works as reflections of national mental health, aligning their practices with the exploration of the human condition. Through pathographies, they enhanced their social status and engaged in political discourse, using literary criticism as a platform. By analyzing the works of notable authors like Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, Sirotkina offers a nuanced perspective on the intertwined history of medicine and literature during a transformative era.