Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of CrowdsIntroduction by Professor Norman Stone. This classic catalogue of some of the more outre enthusiasms - speculative, social, religious and just plain daft - serves as a salutary reminder that the follies of mankind are not unique to the modern world. Whenever struck by campaigns, fads, cults and fashions, the reader may take some comfort that Charles Mackay can demonstrate historical parallels for almost every neurosis of our times. The South Sea Bubble, Witch Mania, Alchemy, the Crusades, Fortune-telling, Haunted Houses, and even 'Tulipomania' are only some of the subjects covered in this book, which is given a contemporary perspective through Professor Norman Stone's lively new Introduction. AUTHOR: Charles Mackay (1812-1889) was a Scottish journalist, poet and author. He is remembered for his book 'Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds', a history of popular follies which is now valued as a history of social psychology and psychopathology. |
Contents
THE MISSISSIPPI SCHEME | 1 |
THE SOUTHSEA BUBBLE | 46 |
THE TULIPOMANIA | 89 |
THE ALCHYMISTS | 98 |
Introductory remarksPretended antiquity of the aitGeber | 256 |
FORTUNETELLING | 281 |
THE MAGNETISERS | 304 |
INFLUENCE OF POLITICS AND RELIGION ON THE HAIR AND BEARD | 346 |
Different accounts of the Crusaders derived from History | 463 |
THE SLOW POISONERS | 565 |
HAUNTED HOUSES | 593 |
POPULAR FOLLIES OF GREAT CITIES | 619 |
POPULAR ADMIRATION OF GREAT THIEVES | 632 |
Robin HoodClaude DuvalDick TurpinJonathan WildJack | 646 |
The True CrossTears of our SaviourThe Santa Scala or Holy | 695 |
THE CRUSADES | 350 |
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accused afterwards alchymist alchymy appeared army became believed body brought burned Cagliostro called cause century Christians Church confessed Count Count of Toulouse court credulous crime Crusaders cure death delusion devil discovered disease duel Duke elixir emperor endeavoured enemy England Europe evil extraordinary favour fell France friends gave Germany Godfrey of Bouillon gold guilty hands holy honour hundred imagination Jack Sheppard Jerusalem John of Brienne king lady land latter lived livres London Lord Louis magnetised magnetism Matthew Hopkins means millions murder never Nicholas Flamel night Palestine Paracelsus Paris parliament persons Peter the Hermit philosopher philosopher's stone physician poison poor pope popular possession pretended prince punishment refused regent Rosicrucians Sainte Croix Saladin Saracens says secret sent shew soon South-Sea spirits things thought thousand tion took transmutation trial whole witchcraft witches woman women