The Alienist by Machado de Assis
The story revolves around a well-respected physician who establishes an asylum in a small Brazilian town to study and treat mental illness. As he begins to diagnose and institutionalize an increasing number of townspeople, the line between sanity and insanity blurs, leading to chaos and unrest within the community. The narrative explores themes of power, the nature of madness, and the impact of scientific ambition on society, ultimately questioning the true definition of normalcy and the ethics of psychiatric practice.
The 16765th greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 1882
- Nationality
- Brazilian
- Length
- Very Short
- Pages
- 50-100
- Original Language
- Portuguese
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.7)
- Alternate Titles
-
- O Alienista
- The Psychiatrist
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This book is on the following 1 lists:
- 5132nd on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)