The Book of Phobias and Manias: A History of the World in 99 Obsessions

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ALL BIBLIOMANES A BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE TIMES, FINANCIAL TIMES, SPECTATOR AND DAILY MAIL AS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4 WOMAN’S HOUR AND START THE WEEK Plunge into this rich, surprising and stunningly designed A-Z compendium to discover how our fixations have taken shape, from the Middle Ages to the present day, as bestselling author Kate Summerscale deftly traces the threads between the past and present, the psychological and social, the personal and the political. ‘Fascinating … Phobias and manias create a magical space between us and the world’ Malcolm Gaskill, author of the No. 1 bestseller The Ruin of All Witches ‘Fascinating’ Observer ‘An endlessly intriguing book … All the bibliomanes (book nutters) I know will love it’ Daily Mail