Two Years and Four Months in a Lunatic Asylum: My Life Inside A Closed World From August 20th, 1863 to December 20th, 1865.

by Hiram Chase

Hiram Chase is a well liked Reverend in a small ministry in Utica. When his mental and physical health deteriorates, he is taken to Utica lunatic asylum. After his stay in the asylum, Hiram documents his experiences and those of other patients in the asylum. He describes his daily routine and the negative experiences he had, along with praising certain individuals whom he met during his "Two Years and Four Months in a Lunatic Asylum." (Summary by Elaine Webb)

122 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1868

Reviews

[Lwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting perspective. I read this a week after reading Nellie Bly's "Ten Days in a Madhouse" c.1887. I was surprised to notice that H. Chase had postponed his book for three years because there were other books on the same subject being published and twenty years later Nellie Bly was in an asylum and things had not changed but seemed worse. His full title was Reverend Hiram Chase. He was a reverend before he went in and after he came out. For that time in history, I would have thought his views would have been revered.
I felt both books lacked detail. Many of the comment could have been more persuasive had they not been vague. Other than that the book was engaging. Started and finished it in one sitting.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lack of detail, but interesting to follow.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The major problem is exactly who committed him for what. At one point he admits it is his wife but never follows up on this.
Other than that, well done.

[Kelli Santistevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on LibriVox and it was sad what happened to the author but it was interesting to learn about what he experienced while he was there.