The Best Specimen of a Tyrant

by Thomas Doherty

AWARDED THE WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY "BOOK OF MERIT" FOR 2008 AS THE YEAR'S BEST BOOK ABOUT WISCONSIN HISTORY. The Best Specimen of a Tyrant is the true story of an ambitious physician's stormy tenure as superintendent of the Wisconsin Insane Hospital in its early years. During the Civil War, Dr. Abraham Van Norstrand had pieced together one of the Union army's biggest hospitals and toiled over its operating tables, saving hundreds upon hundreds of battle-torn soldiers - while secretly monopolizing the lucrative whiskey trade that kept their comrades drunk. Back home, he succeeded where others had failed, taking charge of the Wisconsin Insane Hospital and ruling tirelessly - while assaulting patients and serving them tainted food purchased from his own grocery store. Whether caught up in the gold rush mindset of the frontier, the topsy-turvy moral climate of the lower Mississippi in wartime, or the lure of the vaunted new "hospital movement" (and its emerging dark side), Van Norstrand never stopped chasing after the elusive fortune he had come west to find, crossing swords with some of the great names of his era along the way. But he met his match in the person of a moral crusader and - to all appearances - pristine do-gooder named Samuel Hastings. In the end, neither his long-sought wealth nor his uncanny gift for knowing when to cut and run could save him from the bitter heartache he never saw coming. The story of his rise and fall is also the story of the clash between great expectations and hard choices that plagued public hospitals across the country in the mid-19th century, thereby undermining public confidence in them for generations to come.

Genres: Nonfiction

326 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Reet Champion · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Abraham Van Norstrand took the superintendent's position at the Wisconsin Insane Hospital he would have had an inkling of what lay head of him. The mental institute had proved the undoing of other doctors as shame and scandal followed them out the door. But Van Norstrand was a determined soul. As a teen he had walked 14 miles to take a teacher-training course, he had survived the Civil War when so many others had died and managed to come out of it a little bit richer after selling liquor to soldiers. However, he could be conceited and by what can be gathered from his memoirs he considered himself the victim. His patients, though, knew the true story. Van Norstrand was as firm as he was determined. If a patient spit on him he would repeatedly choke or box the patient's ears until they finally quit. Yet the hospital had a "good" reputation as far as hospital's go. Despite the reputation there lurked potential corruption; a number of family members were employed, rotting produce was purchased from Van Norstrand's grocery store and used for the patients, produce bought from family members was paid for at a price that benfited the family members the most. Eventually word leaked back to officials. And when it did Van Nortstrand's happy little world came tumbling down on him.

Viewing the ordeal from both sides, Thomas Doherty allows readers a look into a rather dark, and what must have been frustrating for all involved, period in history. I requested The Best Specimen of a Tyrant because 1) it's history and 2) it involves 19th century mental institute practices, which I have a passing interest in. The prologue immediately grabbed my attention as it introduces one of the most mysterious deaths to occur under Van Norstrand's management. However after that it seemed to slow down. A large portion of the story deals with Van Norstrand's Civil War service and I don't have enough interest in the man to want to know all that. But that's just me - I'm certain other readers will find the information very beneficial. That said, the writing style was easy to follow along with but at the same time had a "voice". One can almost see the raving patients and tortured soul in the wards.

DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we received an electronic copy of “The Best Specimen of a Tyrant” from NetGalley.com provided by the publishers, University of Iowa Press, in exchange for our honest review.

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[Deborah Rice · Rating 3 out of 5]

While interesting, I thought the book would include more information about Van Norstrand's years at the Wisconsin Insane Hospital and not his military service. I think there was an over-reliance on Van Norstrand's memoir and it would have better if the Doherty had included more research from other sources.

[Bill Tyroler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written and researched biography of Abraham Van Norstrand. Undoubtedly an obscure historical figure, but Thomas Doherty covers so much ground so efficiently, the rewards are great. Settlement of Wisconsin, run-up to the Civil War in the new state, early days of medical practice and "treatment" of the "insane" -- lot of territory, which Doherty manages to canvass with unfailing elegance. But mostly, of course, it's about Van Norstrand, and Doherty's character study is so engaging that the character's obscurity becomes quite irrelevant. Very impressive.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since I live less than 5 minutes away from the site of the former Wisconsin Insane Hospital, I thought I'd learn more about it...