Special Cases: Natural Anomalies and Historical Monsters

by Rosamond Wolff Purcell

In this book Purcell reflects on tne concept of the monster as anatomical phenomenon and as it is represented through art and explores humanity's age old obsession with mythical and literal monstrosity in a way that is not for the faint hearted.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Photography, Science, Natural History, Art

159 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1997

About the author

Rosamond Wolff Purcell is an American photographer.

Reviews

[Dory]

As I had just seen a Rosamond Purcell photography exhibit, I expected this book to have a lot more photographs, with some text about the photos. Instead, it was mostly all text, with not much discussion of the photos that were included. So, while I like her art work, this book was not what I had expected.

[Meri Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This didn't really have the degree of scientific and medical content that I was expecting based on the title and the back cover. The psychological analysis of how we interpret and sometimes invent monsters was very insightful, and I did learn some new things. I was just a bit disappointed by the paucity of biology. There was also an annoying tendency to have fascinating pictures with unsatisfying captions, pages before the explanation in the body text. A decent piece of non-fiction on the whole, but not one of my favorites.

[Rainboe Sims-Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Special Cases is an exploratory journey of thought on monsters and anomalous beings. Purcell begins by discussing the personalities and actions of collectors themselves—from people to churches—before offering the reader samplings of literature and quotes of inventors, scientists, artists and others regarding the subject of interest. Unlike other books on the subjects of oddities, Purcell intertwines oddities in plants, animals, and humans together offering a fresh look at what is “natural.”. The photos and drawings are included not to display or demonstrate, but to discuss the thoughts and inquiry surrounding them. The books contents read like a pamphlet to an art exhibit in which questions are asked, history is discussed and contrasting viewpoints are considered. In the spirit of integrated, interdisciplinary inquiry, Special Cases offers the most integrated view of the subject. However because of it's depth and contrasting content, it's best appreciated if research on subjects of interest is conducted ahead of time since Purcell does not give detailed background information on most of the subjects discussed.

[Jason]

This is a circus freak-show as artsy-coffee-table-book. The subject matter should be purely exploitive yet it is treated delicately. The back cover asks 'What is a monster?" and the rest of the book is spent exploring the answer and especially our perception of the grotesque, often waxing poetic about the fragility of deformity. I was alternatingly disgusted and fascinated at the turning of each page, but like a circus side show I simply could not look away.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing images and stories. Ms. Purcell contributed many of her photos to the annual calendar put out by the Mutter Museum, which is a wonderous place associated with the College of Physicians in Philadelphia.

[Sean Evans]

Special Cases: Natural Anomalies and Historical Monsters by Rosamond Purcell (1997)