Broadmoor was the first asylum built in the UK to house the criminally insane. This book covers some of the rich and true history of Broadmoor and some of the women who were confined there in the 1800’s. 

Broadmoor holds a particular fascination for me as an aspiring Forensic Psychologist, so when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. I found myself absolutely devouring the first chapter that focused more on the history of the institution and the views of mental health in Victorian England. I didn’t learn anything I haven’t already learnt through my studies, but I thoroughly enjoyed how this was written and how such sensitive topics were handled. In fact, the sensitivity of the author is shown throughout the book. 

I loved learning more about the history of Broadmoor and the great kindness shown to the patients housed there. I had expected the gruesome horrors often linked to asylums but instead came away with a reflective sensation and lightness that I had not anticipated. My main critique for the book, and the only reason that I could not give it 5 stars, is that I felt the author focused too much on the extended family. I would end up losing focus and getting lost in a jumble of names that made no sense to me. As much as I praise the amount of research that went into this, it made it difficult to digest as a reader. I would have rather had less specific detail and more information about other women involved in Broadmoor. Overall, I’m very glad I read this book!

I would recommend this to fans of true-crime, historical non-fiction, or those interested in the history of mental health, as long as you don’t mind some excessive detail. I want to thank NetGalley, Pen & Sword and Kim E. Thomas for sending me a copy of this book so I could give my personal thoughts.