A History of Delusions

The brain can misfire in extraordinary ways…

The King of France – thinking he was made of glass – was terrified he might shatter…and he wasn’t alone.

After the Emperor met his end at Waterloo, an epidemic of Napoleons piled into France’s asylums.

Throughout the nineteenth century, dozens of middle-aged women tried to convince their physicians that they were, in fact, dead.

For centuries we’ve dismissed delusions as something for doctors to sort out behind locked doors. But delusions are more than just bizarre quirks – they hold the key to collective anxieties and traumas..

Based on the Radio 4 series of the same name, Victoria Shepherd’s book A History of Delusions is a groundbreaking history which uncovers stories of delusions from medieval times to the present day. Where do delusions come from and what do they mean? The book is available to purchase here.

Victoria Shepherd conceived and produced the ten-part series A History of Delusions for BBC Radio 4. She has produced scores of documentaries and major strands for BBC Radio 4. She holds an M.A. in creative writing from the University of East Anglia, and is a director of Winchester Literary Festival.