Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay

Regular price
Checking stock...
Regular price
Checking stock...
Summary

Aims to demonstrate historical parallels for almost every neurosis of our times. This book covers subjects such as the South Sea Bubble, Witch Mania, Alchemy, the Crusades, Fortune-telling, Haunted Houses, and 'Tulipomania'.

The feel-good place to buy books
  • Free delivery in Australia
  • Supporting authors with AuthorSHARE
  • 100% recyclable packaging
  • Proud to be a B Corp – A Business for good
  • Buy-back with Ziffit

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay

Whenever struck by campaigns, fads, cults and fashions, the reader may take some comfort that Charles Mackay can demonstrate historical parallels for almost every neurosis of our times. The South Sea Bubble, Witch Mania, Alchemy, the Crusades, Fortune-telling, Haunted Houses, and even 'Tulipomania' are only some of the subjects covered in this book, which is given a contemporary perspective through Professor Norman Stone's lively new Introduction.

Charles Mackay was a British poet, journalist, and songwriter. He was born in Perth, Scotland, and educated at the Royal Caledonian Asylum, London, and at Brussels, but spent much of his early life in France. Coming to London in 1834, he engaged in journalism, working for The Morning Chronical from 1835 to 1844 and then became editor of The Glasgow Argus. He moved to The Illustrated London News in 1848, becoming editor in1852.

He published Songs and Poems (1834), wrote a History of London, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, and a romance, Longbeard. He is also remembered for his Dictionary of Lowland Scotch.

His fame, however, chiefly rests upon his songs, some of which, including Cheer, Boys, Cheer, were in 1846 set to music by Henry Russell, and had an astonishing popularity. Mackay acted as Times correspondent during the American Civil War, and in that capacity discovered and disclosed the Fenian conspiracy. He had the degree of LLD from Glasgow in 1846. He was a member of the PercySociety.

SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9781853263491
ISBN 10 1853263494
Title Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds
Author Charles Mackay
Series Wordsworth Reference
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Paperback
Publisher Wordsworth Editions Ltd
Year published 1995-06-05
Number of pages 624
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note Unavailable