{"product_id":"mark-twain-dr-oliver-wendell-holmes-and-the-head-readers-literature-humor-and-faddish-phrenology-hardback-9781009301299","title":"Mark Twain, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, and the Head Readers; Literature, Humor, and Faddish Phrenology (Hardback) 9781009301299","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eMark Twain, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, and the Head Readers\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eLiterature, Humor, and Faddish Phrenology\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA study of Mark Twain's and Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes's interests in phrenology, as revealed, often humorously, in their writings.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eStanley Finger (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781009301299, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 6 April 2023\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e332 pages\u003cbr\u003e23.5 x 16 x 2.6 cm, 0.65 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHaving a phrenological 'head reading' was one of the most significant fads of the nineteenth century – a means for better knowing oneself and a guide for self-improvement. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) had a lifelong yet long overlooked interest in phrenology, the pseudoscience claiming to correlate skull features with specialized brain areas and higher mental traits. Twain's books are laced with phrenological terms and concepts, and he lampooned the head readers in Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. He was influenced by Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, who also used his humor to assail head readers and educate the public. Finger shows that both humorists accepted certain features of phrenology, but not their skull-based ideas. By examining a fascinating topic at the intersection of literature and the history of neuroscience, this engaging study will appeal to readers interested in phrenology, science, medicine, American history, and the lives and works of Twain and Holmes.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eList of Figures\u003cbr\u003e Preface\u003cbr\u003e 1. The birth of a controversial doctrine\u003cbr\u003e 2. Coming to America\u003cbr\u003e 3. Skeptical in Hannibal\u003cbr\u003e 4. The river, the west, and phrenology abroad\u003cbr\u003e 5. Mark Twain's 'small test'\u003cbr\u003e 6. Tom, Huck, and the head readers\u003cbr\u003e 7. More head readings and a phrenological farewell\u003cbr\u003e 8. Young Holmes and phrenology in Boston\u003cbr\u003e 9. An American in Paris\u003cbr\u003e 10. Quackery and Holmes's head reading\u003cbr\u003e 11. Holmes's professor on 'bumpology'\u003cbr\u003e 12. Holmes's 'medicated novels'\u003cbr\u003e 13. Mr. Clemens and Dr. Holmes\u003cbr\u003e 14. Phrenology assessed\u003cbr\u003e Epilogue\u003cbr\u003e References\u003cbr\u003e Index.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Palmistry, phrenology \u0026amp; physiognomy [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Palmistry, phrenology \u0026amp; physiognomy\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Palmistry,%20phrenology%20\u0026amp;%20physiognomy%20%5BVXFJ%5D%22\"\u003eVXFJ\u003c\/a\u003e], History of science [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on History of science\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22History%20of%20science%20%5BPDX%5D%22\"\u003ePDX\u003c\/a\u003e], Psychology [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Psychology\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Psychology%20%5BJM%5D%22\"\u003eJM\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46265420841240,"sku":"9781009301299","price":28.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9781009301299i_63a69bb2-1fa5-4082-9e68-3049bb599b87.jpg?v=1696791836","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/mark-twain-dr-oliver-wendell-holmes-and-the-head-readers-literature-humor-and-faddish-phrenology-hardback-9781009301299","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}