"Sacred Lives" Press Release

MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY????????WWW.BOOKGUILD.CO.UK

Sacred Lives

Ian Bone shares an account of the history, cultural associations and social impact of epilepsy. In ancient times, epilepsy was a condition felt to be sacred. Early myths and mystique surrounding it led to persecution, demonisation, incarceration and social rejection. Only by the nineteenth century does epilepsy become accepted as a physical condition, and not a manifestation of madness or the result of a dangerous contagion.Why epilepsy became and continues to be so stigmatised can be best understood by observing the manner in which, over centuries, it has been presented in the arts and media. This book reviews how it has been portrayed in literature, paintings, in the cinema and on television, in music and the theatre, in newsprint and on social media. Here Sacred Lives takes a look at the lives of writers, painters, musicians and actors with epilepsy and analyses how they managed their condition and its impact on their art.

Addressing the evidence on how others in society see those with epilepsy and why negative perceptions and misconceptions can result in stigmatisation, loss of opportunity and social isolation, this book concludes with a personal account on living with epilepsy as a parent, from diagnosis in childhood through to the pitfalls of adult life. It provides guidance, based on experience, to help other families and those with epilepsy on their journey.

?“There are few if any books or authors that have taken on this challenge, integrating science with the arts to reveal the profound social/medical implications of this condition.” Epilepsy and Behaviour

“In writing Sacred Lives Professor Bone states that the ‘aim has been to bring epilepsy out of the shadows’ and ‘challenge fresh thought about the lives of those for whom epilepsy is a daily reality.’ It is a fascinating book which succeeds, and nurtures that extra insight.” British Journal of General Practice (Life)

Ian Bone stepped into the world of neurology after initially graduating from St Andrews University (MB ChB), moving on to work as a Consultant Neurologist in Glasgow for over 20 years. After becoming an Honorary Professor of Neurology, he is now an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the School of Medicine, University of Glasgow. He has co-authored three textbooks in Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neuropathology, and is author or co-author of over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers.

RELEASE DATE: 28/012022

ISBN: 9781913913991??Price: ￡14.99 for author interviews, review or competition copies, articles, photos or extracts: [email protected]The Book Guild ltd, 9 priory business park, Kibworth, Leicester LE8 0RX