This work investigates the historical and cultural construction of 'madness' in women, questioning how societal expectations shape the diagnosis and treatment of female mental distress. Lisa Appignanesi, a writer and cultural historian, draws upon a vast array of historical case studies, literary references, and psychological theories to argue that what is often labeled as 'madness' is frequently a rational response to oppressive social structures. The book examines the evolution of psychiatric practices and the shifting definitions of sanity through the lens of gender and power dynamics.

This text offers a dense, scholarly examination of the intersection between gender politics and psychiatric history. The framing suggests a rigorous, academic approach that will appeal to readers interested in the sociology of mental health and the history of medicine.