Description: This intriguing case study is the result of a unique collaboration between a social historian and a cognitive scientist. It examines the enigmatic case of Hugh Blair, an eighteenth-century Scottish "laird" or landowner, whose brief arranged marriage was annulled on the grounds of his mental incapacity. Through an in-depth study of the evidence surrounding the case, the authors conclude that Blair, who was regarded at the time as a "fool", was in fact autistic. Writing in a lively and engaging style, the authors draw together witness statements from court records with a wide range of other documentation to set the sociohistoric scene for the case. This material provides a fascinating context, to which the latest theories on autism are applied. Autism in History will intrigue both historians and psychologists, but this compelling and deeply affecting human story will also appeal to a wider audience.

Please Wait