Description: Ever since doctors first labeled them as "hysterical, " women have occupied a unique place in the world of mental illness. Whether harboring a dark mood or suffering from a crippling mental illness such as schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or manic depression, a select few of these women have deftly rendered their psychological turmoil in writing that ranks among the most intriguing and emotionally compelling in American literature. In this anthology -- the first of its kind -- Rebecca Shannonhouse has collected the most affecting, finely-wrought essays, stories, and novel excerpts by women writing on madness. From classics such as Charlotte Perkin Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper and Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, to contemporary selections such as Susanna Kaysen's Girl Interrupted and Lauren Slater's story "Back in the World With Mom, " these are works that possess the elements of great literature and at the same time offer valuable insights into the largely private world of emotional suffering.

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