Beginning dramatically with the opening of Haydn s grave two days after his death in October 1820, Cranioklepty takes us on an extraordinary histor...
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Jul 16, 2010
Nicola
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Reason for Reading: I read a lot of fiction and non-fiction taking place during Victorian times and was interested in what this book had to offer from that time period especially on the topic of Phrenology. I also simply have a taste for the morbid.
Cranioklepty concentrates on man's fascination with human skulls and what they can tell us about the criminal, insane and especially the genius. The book covers the time period from 1790 through the early 1900s though the lasting effects tak More...
Cranioklepty concentrates on man's fascination with human skulls and what they can tell us about the criminal, insane and especially the genius. The book covers the time period from 1790 through the early 1900s though the lasting effects tak More...
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Nov 22, 2009
Evan
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This book provides an interesting and well-wrought history of graverobbing, skulduggery, and in many ways, the birth of modern anatomical science.
While the macabre tales following the heads of Haydn, Mozart, Swedenborg, and others are all interesting in their own rights, I found this book's greatest contribution to be its treatment of phrenology's rise and fall.
Often, when we talk about phrenology now, it's as this crazy idea that the fringes of society held and that some More...
While the macabre tales following the heads of Haydn, Mozart, Swedenborg, and others are all interesting in their own rights, I found this book's greatest contribution to be its treatment of phrenology's rise and fall.
Often, when we talk about phrenology now, it's as this crazy idea that the fringes of society held and that some More...
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Oct 21, 2010
Nancy
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Each one of these people has something in common beyond the fact that they're famous (okay, and that they're dead): the composers Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart; Spanish artist Francisco Goya; and philosophers Emanuel Swedenborg and Thomas Browne, and Rene Descartes have all at some point in time had their skulls stolen. Not only were they taken, but they were moved around Europe, often under shrouds of mystery that would not be cleared up in any short order. Cranioklepty examines why and how the
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Feb 11, 2010
Kathy
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Do skulls exhibit symptoms of genius? That's why the heads of Haydn, Swedenborg, and some others were separated from the rest of their skeletons. Dickey follows the merry chase and eventual (usually, that is) reunion of the bones, with informative sidebars on the people and the science and pseudoscience that sought crania and of course those whose skulls were so eagerly sought -- and bought.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I must admit it was much like narrative reporting rat More...
Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I must admit it was much like narrative reporting rat More...
Jan 21, 2010
Alicia
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This is one of those books that opens up a tiny and very specific corner of history that disappeared almost as soon as it began.
I'm just going to list the things author Colin Dickey ties together, off the top of my head: Hadyn, Beethoven, Mozart, Thomas Browne, Emanuel Swedenborg, Descartes, and Goya. Anatomy, phrenology, anthropology, and paleontology. Vienna, London, New York, Norfolk, and Sweden. A scene about cleaning the flesh off a head whose owner was alive a week ago. The di More...
I'm just going to list the things author Colin Dickey ties together, off the top of my head: Hadyn, Beethoven, Mozart, Thomas Browne, Emanuel Swedenborg, Descartes, and Goya. Anatomy, phrenology, anthropology, and paleontology. Vienna, London, New York, Norfolk, and Sweden. A scene about cleaning the flesh off a head whose owner was alive a week ago. The di More...
Aug 16, 2009
Nancy
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Grave robbing and the stealing of skulls were common in the nineteenth century. Fueled by the “sciences” of Phrenology and Craniometry, scientists, doctors, fortunes seekers, and idolizers sought to own, display, and study the skulls of the famous, in part to answer the question, “Can genius be quantified?” Dickey tells the stories of the skulls of Haydn, Beethoven, Thomas Browne and others against the backdrop of revolutionary advances in scientific and medical knowledge. What might seem macabr
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Jul 21, 2010
Madelyne
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Finally! It seems ages ago (by the by it was) that I started reading this. Cranioklepty is far off the beaten path of books I would usually choose to entertain my mind, buy why not try something different I though when I picked it from the batch of Early Reviewers.
The book had a strong beginning and I learned many interesting facts I enjoyed sharing with friends and family. Toward the middle of the book I felt I had no choice, but to find another book to read. It lacked the intrigue More...
The book had a strong beginning and I learned many interesting facts I enjoyed sharing with friends and family. Toward the middle of the book I felt I had no choice, but to find another book to read. It lacked the intrigue More...
May 03, 2010
Cheryl
rated it:
People use the phrase "dead and buried" to imply just how very over and complete a thing is. This true tale of famous composers, writers and mystics whose heads were stolen by phrenologists and their contemporaries proves that no person or subject is guaranteed eternal rest. As the poor skulls of Joseph Haydn and Emanuel Swedenborg bounce between various collectors and pseudo-scientists, Dickey paints a portrait of a unique period in history, when Enlightenment reason overlapped with r
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Aug 15, 2009
Blue Willow
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Grave robbing and the stealing of skulls were common in the nineteenth century. Fueled by the “sciences” of Phrenology and Craniometry, scientists, doctors, fortunes seekers, and idolizers sought to own, display, and study the skulls of the famous, in part to answer the question, “Can genius be quantified?” Dickey tells the stories of the skulls of Haydn, Beethoven, Thomas Browne and others against the backdrop of revolutionary advances in scientific and medical knowledge. What might seem macabr
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Oct 12, 2010
Bridget
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I never really thought much about the skulls of people who were incredibly smart but after reading this book, I must admit that I find the subject intriguing. I'm not saying I'm going to go searching for some skulls to keep in my basement, but I enjoyed reading Colin's book. It's informative and well written. A great Halloween read!
Nov 01, 2009
Rita-Marie
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Fascinating read for a macabre anthro major such as myself. The only negative is that the modern history of skull robbing was rather limited -- based on the book jacket I was hoping for more on the Skull and Bones at Yale. Given the detail and meticulous research for the first 85% of the book, I would have loved more "meat" in the last 15%. . Overall, it was fascinating, engaging, and well written. For those who enjoy learning more about such topics, I highly recommend.
Sep 26, 2009
Alan
rated it:
this is right up my alley --- phrenology, skull duggery, and all that lot!
Reminds me of my Death & Dying class I took in college...
Reminds me of my Death & Dying class I took in college...
Oct 16, 2009
Turi
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An interesting look at the history of grave robbing - specifically, the looting of famous people's skulls. Covers phrenology, hero worship, forensic method - and the skulls of Mozart, Haydn, Swedenborg and many others.
Jun 27, 2010
Heather
rated it:
nothing like a little morbid summer reading. quick read, lots of fun little tidbits, but overall had a bit of a disorganized feel.
Mar 22, 2011
Kelly
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Marzipan would have been the singular reason for my picking up of this book from the shelves. But it seems I have yet a ways to go before quitting my fascination with death and her history.
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