Diary Written In The Provincial Lunatic Asylum

by Mary Huestis Pengilly

This book has been considered important throughout the human history, and so that this work is never forgotten Alpha Editions has made efforts in its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for the present and future generations. This whole book has been re-formatted, re-typed and re-designed. These books are not made of scanned copies of their original work, and hence the text is clear and readable.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Mental Illness, Research, Memoir, History

22 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1885

Reviews

[Amie's Book Reviews]

This short Non-Fiction book was written in 1885 by Mary Pengilly who was placed into a New Brunswick lunatic asylum after her daughter died and she sank into a deep depression.

Her poor treatment and the poor treatment of the other women who were also in the asylum prompted her to keep a diary and upon her release, she took this account of her observations to the Provincial government.

It is because of courageous women such as the author that reforms were made and "patients" began to receive proper nourishment.

Although this was written more than 100 years ago, it is still a fascinating tale, made all the more so by the fact that it is true.

Anyone with even a passing interest in mental health and it's history should read this book. At only 130 pages, it is a quick read that can be read beginning to end in a single Afternoon.

I rate this book as 4 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Marisa]

A fascinating primary source of a late 1800s mental hospital! I only wish that there could be an updated intro to the book so as to contextualize the diary’s contents as well as its author.

[Kelly]

Honestly, the three stars is the result of a double-edged sword...on one hand I really enjoyed learning more about that particular time period and appreciated the honesty of her surroundings, but at the same time the pre-woman's movement and Mrs. Pengilly in particular irritated me to no end.

So, if you're looking for a brutally honest account of what it was like to be in an asylum at the turn of the century, check this one out. If you're a feminist and want to irritate yourself, check this one out.

[Azrael]

Upon reading this Diary I am but left to conclude that the author, in her advanced years, was indeed crazy or at least suffering from some sort of disease that often affects aging minds. When she recounts her days before being admitted she states that she was writing a book on the laws of health (ironically) and in her obsession often forgot to eat to the point where she heard the voices "of angels" telling her to continue her fasting and praying for some sin (that is never made known to the reader) until the summer, and this was only the end of October. When the doctor was called, for the poor woman had been fasting for eight days and according to her she never ate within that time, she told him to leave as "God and his angels" would take care of her. I am pretty sure that it was the doctor who told her sons to commit her.
Her sons informed her that they were taking her home, but in truth they were taking her to the asylum. She expected her sons to give her bread and wine as though at a Sunday service, but when they give her toast and tea she was surprised that her sons would make her break her fast. She would not even assist them when they dressed her because they refused to leave her to her fasting until summer. The only thing she did to help them was to retrieve a dress from the closet. When they left her nightcap on her head and tied a handkerchief about it she internally commented that they did not know what they were doing and refused to mention either of her two bonnets even though she could have brought up the subject herself.
On the way to the asylum she told her sons not to call her mother by Mrs. Sinnett and that they were bringing her home to her friends. Once they arrived at the asylum she did not fight the matter but decided that it would be best to play along. Once she was inside she thought that all the doctors would due is feed her and turn her out. I am pretty sure that if all she needed was a short stay in the hospital the first doctor would have recommended that instead of the asylum. Even throughout her journey to the hospital for the insane she continued to hear the voice of angels.
She writes that all she needed upon arrive was some food but when some is presented to her she refuses to eat it as it is not the milk and biscuits she wanted, instead it was soup and bread.
Before she even recounts the events before she was committed she rambles about how good she was to her sons for taking them to church every Sunday and giving them the spiritual education they needed but lamented that she should have done more in that area while they were at home. She then recounts her own experiences with in the faith of how she was baptized and confirmed. Though these reminiscences are of no import to her experiences in the asylum and seem to me to solidify the case against her. She ends these remembrances by saying "I float away from thoughts of my insanity..."
Over all it was a nice look into the asylums of old by a person who is suffering from some mild mental illness but thinks themselves sane.

[Susan Molloy]

✔️Published in 1885.
🖊 My review: This is an 1885 publication that appears to bring to the forefront the abuse by doctors and nurses in lunatic asylums, at least by Mary Huestis Pengilly. The author does not seem be mentally ill, but I have not read her medical records. She may have been put there by her sons because they could not handle whatever it was that ailed her. This would not surprise me, because I knew someone whose mother was almost put in a mental asylum by her father and father-in-law – and that was in the 1950s. (Turns out the two men did not know how to handle her change of life.) 🔥The dénouement ties up Mary Huestis Pengilly’s story neatly. 💫 What I like best is that this is a fast read. I am not surprised by the abuse by the nurses. 📌 I would read this again.
🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🟣 Media form: Kindle version.
🟢 E-book format found here on : Project Gutenberg .
🔵 Media form found on Internet Archive.
✿●▬●✿●✿●▬●✿

[Jason Medina]

This was a very interesting book. I always enjoy reading about the experiences of real people in mental asylums. The older the story, the better, because times were very different long ago compared to now. People were committed for reasons that would seem absurd today. I believe that is the case with Mary in this book. She was not insane, and she knew it. I hope she is resting peacefully with the knowledge that people are still reading her diary today, so many years after she wrote it.

[Kerri Anne]

Interesting perspective. Always hard to tell with an unreliable narrator what is truly happening, and this is the exact insight many practitioners lack. Patients misinform families and tensions arise easily. Quick read that can help anyone in the healthcare or mental health field.

[Dawn O Watson]

Well written but too flowery

[Kim Friant]

So this isn’t a horror story; it’s not even fiction. Not gonna lie, I was a little disappointed. However, once I figured out that this was an actual diary, written by a real woman who had been committed to a real asylum, I just went for it. It’s definitely not as good as Nellie Bly’s account, but it was interesting and informative. Mrs. Pengilly managed to write an account from a relatively neutral viewpoint, while still keeping a handle on all the problems. It’s a simple, easy to read report on her stay, the issues in the Aylin’s of her time, and a list of solutions. I looked up Mrs. Pengilly after I finished reading this book, and she went on to spearhead some cool movements to try to improve conditions for female patients. Not a book I’d recommend to everyone, but it’s a good personal story that I enjoyed reading.

[Rebekah]

Real depiction of Asylum life

This is a realistic depiction of life in an asylum and its not much better now. Yes it's slightly rambling but that is what most diaries are like, especially of those locked up and under improper care.

[Heidi]

It was an odd read and sad. Having been a number of modern hospitals, I'm grateful to live in today's era.