The Anatomy of Melancholy

OneofthemajordocumentsofmodernEuropeancivilization,RobertBurton'sastoundingcompendium,asurveyofmelancholyinallitsmyriadforms,hasinvitednothingbutsuperlativessinceitspublicationintheseventeenthcentury.LewellynPowyscalledit"thegreatestworkofproseofthegreatestperiodofEnglishprose-writing,"whilethecelebratedsurgeonWilliamOslerdeclareditthegreatestofmedicaltreatises.AndDr.Johnson,Boswellreports,saiditwastheonlybookthatheroseearlyinthemorningtoreadwithpleasure.Inthissurprisinglycompactandelegantnewedition,Burton'sspectacularverballabyrinthissuretodelight,instruct,anddiverttoday'sreadersasmuchasithasthoseofthepastfourcenturies.