Holy Anorexia

By: Rudolph M. Bell

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Synopsis: &“A brilliant, disturbing study of anorexic behavior amongst medieval Italian female saints . . . original, controversial, superbly executed.&” —Kirkus Reviews Is there a resemblance between the contemporary anorexic teenager counting every calorie in her single-minded pursuit of thinness, and an ascetic medieval saint examining her every desire? Rudolph M. Bell suggests that the answer is yes. &“Everyone interested in anorexia nervosa . . . should skim this book or study it. It will make you realize how dependent upon culture the definition of disease is. I will never look at an anorexic patient in the same way again.&” —Howard Spiro, M.D., Gastroenterology &“[This] book is a first-class social history and is well-documented both in its historical and scientific portions.&” —Vern L. Bullough, American Historical Review &“A significant contribution to revisionist history, which re-examines events in light of feminist thought . . . Bell is particularly skillful in describing behavior within its time and culture, which would be bizarre by today&’s norms, without reducing it to the pathological.&” —Mary Lassance Parthun, Toronto Globe and Mail &“Bell is both enlightened and convincing. His book is impressively researched, easy to read, and utterly fascinating.&” —Sheila MacLeod, New Statesman