The Art of Suicide
BMJ 2002; 324 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.324.7345.1103 (Published 04 May 2002) Cite this as: BMJ 2002;324:1103- Jeremy Hugh Baron, honorary professorial lecturer
- Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York
Ron M Brown
Reaktion Books, £25/$29.95, pp 253
ISBN 1 86189 105 9
Rating:
Reaktion publishes books integrating history and images. Brown's punningly titled volume both divides suicides into sinful and heroic, and also surveys their images in European art.
In antiquity voluntary death was distinguished from self murder (Socrates, Sophonisba, Seneca) ordered by rulers, and from the deaths of brave fighters (Cato, Antony and Cleopatra) who killed themselves to avoid capture and degradation. Others in literature died because they had, or believed they had, lost their lover. Ovid's Pyramus thought Thisbe dead and killed himself. Thisbe did likewise. Shakespeare had Romeo and Juliet, and Ophelia.
The instrument of death was important. Death from …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £173 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£38 / $45 / €42 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.