The Professor And The Madman

Dr. Minor was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity because the judge in the case found his behavior during the trial sufficient evidence. Why was it not controversial for a non-expert to come to this conclusion in 19th century England?

One early sign of Minor’s mental illness was a large sexual appetite. Examine the way the religious and moral strictures of 19th century Anglo-American society pathologized sexuality. 

What are the differences between 17th and 18th century dictionaries and the OED? Research one such older dictionary and compare its definition of a word to that in the OED; also find an OED word that doesn’t appear in the older dictionary. What do the similarities and differences reveal about the purpose of these different works?

Why did Richard Chenevix Trench believe that disseminating English worldwide would also spread Christianity? Why did he not specifically discuss the role of imperial ambitions in his argument?

Describe and analyze how Minor’s life and personality at the asylum changed after he began contributing to the OED project. 

Research and compare Minor’s contributions to those of other volunteer readers. What made his quotations so much better than those of other people?

Compare Minor’s treatment at institutions in the US, his time at Broadmoor initially, and his time at Broadmoor under Dr. Brayn. How do these regimes compare to modern understanding of mental illness and what is owed to patients?

Winchester scorns the myth surrounding Minor and Murray’s first meeting, but he creates his own myths around Minor’s act of self-mutilation in 1902. Why?