The Anatomy of Melancholy
by Robert Burton
The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton, first published in 1621, is a monumental and eccentric exploration of the human mind. Far more than a medical treatise, it’s a sprawling meditation on sadness, desire, madness, and the full range of emotional life. Burton examines melancholy in all its forms — spiritual, psychological, and social — drawing on an astonishing array of sources from classical philosophy to Renaissance science, literature, and theology. Written in rich, idiosyncratic prose and laced with wit, irony, and endless digressions, the book is both deeply scholarly and strangely personal.
A favorite of Romantic poet John Keats and a wellspring of inspiration for artists like Cy Twombly and Nick Cave, The Anatomy of Melancholy continues to captivate readers with its blend of erudition, dark humour, and timeless insight into the human psyche. It is not only a literary curiosity but also a profound mirror held up to the soul’s most elusive states.
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Cover design by Sarah B. Bolen.
Hardcover Edition
1,135 pages. Hardcover bound in grey blue paper, with gilding to the front cover and spine. Black endpapers. Printed on wood-free, age-resistant (ISO 9706) Fedrigoni Paper. Sewn book block, black ribbon bookmark and black headbands.
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Press, reviews, endorsements
Book Review by Foolish Fish - watch on YouTube here
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About the Author
The late Robert Burton (1577 – 1640), who sometimes wrote under the nom de plume Democritus Junior, was an English author and fellow of Oxford University. Burton's most famous work and greatest achievement was The Anatomy of Melancholy. First published in 1621, it was reprinted with additions from Burton no fewer than five times. A digressive and labyrinthine work, Burton wrote as much to alleviate his own melancholy as to help others. The final edition totalled more than 500,000 words. The book is permeated by quotations from and paraphrases of many authorities, both classical and contemporary, the culmination of a lifetime of erudition.
