Those They Called Idiots

‘Magisterial… Jarrett celebrates the success of the “great release” of peoplewith learning disabilities from long incarceration.’ - Michael Fitzpatrick, Daily Telegraph‘Aremarkable history of mental disability in England … This importantbook should be read widely by experts and non-experts alike.’ - Social History of Medicine‘Meticulouslyresearched and well written, the book highlights a section of societythat has always been present, but has received scant attention beforenow. The author has worked with people with learning disabilities formany years, and his empathy for them shines through.’ - Who Do You Think You Are? magazine‘Astunning book … Simon Jarrett is a talented historian who writesbeautifully … we are gradually discovering the value of disabilityhistory to give new ways of thinking about the past.’ - Disability and Society‘For sheer readability, Simon Jarrett has few peers in the burgeoning field popularly known as the Medical Humanities.’ - Metapsychology

Simon Jarrett is an Honorary Research Fellow at Birkbeck, University of London. He is the editor of Community Living Magazine.