Human Traces

This is a novel about the history of psychiatry and centres around two 19th Century psychiatrists who are attempting to unravel the mystery of mental illness.

‘Human Traces' by Sebastian Faulkes is a historical novel about the origins of psychology and psychiatry, as distinct from their predecessors, philosophy. It is also a philosophical novel that contemplates what it is to be human and whether we are just the products of our brains and what evolutionary purpose can mental health possibly have. I found it a thought provoking book and it was gently gripping.

The book centres around two 19th century men from very different backgrounds. Jacques, a Frenchman from humble beginnings and Thomas, a privileged Englishman, who meet by chance on a holiday. They immediately connect and decide to dedicate themselves to finding the reasons behind mental health. Jacques, in particular, was motivated to find a cure because his brother was insane and was kept locked in a barn as the only alternative was an asylum. Thomas's reasons were less clear.

The novel follows the two men and their families as they train in medicine and ultimately come together to set up their own clinic and sanatorium with the belief and hope that they would find a cure. Their friendship is tested to the limits when Jacques becomes influenced by the pre-Freudian school whilst Thomas continues along the neurological pathway.

In the end both men rather sadly feel that they have failed in their life's objective to unravel the cause of mental health. They are, like many people with aspirations, unable to see that although they did not achieve their dream, they helped many people along the way through their humanity and kindnesses.

The book is a reminder of how before Freud, physicians were remarkably advanced in their investigation into the human mind as being indistinct from the brain. During the pre and post Freud years neurological research was almost halted and, I feel, set psychiatry back by nearly a century. It is only now, with the help of SPECT imaging etc. that once again we are able to resume this vital line of research into the brain and behaviour.

The book is thought-provoking and I am left contemplating many things including how humanity makes use of our new discoveries. On a philosophical level we have not even begun to reflect on how we need to change our world view in the light of these findings. Personal responsibility and accountability, for example, may not be as clear cut as we have historically believed. Some crimes may occur because a person has a mental health problem or a difference in their brain. Punishment and blame then become concepts that we may have to question. I am also left wondering how we will use the information to adapt schools so that each child's profile and needs are truly met, or if we will end up with a society that is full of individuals that have been genetically tampered with or chemically corrected to meet society's desire for some rigid definition of perfection and normality. Do we, as a society, wish to correct what we view as aberrations and in doing so possibly impoverish our society, our world view and our gene pool.

This book is well worth reading and can be enjoyed on different levels. Some will see it as a historical novel but it can also be read at a deeper philosophical level.