Bedlam

Synopsis

Richard Dadd was one of the great artistic prodigies of Victorian England, celebrated for his intricate fairy paintings before descending into a devastating mental illness that led him to murder his father and spend the rest of his life confined to psychiatric hospitals. In Bedlam, Jennifer Higgie inhabits Dadd's fractured inner world, tracing the extraordinary journey that carried him from the studios of London across Europe and the Middle East, and ultimately to the notorious Bethlem Hospital.

Blurring the boundaries between historical fiction, psychological portrait, and literary meditation, Higgie offers an intimate exploration of creativity, obsession, and the fragile line between genius and madness. Rich in atmosphere and rendered in luminous, poetic prose, Bedlam is both a haunting reimagining of a remarkable life and a profound reflection on art, memory, and the mysteries of the human mind.

About the Author

Jennifer Higgie is an Australian writer, art critic, and editor based in London. She is the author of several acclaimed works of fiction and nonfiction, including The Mirror & the Palette and The Other Side, both of which explore the lives of artists and the creative imagination. Drawing on her deep knowledge of art history, Higgie brings forgotten figures and overlooked stories vividly to life with insight, empathy, and striking literary style.

Publisher

Verso

Publication Date

July 14, 2026

Format

Paperback

Pages

240

Subjects

Literary Fiction · Historical Fiction · Biographical Fiction · Art & Artists · Psychological Fiction · Victorian Literature

ISBN

9781836742043