Damnation Island

Poor, Sick, Mad, and Criminal in 19th-Century New York

By: Stacy Horn

Narrated by: Pam Ward

Today it is known as Roosevelt Island. In 1828, when New York City purchased this narrow, two-mile-long island in the East River, it was called Blackwell's Island. There, over the next hundred years, the city would build a lunatic asylum, prison, hospital, workhouse, and almshouse.

Stacy Horn has crafted a compelling and chilling narrative told through the stories of the poor souls sent to Blackwell's, as well as the period's city officials, reformers, and journalists (including the famous Nellie Bly). Damnation Island re-creates what daily life was like on the island, what politics shaped it, and what constituted charity and therapy in the 19th century. Throughout the book, we return to the extraordinary Blackwell's missionary Reverend French, champion of the forgotten, as he ministers to these inmates, battles the bureaucratic mazes of the Corrections Department and a corrupt City Hall, testifies at salacious trials, and in his diary wonders about man's inhumanity to man.

For history fans, and for anyone interested in the ways we care for the least fortunate among us, Damnation Island is an eye-opening look at a closed and secretive world. In a tale that is exceedingly relevant today, Horn shows us how far we've come - and how much work still remains.

©2018 Stacy Horn (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Just ok.

It was wonderfully researched and actually very interesting. I can’t explain why I couldn’t wait for it to end, but about halfway through I wanted it to stop. Of course I had to finish, but I’ve never been so happy for finish a book. It wasn’t bad. The narrator was ok. The stories were ok. They were just all so similar and it felt like different variations of the same story on repeat.

Solid Read

Loved that this took French's POV. Made the book more personal. If you like medical history or history this is worth your time.

Tedious

Lots of interesting information, but goodness it was tedious! I ended up skipping some chapters, but glad to find out what went on there.

Research combined with human stories

The research done to write this book must have taken years. Woven throughout the facts are the life stories of many different individuals who either suffered here, tortured here or tried to help here on Blackwell Island. This book leaves the reader wondering how far have we really come in separating our view of criminals and the poor. Or criminals and the mentally ill. And what can be done? I think this history makes a clear case that government oversight of the poor and mentally ill and even criminality have not worked due to political corruption and the implementation of institutions. Institutions, by definition, do not see the individual. These problems from the 1800’s are still plaguing our society today. Thought provoking and well written

Interesting Listen

I found this book very interesting, horrifying in many of its details. It was well written. My only qualm was that I found something annoying about the narrator's voice -- not enough to turn the book off, though. Overall, a good listen.