Murder, Madness, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore The Surgeon of Crowthorne by Simon Winchester, a fascinating true story about the interplay of brilliance, madness, and obsession in the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. At the heart of this tale are James Murray, the dictionary’s tireless editor, and William Chester Minor, a Civil War surgeon turned convicted murderer who became one of its most important contributors—all while confined to Broadmoor Asylum. How did Minor’s mental illness shape his intellectual output? What does his story reveal about the thin line between genius and madness? And how did the collaboration between these two men change the course of linguistics and literary history? Join us as we unravel this gripping and improbable chapter in the history of language, creativity, and mental illness.

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Is there a thin line between brilliance and madness? The Mad Genius Thesis podcast dives deep into the fascinating and often controversial connection between creativity and mental illness. Each episode explores cutting-edge psychological research on creativity, unpacks the myths and realities of the "mad genius" trope, and examines the lives of history’s most celebrated artists, writers, musicians, and innovators who battled mental illness. Join us as we debate the science, analyze the stories, and challenge the stereotypes surrounding genius and psychological struggle.

• No. of episodes: 153
• Latest episode: 2025-03-09
• Science Social Sciences

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