A major interdisciplinary study of the development of prisons, hospitals and insane asylums in America and Europe, this book resulted from discussions between its two editors about their work on the history of hospitals, poor relief, deviance, and crime, and a subsequent conference held in 1992 by the German Historical Institute that attempted to assess the impacts of Foucault and Elias. Seventeen contributors from six different countries with backgrounds in history, sociology and criminology utilize various methodological approaches and reflect the various viewpoints in the theoretical debate over Foucault's work.

"Many of the essays in this volume provide fascinating data about the origins of institutions that played significant societal roles....use their data to build a more persuasive interpretive framework." Journal of Interdisciplinary History

"...this volume is timely and will be much in demand." Nicholas R. Moschovakis, Sixteenth Century Journal

"...this compilation of essays provides a ready source of additional references and offers a needed perspective on the topic." Joanna D. Innes, Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences

"...the reader can be grateful for a provocative distillatioln of the work of a leading American historian of the hospital, recast to elicit comparative reflections." Thomas M. Adams, Journal of Social History