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Historia Magazine

The magazine of the Historical Writers Association

  • Features
  • New books
  • Topics
    • Writing historical fiction
    • History on your screen
    • Authors’ favourite books
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
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Bedlam and madness in the 17th century

10 August 2026 By Jemahl Evans

Bedlam, or Bethlehem Hospital, was a place of horror both for the mentally ill people incarcerated there and in the minds of others, not just in London. By the 17th century, visitors were paying to view the ‘lunaticks’ in Bedlam, plays were being written about it, and fear of imprisonment there was commonplace, Jemahl Evans, […]

A Visit to Bedlam by Jemahl Evans

29 July 2026 By Editor

England in 1648, and as the English Civil Wars still simmer, Hezekiah Hillier visits London after the death of his wife and son, and goes to the Hospital of Bedlam to view the inmates. He is falsely imprisoned by his brother in the asylum, but vows to escape and one day have his revenge. Hez […]

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Historia Magazine is published by the Historical Writers’ Association. We are authors, publishers and agents of historical writing, both fiction and non-fiction. For information about membership and profiles of our member authors, please visit our website.

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