How we experience, treat and regard madness can tell us a lot about who we are as a society.

As admissions to mental hospitals rise and more members of our communities face mental health issues, it’s vital that we pay attention to the huge impact such matters have on family, friends, social services, police and care workers.

We’re joined for this event by Horatio Clare, author of the gripping account of breakdown, treatment and recovery, ‘Heavy Light’. It is an insightful story about the causes, process and care of psychosis and attacks the taboo surrounding sectioning and detention in hospital. Join us for a unique insight into mental health with Horatio himself.

About The Author

headshot of Horatio Clare

Horatio Clare

Horatio Clare’s books include Running for the Hills (Somerset Maugham Award), A Single Swallow, Down to the Sea in Ships (Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year), Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot (Branford Boase Award), The Light in the Dark, Orison for a Curlew and Something of his Art: Walking to Lubeck with J S Bach.  His latest book is Heavy Light: a story of madness, mania and healing. Horatio broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio 4, notably for From Our Own Correspondent and presents Radio 3’s acclaimed annual Sound Walks series at Christmas. He writes for the Financial Times, the Spectator, Conde Nast Traveller (where he is a contributing editor), and many other papers, websites and magazines. Horatio lectures in non-fiction at the University of Manchester.