The Alienist

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The Alienist
The cover of The Alienist by Caleb Carr.
Author Caleb Carr
Country United States
Language English
Genre(s) Historical novel & Crime novel
Publisher Random House
Publication date 15 March 1994
Media type Print (Hardcover & Paperback) & Audio Book (Cassette)
Pages 496 pp (hardcover edition) & 599 pp (paperback edition)
ISBN ISBN 0-679-41779-6 (hardcover edition) & ISBN 0-553-57299-7 (paperback edition)
Followed by The Angel of Darkness

The Alienist is a novel from 1994 (ISBN 0-553-57299-7), written by Caleb Carr. It takes place in New York City in 1896, and includes appearances by many famous figures of New York society in that era, including Theodore Roosevelt and J. P. Morgan.

Contents

[edit] Plot summary

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It centers on the alienist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, of mixed Hungarian-German origin, and his companions who attempt to solve a case of serial murder of young boy prostitutes in 1896 New York City, using fingerprinting, pathology and a sort of pre-profiling -- all advanced methods for that time.

The Alienist was inspired by the works of Wilkie Collins.[citation needed]

The sequel to this book is The Angel of Darkness.

[edit] Major themes

One of the major ongoing themes throughout the book is a discussion on the nature of evil, as well as what is, and isn't, insanity. Interestingly, the argument put forth by the titular alienist, Doctor Kreizler, is that the serial killer being hunted is not, in fact, insane. Rather that he's responding in a very sane way to impulses he is unable to control.

Other themes include the differences between rich and poor (especially the extremes between J. P. Morgan and the recently arrived immigrants in New York City), the efforts of Roosevelt to modernize the NYPD, the distrust of psychology, and a sort of 19th century culture war, being fought by those who feel the killer must be stopped, and those who feel that, since his targets are young boy prostitutes, he should be allowed to do as he pleases, as a warning to others not to get involved in the lifestyle.

[edit] Historical figures in the novel

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[edit] External links

  • 17th Street Comprehensive site dedicated to The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness
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