Jennifer Higgie's Novel 'Bedlam' Reimagines Richard Dadd's Descent into Madness

In her novel 'Bedlam,' writer and art critic Jennifer Higgie presents a first-person reimagining of the life of English painter Richard Dadd. The narrative centers on Dadd's 1842 journey across Europe, Southwest Asia, and North Africa, where he served as a draughtsman for Sir Thomas Phillips. This expedition sparked a psychotic episode that led to Dadd committing patricide at the age of 26. Initially published by Sternberg Press in 2006, Verso re-released the book in July. Higgie's fragmented, diary-like style conveys Dadd's unique perspective, rather than interpreting it. The story begins with Dadd at Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric facility, after his stay at Bethlem Royal Hospital, known as 'Bedlam.' Through vivid hallucinations, including giant scorpions near En Gedi, the narrative examines the thin line between marginalized minds and societal norms, reflecting on art and perception. The title alludes to both the hospital and Dadd's renowned painting 'The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke' (1855–64), created during his institutionalization.