Diary Written in the Provincial Lunatic Asylum

"Diary Written in the Provincial Lunatic Asylum" by Mary Huestis Pengilly is a gripping memoir from the late 1800s, sharing a personal journey through the confines of an asylum. Written as a diary, the book tells of the author’s life inside a New Brunswick asylum, showing the difficult realities of mental illness and how patients were sadly mistreated. Told through Pengilly’s eyes, the story reveals the harsh conditions, her deep wish for freedom, and the lack of kindness she and others experienced. She describes the lives of fellow patients with great feeling, highlighting their shared pain and the general absence of care. As Pengilly balances her own feelings of despair with glimpses of hope, she speaks out for better, more caring treatment of those with mental health issues, urging for empathy and change in how asylums are run. Through her powerful words, the book stands as both a personal record and a demand for reforms in mental health care.