The Anatomy of Melancholy

The Anatomy of Melancholy (1621) by Robert Burton is one of the most unusual and original works in the history of English literature. It is an extensive study of melancholy—not only as a medical condition but also as a philosophical, literary, and social phenomenon. One of the major documents of modern European civilization, is astounding compendium, a survey of melancholy in all its myriad forms, has invited nothing but superlatives since its publication in the seventeenth century.

Burton analyzes melancholy from different perspectives: medically, as a disorder of body and mind with causes and treatments; philosophically and theologically, as a fundamental part of human existence; socially, in its connection to love, ambition, religion, and politics; and literarily, in its presence in art and culture.

The book is written in an extremely detailed and varied manner, drawing from medical sources, philosophical debates, classical literature, humor, and personal reflections. Its eccentric style includes numerous digressions, Latin and Greek quotations, and sharp wit. The text is divided into three parts: the causes of melancholy, its various forms (including "love melancholy"), and its treatment.

Burton's work serves both as a guide for melancholic minds and as a literary masterpiece. It has influenced many authors, including Laurence Sterne, Samuel Beckett, and Jorge Luis Borges. Today, it is often interpreted as an early form of psychological and philosophical literature.