Miche le Barrett Knihy

Stories of disasters focusing not only on the pain and loss, but also of the bravery of those who cared

Despite much talk of its decline, the nuclear family persists as a structure central to contemporary society, a fact to be lamented, according to the ideas of Michèle Barrett and Mary McIntosh. The Anti-social Family dissects the network of household, kinship and sexual relations that constitute the family form in advanced capitalist societies to show how they reinforce conditions of inequality. This classic work explores the personal and social needs that the family promises to meet but more often denies, and proposes moral and political practices for more egalitarian caring alternatives.

Focusing on the long-term psychological impact of World War I, this book explores the lives of five ordinary soldiers who faced the trauma of combat and its aftermath. Michèle Barrett reveals how these men dealt with the horrors of war, highlighting the often-misunderstood concept of "shell shock." Through previously unpublished material, the narrative provides a poignant examination of the psychological damage inflicted by warfare, offering new insights into the experiences of those who survived the conflict.