Lombroso in the Americas: A Transatlantic History of a Controversial Criminologist

(Hardback)

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This volume explores the multifaceted influence of Cesare Lombroso, known as the father of modern criminology, and his work across the Americas from the late 19th to the mid 20th century. Offering an interdisciplinary and transatlantic perspective, and with essays by European, Latin and North American scholars, Lombroso in the Americas asks how and why this controversial man became one of the most influential criminologists of his time, and sheds light on his transatlantic legacy.

Made up of four parts, the first traces the reception of Lombrosos theories, such as the born and atavistic criminal, and highlights their impact on cultural debates and criminal justice reform. Part two explores how his ideas informed discourses about race and eugenics in the USA and Latin America, while part three considers how his theories contributed to the understanding of political crime and the psychology of crowds. The final part investigates how Lombrosos influence and legacy extended beyond the field of criminology and shaped debates on gender, prison science, genius and madness, and childhood education across the Americas. By bringing together scholars from various disciplines and countries, this volume provides a comprehensive overview of the reception, adaptation, circulation and critique of Lombrosos ideas in North and Latin America.

Author Bio

Silvano Montaldo is Full Professor of Contemporary History and Academic Director of the Cesare Lombroso Museum of Criminal Anthropology at the University of Turin, Italy.

Franco Orlandi is a cultural historian and former fellow of the Research Foundation Flanders, Belgium. He holds a PhD from KU Leuven, Belgium, and the University of Turin, Italy. His research interests centre on the history of criminology, deviance, and the human sciences.