A Cultural History of Sleep and Dreaming
Volumes 1-6
A Cultural History of Sleep and Dreaming
Volumes 1-6
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Description
Why do we sleep and dream? What happens during sleep? And how have attitudes to sleep and dreaming changed over time and across the continents?
In a work that spans almost 3,000 years these ambitious questions are addressed by 56 experts, each contributing their overview of a theme applied to a period in history. With the help of a broad range of case material they illustrate broad trends and nuances of the history of sleep and dreaming from antiquity to the present. Individual volume editors ensure the cohesion of the whole, and to make it as easy as possible to use, chapter titles are identical across each of the volumes. This gives the choice of reading about a specific period in one of the volumes, or following a theme across history by reading the relevant chapter in each of the six.
The six volumes cover: 1. Antiquity (800 BC – 600 AD); 2. Medieval Ages (600 – 1500); 3. Early Modern Age (1500 – 1765); 4. Age of Revolutions (1765 – 1860); 5. Modern Age (1860 – 1945); 6. Age of Globalization (1945 – present).
Themes (and chapter titles) are: sleep patterns and regulations; sleeping arrangements; health and the body; insomnia; dream theories, their meaning and interpretation; written representations; visual representations; the impact of sleep and dreams.
The page extent for the pack is approximately 2,016pp. Each volume opens with notes on contributors and an introduction and concludes with notes, bibliography, and an index.
The Cultural Histories Series
A Cultural History of Sleep and Dreaming is part of The Cultural Histories Series. Titles are available both as printed hardcover sets for libraries needing just one subject or preferring a one-off purchase and tangible reference for their shelves, or as part of a fully-searchable digital library available to institutions by annual subscription or on perpetual access (see www.https://www.bloomsburyhistory.com/bloomsbury-cultural-history).
Table of Contents
Edited by Rafal Matuszewski (Leiden University, the Netherlands)
General Editor Preface, Rafal Matuszewski (Leiden University, the Netherlands) and Brigitte Steger (University of Cambridge, UK)
Introduction: The Ancient World Asleep, Rafal Matuszewski (Leiden University, the Netherlands)
1. Sleep Patterns and Regulations, Stephanie Holton (The Open University, UK)
2. Sleeping Arrangements, Laura Nissin (Tampere University, Finland) and Ruth Westgate (Cardiff University, UK)
3. Health and the Body, Aiste Celkyte (Vilnius University, Lithuania)
4. Insomnia, Christian Laes (University of Manchester, UK)
5. Dream Theories, Meaning and Interpretation, Bronwen Neil (Macquarie University, Australia)
6. Written Representations, Michael Lipka (University of Patras, Greece) and George Kazantzidis (University of Patras, Greece)
7. Visual Representations, Emma Scioli (University of Kansas, USA)
8. The Impact of Sleep and Dreams, Gregor Weber (University of Augsburg, Germany)
Note on Contributors
Index
Volume 2. A Cultural History of Sleep and Dreaming in the Middle Ages
Edited by Megan Leitch (Cardiff University, UK)
General Editor Preface, Rafal Matuszewski (Leiden University, The Netherlands) and Brigitte Steger (University of Cambridge, UK)
Introduction, Megan Leitch (Cardiff University, UK)
1. Sleep Patterns and Regulations, Brigitte Steger (University of Cambridge, UK)
2. Sleeping Arrangements, Anna Marciniak-Kajzer (University of Lodz, Poland)
3. Health and the Body, Stephen Gordon (Cardiff University, UK)
4. Insomnia, Jamie Taylor (Bryn Mawr College, USA)
5. Dream Theories, Meaning and Interpretation, Jesse Keskiaho (University of Helsinki, Finland)
6. Written Representations, Steven Kruger (CUNY, USA)
7. Visual Representations, Carolyn Carty (Oakland Community College, USA)
8. The Impact of Sleep and Dreams, Anne-Lydie Dubois (University of Geneva, Switzerland)
Note on Contributors
Index
Volume 3. A Cultural History of Sleep and Dreaming in the Early Modern Age
Edited by Claire Gantet (Université de Fribourg, Switzerland) and Karine Crousaz (Université de Lausanne, Switzerland)
General Editor Preface, Rafal Matuszewski (Leiden University, The Netherlands) and Brigitte Steger (University of Cambridge, UK) Introduction, Claire Gantet (Université de Fribourg, Switzerland) and Karine Crousaz (Université de Lausanne, Switzerland)
1. Sleep Patterns and Regulations, Mirko Breitenstein (Technische Universität Dresden, Germany) and Karine Crousaz (Université de Lausanne, Switzerland)
2. Sleeping Arrangements, Sasha Handley (Manchester University, UK) and Holly Fletcher (Manchester University, UK)
3. Health and the Body, Nahyan Fancy (DePauw University, USA) and Maria Pia Donato (PSL University, France)
4. Insomnia, Elizabeth Hunter (Queen Mary University of London, UK)
5. Dream Theories, Meaning and Interpretation, Claire Gantet (University of Fribourg, Switzerland), Pierre Lory (LEM, France) and Michael Lackner (University of Erlangen–Nuremberg, Germany)
6. Written Representations, Florence Dumora (University of Paris Cité, France) and Janine Rivière (University of Toronto, Canada)
7. Visual Representations, Marina Seretti (Bordeaux Montaigne University, France)
8. The Impact of Sleep and Dreams, María V. Jordán (Yale University, USA), Nadine Amsler (University of Fribourg, Switzerland), Leslie Tuttle (Louisiana State University, USA) and Claire Gantet (University of Fribourg, Switzerland)
Note on Contributors
Index
Volume 4. A Cultural History of Sleep and Dreaming in the Age of Revolutions
Edited by Benjamin Reiss (Emory University, USA) and Ann Marie Plane (University of California, Santa Barbara, USA)
General Editor Preface, Rafal Matuszewski (Leiden University, The Netherlands) and Brigitte Steger (University of Cambridge, UK)
Introduction, Benjamin Reiss (Emory University, USA) and Ann Marie Plane (University of California, Santa Barbara, USA)
1. Sleep Patterns and Regulations, A. Roger Ekirch (Virginia Tech, USA)
2. Sleeping Arrangements, Joanne Begiato (London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, UK)
3. Health and the Body, Kenton Kroker (York University, Canada)
4. Insomnia, Katie Hunt (Independent Scholar)
5. Dream Theories, Meaning and Interpretation, Leslie Tuttle (Louisiana State University, USA) and Nathan Gorelick (Barnard College, USA)
6. Written Representations, Mary Baine Campbell (Brandeis University, USA)
7. Visual Representations, Joachim Rees (Saarland University, Germany)
8. The Impact of Sleep and Dreams, Ann Marie Plane (University of California, Santa Barbara, USA)
Note on Contributors
Index
Volume 5. A Cultural History of Sleep and Dreaming in the Modern Age
Edited by Hannah Ahlheim (University of Gießen, Germany) and Michaela Schrage-Früh (University of Limerick, Ireland)
General Editor Preface, Rafal Matuszewski (Leiden University, The Netherlands) and Brigitte Steger (University of Cambridge, UK)
Introduction, Hannah Ahlheim (University of Gießen, Germany) and Michaela Schrage-Früh (University of Limerick, Ireland)
1. Sleep Patterns and Regulations, Kristin D. Hussey (Newcastle University, UK)
2. Sleeping Arrangements, Wendy Gamber (Indiana University, USA)
3. Health and the Body, Martin Willis (Cardiff University, UK)
4. Insomnia, Adrian Versteegh (New York University, USA)
5. Dream Theories, Meaning and Interpretation, Michaela Schrage-Früh (University of Limerick, Ireland)
6. Written Representations, Manfred Engel (University of Saarbrücken, Germany)
7. Visual Representations, Mireille Berton (University of Lausanne, Switzerland) and Kerstin Thomas (University of Stuttgart, Germany)
8. The Impact of Sleep and Dreams, Kelly Bulkeley (The Sleep and Dream Database, USA)
Note on Contributors
Index
Volume 6. A Cultural History of Sleep and Dreaming in the Age of Globalization
Edited by Robert Meadows (University of Surrey, UK) and Christiane Solte-Gresser (Saarland University, Germany)
General Editor Preface, Rafal Matuszewski (Leiden University, The Netherlands) and Brigitte Steger (University of Cambridge, UK)
Introduction, Robert Meadows (University of Surrey, UK) and Christiane Solte-Gresser (Saarland University, Germany)
1. Sleep Patterns and Regulations, Rosie Gibson (Massey University, New Zealand) and Natasha Tassell-Matamua (Massey University, New Zealand)
2. Sleeping Arrangements, Dana Zahrin (University of Haifa, Israel) and Miranda Shemesh (University of Haifa, Israel)
3. Health and the Body, Robert Meadows (University of Surrey, UK) and Simon Williams (University of Warwick, UK)
4. Insomnia, Diletta de Cristofaro (Northumbria University, UK)
5. Dream Theories, Meaning and Interpretation, Michaela Schrage-Früh (University of Limerick, Ireland)
6. Written Representations, Christiane Solte-Gresser (Saarland University, Germany)
7. Visual Representations, Jonas Nesselhauf (Saarland University, Germany)
8. The Impact of Sleep and Dreams, Petra Gehring (Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany)
Note on Contributors
Index
Product details
| Published | Dec 10 2026 |
|---|---|
| Format | Hardback - Pack |
| Edition | 1st |
| ISBN | 9781350310001 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Dimensions | 0 x 0 inches |
| Series | The Cultural Histories Series |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |

























