Degeneration, decadence and disease in the Russian fin de siècle

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The book explores the intersection of literature and science in early 20th-century Russia, focusing on Leonid Andreev's contributions during a time of cultural decline. It highlights how Andreev's literary works on degeneracy sparked social debates about mental illness, morality, and sexual deviance, reflecting the era's anxieties. His personal struggles with neurasthenia further complicate the narrative, as he integrated scientific ideas into his writing, which medical authorities then used to validate their theories, creating a reciprocal relationship between literature and medical discourse.