The Cesare Lombroso Handbook

The Italian criminologist Cesare Lombroso (1835 - 1909) is the single-most important figure in the founding of criminology and the study of aberrant conduct in the human sciences.

The Cesare Lombroso Handbook brings together essays by leading Lombroso scholars and is divided into four main parts, each focusing on a major theme. Part one examines the range and scope of Lombroso's thinking; the mimetic quality of Lombroso; his texts and their interpretation. The second part explores why his ideas, such as born criminology and atavistic criminals, had such broad appeal. Developing this, the third section considers the manners in which Lombroso's ideas spread across borders; cultural, linguistic, political and disciplinary, by including essays on the science and literature of opera, 'La donna delinquente' and 'Jewish criminality'. The final part investigates examples of where, and when, his influence extended and explores the reception of Lombroso in the UK, USA, France, China, Spain and the Philippines.

This text presents interdisciplinary work on Lombroso from academics engaged in social history, history of ideas, law and criminology, social studies of science, gender studies, cultural studies and Jewish studies. It will be of interest to scholars, students and the general reader alike.

This book offers the definitive introduction to current scholarship on Cesare Lombroso, his work and his legacy. It brings together essays by leading Lombroso scholars from social history, history of ideas, law, criminology, cultural studies and Jewish studies. It will be of interest to academics , students and the general reader alike.

1. Introduction, Paul Knepper and Per Ystehede, Part I: What did Lombroso have to say?, 2. Lombroso and his school: From anthropology to medicine and law, Renzo Villa,  3. Cesare Lombroso and Prison Science, Mary Gibson, 4. Gli Anarcichi and Lombroso's theory of political crime, Trevor Calafato, 5. Lombroso and the Modern Rules of Practical Magic, P.J. Ystehede Part II: Why has Lombroso generated so much interest?, 6. The Lombroso Museum from its Origins to the Present Day, Silvano Montaldo,  7. Ceasar or Cesare? American and Italian Images of Lombroso, Patrizia Guarnieri,  8. New Natural Born Killers? The Legacy of Lombroso in Neuroscience and Law, Emilia Musumeci, 9. From Subhumans to Superhumans: Evolutionary Hierarchy, or what became of Lombroso's atavistic criminals?, Simon Cole and Michael C. Campbell, 10. Lombroso and Jewish social science, Paul Knepper,  Part III: How did Lombroso's work spread across cultural, disciplinary and other borders?,  11. The melodramatic publication career of Lombroso's La donna delinquente, Nicole Rafter, 12. Lombroso's Criminal Woman and the Uneven Development of the Modern Sexual Identity, Mariana Valverde,  13. The Ideal Type of Delinquent in Cesare Lombroso,  Daniele Velo Dalbrenta,  14. Lombroso and the Science of Literature and Opera, Jonathan R. Hiller,  15. A Hidden theme of Jewish self-love? Marx, Lombroso, Bell and Hobsbawm on "Jewish Criminality", Michael Berkowitz, 16. The Methods of Lombroso and Cultural Criminology, Dina Siegel,  Part IV. To where (and when) did Lombroso's influence extend?, 17. Lombroso in France: A paradoxical reception, Marc Renneville, 18. Lombroso in China, 'Dong xue wei ti, xi sue wei yong'?, Bill Hebenton and Susyan Jou, 19. Lombroso but not Lombrosians? Criminal Anthropology in Spain, Rafael Huertas and Ricardo Campos  20. The influence of Lombroso on Philippine criminology, Filomin Gutierrez, 25. Lombroso and the "men of real science": British reactions, 1886-1918, Neil Davie