In October of 2022, while researching the history of the treatment of mental health, I came across a book written by a young man living in an asylum in Poughkeepsie, New York. The book was an autobiography, and it had a very curious name: The Piling of Tophet and the Trespass-Offering. It was written by John T. Fowler, and published in New York in 1879. 

I read the book, and felt very moved by John Fowler’s life story. I thought his book was beautifully written, introspective, and highly analytical. 

I had trouble understanding certain parts of it, however. I later realized, that in these parts, he was writing about his experience of auditory hallucinations, in which the people around him — fellow patients, doctors and attendants — appeared to be talking about his own private thoughts.

John Fowler was not sure that others were actually reading his mind, but he pondered much on how such a thing could be possible, and what its underlying mechanism might be. 

I tried to learn more about John Fowler’s life, using census data, journals, newspapers and maps. What I found was consistent with his account in The Piling of Tophet. 

I decided to republish The Piling of Tophet, with an historical introduction and some notes. That was the beginning of Lucetia Press. 

I believe The Piling of Tophet is a something of a landmark in the history of psychology and the philosophy of perception. Early works on hallucinations and delusions were written overwhelmingly by professionals. The Piling of Tophet is an early example of an analytical work written by one who experienced these things himself.

In his book, John Fowler described many well-known psychological concepts, known today as paranoia, thought broadcasting, thought perseveration, face pareidolia, auditory pareidolia, and apophenia. 

Very few copies of the original Piling of Tophet from 1879 have survived. I hope its republication will spark some interest in John Fowler’s life, and increase the chance that his work will be preserved for future generations.  

–K. Marlow
  August, 2024

The original The Piling of Tophet by John T. Fowler, published in 1879 (National Library of Medicine).