As the first neurological hospital in the world, founded in 1859, the National Hospital, Queen Square, and its affiliated Institute of Neurology remain leading neurological centres providing exceptional clinical services, teaching and research. Illustrated by over 100 historical images and much unpublished archival material, this book provides a comprehensive history of the National Hospital, the Institute, and their staff. It relates the ups and downs of the Hospital and Institute in war and peacetime, their financial struggles, many personality conflicts, efforts to remain independent and to maintain neurological dominance, academic and clinical contributions, issues relating to specialisation and subspecialisation and relations between disciplines, and the changing roles of the Hospital and Institute. The history is told from varying perspectives against the backdrop of the evolution of British clinical neuroscience, the special position of London medicine, and the influence of world wars, and is set in the context of modern British social history.

'Shorvon and Compston … have produced a volume of really exceptional quality. … This book, a model of its kind, may become a landmark in the history of hospital medicine in the UK.'

Ralph Ross Russell Source: Brain

‘The book traces the history of the NHQS since its inception in 1859 until 1997. It was a voluntary hospital until 1948 when the NHS arrived but remained an independent hospital until it joined the University Hospital London NHS Trust in 1996. Readers might be interested to know that the venerable institution came about because of two philanthropic sisters, Johanna and Louisa Chandler and their brother Edward … In short, this is a fascinating, detailed and scholarly read. It is a beautiful book to hold and look through with plenty of photographs. ’

Barbara A. Wilson Source: Neuropsychological Rehabilitation

‘The book is well illustrated, including the hospital building at various ages including architectural designs, and, of course, the people … The book is recommended highly as a valuable historical reference, but also for some entertaining reading about the history of neurology, many important neurologists, and the interesting place where they worked.’

Mark Hallett Source: World Neurology

‘This book describes the story of the National Hospital Queen Square and its medical school and the Institute of Neurology during the period of 1859 to 1997 … This book relates the complex history from a number of difference perspectives … I very much enjoyed reading the excellent book and strongly suggest my colleagues and friends to read it too.’

Pedro Ruiz Source: The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

‘… this book is a must-read for anyone who has an interest or background in neurology. The authors and contributors have produced an absorbing clinical, cultural and historical biography of one of the world’s great medical institutions-a gargantuan task. The Queen Square lineage indeed remains strong.’

Matthew C. Kiernan Source: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry

‘Queen Square is a hospital with a unique history and the authors have succeeded in putting together an engaging volume, in which many neurologists and others interested in the history of medicine and particularly neurology will find material worth reading.’

Peter J. Koehler Source: The Lancet Neurology