Charles Lloyd: epilepsy and poetry

Abstract

In this manuscript the life and times of the poet, Charles Lloyd are reviewed. In particular attention is paid to his seizures, and the development of what was probably an epileptic-related psychosis.

It is pointed out how the development of the psychosis essentially destroyed his poetic career, and his life is set alongside theories of creativity and mental illness, as has been reviewed recently in the literature.

It is suggested that while there may be links between creativity and bipolar disorder, sadly epilepsy is probably destructive to the creative writing process, particularly the writing of poetry.

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