The Sensational Past

{{short description|2017 book about 18th century Europe}}

{{Orphan|date=July 2017}}

{{Infobox book

| name = The Sensational Past: How the Enlightenment Changed the Way We Use Our Senses

| author = Carolyn Purnell

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| genre = History

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| publisher = W.W. Norton & Co.

| isbn = 978-0-393-24937-8

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| image = The Sensational Past.jpg

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| orig_lang_code = en

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| subject = Sensory history; The Enlightenment

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| pub_date = February 7, 2017

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| pages = 288

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| website = [http://books.wwnorton.com/books/detail.aspx?ID=4294992702 The Sensational Past]

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The Sensational Past: How the Enlightenment Changed the Way We Use Our Senses is a 2017 book by Carolyn Purnell on Enlightenment-era history of the senses.

The Sensational Past was published by W.W. Norton on February 7, 2017. The 288-page book is organized in ten chapters{{cite news|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/carolyn-purnell/the-sensational-past/|title=THE SENSATIONAL PAST by Carolyn Purnell|date=November 23, 2016|work=Kirkus Reviews|language=en-us|accessdate=11 March 2017}} on different aspects of ideas about sensory experience and the role senses played in social life, culture and science from 1690 to 1830,{{cite news|title=Nonfiction Book Review: The Sensational Past: How the Enlightenment Changed the Way We Use Our Senses by Carolyn Purnell|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-393-24937-8|accessdate=11 March 2017|work=Publishers Weekly|date=December 19, 2016|language=en}}{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/arts/books/2017/02/09/carolyn-purnell-sensational-past-review|title=With coffee and cat pianos, how philosophers came to their senses {{!}} Books|date=9 February 2017|work=Dallas News|language=en|last1=Hogan|first1=Ron|accessdate=11 March 2017}} with the focus on interest in bodily sensation serving as a corrective to "modern notions of the Enlightenment as being entirely concerned with rational rigor, logic and the scientific method."{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Bill|title=Review: 'The Sensational Past' admirably ponders sensory environment|url=http://www.postandcourier.com/features/review-the-sensational-past-admirably-ponders-sensory-environment/article_e6b04ff8-bb04-11e6-98ff-07f747ca6b62.html|accessdate=11 March 2017|work=Post and Courier|date=December 25, 2016|language=en}} Writing in the Wall Street Journal, historian Mark Smith described The Sensational Past as "a brisk, jaunty and at times witty romp through the history of the senses in the long 18th century, filled with entertaining examples."{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Mark|title=The Stench of Progress|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-stench-of-progress-1489171109|accessdate=11 March 2017|work=Wall Street Journal|date=10 March 2017}}