An Autistic Reader’s Evaluation of a Historical Romance Hero with Autism

The “Madness” of Lord Ian Mackenzie 

~ Let me begin by stating that while I am a member of the autistic community, I am only one voice. I don’t speak for the entire community, and other opinions may differ from my own. That being said, I hope this blog might put certain elements of this book in some perspective. - Katie ~ 

Our story begins in the year 1881. Nearly one hundred years before Autism made its debut in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). We are a long way away from modern psychology and medicine. Hell, arsenic was actually commonly used as a SKINCARE treatment (seriously, it's no wonder people died young). The nineteenth century was such a fascinating yet frightful time for society as a whole, so imagine how it must have been for those who didn’t fit the conventional standards. It was this thought that really made me want to pick up and read ‘The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie’.

As an autistic person myself, I am striving to find romances featuring autistic protagonists. At the point where I first picked up this book, I had only read contemporary romances depicting characters on the autism spectrum. So when Kellisa alerted me of a historical romance with an autistic hero, I lept to get my hands on it! I purchased a digital copy and dove straight in! 

I wasn’t disappointed! I absolutely LOVED this book and Ian Mackenzie became on of my favorite “book beaus”. Honest to goodness, this book has everything. A worthy hero, an intelligent heroine, a bit of danger and even some mystery. And, of course, oodles of steamy goodness! Ian is HOT HOT HOT! 

But what about the book’s representation of autism? Is it accurate? Even as a reader on the spectrum I feel this is such a loaded question, because I am just one voice and one opinion out of many. But here is MY take on it. Yes, I feel this was an accurate portrayal. Others might have found Ian to be a stereotype but...I personally didn’t see it. Why? Because I know that somewhere out there in this crazy world, there is an individual (or many) that are like Ian. As many of us will say (over and over again), when you meet one person with autism, you have met ONE PERSON with Autism. We can’t base “accurate’ representations strictly on ourselves and our own experiences. So just because somebody on the spectrum didn’t relate to Ian personally doesn’t make him inaccurate as an autistic character. Just because he possesses many known traits, doesn’t make him automatically bad representation. By immediately labeling Ian as a stereotype, doesn’t that invalidate anyone in the world that might have the same qualities that he possesses? 

While I got you here, let me ask you this. What exactly makes a character a “stereotype”? 

Google’s definition reads as “A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.” - Okay, so this can technically cover a wide range of particulars. For example, the trouble of an autistic person making eye contact with others, This is a widely known trait. Ian possesses this trait. I actually have this trait myself. So are we now stereotypical? 

Let’s try this again. Ian plays the piano. He doesn’t read music, but he can pick up melodies by ear and learn entire pieces very quickly! Okay, this is a rather extraordinary talent. But does this make Ian a stereotype? Not necessarily. I myself am not a piano player. I’m a singer. I don’t read music. I have an ear for pitch. Not only do I pick up melodies and lyrics quickly, but I taught myself how to sing harmonies...even to songs that don’t have harmonies prerecorded. I’m pretty sure if I wrote an autistic heroine based on myself and my particular talents, somebody somewhere would likely call me a stereotype. 

It’s really hard to make that judgement call based on certain traits and talents. Because whether we like to admit it or not, somebody somewhere on the spectrum  is going to share those “stereotypical traits” and we are just invalidating them as actual people. 

So where do I personally draw that line? For me, it would have to be the point where I felt that a character is so oversimplified to the point of mocking. And I never felt there was anything mocking about Ian’s representation. I felt everything about him was honest, and genuine. 

Another thing we have to consider is that Ian is not a prop as many autistic characters had been in the past. He is not something that another character has to overcome and live with. He is the hero! He has a story arc, he has things to learn and conquer!  And when it really comes down to it, his autism isn’t even a plot hurtle, but merely a part of who he is as a person. Yes, it’s referred to as “Madness”, but in a world where the diagnosis doesn’t exist, it likely would have been called that or something of the like. In the end, it’s something that is accepted and he is loved all the more for it! 

There are a few things I feel need to be addressed. 

Modern idealism is not always going to be found in historical fiction, romance or otherwise. We can only stretch reality so much. To shame a story based in a historical time because the characters in it don’t have a contemporary mindset is a little odd. It had been said that ‘The Madness of Ian Mackenzie’ was an “ableist” book. Well, technically there are some ableist notions from some characters, but...again, this story is taking place in 1881. The world was a rather ableist place. I’m not going to pick up a book that takes place in the 19th century and expect the characters to be sensitive and knowledgeable about autism. That’s honestly ridiculous to me, and I would be personally offended, because I would think that the author was pandering to me. 

However, I feel that none of the negative opinions of the characters in this book reflects on how the author feels about autism personally. I’m positive that Jennifer Ashley doesn’t believe that people with autism are “Mad” or “sick” or “need to be cured”. This is not an “ableist” book. This was a glimpse of what it could have been like for somebody on the spectrum in the 19th century. How does one cope in a world where most people don’t understand you and some never will? What happens when you do find that person who actually does and loves you for everything you are?

Let me reflect on the book’s heroine, Beth. She, like many before her, had thought Ian to be an eccentric person at first. However, once she got to know his traits, she accepted him fully. Beth never once asked Ian to behave differently, never expected him to change. On the contrary, Beth knows full well that whatever Ian has is not going to go away and acknowledges that its all part of who he is as a person, and she loves him all the more. Now I don’t know about you, but that sure doesn’t sound like a story that advocates for a “cure for autism”. 

Now there may be a few things that might not be known to be associated with autism, specifically, Ian himself worries that he is capable of blackouts and hurting people during “a rage”, or what the book hints to possibly be meltdowns. Some might think this to be a negative reflection of autistic specific meltdowns, but I don’t see it that way. Because there is something else that I have yet to see mentioned; Ian also suffers from untreated post traumatic stress disorder. This could explain a great deal of Ian’s traits that don’t necessarily line up with him being autistic such as claustrophobia, flashbacks, possible insomnia and certainly intense fear and self loathing. 

When one considers the events of Ian’s life, it’s really no wonder that he would suffer many issues apart from his autism. 19th century asylums are not remembered as being warm or kind places. Despite their claims to “care” for the mentally ill and the like, they were really just places to dump “undesirables”. 

Ian is horrendously scarred by his experience living in an asylum, and this is very clearly written as being a HORRIBLE event in his life. There is no glorifying it, no advocation for any treatment (archaic or otherwise) for Ian. 

What I probably love most about this romance is that both leads work hard to protect the other. It isn’t a one sided affair. Both wish to help the other. It’s not so old fashioned where the guy just swoops in to save the girl, but it’s also not about the smart girl coming to rescue the “incapable autistic guy”. Both characters have to learn and grow and neither is a prop to the other which, to me, is how you create great well rounded characters. 

Now I’m not saying that the book is perfect, or that Ian makes a “perfect rep” for the autistic community. But I don’t always search for perfection. If I did, I would surely be disappointed in nearly every book that I pick up. I simply don’t have the energy for checking boxes. To truly analyze a story or character, you need to read, take it all in then sit back and contemplate what it actually is, and not just what you wanted it to be. 

My conclusion is that Ian Mackenzie is a strong, resourceful and oh so loving romantic hero who also happens to be autistic. I feel no need to ask for more than that. Now having read it twice, “The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie” remains one of favorite historical romance novels!