The History of Spiritualism (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781108033206)

The Scottish writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) is best known for his creation of the character Sherlock Holmes. Trained as a medical doctor, Doyle - like many Victorian intellectuals - became fascinated by spiritualism and its promise of communication with the afterlife. Doyle was a firm believer in the movement, claiming as evidence 'sign[s] of a purposeful and organized invasion' from the spirit world. In 1926, towards the end of his life, he published this influential two-volume history. Volume 1 covers the background and origins of spiritualism, beginning with Swedenborg before turning to the 'supernatural' events in upstate New York in 1848 that are generally regarded as the beginning of modern spiritualism. It then focuses on key individuals including D. D. Home, and on scientific investigations of spiritualist phenomena. The History provides valuable insights into Victorian and early twentieth-century culture and the controversies generated by spiritualism at that time.

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
ISBN-10: 1108033202
ISBN-13: 9781108033206
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 06/02/2011
Pages: 376
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.84d