The History of Spiritualism, Vol. II

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The History of Spiritualism, Vol. II

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Arthur Conan Doyle chronicles the global Spiritualist movement, detailing mediumship, spirit phenomena, and public reaction. This volume examines physical manifestations like ectoplasm and levitation, explores voice and mold mediums, and investigates the religious and after-life implications of these transformative beliefs.

Summary up to 500 words

In *The History of Spiritualism, Vol. II*, Arthur Conan Doyle presents a comprehensive chronicle of the movement's pivotal era, focusing on the rigorous scientific investigations that defined its credibility. The text centers on Eusapia Palladino, the first medium extensively tested by eminent scientists such as Cesare Lombroso and Charles Richet. Doyle documents her extraordinary phenomena, including table levitation, materialized hands, and the controversial 'ectoplasmic limb,' contrasting the initial skepticism of researchers with the eventual conversions of many, including Lombroso himself. The narrative expands to cover other great mediums from 1870 to 1900, such as D.D. Home and Mrs. Wriedt, highlighting their diverse powers like simultaneous voice production and communication in foreign languages. Doyle also addresses the Society for Psychical Research, the enduring debate over fraud versus genuine psychic ability, and the specific mechanics of spirit photography and voice production. Furthermore, the book explores the religious dimensions of the faith, the concept of the after-life, and the movement's evolution during wartime. Through detailed accounts of sittings and reports from figures like Sir Oliver Lodge, Doyle presents a substantial overview of a phenomenon that challenged the laws of nature and reshaped public understanding of the spirit world. The volume details how spirits communicated through ectoplasm to form speaking apparatuses and how the after-life involves bodies that are imperceptible yet solid to the inhabitants of that realm. Ultimately, the work serves as a defense of psychical research, arguing that phenomena once considered impossible do belong to the order of nature and warrant serious investigation by those interested in natural knowledge.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/arthur-conan-doyle_history-of-spiritualism-vol-ii.epub

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Categories

• Religion
• Paranormal