
Spirits, Seers & Séances
Victorian Spiritualism, Magic & the Supernatural
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Narrated by:
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Elizabeth Wiley
Spiritualism in the Age of Sherlock Holmes and Edgar Allan Poe
A woman wearing a black veil convenes a seance. A magician puts a volunteer into a trance. A fortune-teller leans over a crystal ball. Everyone knows what Victorian mysticism looks like because our modern imagery, language, and practice of magic borrows heavily from the Victorians. But we have little understanding of its spiritual, cultural, and historical foundations.
What made the Victorians turn to mediumship, hypnotism, and fortune-telling? What were they afraid of? What were they seeking?
This book explores the history of automatic writing, cartomancy, clairvoyance, and more. It reveals how Victorian belief in ghosts, fairies, and nature spirits shaped our celebrations of Halloween and Christmas. With historic examples and hands-on exercises, you will discover how spiritualism in the time of Jack the Ripper, Jane Eyre, "A Christmas Carol," and Dracula left such a profound impact on both the past and present.
©2023 Steele Alexandra Douris (P)2023 TantorListeners also enjoyed...




















A comprehensive history.
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Hope others enjoy this book as much as I did.
Wonderful information from the past
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Instead, we get a tour of familiar topics—cartomancy, hypnotism, fairies, spiritualist parlor games—each touched on briefly before the narrative rushes on. The result feels more like a catalog than a thesis. The “hands-on exercises” only highlight the book’s identity crisis: is this meant to be a history, or a how-to occult workbook? As it stands, it’s neither rigorous enough for scholars nor immersive enough for practitioners.
What frustrates most is the wasted potential. Douris has the training and expertise to give us a nuanced, contextualized look at Victorian spiritualism—how it intersected with gender, class, empire, and religion. Instead, the book never moves beyond a generalist’s overview. For an author with this background, that’s a letdown.
In the end, Spirits, Seers & Séances is an easy, accessible primer, but that’s about all. If you’re looking for a casual introduction, you may find it entertaining. If you’re hoping for substance, depth, or new perspectives, you’ll leave this séance unsatisfied.
Expected Depth, Got a Glossy Overview
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