The Witch of Lime Street

Séance, Seduction, and Houdini in the Spirit World

By: David Jaher

Narrated by: Simon Vance

History comes alive in this textured account of the rivalry between Harry Houdini and the so-called Witch of Lime Street, whose iconic lives intersected at a time when science was on the verge of embracing the paranormal.

The 1920s are famous as the golden age of jazz and glamour, but it was also an era of fevered yearning for communion with the spirit world, after the loss of tens of millions in the First World War and the Spanish-flu epidemic. A desperate search for reunion with dead loved ones precipitated a tidal wave of self-proclaimed psychics—and, as reputable media sought stories on occult phenomena, mediums became celebrities.

Against this backdrop, in 1924, the pretty wife of a distinguished Boston surgeon came to embody the raging national debate over Spiritualism, a movement devoted to communication with the dead. Reporters dubbed her the blonde Witch of Lime Street, but she was known to her followers simply as Margery. Her most vocal advocate was none other than Sherlock Holmes' creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who believed so thoroughly in Margery's powers that he urged her to enter a controversial contest, sponsored by Scientific American and offering a large cash prize to the first medium declared authentic by its impressive five-man investigative committee. Admired for both her exceptional charm and her dazzling effects, Margery was the best hope for the psychic practice to be empirically verified. Her supernatural gifts beguiled four of the judges. There was only one left to convince...the acclaimed escape artist, Harry Houdini.

David Jaher's extraordinary debut culminates in the showdown between Houdini, a relentless unmasker of charlatans, and Margery, the nation's most credible spirit medium. The Witch of Lime Street, the first book to capture their electric public rivalry and the competition that brought them into each other’s orbit, returns us to an oft-mythologized era to deepen our understanding of its history, all while igniting our imagination and engaging with the timeless question: Is there life after death?

A History of the US Psychic

The narration of this book was superb. The book itself was constructed as if each chapter was a stand alone vignette. The narrator brought the stories together in a smooth flowing historical mystical journey through a time in history where most wanted to believe in psychics. What a variety of infamous individuals who joined in on the experiments and debate of the spiritualist movement. What a fun listen!

I thought it would never end. .

Way too long for the content. Vance superb as usual. Would have been more interesting with half the words.

👍

Excellent story, well written, and entertaining. Definitely worth the read for anyone interested in the historical timeframe.

Wonderful!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Witch of Lime Street to be better than the print version?

Hard to say because I haven't read the print version.

What other book might you compare The Witch of Lime Street to and why?

"The Remedy: Robert Koch, Arthur Conan Doyle, and the Quest to Cure Tuberculosis"

Another captivating book featuring Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, years before the events of "The Witch."

Which scene was your favorite?

The seances with seemingly supernatural happenings..

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Too long. I like to go slowly and relish.

Any additional comments?

Glad I picked it. Great for those interested in American history, European history, religious studies (Spiritualism),and celebrities of days gone by.

A little everything of mysticism, showmanship,

I found this while referencing Houdini. The Marconi wireless of the 1890s, opened minds to spirituality with a Quija board in the 20s. Mediums tend to be fringe interests, but gained a peak interest about 1925. From his own failed efforts to contact the other side, Harry Houdini developed contempt and wanted to bust the tricksters. I enjoyed this and learned how the game was played. You may like the book if this is your understanding of where the story wanders.