Boston in the Golden Age of Spiritualism: Seances, Mediums & Immortality

by Dee Morris

Spiritualism flourished in Boston from the first rumblings of the Civil War until the early twentieth century. Numerous clairvoyants claimed to bring messages from beyond the grave at seances and public meetings. Motives for belief were varied. Wealthy John Wetherbee sought business advice through supernatural means. Psychic Fannie Conant attributed her restored health to spirit intervention. Grieving theater manager Isaac B. Rich wanted to contact his deceased wife. While many earnestly believed in the movement, there were those who took advantage of naive Bostonians. Determined to expose charlatans, world-renowned magician Harry Houdini declared the famous medium and Bostonian Mina Margery" Crandon a fake. Join author Dee Morris as she navigates the complex history of Boston's spiritualist movement."

Genres: History, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2014

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A side of history that you never heard about in school. I had no idea that spiritualism--"the belief in the soul's immortality and the reality of communicating with the departed"--took on such a following in the later half of the 19th century. As you read about it, especially the early years, it makes sense, because it allowed people to believe in their own versions of a spiritual realm, without the burden of dogma and the threat of hell; women as well as men could be respected for their talents; and I think it broaden some people's ideas of what the world and their place in it could be.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Series of biographies of Boston mediums. It was... Okay.

[Parliament · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grateful for the knowledge. There's a copy of this in the private collection of Boston Public library. it's got deep cuts

[Dan Gorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This slim volume provides compact, entertaining stories of Spiritualists and their activities in nineteenth-century Boston. The History Press specializes in local histories, and their volumes are always full of gorgeous photos. This one is no exception. Morris is sympathetic to the Spiritualists. It is not clear if Morris believes in the occult, but the author gives many of the occultists and mystics the benefit of the doubt, while still describing outright frauds. The bibliography is pretty thorough, but the lack of footnotes makes it difficult to identify the sources for Morris's specific claims.

[Tom Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A valuable reference book

Well documented history of the Spiritualist movement at the end of the 19th century. Nicely written and illustrated. I will be purchasing a copy of the print version for my library.

[Dave Gilmour · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the period interested me this was interesting!