Mourning and Mysticism in First World War Literature and Beyond: Grappling with Ghosts

by George M. Johnson

Preface Attachment, Mourning and Mysticism 1. F. W. H. Loss and the Obsessive Study of Survival 2. Spirit Oliver Lodge's Raymond and Christopher 3. From Parodist to Arthur Conan Doyle's 'Vital Message' 4. Well-Remembered Mourning and Spirit Communication in Barrie and Kipling's First World War Narratives 5. 'Mourning, the War, and the 'New Mysticism' in May Sinclair and Virginia Woolf' 6. 'Purgatorial Passions': 'The ghost' (a.k.a. Wilfred Owen) in Owen's poetry 7. ''Misty-schism': the Psychological Roots of Aldous Huxley's Mystical Modernism' 8. After-life/ the Culture of Mourning and Mysticism Bibliography Index

Genres: History

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 13, 2015

About the author

George M. Johnson writes stories of positive change based on his social justice work over 30 years, for which he received the Y.M.C.A. Peace Medal in 2019. He grew up in Waterdown, Ontario, and in 1991 moved to Kamloops, B.C., where he is Professor of creative writing and literature in the Literatures, Languages, and Performing Arts Department at Thompson Rivers University. His comedy Still Life With Nudes, about seniors who stage a sit-in at an art gallery won several awards, including the Ottawa Little Theatre’s Gladys Cameron Watt Award and the Regina Little Theatre’s National Playwriting Competition. It was published in Ryga and in the U.S.A. by ArtAge. His screenplay “Peace Pledge,” received Honorable Mention in the Euroscript Screenplay Competition and the New Renaissance Film Festival (London). His latest book is Mourning and Mysticism in First World War Literature: Grappling With Ghosts. Canoeing, camping, and cross-country skiing count among his outdoor passions. Living surrounded by mountains, but visiting the contrasting prairie landscape, inspired him to write his first picture book Marisa and the Mountains. https://georgemjohnson.com/. It was selected as one of the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens in 2021, and is a starred selection, signifying "titles of exceptional calibre." His second picture book, How Hope Became An Activist was a Finalist for the Eric Hoffer Awards Montaigne Medal for the most thought-provoking books in all genres, “books that either illuminate, progress, or redirect thought.” His recent award-winning picture books are "Sophia's Secrets" and "Aldo Renaldo and the Renegade Alphabet." "Pinky's Moving Story" will be released by Histria in March, 2026, with "Aldo Renaldo and the Numbers That Just Don't Add Up" appearing with Histria in September, 2026. More titles are forthcoming!

Reviews

[Linda Wall]

A highly researched, scholarly book.

Interesting weaving of psychology (especial attachment theory & avoidant-resistance to loss) with World War I and literary figures of the time.

It was a deep read and fascinating for me, as a writer & a poet. I could even see my own avoidant-resistant behaviours throughout my lifetime. Recently I have observed avoidant-resistant behaviours in the movies I have watched.