A Magician among the Spirits

Harry Houdini (1874–1926) published this exposé of the practices of fraudulent mediums and psychics in 1924.

Harry Houdini (Author)

9781108027489, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 May 2011

354 pages, 20 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2 cm, 0.45 kg

Harry Houdini (1874–1926), whose real name was Erik Weisz, was one of the most famous magicians and escapologists of all time. He was highly sceptical of the many claims made concerning psychic and paranormal phenomena, which were very popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He attended hundreds of séances for the purposes of his study, and never experienced one he believed genuine. In this book, published in 1924, he described the mediums and psychics whom he revealed as fraudulent, exposing the tricks which had convinced many notable scientists and academics. These included spirit writing, table rapping, spirit manifestations, and levitation. Among those he revealed as frauds was the famous medium Mina Crandon, and his exposures led to a public split with his former friend Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a firm believer. The book is a fascinating account of superstition and gullibility.

Introduction
Preface
1. The founders of modern spiritualism
2. The Davenport brothers
3. Daniel Dunglas Home
4. Palladino
5. Ann O'Delia Diss Debar
6. Dr. Slade and his spirit slates
7. Slate writing and other methods
8. Spirit photography
9. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
10. Why ectoplasm?
11. By-products of spiritualism
12. Investigations – wise and otherwise
13. How mediums obtain information
14. What you must believe to be a spiritualist
15. Magicians as detectors as fraud
16. Conclusion
Appendix
Index.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography [JHMC]