A Thought-Reader's Thoughts
Being the Impressions and Confessions of Stuart Cumberland

The famous thought-reader narrates his own career and describes some of his most memorable séances, in this 1888 work.

Stuart C. Cumberland (Author)

9781108044394, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 8 March 2012

344 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2 cm, 0.44 kg

Although famous throughout Europe for his mind-reading skills, Stuart C. Cumberland (1857–1922) was a staunch critic of the 'rascality' of some spiritualist practices and their practitioners. He claimed that many of the séances and other events which he had experienced were merely fraudulent money-making impostures. He wrote several books on his life as a thought-reader, in which he also revealed the techniques of fake mediums and psychics. (His That Other World, of 1918, is also reissued in this series.) In this 1888 work, Cumberland narrates his own history and career and describes some of his most memorable séances. One of these took place in the House of Commons, where Cumberland subjected none other than the prime minister at the time, W. E. Gladstone, to having his thoughts read. Their encounter made a great impression on the author, who found Gladstone one of his most remarkable subjects.

1. My first 'subject'
2. A believer in 'willing'
3. Russian superstition
4. Notable people at the séance
5. The late Kaiser Wilhelm
6. The land of Mañana
7. The Portuguese and Spaniards contrasted
8. Arabi, the Egyptian
9. About nationalities
10. The use of thought-reading.

Subject Areas: Physical anthropology [JHMP]