A Magician Among the Spirits

The author recounts his long investigation into Spiritualism, reviewing its founders and celebrated mediums, documenting séances, spirit photography, slate-writing, ectoplasm, and other phenomena, and describing methods by which investigators and stage magicians uncovered deceptions. He profiles specific figures, analyzes common trickery used to obtain information, and recounts tests and experiments conducted in laboratories and seance rooms. He also addresses exchanges with prominent believers and explains why purported proofs failed to convince him, arguing that conjurers’ techniques and systematic scrutiny expose fraud. The work concludes with reflections on the emotional stakes for grieving people and on the ethical responsibility of exposing charlatanry.