A Magician Among the Spirits

Harry Houdini (1874 - 1926)

Houdini, an escape artist and illusionist, became interested later in his life in debunking spiritualists, disbelieving anyone who claimed to have supernatural powers. This was during an era where paranormal phenomena, especially seances, were extremely popular. Although skeptical of their claims, he longed to find a credible source to communicate with family members he had lost. This book chronicles his travels and the many people he spoke with and his observations of their 'powers' and along the way also reveals many of the tricks they employed to deceive their paying customers. - Summary by Phyllis Vincelli

Genre(s): *Non-fiction, Psychology

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Introduction and Preface PhyllisV
00:23:49
Play 01 Chapter 1 - The Founders of Modern Spiritualism PhyllisV
00:34:49
Play 02 Chapter 2 Part I - The Davenport Brothers PhyllisV
00:20:05
Play 03 Chapter 2 Part II - The Davenport Brothers PhyllisV
00:22:56
Play 04 Chapter 3 - Daniel Dunglas Home PhyllisV
00:25:50
Play 05 Chapter 4 - Palladino PhyllisV
00:36:34
Play 06 Chapter 5 - Ann O'Delia Diss Debar PhyllisV
00:28:18
Play 07 Chapter 6 Part I - Dr. Slade and his Spirit Slates PhyllisV
00:31:32
Play 08 Chapter 6 Part II - Dr. Slade and his Spirit Slates PhyllisV
00:19:45
Play 09 Chapter 7 - Slate Writing and Other Methods PhyllisV
00:36:03
Play 10 Chapter 8 Part I - Spirit Photography PhyllisV
00:28:17
Play 11 Chapter 8 Part II - Spirit Photography PhyllisV
00:18:07
Play 12 Chapter 9 Part I - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle PhyllisV
00:19:14
Play 13 Chapter 9 Part II - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle PhyllisV
00:20:51
Play 14 Chapter 9 Part III - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle PhyllisV
00:19:53
Play 15 Chapter 10 - Why Ectoplasm? PhyllisV
00:30:23
Play 16 Chapter 11 - By-Products of Spiritualism PhyllisV
00:27:05
Play 17 Chapter 12 Part I - Investigations - Wise and Otherwise PhyllisV
00:29:26
Play 18 Chapter 12 Part II - Investigations - Wise and Otherwise PhyllisV
00:32:44
Play 19 Chapter 13 - How Mediums Obtain Information PhyllisV
00:26:12
Play 20 Chapter 14 - What You Must Believe to be a Spiritualist PhyllisV
00:35:22
Play 21 Chapter 15 Part I - Magicians as Detectors of Fraud PhyllisV
00:27:02
Play 22 Chapter 15 Part II - Magicians as Detectors of Fraud PhyllisV
00:26:30
Play 23 Chapter 16 - Conclusion PhyllisV
00:12:16
Play 24 Appendix PhyllisV
00:30:07