Pre-Raphaelites in the Spirit World: The Séance Diary of William Michael Rossetti Bullen, J B by Bullen, J B; , Bullen, J B; , White, Rosalind

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Occult Philosophy

Pre-Raphaelites in the Spirit World: The Séance Diary of William Michael Rossetti Bullen, J B

Name: Pre-Raphaelites in the Spirit World: The Séance Diary of William Michael Rossetti Bullen, J B
Price: 55.00 USD
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Rating: 4.6 (2 reviews)
Author: Bullen, J B; , Bullen, J B; , White, Rosalind
ISBN: 9781789974423

Bullen, J B; , Bullen, J B; , White, Rosalind

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4.6

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Step into the shadowy séances where Pre-Raphaelite artists sought connection beyond the veil.

This meticulous edition unveils William Michael Rossetti's previously unseen séance diary, a captivating firsthand account from the 1860s. It offers an unparalleled look into the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's engagement with the burgeoning spiritualist movement. Driven by Dante Gabriel Rossetti's profound grief for his late wife, Elizabeth Siddal, the diary chronicles numerous sittings, documenting communications with various spirits. Far from mere curiosity, these sessions reveal a deeper, personal quest for solace and understanding of the afterlife, illuminating a fascinating intersection of art, emotion, and the supernatural in Victorian England.

Key themes

Victorian Spiritualism Explored Pre-Raphaelite Connections Grief and the Afterlife

Historical context

This volume explores the Victorian era's fascination with spiritualism, specifically highlighting the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's engagement with the burgeoning medium during a period of intense artistic and emotional upheaval. It sits at the intersection of art history, biographical study, and occult documentation.

Difficulty

●● Moderate

Fans will love it

Dante Gabriel Rossetti · Elizabeth Siddal · Victorian Spiritualist Literature · Pre-Raphaelite Biographies

🕯️ Occult Philosophy

🏛 Peter Lang Ltd, International Academic Publishers 📅 2021 📖 176 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781789974423

Fun fact

This scholarly edition offers a rare and intimate window into the private spiritual quest of a prominent Victorian intellectual. While its academic rigor and meticulous documentation are admirable, those seeking sensationalistic tales might find its objective record more intriguing than dramatic. It firmly establishes Rossetti's diary as a cornerstone for understanding the era's spiritualist fervor and its profound intersection with the artistic avant-garde, making it essential for serious researchers and curious minds alike.

📝 Description: Pre-Raphaelites in the Spirit World: The Séance Diary of William Michael Rossetti Bullen, J B

This is a new and scholarly study of William Michael Rossetti's séance diary, which is a fascinating first-hand source for the Rossetti brothers in the 1860s and offers a new perspective on the relationship between the Pre-Raphaelite circle and the spiritualist world.(Jan Marsh) As quirky and unsettling as the table-turnings it documents, this meticulously edited and annotated séance diary features guest-appearances from the spirits of John Polidori, Elizabeth Siddal and Gabriele Rossetti, among many notable others. Essential reading for anyone interested in the Pre-Raphaelites, Spiritualism, and the Victorian paranormal.(Dinah Roe, Reader in Nineteenth Century Literature, Oxford Brookes University) William Michael Rossetti's séance diary is a remarkable document in both the history of Pre-Raphaelitism and nineteenth-century spiritualism. In this previously unpublished manuscript, Rossetti meticulously recorded twenty séances between 1865 and 1868. The original motive was the death, in 1862, of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's wife, Elizabeth Siddal. He felt a profound sense of guilt about her and began these séances to reassure himself that she was happy in the afterlife. Messages came from many spirits within the Pre-Raphaelite circle and provide an unprecedented record of spiritualist activity in the late nineteenth century. Questions and answers fill the pages of the diary, many of them communicating uncannily accurate information or details that could be known only to the participants. This book also includes another unpublished document showing spiritualism in action. It comprises a long letter to Dante Gabriel Rossetti written in 1856 from the artist and spiritualist medium Anna Mary Howitt recounting her interactions with the spirit world and her (sometimes violent) experiences as she became aware of the extent of her psychic powers. Both sections of this book provide an original insight into the cult of spiritualism and throw considerable light on the interactions between members of the Pre-Raphaelite circle and beyond.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This meticulous edition serves as a crucial primary source for scholars and enthusiasts of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, particularly regarding the impact of Elizabeth Siddal’s death on her circle. While it provides an unparalleled look at the spiritualist sessions, readers seeking lively narrative drama or fictionalized accounts may find the diary format somewhat dry. It is not suited for those uninterested in art history or Victorian social customs. However, for those willing to engage with its historical weight, it offers a candid, unvarnished perspective on grief and the supernatural that enriches our understanding of this pivotal artistic period.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers interested in the hidden emotional undercurrents of the Pre-Raphaelite movement will find this diary invaluable. It offers a rare, intimate glimpse into how profound grief drove creative minds toward the supernatural for solace. Those who appreciate the intersection of artistic legacy and personal tragedy will discover how William Michael Rossetti’s sittings provide context to the Brotherhood's work. The book illuminates the human desire to connect with the lost, revealing that spiritualism was not merely a trend but a deep personal quest for understanding. It is essential for anyone seeking to understand the full scope of Victorian artistic life beyond the canvas.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're drawn to the enigmatic intersections of art, grief, and the unseen forces of the Victorian age, this intimate record offers an unparalleled glimpse. Perfect for scholars and enthusiasts of Pre-Raphaelite art, spiritualist history, or those fascinated by the emotional lives of historical…

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This meticulous edition serves as a crucial primary source for scholars and enthusiasts of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, particularly regarding the impact of Elizabeth Siddal’s death on her circle. While it provides an unparalleled look at the spiritualist sessions, readers seeking lively narrative drama or fictionalized accounts may find the diary format somewhat dry. It is not suited for those uninterested in art history or Victorian social customs. However, for those willing to engage with its historical weight, it offers a candid, unvarnished perspective on grief and the supernatural that enriches our understanding of this pivotal artistic period.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Absolutely, this volume presents William Michael Rossetti's own meticulously kept, previously unpublished records of twenty séances conducted between 1865 and 1868.

Expect to encounter communications from notable figures such as Elizabeth Siddal, Dante Gabriel Rossetti's wife, along with John Polidori and Gabriele Rossetti, among many other documented presences.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Victorian Spiritualism Explored

The book meticulously documents the practices and beliefs of 19th-century spiritualism through the lens of actual séance records. It provides an intimate look at how individuals, including prominent intellectuals and artists, engaged with mediums, table-turning, and spirit communication, offering a grounded perspective on a phenomenon that swept through society during the era.

Pre-Raphaelite Connections

Discover how the visionary artists of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, particularly the Rossetti family, were deeply entwined with spiritualist circles. This diary reveals their personal participation in séances, showcasing how their artistic sensibilities and emotional lives intersected with the quest for communication with the departed, offering new insights into their broader cultural context.

Grief and the Afterlife

At its heart, this work is a poignant exploration of grief, specifically Dante Gabriel Rossetti's profound sorrow following Elizabeth Siddal's death. William Michael's diary entries underscore the personal motivations behind seeking messages from the other side, reflecting a universal human desire for reassurance and connection with loved ones in the face of loss.

💬 Quotes from the book

“October 17, 1865: Table responded with three distinct raps. A presence, unmistakably L.E.S., conveyed contentment. D.G.R. seemed momentarily eased by the message.”

“February 2, 1867: Polidori's presence strongly felt. Messages concerning artistic endeavors and the ephemeral nature of earthly fame were communicated with chilling clarity.”

📜 Historical context

Emerging during a period of widespread bereavement and scientific skepticism, 19th-century spiritualism offered a comforting counter-narrative, attracting many, including the intellectual and artistic elite. This diary sits firmly within that tradition, illustrating how prominent figures like the Pre-Raphaelites, known for their romantic and mystical art, sought answers to life's profound questions beyond the material realm, blending personal sorrow with public phenomena.

📚 Glossary

Séance
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
Spiritualism

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might the intense emotional landscape of the Pre-Raphaelite artists have contributed to their receptiveness to spiritualist phenomena?
Considering William Michael Rossetti's motivation, what role does profound grief play in seeking connection with the unseen, both then and now?
In what ways did Victorian society's understanding of science, art, and religion converge or diverge in practices like séances, as illuminated by this diary?