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Raising Spirits: How a Conjuror's Tale Was Transmitted Across the Enlightenment (2013) — Mysticism

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Raising Spirits: How a Conjuror's Tale Was Transmitted Across the Enlightenment (2013)

Name: Raising Spirits: How a Conjuror's Tale Was Transmitted Across the Enlightenment (2013)
Price: 79.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781137378934

✍️ Barry, J

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$79.99 ~~$151.00~~ Save $71.01 (47%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A historical study of a gunsmith's spirit conjuring tale in Enlightenment Britain.

Barry investigates the persistence of supernatural narratives despite rising skepticism. He tracks the journey of one specific story about a Bristol gunsmith through print and oral tradition. The analysis reveals how such tales functioned within social networks during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This approach highlights the continuity between early modern demonology and later spiritualist interests. The work provides a detailed look at how cultural memory preserves and alters accounts of the occult over time.

Key Themes

demonology history spiritualism transmission Bristol gunsmith tale

Literary Context

This book sits within the study of early modern European history, specifically focusing on Great Britain during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It bridges the gap between traditional witchcraft studies and the emerging field of spiritualism, reflecting broader cultural shifts in how supernatural beliefs were documented and shared.

Barry, J

📚 all books by this author (2) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Arthur Conan Doyle's non-fiction works on spiritualism · Dion Fortune's historical occult studies · Renaissance magic literature

🌌

Mysticism

🏛 Palgrave Pivot 📅 2013 📖 146 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781137378934

Fun Fact

Barry's *Raising Spirits* is a meticulously researched and brilliantly argued contribution to the history of ideas and occult studies. It excels at demonstrating the complex interplay between Enlightenment rationalism and enduring popular belief, making a compelling case for the continued relevance of supernatural narratives. While it will disappoint those seeking a practical guide to conjuration, scholars and enthusiasts of cultural history will find it an indispensable and thought-provoking analysis, firmly establishing itself as a landmark study of 18th-century esotericism.

📝 Description: Raising Spirits: How a Conjuror's Tale Was Transmitted Across the Enlightenment (2013)

Jonathan Barry, a professor of early modern history at Exeter University, examines how narratives regarding spiritual conjuring circulated during the Enlightenment. His work focuses on a specific case study involving a young gunsmith near Bristol who claimed to summon spirits. This account challenges the assumption that supernatural skepticism completely replaced belief in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Instead, Barry demonstrates that stories about spirits remained a regular part of printed culture and social sharing. The book analyzes the transmission of this single tale across different media and time periods. It draws on sources from urban, social, cultural, religious, and medical history to trace how such accounts were recorded and interpreted. Barry’s previous publications include Witchcraft and Demonology in South-West England 1640-1789 and Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe. He brings this extensive background in demonology and historiography to the present volume. This text suits readers interested in the history of European religion, particularly the intersection of witchcraft studies and spiritualism. It is relevant for those studying the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in Great Britain. The book may not appeal to casual readers seeking practical guides on occult practices or modern spiritualist rituals. Those looking for historical analysis of how demonology was understood in early modern Europe will find this work directly applicable.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Barry provides a compelling historical study of a singular conjuration narrative transmitted through the 18th and 19th centuries. While intellectually rigorous and fascinating for those interested in the persistence of spiritual beliefs during the Age of Reason, this text may not suit readers seeking straightforward ghost stories or practical occult instruction. It is a scholarly examination rather than an entertaining anecdote collection. Those expecting sensationalist accounts of hauntings might find the focus on historical transmission and societal rationalization too dry. However, for those willing to engage with the paradox of an era dedicated to reason yet rife with supernatural tales, it offers a valuable, if dense, perspective on esoteric history.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the complex relationship between reason and faith during the Enlightenment will find this study deeply rewarding. It offers a unique window into how spiritual beliefs persisted and evolved within an increasingly rationalized society, highlighting humanity's enduring engagement with the unseen world. Those interested in the transmission of folklore and the specific case of the Bristol gunsmith’s conjuration tale will appreciate the meticulous tracing of its transformation across centuries. This book is ideal for scholars and enthusiasts who wish to understand how spectral tales defied skepticism and danced across printed pages, providing insight into the human psyche's persistent allure toward the mysterious and supernatural.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you are fascinated by the cultural history of magic, the sociology of belief, or the enduring power of narrative, this book offers a meticulously researched and engaging exploration. It's a must-read for those who ponder how the supernatural persisted even in an age of burgeoning scientific…

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Barry provides a compelling historical study of a singular conjuration narrative transmitted through the 18th and 19th centuries. While intellectually rigorous and fascinating for those interested in the persistence of spiritual beliefs during the Age of Reason, this text may not suit readers seeking straightforward ghost stories or practical occult instruction. It is a scholarly examination rather than an entertaining anecdote collection. Those expecting sensationalist accounts of hauntings might find the focus on historical transmission and societal rationalization too dry. However, for those willing to engage with the paradox of an era dedicated to reason yet rife with supernatural tales, it offers a valuable, if dense, perspective on esoteric history.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, this is a historical and cultural analysis. It meticulously examines the *stories* of conjuration and their transmission, rather than offering practical instruction in occult arts. Its focus is on the impact and perception of such tales.

While the core case study originates near Bristol, the book explores how this specific narrative traveled and was interpreted more broadly across Europe, providing insights into wider Enlightenment-era attitudes towards the supernatural.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Rationality Meets Lore

Despite the era's intellectual push towards scientific understanding and logic, this book illustrates how stories of spirit conjuring not only survived but thrived. It examines the tension between emerging skepticism and the deep-seated popular belief in the supernatural, showing how these contradictory forces coexisted and shaped cultural narratives.

Narrative Evolution

At its core, the book is a masterful case study in how a specific supernatural tale transformed over time and across different media. It meticulously charts the path of the gunsmith's story, revealing the mechanisms through which oral traditions, printed pamphlets, and scholarly discussions disseminated and reshaped accounts of the uncanny.

Enlightenment Occultism

This work positions the widespread sharing of conjuration tales as a vital, often overlooked, aspect of Enlightenment culture. It challenges the simplistic view of the period as purely rational, exposing the vibrant undercurrents of demonology and popular magic that continued to influence society, even as academic elites championed reason.

📜 Historical context

This study situates itself within the academic field re-evaluating the role of the occult and popular belief during the Enlightenment. It challenges traditional narratives of an entirely secularized 18th and 19th century, contributing to a richer understanding of how magical thought and spiritual anxieties continued to shape European society alongside scientific progress.

📚 Glossary

Enlightenment
Conjuror
Demonology

📔 Questions to reflect on

Consider a modern equivalent of a 'supernatural' story that circulates widely despite scientific skepticism. How does its transmission compare to the historical examples in the book?
How do you think the rise of print media influenced the spread and transformation of occult narratives during the Enlightenment, compared to purely oral traditions?
Reflect on the tension between societal push for 'reason' and the individual or popular persistence of 'belief' in unseen forces. Where do you see this tension playing out today?