Behind the Scenes with the Mediums

About this book

A medium appears to read a sealed message, move an object without touching it or produce a spirit's writing on a slate. David P. Abbott wants to know exactly how the effect was achieved.

Drawing on his knowledge of conjuring and mechanical devices, Abbott explains methods used in fraudulent demonstrations and the psychology that helps them succeed. His examples reveal the ingenuity behind apparently impossible feats. The book is an absorbing companion to the spiritualist literature of its period because it turns the séance room into a workshop of practical questions.