Trance Speakers: Femininity and Authorship in Spiritual Séances, 1850-1930 (original) (raw)

Trance Speakers: Femininity and Authorship in Spiritual Séances, 1850-1930 explores the role of female mediums in the context of nineteenth-century spiritualism, emphasizing their strategies for gaining authority as healers and authors. By examining historical examples, including the practices of Canadian mediums like Susan Kilborn and public figures such as Flora MacDonald Denison, the volume argues for the complexity of women's contributions to spiritualism and their navigation of social constraints. It highlights how mediums utilized spiritual authority to challenge societal norms, ultimately redefining feminine roles in public discourse.