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Talking to the Dead: Kate and Maggie Fox and the Rise of Spiritualism Kindle Edition

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 150 ratings

Barbara Weisberg’s Talking to the Dead blends biography and social history in this revelatory story of the family responsible for the rise of Spiritualism.

A fascinating story of spirits and conjurors, skeptics and converts in the second half of nineteenth century America viewed through the lives of Kate and Maggie Fox, the sisters whose purported communication with the dead gave rise to the Spiritualism movement—and whose recanting forty years later is still shrouded in mystery.

In March of 1848, Kate and Maggie Fox—sisters aged eleven and fourteen—anxiously reported to a neighbor that they had been hearing strange, unidentified sounds in their house. From a sequence of knocks and rattles translated by the young girls as a "voice from beyond," the Modern Spiritualism movement was born.

Talking to the Dead follows the fascinating story of the two girls who were catapulted into an odd limelight after communicating with spirits that March night. Within a few years, tens of thousands of Americans were flocking to séances. An international movement followed. Yet thirty years after those first knocks, the sisters shocked the country by denying they had ever contacted spirits. Shortly after, the sisters once again changed their story and reaffirmed their belief in the spirit world.

Weisberg traces not only the lives of the Fox sisters and their family (including their mysterious Svengali–like sister Leah) but also the social, religious, economic and political climates that provided the breeding ground for the movement. While this is a thorough, compelling overview of a potent time in US history, it is also an incredible ghost story.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Is it really possible to talk with the dead? As much as modern America is familiar with mediums--think bestselling authors John Edwards and Sylvia Browne--this question still generates passionate opinions from believers and skeptics alike. So one can only imagine the stir that the Fox sisters created in 1848 when they claimed to hear a ghost rapping on the wall of their Hydesville, New York rental house bedroom. The sisters soon discovered that the ghost would tap answers to specific questions. Within days neighbors and travelers were showing up at the house, wanting to converse with the dead rapper. The Fox sisters--Maggie and Kate--went onto become a national phenomenon, holding séances and making their livings as celebrity mediums. They were also the leaders of a new movement called the spiritualists. New York-based filmmaker Barbara Weisberg assembled this fascinating and expertly recounted biography. Beyond trying to prove whether the Fox girls were legitimate, Weisberg wrote a study of how two young girls could shape a new spiritual movement in mid-1800s America. "The more I thought about the Fox sisters, the more it seemed to me not only that Kate and Maggie sparked a movement, but that their lives epitomized the conflicts and urges that helped fuel its blaze. The question of the other world aside, the girls' appeal surely stemmed in part from the ways they embodied—and intuited—their culture's anxieties and ambitions." Ironically, in not trying to prove whether these two were frauds, Weisberg has created a more satisfying human story within a rich historical context, not unlike the tactics used for the bestseller Seabiscuit. And likewise, this could and should easily translate into a dynamite major motion picture. --Gail Hudson

From Publishers Weekly

When the Fox family moved to Hydesville, N.Y., in 1848, they were confronted with strange and unexplainable noises coming from their bedroom. After an evening of listening to these raps and knocks on the walls, the Foxes' youngest children, Maggie and Kate, discovered that they had a gift for communicating with the spirits that made the sounds-when one of the girls knocked on the wall, the spirits would knock back. In her engaging study, Weisberg, a former documentary filmmaker, sets the case of the Fox sisters into the context of a 19th-century America that was developing a fascination with the world of spirits and the paranormal. The two Fox sisters began making public appearances in which they would talk to ghosts; along with their older sister, Leah, they eventually developed a traveling psychic show that took them across America and to Europe, leading tens of thousands of Americans to attend seances. While many clerics accused them of working for the devil, they cultivated a huge following, who, Weisberg says, needed to allay the anxieties of the modern age. In 1888, however, Maggie announced that the sisters had been engaged in deceptive practices. Her announcement shook the world of spiritualists. Although Maggie recanted one year later, the question had been raised: do spiritualists really speak to the dead? Weisberg refuses to judge the Fox sisters, saying only that it's plausible that they were deceptive, in this lively tale of a little-known slice of American history.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0018ND86Q
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne (October 13, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 13, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1854 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 338 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 150 ratings

About the author

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Barbara Weisberg
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Barbara Weisberg's new book is STRONG PASSIONS: A SCANDALOUS DIVORCE IN OLD NEW YORK, for release by Norton in February 2024. It tells the true story of an explosive divorce trial in the 1860s that exposed upper-crust New York society and its secrets, shocking the public with reports of adultery, abortion, and child abduction, and highlighting women's rights issues still in the headlines today.

The author of TALKING TO THE DEAD: KATE AND MAGGIE FOX AND THE RISE OF SPIRITUALISM, a biography of the two founders of 19th century American Spiritualism, Weisberg has also written four children's books and many articles on science and history for young readers. In addition, she co-created the TV sitcom "Charles in Charge" and has produced other award-winning programs for network and cable television.

TALKING TO THE DEAD was named one of the Best Books of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and was recommended in the Paperback Row column of the New York Times. Her YA biography SUSAN B. ANTHONY: WOMAN SUFFRAGIST was praised by the Anthony Museum in Rochester, N.Y. as a "treasure...a favorite among our visitors,” and her picture book SPACE CREATURES was called "clever, enchantingly illustrated" by Kirkus Reviews.

Weisberg earned her M.Phil. in American Studies at Yale University and her M.F.A. in Creative Writing at Brooklyn College, where she was awarded the MacArthur Scholarship in Poetry on the nomination of Allen Ginsberg. The Parapsychology Foundation awarded her the D. Scott Rogo Award for her research on Spiritualism, and the American Antiquarian Society awarded her the Lila Wallace/Readers Digest Grant for Creative Writers and Artists to pursue her work on the Fox sisters. She is a member of the Writers Guild of America, Biographers International, the American Antiquarian Society, and the Authors Guild.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
150 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides accurate historical information about séances and their history. However, some readers found the book boring and difficult to read. Opinions are mixed on readability - some find it worth reading from cover to cover, while others felt it was poorly written with hard-to-read typeface and tight margins.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

13 customers mention "Historical accuracy"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They appreciate the accurate historical context and well-researched account of the Fox sisters. The subject is fascinating and well-told, setting the tone for the historical context.

"...Overall this book is well written and historically accurate. It is an interesting read for both the amateur and professional historian...." Read more

"Intriguing and accessible, this well researched account of the Fox sisters places the sisterly duo in the middle of the religious and feminist..." Read more

"...It's written in a lively "voice" and draws a clear picture of the times and people involved...." Read more

"...All in all, it gives one pause and something to consider." Read more

14 customers mention "Readability"8 positive6 negative

Customers have different views on the book's readability. Some find it engaging and well-written, while others mention issues like hard-to-read typeface, tight margins, and formatting issues.

"...It’s an easy read about the Fox sisters in upstate NY." Read more

"Not well written. Lost interest midway" Read more

"...Overall this book is well written and historically accurate. It is an interesting read for both the amateur and professional historian...." Read more

"...The details of the "methods" of the mediums are a particularly fun read...." Read more

6 customers mention "Boredom"0 positive6 negative

Customers find the book boring and difficult to read.

"This book is so boring, I refused to even finish reading it. I am an avid reader, and this was one of the worst ever." Read more

"...I could not finish reading it. It got boring pretty quickly. Goes into the next garage sale." Read more

"I didn't finish the story. It reads more like a boring documentary. Don't bother. Just a waste of your time." Read more

"Gave up 32% in. Boring and a struggle to read." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2024
    I find this book fascinating because I love history—and have a love for spirituality and the “unknown”. I am also fascinated by New York history—this book brings together all my interests. I heard about it when visiting Casadaga FL and knew I needed to read this book! It’s an easy read about the Fox sisters in upstate NY.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2015
    The spiritualist movement of the 19th century was the beginning of America's obsession with the occult. While the psychics, and ghost hunters of today are often looked upon as frauds and con artists the spiritualists of the 19th century were often looked upon as celebrities. They traveled first class on trains and ocean liners, stayed in luxury hotels, and were hailed as proof that the afterlife existed. But, underneath it all they were as much frauds and hacks as the so-called psychics of today. The Fox Sisters were among the most well-known spiritualists of the day and interacted with celebrities such as, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and the members of various scientific societies that also flourished during the same period.

    Weisberg eloquently writers about both the tragedy, and the fame and fortune experienced by all three Fox sisters. She links the spiritualist movement to many of the other popular movements of the day and uses descriptive language to tell the reader about a time in history when occultism and scientific pursuits existed hand in hand.

    Overall this book is well written and historically accurate. It is an interesting read for both the amateur and professional historian. There are some minor formatting and grammar issues and in some places there are citations lacking but in general this is a good book.
    23 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2013
    Intriguing and accessible, this well researched account of the Fox sisters places the sisterly duo in the middle of the religious and feminist controversies of the time. The details of the "methods" of the mediums are a particularly fun read. And the author's even-handed approach to the quests of the participants in the spiritualist movement allows for readers to draw their own conclusions. It is a delight to read such an engaging and controversial story presented without bias.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2018
    Certainly not a gripping tale. It was none the less interesting in parts. Some parts of the book were predictable and other parts were very repetitive . All in all, it was an reasonable, entertaining read
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2017
    I really enjoyed this book. It's written in a lively "voice" and draws a clear picture of the times and people involved. It drags a bit about 3/4 of the way in, but if you can get past that, it's worth reading from cover to cover. Excellent history told without bias.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2021
    Very interesting book about the fox sisters in New York
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2023
    Not well written. Lost interest midway
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2013
    This book is so boring, I refused to even finish reading it. I am an avid reader, and this was one of the worst ever.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • mr aeburne
    5.0 out of 5 stars ABOUT 3 MEDIUMS
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2024
    WELL WRITTEN VERY GOOD BOOK 10/10
  • Jason Cuthbert
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is exactly what I wanted.
    Reviewed in Canada on June 26, 2020
    It arrived in fantastic condition.
  • noel w adams
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read for all Spiritualists
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2014
    Was good to read all information relating to the Fox family. Little details missed before now brought foreword make the history a lot more true.
  • lee-ellen baker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in Canada on June 19, 2019
    Good read
  • ⚡ Fiona ⚡
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read, really fascinating insight into Victorian spiritualism.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 2009
    You will love this book if you are interested in spiritualism- contacting ghosts, seances etc - and you will love it even more if you are interested in Victorian spiritualism.
    This book tells the true life story of two sisters, Kate and Maggie Fox, who as teenagers claimed they could contact spirits. Their story brought them fame, notoriety and even caused them depression later on in life.

    I actually read this book because I am fascinated by spirits, but I found myself really captivated by the stories of these two sisters, of their life back in the 1800s and the sad things that happened to them.

    This book is amazing, the author keeps it ineresting and well paced. It does have some eerie accounts of when they contacted spirits, but also some heart-breaking moments where these two young women went through some tough times.

    I can't even begin to get across how great this book is. You can't go wrong. Read it, you won't be disappointed.

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