The Spirit-rapper; an Autobiography

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About this book

Chemistry and physical science shape the outlook of a man recounting his involvement with spirit manifestations. Born in western New York, he studies at Union College, earns a medical degree, and pursues several branches of natural history. Orestes Augustus Brownson uses this fictional personal account to examine mesmerism, strange phenomena, and the explanations offered for them.

In his preface, Brownson describes a mixed literary form with a serious religious purpose: challenging superstition and defending Christian faith. The account takes him to Rome following the election of Pius the Ninth, where reflections on ancient ruins lead into arguments about the papacy and political influence. Personal recollection, satire, and sustained debate give the book its particular texture. Readers studying nineteenth-century disputes over science, religion, and social reform can follow how Brownson brings those concerns together.

About the author

Orestes Augustus Brownson

Orestes Augustus Brownson was a nineteenth-century American essayist, editor, religious thinker, and political commentator whose convictions changed markedly across his career. An Essay in Refutation of Atheism and An Oration on Liberal Studies belong to his philosophical and educational writing.