Radical Spirits

By Ann Braude,

Book cover of Radical Spirits: Spiritualism and Women's Rights in Nineteenth-Century America

Book description

". . . Ann Braude still speaks powerfully to unique issues of women's creativity-spiritual as well as political-in a superb account of the controversial nineteenth-century Spiritualist movement." -Jon Butler

"Radical Spirits is a vitally important book . . . [that] has . . . influenced a generation of young scholars."…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Radical Spirits as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This book is the OG of academic Spiritualism books. Braude was groundbreaking when she linked Spiritualism and the early women’s rights movement. At a time when women were barred, for the most part, from speaking in public or in the church, Spiritualism offered them a means to channel their spirit and speak in front of large audiences.

This paved the way for more women’s rights advocates to demand more space and attention in the realm of political rights. I’ve read this book so many times I’ve lost count. One, because it’s awesome. Two, because I learn something new every time…

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