The Reluctant Spiritualist

"The Reluctant Spiritualist" is an authoritative biography of Maggie Fox, cofounder of the American Spiritualism movement, which captivated over a million followers in the mid-1800s. At just 15 years old, Maggie and her sister Katy ignited this phenomenon by creating rapping sounds, ultimately convincing their family that their farmhouse was haunted, which led to them becoming celebrated mediums. As Maggie's fame grew, so did the number of mediums practicing across the country, but her later disavowal of Spiritualism contributed to its decline. Award-winning author Nancy Rubin Stuart draws from memoirs, letters, and newspaper accounts to vividly depict Maggie’s life and the cultural impact of her work.