Victorian spiritualism

Victorian spiritualism was a religious and social movement that flourished in Britain and America during the mid-to-late 1800s, centered on the belief that the living could communicate with the dead through séances, mediums, and other paranormal practices.

The movement gained widespread popularity following the Fox sisters' claims of spirit contact in 1848 and attracted followers across social classes, from grieving families seeking connection with deceased loved ones to intellectuals investigating claims scientifically.

The parlor séance became a fixture of Victorian spiritualism.