Synopses & Reviews
This two-volume history (1863) of the supernatural is a staggering feat: extending his work across almost a thousand pages, William Howitt attempts to describe the engagement with the supernatural in all ages and all parts of the world in order to identify a common link between them. Howitt (1792-1879), a well-known writer in his day, published over fifty books in his lifetime, some in collaboration with his wife, writer and translator Mary Howitt. His interest in the supernatural was precipitated by the untimely deaths of two sons. Volume 1 begins with an apology for faith in the nineteenth century and continues with spiritualist histories of Europe, the Bible and apocrypha, the ancient world, the East, and Scandinavia. Volume 2 concentrates mainly on Christian history, detailing spiritualist aspects of the early church, medieval heresy, the Reformation, and nineteenth-century supernatural engagement, also including pagan and neo-platonic perceptions.
Synopsis
Published in 1863, this two-volume history identifies common links in supernatural belief across all ages and cultures.
Synopsis
Written by William Howitt and published in 1863, this two-volume history traces common characteristics in engagement with the supernatural across all ages and cultures. Volume 2 focuses on the supernatural aspects of Christian history, concluding with a study of nineteenth century spiritualist activity and its relation to science.
Table of Contents
Volume 1: Preface; 1. An apology for faith in the nineteenth century; 2. Spiritualists before the American development; 3. Manifestations of the supernatural in Germany continued; 4. Manifestations of the supernatural in Germany continued; 5. The supernatural in Switzerland and France; 6. The supernatural in the Bible; 7. The supernatural in the Apocrypha; 8. The supernatural of the New Testament; 9. The supernatural in the ancient nations; 10. The supernatural in Assyria, Chaldea, and Persia; 11. The supernatural of ancient Egypt; 12. The supernatural in ancient India and China; 13. The supernatural in ancient Scandinavia; 14. The supernatural in Greece; 15. The supernatural in ancient Rome; 16. The same faith continues in all these nation to the present time; 17. The supernatural amongst the American Indians; 18. The supernatural amongst the early fathers; 19. Supernatural of the Neo-Platonists; 20. The supernatural of the Roman Catholic Church. Volume 2: Preface; 1. An apology for faith in the nineteenth century; 2. Spiritualists before the American development; 3. Manifestations of the supernatural in Germany continued; 4. Manifestations of the supernatural in Germany continued; 5. The supernatural in Switzerland and France; 6. The supernatural in the Bible; 7. The supernatural in the Apocrypha; 8. The supernatural of the New Testament; 9. The supernatural in the ancient nations; 10. The supernatural in Assyria, Chaldea, and Persia; 11. The supernatural of ancient Egypt; 12. The supernatural in ancient India and China; 13. The supernatural in ancient Scandinavia; 14. The supernatural in Greece; 15. The supernatural in ancient Rome; 16. The same faith continues in all these nation to the present time; 17. The supernatural amongst the American Indians; 18. The supernatural amongst the early fathers; 19. Supernatural of the Neo-Platonists; 20. The supernatural of the Roman Catholic Church.