So glad you captured this missing piece of Civil War history. All those deaths - of course people found comfort and closure where they could. She provided a great service.
For obvious reasons, this is my favorite story yet! I love how you take us on a journey with each story. The clarity through which we're able to get a glimpse into the lives of those that came before us is mesmerizing. Thank you!
Oh, Rael! I thought of you a million times as I was researching and retelling this story and it makes me so happy that you enjoyed it! Thanks for your kind words and inspiration.
We see evidence of this Victorian occult fascination even in grave stones. Guardian angels, moving toward the light and divine protection are sometimes displayed in epitaphs. Our local cemetery has examples from the 1870s period which I suspect may have been peak Victorian occult.
Your reference to the upending of the "good death" is exemplified in the book "This Republic of Suffering" by Drew Gilpin Faust.
Thanks for that add, @David. I was wondering if you’d seen any changes in terms of markers. And thanks for the book recommendation - I’ll check it out.
While I love the incredible breadth of information in the book, my reservation is that the writing feels “manufactured” at times. Like a thousand memes on 3 X 5 cards that just got plopped onto the pages to meet an academic deadline. The author tries too hard to make the Civil War the cause of all of the changes in the U.S. As we know, multi-causality is the norm, not the exception. A good editor would have made this book a truly great work. As it stands, it is a “must read” taken with a small grain of salt.
Good to know - thanks. A lot of how I approached this piece and topic was inspired by Ric Burns’ Death and the Civil War series in PBS. I watched it years ago and it has stayed in my craw.
This is an amazing story and beautifully told Lori. I have personal reasons for resonating with all that happened here. I haven’t been brave enough to write my story yet but am inching closer.
This was incredible! Thanks so much for sharing. I will have to look more closely at the sources and read more about her.
While I can communicate with those beyond the veil - I have never chosen to be one who would do so as Fannie did - or so often. The energy work takes a huge toll on us. It is incredible the healing work done through her - so much is possible in this way even today.
So glad you captured this missing piece of Civil War history. All those deaths - of course people found comfort and closure where they could. She provided a great service.
For obvious reasons, this is my favorite story yet! I love how you take us on a journey with each story. The clarity through which we're able to get a glimpse into the lives of those that came before us is mesmerizing. Thank you!
Oh, Rael! I thought of you a million times as I was researching and retelling this story and it makes me so happy that you enjoyed it! Thanks for your kind words and inspiration.
We see evidence of this Victorian occult fascination even in grave stones. Guardian angels, moving toward the light and divine protection are sometimes displayed in epitaphs. Our local cemetery has examples from the 1870s period which I suspect may have been peak Victorian occult.
Your reference to the upending of the "good death" is exemplified in the book "This Republic of Suffering" by Drew Gilpin Faust.
Thanks for that add, @David. I was wondering if you’d seen any changes in terms of markers. And thanks for the book recommendation - I’ll check it out.
While I love the incredible breadth of information in the book, my reservation is that the writing feels “manufactured” at times. Like a thousand memes on 3 X 5 cards that just got plopped onto the pages to meet an academic deadline. The author tries too hard to make the Civil War the cause of all of the changes in the U.S. As we know, multi-causality is the norm, not the exception. A good editor would have made this book a truly great work. As it stands, it is a “must read” taken with a small grain of salt.
Good to know - thanks. A lot of how I approached this piece and topic was inspired by Ric Burns’ Death and the Civil War series in PBS. I watched it years ago and it has stayed in my craw.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/death/
And he borrowed from Faust at Harvard. Interesting. Faust’s book pub. in 2008. Burns documentary in 2012.
Again good to know! You’re such a great resource thanks!
Incredible!
A very interesting story of an era in American history that I don't know much about.
Fascinating! These human interest research pieces are wonderful.
Thanks, @Victoria!
Really interesting. I had never made the connection between the rise of spiritualism and the Civil War dead.
This is an amazing story and beautifully told Lori. I have personal reasons for resonating with all that happened here. I haven’t been brave enough to write my story yet but am inching closer.
This was incredible! Thanks so much for sharing. I will have to look more closely at the sources and read more about her.
While I can communicate with those beyond the veil - I have never chosen to be one who would do so as Fannie did - or so often. The energy work takes a huge toll on us. It is incredible the healing work done through her - so much is possible in this way even today.
I was wondering if Fannie’s story might resonate with your own experiences. Glad you enjoyed it!
What a fascinating story. Thank you for writing about Frances.