Kate is a fab non-fiction writer; I loved The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, so picking this up from the library was a no-brainer! And I wolfed this one down…
The book delves into the haunting of a woman, Alma Fielding, who catches the attention of Jewish Hungarian Fodor, working at the Psychical Research Institute in London. Bangs, crashes, broken crockery – the house in suburban London is under siege from a poltergeist connected to Alma and her emotions. Her husband, son, and lodger practically all take cups and saucers to the face. Could Alma’s rage or frustration be driving the supernatural events? What is the relationship between Alma and the lodger, George? Why does her husband want her to stop going to the Institute?
Alma and Fodor (the spiritualist researcher) form an odd symbiotic relationship, which is fascinating to see. The narrative is messy and there’s a lot of different strands and themes, some of them never resolved. Just like real life, it’s ambiguous. Similar to Fodor, who oscillates between admiring and doubting Alma’s medium skills, we never quite know what to believe. The sexual tensions are a big part of the narrative, as are questions of class politics.
The political and social atmosphere of the 1930s is really fascinating; as the world slides into war, medium chasers and spiritualists struggle to find meaning and “truth”. The feverish and fearful atmosphere of the 1930s pervades the book.
The history of spiritualism and the conflicts between “real” ghosts and manifestations of psychological trauma is intriguing. Fodor looks at the intertwined relationship between psychology and poltergeists, basing his theories on Freud (who, incidentally, he meets in London).
I love the open-ended feeling of this book. It’s deliciously creepy.
Another cool thread: Shirley Jackson used Fodor’s research to inspire The Haunting of Hill House.
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