"The Witch of Lime Street" is a historical non-fiction book written by David Jaher. It focuses on the rivalry between the world-famous escape artist Harry Houdini and a renowned spiritualist named Mina Crandon, also known as Margery. The book explores the events that took place in the 1920s surrounding Lime Street in Boston, where Margery claimed to communicate with the dead and perform other supernatural feats. At the time, spiritualism was a popular and controversial movement that involved communicating with spirits through mediums. Margery gained a significant amount of attention and followers, leading the Scientific American magazine to offer a cash prize to anyone who could provide conclusive evidence of paranormal abilities. This offering attracted the attention of Harry Houdini, who was a skeptic and wanted to debunk fraudulent spiritualists.
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This was soon after the end of the American Civil War so there were lots of people grieving for lost loved ones and looking for a way to connect with them on the other side. Her most vocal advocate was none other than Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who believed so thoroughly in Margery s powers that he urged her to enter a controversial contest, sponsored by Scientific American and offering a large cash prize to the first medium declared authentic by its impressive five-man investigative committee.
This offering attracted the attention of Harry Houdini, who was a skeptic and wanted to debunk fraudulent spiritualists. The book highlights the dramatic events that unfolded during the Scientific American investigation, as Houdini, along with a team of skeptical investigators, closely examined Margery's performances. The investigation involved a series of tests and examinations to determine the authenticity of her abilities.
The witch of lime srreet
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I recently finished reading David Jaher’s fascinating non-fiction book, The White of Lime Street: Séance, Seduction, and Houdini in the Spirit World. I adored it.
Spiritualism first arrived in America in the mid-1800s with the Fox sisters, mediums who used the cracking of their ankles to fake their way to ghost communication fame. This was soon after the end of the American Civil War so there were lots of people grieving for lost loved ones and looking for a way to connect with them on the other side.
Spiritualism gained a huge following for the rest of the 19th century and then became popular again after World War I when—once again—friends and relatives of dead soldiers sought séances and mediums in order to have some closure.
Harry Houdini, who made his living from daring stunts and trickery, and a handful of men were tasked with seeking out mediums who could potentially have real abilities. They interviewed many spiritualists, some more impressive than others, but they all agreed that Mina “Margery” Crandon either had real abilities or was especially good at tricks. Houdini was more of the mind that, and excuse my language, you can’t bullshit a bullshitter.
This book covers their search, much of the recorded experiments with Crandon at her home on Lime Street in New York, and the aftermath of their research. In addition, it goes into previous spiritualists who rose to fame, including Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a friend of Houdini’s until they had a falling out because of their disagreements on the religion. The Witch of Lime Street is an entertaining dip into 1920s American culture that doesn’t include gin or jazz. If you’re into the more scientific look at how spiritualists faked their tricks, or just want to know what the heck was up with ectoplasm, this is a must-read.
I expect it will make a fantastic film as well!
- David Jaher’s website
- The Witch of Lime Street on Amazon
- Houdini Museum of New York
If you want more spiritualism and séance goodness, check out my historical fiction novel, The Spirited Mrs. Pringle now available on paperback and at all major ebook retailers. (Audiobook coming soon.)
Jillianne Hamilton is a history enthusiast and the author of The Spirited Mrs. Pringle (historical fiction), The Hobby Shop on Barnaby Street (historical romance), and The Lazy Historian’s Guide to the Wives of Henry VIII (non-fiction). Jill launched The Lazy Historian in 2015. She lives in Charlottetown on Canada’s beautiful east coast. Learn more.
“A colorful, fascinating depiction of a response to a time of great losses and the human need to reconnect, however dubiously, with departed loved ones.”
—Booklist
The book also delves into the public and media reactions to these events, with spiritualists supporting Margery and skeptics questioning her credibility. One of the central themes of the book is the intense rivalry and animosity that developed between Houdini and Margery. While Houdini believed in exposing fraudulent spiritualists, he also had a personal vendetta against Margery, whom he accused of being a charlatan. Margery, on the other hand, wholeheartedly believed in her abilities and felt that Houdini was unjustly attacking her. Jaher's book provides an in-depth exploration of the characters involved and the historical context surrounding this captivating story. It also sheds light on the broader context of spiritualism during the early 20th century and the societal debates it stirred. Overall, "The Witch of Lime Street" offers a fascinating account of a pivotal period in the history of spiritualism and the individuals who shaped its narrative..
Reviews for "The Witch of Lime Street: A Controversial Figure in Spiritualism"
1. John - 2 stars:
I found "The Witch of Lime Street" to be a disappointment. While I was initially intrigued by the subject matter, the execution fell flat for me. The author seemed more focused on writing a historical account of the events surrounding medium Mina Crandon, rather than exploring the intricacies of the supernatural. I was left wanting more depth and analysis into the supernatural aspects of the story.
2. Emily - 1 star:
"The Witch of Lime Street" was a tedious and poorly written book. It felt like the author was simply regurgitating historical facts without adding any insight or analysis. The narrative lacked cohesion, jumping between different timelines and characters without providing a clear connection. I found it difficult to engage with the story and ultimately lost interest.
3. Michael - 2 stars:
As someone interested in the paranormal, I was excited to read "The Witch of Lime Street," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The author's writing style was dry and lacked the vibrant storytelling I was hoping for. The book felt more like a historical account of events, rather than an immersive exploration of the supernatural. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unfulfilled.
4. Sarah - 2.5 stars:
While "The Witch of Lime Street" had an intriguing premise, I found the pacing to be slow and the storytelling disjointed. The author seemed to get caught up in unnecessary details, detracting from the overall narrative. Additionally, I felt that the author's bias towards skepticism was evident, which made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I was disappointed and would not recommend this book to others.