Ghost-seers, detectives, and spiritualists

Description:

"This is an original study of the narrative techniques that developed for two very popular forms of fiction in the nineteenth century - ghost stories and detective stories - and the surprising similarities between them in the context of contemporary theories of vision and sight. Srdjan Smajić argues that to understand how writers represented ghost-seers and detectives, the views of contemporary scientists, philosophers, and spiritualists with which these writers engage have to be taken into account: these views raise questions such as whether seeing really is believing, how much of what we 'see' is actually only inferred, and whether there may be other (intuitive or spiritual) ways of seeing that enable us to perceive objects and beings inaccessible to the bodily senses. This book will make a real contribution to the understanding of Victorian science in culture, and of the ways in which literature draws on all kinds of knowledge"--Provided by publisher.

subjects: Visual perception in literature,  English Detective and mystery stories,  English literature,  History and criticism,  English Ghost stories,  Literature and science,  Vision in literature,  History,  English literature, history and criticism, 19th century,  Ghost stories,  Detective and mystery stories, history and criticism,  Great britain, history, victoria, 1837-1901,  Erzähltechnik,  Kriminalgeschichte,  Gespenstergeschichte,  Sehen (Motiv)

Places: Great Britain

Times: 19th century,  Victoria, 1837-1901