Radical Spirits: Spiritualism & Women’s Rights

Radical Spirits: Spiritualism and Women's Rights in Nineteenth-Century America, Second Edition by Ann Braude  | Nov 1, 2001

The Intersection of Spiritualism and Social Change

In Radical Spirits, historian Ann Braude explores how Spiritualism played a pivotal role in the women’s rights movement of 19th-century America. This groundbreaking book reveals how Spiritualism gave women a voice in public life, challenged societal norms, and became a platform for activism.

Readers will discover:

✔ The role of Spiritualism in advancing women’s social and political rights
✔ How mediumship and spiritual practices empowered women’s leadership
✔ The deep connections between early feminists and Spiritualist movements
✔ Historical accounts of prominent women activists involved in Spiritualism

Braude presents a compelling history of how Spiritualism shaped social change, making this book essential for spiritual seekers, historians, and those interested in feminism and metaphysical traditions.

Ann Braude is a historian and scholar specializing in women’s history and religious movements. She is a faculty member at Harvard Divinity School, where she focuses on the role of women in American religious traditions. Radical Spirits remains one of the most influential works on the intersection of Spiritualism and feminism, offering a deeply researched, thought-provoking perspective on the subject.