Introducing CATHERINE CROWE -
Born in 1790
Crowe’s Night Side was one of the publishing sensations of 1848.
A two volume exploration of “ghosts and ghost seers,” intermingled with observations on phrenology, Mesmerism and the poltergeist phenomena, the book happily appeared just before the vast explosion of interest in communication with the dead occasioned by the dubious activities of the Fox sisters on the far side of the Atlantic.
asIn consequence, Night Side ran through 16 editions in only six years, made its author moderately rich, introduced a large number of well-to-do Victorians to the world of the occult – and had an influence out of all proportion with its present reputation.
Indeed, the book “marked the turning point,” Hilary Evans suggests, “in society’s relationship with the paranormal.” [Evans p.88]
Crowe is also attributed to have been the first to introduce the word POLTERGEIST (a word first found by Martin Luther) into the English language.
Poltergeist is actually a German word that means noisy ghost.
She is said to have gone slightly mad when she was found one day wandering the street naked. When asked why she had done this she said that she had been informed by the spirits that if she went outdoors clad only in her 'chastity' she would be invisible.
Well I guess she didnt disappear, but probably felt as if she wanted to, after that incident.
As was the usual style in the 1800's Catherine's escapade warranted locking her up in a Mental Asylum until she came to her senses.
She rebutted the offensive stain upon her character by writing a letter to the Daily News (29 April 1854):
Born in 1790
Crowe’s Night Side was one of the publishing sensations of 1848.
A two volume exploration of “ghosts and ghost seers,” intermingled with observations on phrenology, Mesmerism and the poltergeist phenomena, the book happily appeared just before the vast explosion of interest in communication with the dead occasioned by the dubious activities of the Fox sisters on the far side of the Atlantic.
asIn consequence, Night Side ran through 16 editions in only six years, made its author moderately rich, introduced a large number of well-to-do Victorians to the world of the occult – and had an influence out of all proportion with its present reputation.
Indeed, the book “marked the turning point,” Hilary Evans suggests, “in society’s relationship with the paranormal.” [Evans p.88]
Crowe is also attributed to have been the first to introduce the word POLTERGEIST (a word first found by Martin Luther) into the English language.
Poltergeist is actually a German word that means noisy ghost.
She is said to have gone slightly mad when she was found one day wandering the street naked. When asked why she had done this she said that she had been informed by the spirits that if she went outdoors clad only in her 'chastity' she would be invisible.
Well I guess she didnt disappear, but probably felt as if she wanted to, after that incident.
As was the usual style in the 1800's Catherine's escapade warranted locking her up in a Mental Asylum until she came to her senses.
She rebutted the offensive stain upon her character by writing a letter to the Daily News (29 April 1854):
Sir.– I am very sorry to trouble the
public about my private maladies or misfortunes, but since the press has
made my late illness the subject of a paragraph, stating that I have
gone mad on the subject of spirit rapping, I must beg leave to
contradict the assertion. I have been for some time suffering from
chronic gastric inflammation; and, after a journey to Edinburgh and a
week of considerable fatigue and anxiety, I was taken ill on the 26th of
February, and was certainly for five or six days – not more – in a
state of unconsciousness. During this aberration, I talked of spirit
rapping, and fancied spirits were directing me, because the phenomena,
so called, have been engaging my attention, and I was writing on the
subject; but I was not – and am not – mad about spirits or anything
else, thank God! though very much out of health and exceedingly
debilitated. I have been residing in London for the last five weeks; and
I am now at Malvern trying what hydrotherapy will do for me. I
should feel greatly obliged by your insertion of this letter; and also,
if those journalists who have aided in spreading the erroneous
impression will assist in disseminating this corrected statement, which I
should have made earlier, but the paragraph did not meet my eye til
to-day.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
CATHERINE CROWE
Catherine died in 1872.
Whatever did happen we remember her as one feisty lady of her times who was pretty damn persistent when it came to ghost hunting and seeking the truth about spirits.
In the end, did she become obsessed?
Did all her shenanigans cause immense embarrassment to her and the family?
Most probably - but I have to love her tenacity.
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