[hardy-l] Spiritualism

[Betty Cortus]

Jessica, I haven't been able to find any reference to the anecdote  
you cite regarding a seance, and I can't recall any evidence of Hardy  
ever attending one, or being influenced by spritualism.  Of course  
his fascination with ghosts is evident all throughout his poems  and  
fiction, but what he actually believed about their existence, and  
what was purely fancy on his part is speculative.  He made some well- 
known statements about spirits however, including this one which   
Michael Millgate repeats in his TH: A Biography Revisited:

"while he had been unable to find any evidence whatsoever for the  
existence of the supernatural he would cheerfully have given ten  
years of his life to see  'an authentic, indubitable spectre'" (41).

I don't have his complete Letters on hand.  Does anyone know if  
seances come up at all in those?
Betty


On May 18, 2009, at 6:23 AM, Jessica Webb wrote:
>
>
> If anyone has any further information on Hardy’s personal attitude
> towards spiritualism or any allusions to it in his writings then that
> would be much appreciated!
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Jessica Webb
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