Trade Paperback Original

Have you noticed a new interest in spookiness lately? Wondered why so many readers are fascinated by all things witchy? American spiritualism has a long and storied history that has shaped nearly every aspect of religion, politics, science, and pop culture. From simple good-luck charms to full-scale occult rituals for communicating with ghosts, our obsession with what lies beyond impacts all areas of modern life--especially for marginalized groups whose stories haven't been told. Through the lens of spiritualism's most fascinating women (as well as its most notorious ne'er-do-wells), Ilise S. Carter speaks to the dead to soothsay the secrets behind America's spiritual moment.

• Cross Genre Readers: A great next read for anyone obsessed with death and mortality culture, and for those fascinated by feminist history who want to delve deeper into the modern witchy phenomenon.
• Resident Badass: Author Ilise S. Carter is an author, journalist, and former corporate speaker... as well as a professional sideshow performer who swallows swords and eats fire. Yes, you read that correctly.
• Just in Time for Spooky Season: Whether it's for Halloween or a gift for your occult-obsessed friend, books in the spiritualism space continue to gain in popularity year over year.

Praise for When We Spoke to the Dead:

"A delightful and lively exploration of our relationship with the dead. Grief may be, as Carter explains, a chronic illness with no known cure, but When We Spoke to the Dead is anything but glum. It's a searching and penetrating book, one that, by tracing our history with the dead, reminds us what it means to live."--Colin Dickey, author of Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places

"This is the spiritual history book I didn't know I needed. It dives into the overlooked world of the folks who tried to talk to the dead, without trying to prove if it's "real" or not. What struck me most? How race, gender, politics, and our longing for connection shaped this unseen part of American culture. It's as if the book becomes a medium in itself, channeling the voices that history left behind."--Ilona Pamplona, author of Human Design Made Easy

Author Home: New York, NY