This illustrated talk explores the Victorian fascination with Spiritualism, with a special focus on its popularity and reception in Newcastle upon Tyne and Manchester - which wasn't always as enthusiastic as you might imagine. The talk will explore the roots of Spiritualism, the desire to communicate with the dead, and the tools that people have developed in order to do so.

Presenter: Icy Sedgwick is the host of the Fabulous Folklore podcast, investigating the strange world of European folklore with a focus on the British Isles. Former ghost hunter Icy also writes Gothic horror fiction and holds a PhD in Film Studies, after looking at the representation of haunted houses in contemporary Hollywood cinema. Find her online at https://www.icysedgwick.com.

About the charity: The Folklore Library and Archive is a registered charity dedicated to the preservation of folklore materials in all formats - documents, audio visual and artefacts. It holds collections of international significance alongside a reference library of folklore books, journals and magazines and its constitutional aim is to make all of its materials freely available for the public good. You can learn more on the website at https://www.folklorelibrary.com

A proportion of the ticket sales from this talk will go directly to the charity. This talk will be recorded and all ticket holders will receive a private link to watch after the event.

Northern Spiritualism: Talking to the Dead in Manchester and Newcastle