OBSESSION WITH THE SUPERNATURAL: THE PERSPECTIVES OF SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE (1859-1930) ON GENDER, SCIENCE, AND RELIGION IN BRITISH SPIRITUALISM

This thesis examines the legacy of Spiritualism in the Victorian and Edwardian eras of British history through the perspectives of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the famous Sherlock Holmes books and an avid Spiritualist. The period of Doyle’s life in which he delved headfirst into Spiritualism was kickstarted by influential women. This project demonstrates how Doyle’s involvement in the Spiritualist movement provides a lens for exploring larger themes, particularly gender roles and the intersection of science and religion. The author argues that Doyle’s life serves as a perfect perspective for this episode of British cultural history due to his fame and that his writings on the subject have shaped the historiography of Spiritualism