Modern Svengalis: Victorian Psuedoscience and Spiritualism in Contemporary Culture

Anyone curious about the influence of Victorian pseudoscience and spiritualism in our contemporary entertainment culture should take a stroll down Shaftesbury Avenue in London.  On the side of the Shaftesbury Theatre there currently is a giant sign with the word “Svengali” written on it in large bold letters.  The self-styled Svengali is the illusionist Derren Brown, a British author and performer who has appeared in numerous television series and the sign refers to his 2011 stage tour.  Like George du Maurier’s

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Drugs in Victorian Britain: A Wellcome Collection Symposium

“High Society” and “Drugs in Victorian Britain” by Cheryl Blake Price Sherlock Holmes took his little bottle from the corner of the mantle-piece and his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case.  With his long, white, nervous fingers he adjusted the delicate needle, and rolled back his left shirt-cuff.  For some little time his eyes rested thoughtfully upon the sinewy forearm and wrist all dotted and scarred with innumerable puncture-marks.  Finally, he thrust the sharp point home, pressed down the

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