How Victorian Spiritualism Turned Grief into Profit: Séances, Mediums, and the Business of Communicating with the Dead

The Victorian era saw a surge in spiritualism, a movement that promised communication with the dead and offered solace to a society grappling with high mortality rates and shifting religious beliefs. Figures like the Fox sisters and Daniel Dunglas Home became household names, staging séances that attracted both the curious and the bereaved. The movement was not just a cultural phenomenon but a lucrative industry, with mediums charging for private readings, public demonstrations, and even selling spirit photography. This commercialization of grief raised ethical questions, yet it also provided a space for women to gain financial independence and social influence in a restrictive society. The legacy of Victorian spiritualism persists today, from modern psychic services to the enduring human desire to connect with those we have lost.