What Is Spiritism?

INTRODUCTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD, OR OF THE SPIRITS, CONTAINING THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE SPIRITIST DOCTRINE AND THE ANSWER TO SOME PREJUDICIAL OBJECTIONS.

by ALLAN KARDEC.

Author of The Spirits' Book and director of the Spiritist Review. Grand in-8. – Price: 60 c. n (See in the Spiritist Review of July 1865 in BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTES: “What Is Spiritism?” in a new edition revised and considerably enlarged.)

Persons who possess of Spiritism only a superficial knowledge are naturally led to ask certain questions, whose complete study would no doubt provide them with the solution, but they lack the time and, often, the will to devote themselves to continued observations. Before undertaking that task they would at least like to know what it is about and whether it is worth occupying themselves with it. Thus it seemed useful to us to present, within a restricted framework, the answer to some fundamental questions that are addressed to us daily. For the reader it will be a first initiation, and for us, time gained by being spared from constantly repeating the same thing. The form of dialogue seemed to us more suitable, because it does not have the aridity of pure dogmatism. We end this introduction with a summary that will allow one to grasp, in a rapid reading, the whole of the fundamental principles of the science. Those who, after this rapid exposition, judge the subject worthy of attention will be able to go deeper into it with full knowledge of the matter. Most often objections originate from the false ideas we form a priori about that which we do not know. To rectify such ideas is to forestall the objections: such is the aim we have set for ourselves in publishing this booklet. In a short time and at little expense, persons who are strangers to Spiritism will find in it the means of acquiring an idea of the subject, and those who are already initiated, the way to resolve the principal difficulties they encounter. We count on the cooperation of all the friends of this science to help spread this brief summary.

Allan Kardec.

[1] All the works of Mr. Allan Kardec are to be found at the houses of Ledoyen, Dentu, and at the editorial office of the Review.

Imprimerie de H. CARION, rue Bonaparte, 64.