Raymond (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Scientific Spiritualism Memoir of Spirit Communication, Grief, and the Continuity of Consciousness Beyond DeathBy Sir Oliver Lodge
Length15h 25m
About this audiobook
Sir Oliver Lodge's *Raymond, or Life and Death* (1916) is both a father's memorial and an extended inquiry into the possibility of survival after bodily death. Written in an accessible blend of personal narrative, documentary testimony, and quasi-scientific argument, it records purported communications from Lodge's son Raymond, killed in the First World War, through séances and mediums. The book belongs to the late-Victorian and Edwardian tradition of psychical research, while also reflecting the era's intense wartime confrontation with bereavement. Its movement between intimate emotion and evidential scrutiny gives it a distinctive literary tension: grief is not merely expressed but organized into an argument about consciousness, identity, and the limits of empirical knowledge. Lodge (1851–1940), a distinguished physicist, pioneer of wireless telegraphy, and former president of the Society for Psychical Research, approached spiritualism with the confidence—and vocabulary—of a scientific investigator. Raymond's death in 1915 transformed his longstanding interest in psychic phenomena into an intensely personal project. Lodge's professional commitment to experiment and his desire to console a bereaved family converge here, producing a work shaped equally by scientific aspiration, religious hope, and parental love. Readers interested in the history of spiritualism, the cultural impact of the First World War, or the relationship between science and faith will find *Raymond* especially revealing. It should be read critically, as a historical document rather than settled proof of an afterlife, yet its emotional candor and intellectual ambition make it a compelling study of how modern people sought meaning amid unprecedented loss.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.2 (24)
Includes Goodreads
GenreSpirituality and Religion
Length15 hrs 25 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 13, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Raymond
Show all chaptersShow less
6PART ONE: NORMAL PORTION
7EPITAPH ON MEMORIAL TABLET IN ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH, EDGBASTON
8REMINISCENCES BY O. J. L.
9CHAPTER II LETTERS FROM THE FRONT
10Letter from Raymond to the Mother of an Officer Friend of his who had been Killed
11CHAPTER III LETTERS FROM OFFICERS
12PART TWO: SUPERNORMAL PORTION
13INTRODUCTION
14CHAPTER I ELEMENTARY EXPLANATION
15CHAPTER II THE 'FAUNUS' MESSAGE
16CHAPTER III SEQUEL TO THE 'FAUNUS' MESSAGE
17CHAPTER IV THE GROUP PHOTOGRAPH
18CHAPTER V BEGINNING OF HISTORICAL RECORD OF SITTINGS
19CHAPTER VI FIRST SITTING OF O. J. L. WITH MRS. LEONARD
20CHAPTER VII FIRST PETERS SITTING (ANONYMOUS)
21CHAPTER VIII A TABLE SITTING
22CHAPTER IX ATTEMPTS AT STRICTER EVIDENCE
23CHAPTER X RECORD CONTINUED
24CHAPTER XI FIRST SITTING OF ALEC (A. M. L.)
25CHAPTER XII GENERAL REMARKS ON CONVERSATIONAL REPORTS AND ON CROSS-CORRESPONDENCES
26CHAPTER XIII AN O. J. L. SITTING WITH PETERS
27CHAPTER XIV FIRST SITTING OF LIONEL (ANONYMOUS)
28CHAPTER XV SITTING OF M. F. A. L. WITH MRS. LEONARD
29CHAPTER XVI O. J. L. SITTING OF DECEMBER 3
30CHAPTER XVII K. K. AUTOMATIC WRITING
31CHAPTER XVIII FIRST SITTING OF ALEC WITH MRS. LEONARD
32CHAPTER XIX PRIVATE SITTINGS AT MARIEMONT
33CHAPTER XX A FEW MORE RECORDS, WITH SOME UNVERIFIABLE MATTER
34CHAPTER XXI TWO RATHER EVIDENTIAL SITTINGS BY O. J. L. ON 3 MARCH 1916
35CHAPTER XXII MORE UNVERIFIABLE MATTER
36CHAPTER XXIII A FEW ISOLATED INCIDENTS
37PART THREE: LIFE AND DEATH
38INTRODUCTION
39CHAPTER I THE MEANING OF THE TERM LIFE
40CHAPTER II THE MEANING OF THE TERM DEATH
41CHAPTER III DEATH AND DECAY
42CHAPTER IV CONTINUED EXISTENCE
43CHAPTER V PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
44CHAPTER VI INTERACTION OF MIND AND MATTER
45CHAPTER VII 'RESURRECTION OF THE BODY'
46CHAPTER VIII MIND AND BRAIN
47CHAPTER IX LIFE AND CONSCIOUSNESS
48CHAPTER X ON MEANS OF COMMUNICATION
49CHAPTER XI ON THE FACT OF SUPERNORMAL COMMUNICATION
50CHAPTER XII ON THE CONTENTION THAT ALL PSYCHIC COMMUNICATIONS ARE OF A TRIVIAL NATURE AND DEAL WITH INSIGNIFICANT TOPICS
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