Spellbound

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Exploring the influence of Franz Anton Mesmer's animal magnetism, the book delves into how his ideas about magnetic fluids and the hypnotic trance shaped the understanding of the unconscious. Rather than focusing on the scientific or medical aspects, it highlights the significant impact of mesmerism on literature, revealing how this concept resonated with key European and American thinkers. Maria Tatar offers a unique perspective by connecting Mesmer's theories to literary developments, enriching the discourse surrounding both mesmerism and its cultural implications.