Second Edition of A Discovery Concerning Ghosts by George Cruikshank

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Second Edition of A Discovery Concerning Ghosts by George Cruikshank

(5 User reviews) 598

By Richard Williams Posted on Mar 30, 2026

In Category - Online Safety

Authors: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878 Published By : Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878

Book Language: English

Hey, have you ever heard of George Cruikshank? He's the famous 19th-century illustrator who drew for Charles Dickens. Well, turns out he also had a wild obsession with ghosts. I just finished his 'Second Edition of A Discovery Concerning Ghosts,' and it's not what you'd expect. It's not a ghost story at all. It's actually a furious, funny, and slightly unhinged rant where Cruikshank tries to prove ghosts don't exist. The whole book is him on a mission to debunk every spooky story of his time, armed with logic, sarcasm, and a healthy dose of Victorian outrage. The main mystery isn't about a haunted house—it's about why this celebrated artist felt so compelled to spend years writing a book arguing with phantoms. It's a fascinating peek into a brilliant mind wrestling with superstition in an age of new science. If you like weird history, passionate arguments, and seeing a creative giant step completely outside his lane, you've got to check this out.

File: Second Edition of A Discovery Concerning Ghosts by George Cruikshank

Let's be clear from the start: you won't find any chilling tales of specters here. George Cruikshank, the man whose illustrations gave life to Oliver Twist and Ebenezer Scrooge, uses this book to pick a fight with the entire idea of the supernatural.

The Story

There isn't a plot in the traditional sense. Instead, think of it as one long, passionate lecture. Cruikshank lays out his case like a lawyer in court. He goes after popular ghost stories, spiritualist movements, and séances that were all the rage in Victorian England. He dissects famous hauntings, pointing out contradictions and what he sees as obvious tricks. The 'story' is the journey of his argument, building from amused skepticism to full-blown exasperation. He's not just saying ghosts aren't real; he's trying to save people from what he views as foolishness and fraud.

Why You Should Read It

This book is a personality on a page. Reading it, you can almost hear Cruikshank's voice—impatient, witty, and utterly convinced. What's so compelling is the clash it represents. This is the age of gaslight and early photography, of new scientific ideas bumping up against old superstitions. Cruikshank, an artist, plants his flag firmly on the side of reason. It makes you wonder what sparked this crusade. Was it a personal experience? Frustration with the spiritualist fad? It's this human puzzle, wrapped in his bold, confident prose, that makes it so readable. It's less about being convinced by his arguments and more about being entertained by his fervor.

Final Verdict

This one's for the curious reader who loves history with a side of eccentricity. It's perfect for fans of Victorian culture who want to look beyond the novels and see the debates real people were having. If you enjoy passionate nonfiction, like a great essay or a fiery opinion piece from another century, you'll get a kick out of Cruikshank's spirited (pun intended) campaign. Just don't open it looking for a scare—you'll instead find a brilliant, grumpy artist trying to argue the ghosts out of the room.