Ghost Land: Or Researches into the Mysteries of Occultism

A lecturer and writer on spiritualism, Emma Hardinge Britten (1823-99) acted as a medium in both England and America. Allegedly written by an enigmatic nobleman, ‘Chevalier Louis de B.’, Ghost Land was prepared for publication by Britten in 1876. The author’s real identity is unknown, and scholars have attributed the work to various personalities, including Ernest de Bunsen, Britten’s husband William, and Britten herself. The book is divided into two parts, ‘The Neophyte’ and ‘The Adept’. Each part includes a series of sketches from the life of the author, who was initiated into the ancient mysteries of the occult. The book also describes the spiritual encounters of an Englishman referred to as ‘John Cavendish Dudley’. Britten claimed to have translated the French parts of the manuscript and edited the English sections. Of enduring interest in the history of spiritualism, the work reflects a strong theosophical influence.