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Spiritual vampirism: The history of Etherial Softdown, and her friends of the "New Light": Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

Spiritual vampirism: The history of Etherial Softdown, and her friends of the "New Light": author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Published by Pop Culture Files••2 min read•Automatically generated · review not guaranteed
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

Spiritual vampirism: The history of Etherial Softdown, and her friends of the "New Light" is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Webber, Charles W. (Charles Wilkins) (1819–1856).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Spiritual Vampirism: The History of Etherial Softdown, and Her Friends of the New Light" by C. W. Webber is a novel written in the mid-19th century. The narrative appears to explore themes related to spiritualism, the metaphysical, and the concept of vampirism as an allegory for emotional and spiritual exploitation, with a particular focus on the character Etherial Softdown. The book delves into the impact of these themes within the socio-cultural context of the time, possibly interconnecting the personal and the broader societal implications of such "vampirism." At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Etherial Softdown, who is depicted as a neglected and distorted child living in a bleak and uninviting landscape of Vermont. The opening illustrates her deformed and animalistic characteristics, hinting at her later development into a figure capable of spiritual manipulation. As she matures, Etherial marries a Quaker, which results in her rapid physical and spiritual transformation, awakening within her a newfound ability to absorb the life force of others, leading her to conclude that she could grow stronger at the expense of those around her. The narrative sets the stage for a dramatic exploration of her journey, shaped by her egocentric desires and interactions with various other "New-Light" characters, laying the groundwork for a tale that intertwines personal ambition with darker metaphysical forces.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Spiritual vampirism: The history of Etherial Softdown, and her friends of the "New Light"
  • Author credits: Webber, Charles W. (Charles Wilkins) (1819–1856)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Spiritualism -- Fiction

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: Novels

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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.

Source notes

Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.

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