The Enchanted Boundary: Being a Survey of Negative Reactions to Claims of Psychic Phenomena 1820 - 1930 [Perspectives in Psychical Research]. by Prince, Walter Franklin - 1975

New York: Arno Press, 1975. Hardback octavo, no jacket as issued, very good condition, burgundy cloth cover, edges faintly foxed, few page corners little creased (manufacture defect), minor edgewear. 348 pp. Prince (1863 - 1934) is a minister and founder of the Boston Society for Psychical Research. He conducted many investigations, including the medium "Patience Worth." Although a skeptic, he believed that some of the phenomena associated with Spiritualism were legitimate, and others possibly so. This volume is a pioneering study of hostile skepticism to psychical research. The first part is "Books and Articles Hostile to Psychic Research" (examines 40 books and papers, and includes a chapter on the Houdini - Conan Doyle dispute). The second part is a "Discussion Evoked by a Questionnaire", in which letters were sent to professorial skeptics. He summarises the 71 responses in eight chapters.