Singer in the Shadows: The Strange Story of Patience Worth

by Irving Litvag

The story of one of the worlds strangest psychic a St. Louis housewife dictated seven books and thousands of poems purporting to come from the spirit of a 17th century Englishwoman. Literary critics and historians praised the work as the product of genius.

Genres: Paranormal, Spiritualism

316 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

Reviews

[Synthia]

Very interesting story. An account of someone who became a renowned author of works created and published several hundred years after her life through the use of a Ouija board. A bit difficult to get through some parts, but very interesting tale, and thought provoking insights into the workings of the soul in both realms. Worth the effort.

[Abigail Padgett]

A scrupulously researched and written exploration of a curious psychic and/or psychological event, Litvak's analysis of an ordinary St.Louis housewife's literary doppelganger, Patience Worth, is fascinating. Either Pearl Curran, whose education ended at 8th grade, "channeled" the voice of a particularly gifted woman who lived in 17th century England, or she somehow manifested an alternate personality possessed of education, insight and intellectual acumen for which her own background could in no way account.

Readers will gravitate toward one of two camps - the paranormal or the psychological, but either way, this book raises intriguing questions for which there are still no answers. Thought-provoking!

[Aurelio Ippandoza]

Strange story of something or someone speaking through a ouija board to 2 women in the early 1900s.It did claim to be a woman who lived during the 16th century England (who eventually made her way to america).Through one of these ladies,the something dictates Poems and Novels (one of the novels,strangely enough,was called Samuel Wheat,which was used for a character in the movie "Ghost").one of the poems...
"Ah,God,I have drunk unto the dregs,
And flung the cup at thee!
The dust of crumpled righteousness
Hath dried and soaked unto itself
E 'en the drop I spilled to Bacchus --
Whilst thou, all-patient, sendest
Purple vintage for a later harvest".

[Karlton]

This is a very well-written account of the Patience Worth phenomenon. It's clear, concise, and very entertaining.