Description
Memoirs of a Magnetizer
Book Summary
A fascinating adventure novel that follows in the footsteps of Dimas Pons, a 19th-century magnetizer whose journey takes him through Puerto Rico, Barcelona, Paris, and Baltimore. Through his eyes, the reader enters the world of phrenology, animal magnetism, and the occult circles of the era, while the protagonist treats uninspired poets, couples with marital problems, and visionaries who speak to beings from other planets. A work that combines erudition, irony, and mystery, where a hypnotism session will change his destiny forever.
What is it about?
The novel chronicles the life of Dimas Pons, a magnetizer who travels through various settings in Europe and America in the mid-19th century. His story begins in Puerto Rico and continues in Barcelona, where he trains in phrenology and animal magnetism under the tutelage of the renowned Mariano Cubí. Subsequently, he moves to Paris, where he frequents the bohemian scene and the so-called "Circles of Harmony," and finally to Baltimore, where he works as a therapist treating patients as diverse as poets lacking imagination, widows with intimate problems, or people who claim to communicate with beings from other planets. Throughout his journey, Pons faces passionate lovers, supernatural challenges, threats of witchcraft, voodoo cults, and strange cases of sleepwalking. However, a mysterious hypnotism session will mark a turning point in his life, leading him to question the limits of his art and his own existence.
Main Themes
- Animal magnetism and phrenology as scientific and esoteric practices of the 19th century.
- The initiatory journey and the search for identity through different cultures and continents.
- The relationship between science, superstition, and the supernatural in 19th-century Europe.
- The Parisian bohemian scene and the intellectual circles of the period.
- Hypnotism as a therapeutic tool and its psychological and spiritual implications.
- Irony and humor as a vehicle to explore the human condition.
Who is it recommended for?
This work is aimed at readers interested in historical fiction with tinges of mystery and esotericism, especially those who enjoy plots set in the 19th century with eccentric characters and cosmopolitan settings. It will also be attractive to those looking for novels that combine erudition, irony, and reflections on the boundaries between science and the supernatural.
What this book offers
- A detailed immersion into the practices of animal magnetism and phrenology, contextualized in their time.
- An adventure plot that travels through real historical settings in Europe and America.
- An ironic and cultured look at the human condition and 19th-century beliefs.
- A complex and charismatic protagonist whose personal journey invites reflection.
- A narrative that intertwines science, mystery, and humor in an original and entertaining way.
Technical Sheet
- Author: Ordaz, Jorge
- Publisher: Editorial Pez de Plata
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Modern and contemporary fiction
- Collection: Narrativa Pez de Plata
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication Date: October 2018
- Number of pages: 208
- Weight: 285 g
Editorial Review
A novel that stands out for its rigorous historical setting and its ability to immerse the reader in the esoteric and scientific currents of the 19th century. Jorge Ordaz's prose, erudite yet accessible, manages to maintain interest throughout a journey full of anecdotes and singular characters. Recommended for those looking for a read that combines entertainment, culture, and a touch of mystery, without renouncing narrative depth.