Dumbstruck : a cultural history of ventriloquism / Steven Connor

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2000. 1st edition. Hardcover. Fine cloth copy in an equally fine dust-wrapper. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Physical description: viii, 449 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates. Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 418-435) and index. Contents: PART I: POWERS: What I say goes -- PART II: PROPHECIES: Earth, breath, frenzy: the Delphic Oracle -- Origen, Eustathius, and the Witch of Endor -- PART III: POSSESSIONS: Hoc est corpus -- The exorcism of John Darrell -- O, that 'Oh' is the Devill: Glover and Harsnett -- PART IV: PRODIGIES: Miracles and mutilations -- Speaking parts: Diderot and Les Bijoux indiscrets -- The Abbe and the Ventriloque -- The dictates of phrenzy: Charles Brockden Brown's Wieland -- PART V: POLYPHONICS: Ubiquitarical -- At home and abroad: Alexandre and Mr. Matthews -- Phenomena in the philosophy of sound: Mr. Love -- Writing the voice -- PART VI: PROSTHETICS: Vocal reinforcement -- Talking heads, automation ears -- A gramophone in every grave -- PART VII: NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT: No time life the present. Subjects: Ventriloquism History. Ventriloquism Social aspects. Genre: History.