Welcome to Attacking the Devil, the definitive blog to discuss the life and times of W.T. Stead. This blog is for anyone who wishes to add something to the debate surrounding Stead and the issues in which he became embroiled. If you feel you have something to contribute, or you simply wish to begin a discussion, just register to start posting.
The Review of Reviews was started in January, 1890 by W.T. Stead and Tit-Bits proprietor, George Newnes. It was originally to be called the Six Penny Monthly and Review of Reviews, but this was changed at the last minute. According to Stead, it was “the maddest thing” he had yet done, on account that the venture had been decided on only a month before. Continued…
Categories: Editorial.
By 12459776
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September 1, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Stead’s interest in spiritualism seems to have begun in his final year at the Northern Echo, probably through his association with Mark Fooks, his assistant editor, who “had some knowledge of the matter.” But it was not until he moved to London that he began to take a serious interest. Continued…
Categories: Stead & Spiritualism.
In July, 1885, W.T. Stead ran a story in the Pall Mall Gazette that began: “all those who are squeamish, and all those who are prudish, and all those who would prefer to live in a fool’s paradise…will do well not to read the Pall Mall Gazette of Monday and the three following days..” Continued…
Categories: Stead & the Maiden Tribute.
One of the most extraordinary accounts of Stead comes from Aaron Watson, a journalist who had worked under Stead for a time at the Pall Mall Gazette.
“He lived in Wimbledon,” declares Watson, “and got into town by a train arriving at 8.20. By that time he new everything that was in the papers, down to the inquests, though he had been out on Wimbledon Common with his children, in a dressing gown, giving each of the young ones a ride on a little donkey that he owned. One morning, very early, he received important news, and arrived in town much in advance of the train, wearing the dressing gown, and riding on the donkey. Continued…
Categories: Editorial.
As the “unsinkable” Titanic sank slowly into the frigid waters of the north Atlantic on the morning of April 15, 1912, a fire-stoker called George Kemish, who had scrambled his way up from Boiler Room no. 5, happened to notice a single elderly gentleman sitting quietly reading a book in the first class smoking room.
As the rest of the passengers, gripped by pandemonium and terror, struggled to save their lives, the old gentleman, said Kemish, “looked as if he planned to stay there whatever happened.” Continued…
Categories: Stead & Spiritualism, Stead and the Titanic.
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