The Female Hypnotist: Stories from the Victorian and Edwardian Eras

Edited by Donald K. Hartman

Rating: ****

In this absorbing collection, Hartman has gathered together twelve short stories and two novelettes whose primary theme and characters are female hypnotists and/or mesmerists.

The tales move between genres but broadly encompass thriller, horror, and mystery, all with elements of the supernatural or the unexplained, and are often driven by revenge or passion.

Having read two of Hartman’s previous compilations*, which are variations on the theme of hypnotism, I was fully expecting another thoroughly enjoyable and fascinating selection, and The Female Hypnotist does not disappoint.

Indeed, it operates on several levels. The stories are supremely immersive and engaging, but what is of further interest is the number of striking similarities in how the subject of female hypnotists is treated in the literature of this period.

Although the framework of the narratives differs from tale to tale, Hartman has skilfully sifted stories, some relatively obscure, that not only explore various aspects of his theme but also complement each other, while providing contrast that enhances reading enjoyment and deliberation.

The opener, A Pair of Eyes by Louisa May Alcott, is quite a departure from Little Women, featuring the seductive yet sinister Agatha Eure. It’s a strong opener that sets the tone for the following tales. In the majority of the stories, the eyes of the female hypnotist are intrinsic to her mesmerism and are brought to life with a luminous array of alluring descriptions.

The tales flicker between first and third-person perspectives, usually that of a male friend to the hypnotist’s victim, who, quite often, is witnessing the engagement or marriage to the woman. The women themselves, with a couple of exceptions, are all enigmatic, well-to-do ladies of independent means and mysterious backgrounds.

From a purely literary aspect, The Female Hypnotist is a treat for devotees of works from the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Hartman has carefully chosen tales that showcase the wondrously elegant and intricate prose of the age with its beautifully calibrated dialogue, vivid detail, and emotional richness.

There are two inclusions from Arthur Conan Doyle, John Barrington Cowles, and The Parasite, both sharply clever and written with sophistication and wit.

The Burglar’s Blunder by Richard Marsh departs from the rest of the tales and is gently amusing, with a touch of farce. Suggested Suicide by Erckmann-Chatrian is a creepy slice of German Gothic horror, whose hypnotist is not the usual compelling young lady with shining eyes.  

Nonetheless, the stories conclude with the wonderfully monikered "The Woman with the ‘Oily Eyes’, which is one of the novelettes and possibly the most chilling.

Hartman has presented the book with utmost consideration, providing thorough Biographical Notes and a Notes on the Texts section, as well as a comprehensive Bibliography.

Scrupulously curated and well-selected, The Female Hypnotist: Stories from the Victorian and Edwardian Eras is a mesmerizingly good collection. Highly recommended.

*Click here to read my review of The Hypno-Ripper.

*Click here to read my review of The Hypnotic Tales of Rafael Sabatini.

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