The Allure of Immortality: An American Cult, a Florida Swamp, and a Renegade Prophet
SKU: 20809846844

The Allure of Immortality: An American Cult, a Florida Swamp, and a Renegade Prophet

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The Allure of Immortality: An American Cult, a Florida Swamp, and a Renegade ProphetWall Street Journal's Five Best Books About Cults For five days in December 1908 the body of Cyrus Teed lay in a bathtub at a beach house just south of Fort Myers, Florida. His followers, the Koreshans, waited for signs that he was coming back to life. They watched hieroglyphics emerge on his skin and observed what looked like the formation of a third arm. They saw his belly fall and rise with breath, even though his swollen tongue sealed his mouth.

Wall Street Journal's Five Best Books About Cults For five days in December 1908 the body of Cyrus Teed lay in a bathtub at a beach house just south of Fort Myers, Florida. His followers, the Koreshans, waited for signs that he was coming back to life. They watched hieroglyphics emerge on his skin and observed what looked like the formation of a third arm. They saw his belly fall and rise with breath, even though his swollen tongue sealed his mouth. As his corpse turned black, they declared that their leader was transforming into the Egyptian god Horus. Teed was a charismatic and controversial guru who at the age of 30 had been "illuminated" by an angel in his electro-alchemical laboratory. At the turn of the twentieth century, surrounded by the marvels of the Second Industrial Revolution, he proclaimed himself a prophet and led 200 people out of Chicago and into a new age. Or so he promised. The Koreshans settled in a mosquito-infested scrubland and set to building a communal utopia inside what they believed was a hollow earth--with humans living on the inside crust and the entire universe contained within. According to Teed's socialist and millennialist teachings, if his people practiced celibacy and focused their love on him, he would return after death and they would all become immortal. Was Teed a visionary or villain, savior or two-bit charlatan? Why did his promises and his theory of "cellular cosmogony" persuade so many? In The Allure of Immortality, Lyn Millner weaves the many bizarre strands of Teed's life and those of his followers into a riveting story of angels, conmen, angry husbands, yellow journalism, and ultimately, hope.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: University Press of Florida
Published: 09/10/2019
ISBN: 9780813064406
Pages: 354
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.79d
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SKU: 20809846844

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4.6 โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
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R. Albin
Phoenix, US
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5
Superb
Format: Hardcover
A superb selection of Williams' poetry in a handsome and durable small volume. The editor, Robert Pinsky, selected an appropriate spectrum of Williams' verse across his long career, including all his most famous poems. Reading and rereading these poems is always rewarding because of Williams' ability to capture arresting images, experiences, and states of mind. As with all anthologies, some choices may be arguable. I would like to see all of his great, late poem Asphodel included but Pinsky's choices make sense and reflect his sure knowledge of Williams' work. This book is a great addition to the worthy American Poets Project.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2014
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David Miller
Belleville, US
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5
Another excellent volume from the American Poets Project
Format: Hardcover
As stated in another one of my reviews, every single Library of America volume I've ever purchased (including volumes from the American Poets Project) have been of the highest quality, superbly executed and just plain beautiful. Already possessing several volumes of William Carlos Williams work, I purchased this compact, delightful volume as a gift for my oldest son (who shares my appreciation for both great literature generally, and poetry specifically). Upon its arrival (delayed, once again, by amazon's ridiculously slow delivery) I was more than pleased, and felt proud to be presenting my son with such a first rate representation of W.C.W.'s work.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2009
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Anthony
Natrona Heights, US
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4
they are still as good as they were when they were first written
Format: Kindle
I've been reading William Carlos Williams since the seventies. His poetry was ground breaking at the time of there release, and to me, they are still as good as they were when they were first written. His portrayals of every day people and pastoral scenes are still worth reading. His rhythms in his short poems are worth studying for any poet. I recommend reading his selected Poems.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2014
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Johnny
New York, US
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5
Enjoyable
Format: Kindle
William Carlos Williams is a wonderful poet who incorporates the mundane and interesting things happening around him in his poetry. One word will suffice: enjoyable.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2020
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cmckenzie
Massapequa, US
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 3
So much depends...on hype
Format: Paperback
There's more to doc WCW than Little Red Wheelbarrow... But not much
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Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2021

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