Kuglarstwo, szarlataneria czy doświadczenie świata nadprzyrodzonego: słownictwo spirytystyczne w "Emancypantkach" Bolesława Prusa

The article brings up the issues of nineteenth-century mesmerism in the works ofBolesław Prus. It describes the coming out of the phenomenon, views of its rationalization and democratisation both from global and Polish perspective. Moreover, it drawsattention to those components of the author’s biography, such as the acquaintance andcooperation with Julian Ochorowicz, which influenced the shape of his outlook on thespiritualism enthusiasts movement, quite popular at that times. The writer’s attitudetowards the new phenomenon was ambiguous and traces of his internal dilemmas areeasily found in the language of “The New Woman”. The analysed language which createsspiritualistic discourse is represented by general names i.e. names of the doctrine createdby Allan Kardec or the reality it concerned; names of the rituals – meetings of people andspirits as well as the names of people and beings, directly or indirectly engaged in thoserituals.