A Communion of Shadows

“A thoroughly researched, trenchant study of Christian America’s use of photographs, as visual and material objects, to construct narratives of personal and religious significance.” — Publishers Weekly

“The overall argument and her theoretical rigor allow Lindsey’s analysis of neglected photographic media and their conditioned uses to shine once again and illuminate new paths in the study of religion, media, and history.” — Reading Religion

“Lindsey’s greatest strength is in her ability to recreate scenes from history. She has scrupulously consulted memoirs, archives, and literature to reconstruct the lived experiences of those depicted in her photographs. She is an engaging storyteller.”—Journal of Folklore Research

“What is eminently clear from Lindsey’s analyses is that photography and photographs allowed Americans to do creative theological, religious, and cultural work that frequently went well beyond the photographs themselves.”—Anglican and Episcopal History

“A Communion of Shadows charts a strong new direction in our historical understanding of religious history. Rachel Lindsey reveals how photography altered and remade religious life in the nineteenth century, becoming intertwined with the depths of human relations and people’s memories, persuasions, and sensual connections. This thoroughly researched and smartly executed study will have a long-standing impact on the study of religion.” — S. Brent Plate, author of A History of Religion in 5 1/2 Objects

“Rachel Lindsey opens up new avenues of investigation by linking photography to religious practice, demonstrating how religious views are shaped by the interaction between material objects and the beholder of these objects. With her sharp insight and impressive research, Lindsey accents, complements, and complicates the all-too-sparse scholarship on photography in nineteenth-century America.” — Paul Gutjahr, author of The Book of Mormon: A Biography