The Two Destinies

The Two Destinies (1876), by Wilkie Collins, is a romance involving telepathy, mesmerism, supernatural visions, and spirits. Commenting on the confining conventions of the Victorian Era and its strict medical doctrines, the work presents supernatural experiences as the only way out of social oppression. The protagonist, who goes into visionary trances, is perceived as mentally deranged; this perception in turn kills his ideal of spiritual love.