Book 20 toppled – a story of spirituality, sexuality and prophesy

 The Rapture by Claire McGlasson is a large format paperback book that I picked up in a local charity shop some time ago. I was interested in the book because it is set in a cult – the Panacea Society. I have read a few books set in cults and I had, very vaguely, heard of this one so I purchased it but it has been languishing on my shelves for quite some time.

The author has written a fictional story about the cult in its heyday in the 1920s. She has used details about real people and has researched letters and diaries which remain collected in an archive. She has also, however, invented one character and given another a love story which is not backed up by fact. The story which has been written has space within it to talk about the beliefs of the cult and the effects of its actions on its members even if it is not completely accurate to the historical record.

Dilys is a younger member of the cult which is established in Bedford (there is now a museum there apparently) and which acknowledges Octavia as the daughter of God. The cult believes that they must open a box sealed one hundred years previously by a female prophet and that it will reveal spiritual secrets which will bring about the end of the world. The women of the cult, and the members are nearly all women, spend their time trying to live a perfect life and worshipping Octavia who they believe has the gift of healing. Dilys tries to be that perfect member but often falls short and then she falls in love with Grace, a new member.

This is a book about power imbalance and oppression wrapped up in some strange religious teachings. The author gives us the rules of the cult and some of its letters which are definitely weird but she also explores the idea of spirituality as madness and religion as sexual repression.

I quite enjoyed the story but I really wished that this had been a factual book so that I could learn more about the cult’s beliefs and history and maybe read an analysis of why it was so attractive to its members. It is, of course, not the fault of the author that this wasn’t the book I wanted to read and she has helpfully suggested some non-fiction titles which I can buy to assuage my curiosity.

This is a book in good condition so I shall pass it on to another reader via the Oxfam Book Shop.