Ronald Joseph Pearsall (20 October 1927 – 27 September 2005) was an English writer whose scope included children's stories, pornography and fishing. His most famous book ''The Worm in the Bud'' (1969) was about Victorian sexuality, including orgies, prostitution and

fetishism A fetish (derived from the French , which comes from the Portuguese , and this in turn from Latin , 'artificial' and , 'to make') is an object believed to have supernatural powers, or in particular, a human-made object that has power over ot ...

. A prolific writer, his other books included three on popular music between 1837 and 1929, several on the history of sexuality and many on antiques. He held other jobs as a shoe shop assistant, cinema manager and store detective. His book ''The Table Rappers'' (1972) was an exposure of fraud

mediums Mediumship is the practice of purportedly mediating communication between familiar spirits or spirits of the dead and living human beings. Practitioners are known as "mediums" or "spirit mediums". There are different types of mediumship or spir ...

, tricksters and charlatans in

Spiritualism Spiritualism is the metaphysical school of thought opposing physicalism and also is the category of all spiritual beliefs/views (in monism and Mind-body dualism, dualism) from ancient to modern. In the long nineteenth century, Spiritualism (w ...

The Telegraph ''The Telegraph'', ''Daily Telegraph'', ''Sunday Telegraph'' and other variant names are popular names for newspapers. Newspapers with these titles include: Australia * ''The Telegraph'' (Adelaide), a newspaper in Adelaide, South Australia, publ ...

. (2005)
Ronald Pearsall
Obituary.

Bibliography

*1966: ''Is That My Hook in Your Ear? a light-hearted look at angling''. London: Stanley Paul *1969: ''The Worm in the Bud: the world of Victorian sexuality''. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson *1972: ''The Exorcism''. London: Sphere Books (a novel) *1972: ''The Possessed''. London: Sphere Books (a novel) *1972: ''The Table-rappers''. London: Michael Joseph *1972: ''Victorian Sheet Music Covers''. Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1973: ''Collecting Mechanical Antiques''. Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1973: ''Edwardian Life and Leisure''. Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1973: ''Victorian Popular Music''. Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1974: ''Collecting and Restoring Scientific Instruments''. Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1974: ''Inside the Antique Trade''/ Shaldon: Keith Reid (with Graham Webb) *1975: ''Collapse of Stout Party: Victorian wit and humour''. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson *1975: ''Edwardian Popular Music''. Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1975: ''Night's Black Angels: the forms and faces of Victorian cruelty''. London : Hodder and Stoughton *1976: ''The Alchemists''. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson *1976: ''The Belvedere''. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson (a novel) *1976: ''Popular Music of the Twenties''. Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1976: ''Public Purity, Private Shame: Victorian sexual hypocrisy exposed''. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson *1977: ''Conan Doyle: a biographical solution''. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson *1978: ''Tides of War''. London: Michael Joseph (a novel) *1979: ''The Iron Sleep''. London: Michael Joseph (a novel about the first World War) *1981: ''Tell me, Pretty Maiden: the Victorian and Edwardian nude''. Exeter: Webb & Bower *1986: ''Making and Managing an Antique Shop''.Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1988: ''The Joy of Antiques''. Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1989: ''Sherlock Holmes Investigates the Murder in Euston Square''. Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1990: ''Antique Furniture for Pleasure and Profit''. Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1991: ''The David & Charles Encyclopedia of Everyday Antiques''. Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1991: ''Lifesaving: the story of the

Royal Life Saving Society The Royal Life Saving Society UK is a drowning prevention charity founded in 1891 in the UK. It has had Royal Patronage since 1904. History The Royal Life Saving Society UK is a national charity, founded in 1891 by William Henry, with the aim of ...

; the first 100 years''. Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1991: ''Painting Abstract Pictures''. Newton Abbot: David & Charles *1992: ''Antique Furniture Almanac ''. Moffat: Lochar *1996: ''Illustrated Guide to Collecting Antiques''. New York: Todtri *1996: ''Lost at Sea: great shipwrecks of history''. New York: Todtri *1996: ''Painting Course: introduction to drawing: watercolour, gouache and tempera: pastel and acrylic: oil painting''. London: Chancellor (originally published in four separate vols. London: Trodd, 1990) *1997: ''A Connoisseur's Guide to Antique Clocks & Watches''. New York: Todtri *1997: ''A Connoisseur's Guide to Antique Furniture''. New York: Smithmark *1997: ''A Connoisseur's Guide to Antique Pottery & Porcelain''. New York: Smithmark *1997: ''A Connoisseur's Guide to Antique Silver''. New York: Smithmark *1998: ''Myths and Legends of Ireland''. New York: Todtri *1999: ''A Connoisseur's Guide to Antique Dolls''. New York: Todtri *1999: ''A Connoisseur's Guide to Antique Jewellery''. New York: Todtri *1999: ''A Connoisseur's Guide to Antique Toys''. New York: Todtri *1999: ''Kings & Queens : a history of British monarchy''. New York: Todtri *1999: ''Mysterious Places of the World''. New York: Todtri *1999: ''The Romance of Travel''. New York: Todtri *2000: ''A Connoisseur's Guide to Antique Glass''. New York: Todtri ;As editor *1972: ''A Secret Diary: the intimate memoirs of Vicar Veitch''. London: David Bruce & Watson

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearsall, Ronald 1927 births 2005 deaths 20th-century English male writers Critics of parapsychology Critics of Spiritualism English children's writers English male non-fiction writers English non-fiction writers