In 1896 A. Farnese was given a glimpse into the after life when a spirit contacted him and told him to write down this story.

I do not claim to be the author of this book, since I have only acted the part of an amanuensis and endeavored to write down as truthfully and as carefully as I could, the words given to me by the Spirit Author himself, who is one of several spirits who have desired me to write down for them their experiences in the spirit world. I have had to write the words as fast as my pen could travel over the paper, and many of the experiences described and opinions advanced...