Larry Ostola, “The Spiritualist Prime Minister: Mackenzie King and the New Revelation,” Champlain Society Witness to Yesterday, September 30, 2025.
Excerpt: “The Spiritualist Prime Minister by Anton Wagner is a groundbreaking two-volume biography that reveals the deep influence of Spiritualism and the occult on William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canada’s longest-serving Prime Minister. Based on ten years of meticulous research, Wagner documents over 130 of King’s interactions with mediums, psychics, and other spiritual practitioners. King’s primary motivation was to communicate with his deceased mother and close associates, often consulting spiritualists during pivotal moments in his political career, including the Great Depression and World War II. The biography situates King’s beliefs within the broader international context of early 20th-century Spiritualism, referencing figures like Arthur Conan Doyle. Wagner’s work offers a detailed psychological portrait of King, exploring both his mystical pursuits and controversial views, including instances of racism and antisemitism. Richly illustrated and thoroughly researched, this biography provides new insights into the private life and decision-making of one of Canada’s most influential leaders.”
David Borys, “Mackenzie King: The Spiritualist Prime Minister,” Curious Canadian History, Interview with Anton Wagner, February 4, 2025.
Janice Hamilton, “The Spiritualist Prime Minister: A Book Review,” January 1, 2025. https://www.writinguptheancestors.ca/ and https://genealogyensemble.com/
Michael Tymn, “The Prime Minister Who Balanced Political Zealousness with Spiritual Zaniness,” Michael Tymn’s Blog, August 27, 2024.
Excerpt: “Although I had read bits and pieces about William Lyon Mackenzie King, former prime minister of Canada, concerning his interest in spiritualism, I had not realized the extent of that interest until reading Anton Wagner’s comprehensive and intriguing books, The Spiritualist Prime Minister (Volumes I and II), recently released by White Crow Books. King comes across as a highly introspective, principled, honorable, self-effacing, and caring leader, but he has been referred to by historians and journalists as “Weird Willy,” “a spirit-intoxicated eccentric,” “a superstitious lunatic,” and “a certifiable nut.” On the one hand, he was a man of great zeal – a man who bargained with Roosevelt, Churchill, Truman, Attlee, and even Hitler, Hess, and Goering – but on the other hand those who were aware of his interest in spiritualism saw him as zany. In spite of this “zaniness,” he is considered by many to have been Canada’s greatest prime minister.”
Keith Parsons, Why Was Willie Weird? The Two Faces of an Eccentric Prime Minister. YouTube, August 13, 2024.