Introduction - One century of magnetic fictions

Throughout the 19th century, writers used magnetism as a component of their works of fiction. This introduction provides an overview of the relationship between literature and magnetism, identifying what remained constant and what evolved over several decades. Works of fiction reflect the scientific controversies of the time, with authors using them to display contemporary debates, express their own ideas, and turn their narratives into demonstrations. But magnetism also serves literature, for it represents a tremendous source of inspiration for romances and creates numerous hermeneutic and aesthetic effects.