Hélène Smith
Hélène Smith (
1861-
1929) was a famous late-
19th century French psychic who claimed to be able to communicate with Martians. She would write out the Martian communications on paper and translate them into
French, popularizing
automatic writing. In
1900, Mlle Smith became famous with the publication of
Des Indes à la Planete Mars ("From
India to the Planet
Mars") by Theodor Flournoy, Professor of
Psychology at the
University of Geneva. The book was a sensation.
Hélène Smith was known by the Surrealists as the Muse of Automatic Writing. They considered her evidence of the power of the surreal and a symbol of surrealist knowledge.