This book explores the nature of illusions and fanaticisms, highlighting the disastrous consequences they can produce. It discusses the various forms these phenomena can take and the impact they can have on societies. Written by Richard Robert Madden, a prominent 19th century Irish author and social reformer, Phantasmata remains a thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with contemporary readers. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.