Hauntings: A Book of Ghosts and Where to Find Them Across 25 Eerie British Locations
£11.90£23.80 (-50%)
‘ Haunted is a wonderful book: part history, part rumination on life, and, of course a haunting book about ghosts …. beautifully written, fascinating, deeply moving and thought-provoking.’ – James Holland
‘A proper page-turner …. A fascinating tangle of witches and mermaids, drowned fishers and dead warriors, ghostly planes and spectral horses .’ – Christopher Somerville, author of Ships of Heaven
‘One of the most enjoyable books on the paranormal I’ve read. Neil Oliver creates a bucket list of places to visit, perfect for both paranormal investigators and history buffs alike.’ – Nick Tyler, author of Haunted Yorkshire
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For longer than recorded history there have been tales of spirits and of places where our hackles rise and our skin turns cold.
Bestselling historian Neil Oliver travels the British Isles on a deliciously spine-chilling tour that spans several centuries and explores more than 20 sites – castles, vicarages and towers, lonely shorelines and forgotten battlefields – to unpick their stories..
Oliver invokes his family’s history alongside that of kings and queens past as he probes why our emotions and senses are heightened in certain locations where the separation between dimensions seems gossamer thin. Our landscape is riven with these places, creaking from the weight of the secrets they hold, the echoes of tragedy and dark deeds . From Inverness to Devon, Co Dublin to Norfolk, Hauntings casts an enjoyably eerie glow with stories that, told generation after generation, are inextricable from place – and considers why they matter.
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‘Oliver is an evocative storyteller, vividly bringing his tales to life’ BBC History Magazine
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Additional information
| Publisher | Bantam (12 Oct. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 384 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1787636348 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1787636347 |
| Dimensions | 16.2 x 3.5 x 24 cm |
by P. Burt
What a fabulous book!! Please do ignore some of those previous comments on here by people who have bought this book, no doubt expecting the usual travelogue/ghost story type of book. This one indeed explores some well-known ghost stories from a variety of places around the UK, yes, but this book occupies a higher plane than others. Neil Oliver’s exploration is far more than a simple re-telling of old ghost stories. His journey in this book is a personal one too, and the intelligent reader will learn a great deal of the associated history and breathe the atmosphere of the chosen places Neil Oliver explores. The book contains black & white illustrations which fit rather well with the subject matter. Most of the sites mentioned in the book can be viewed in more detail on the internet should you wish to explore further.
I’m a big fan of the supernatural and feel that Oliver is sympathetic to it too. His writing has a thoughtful and intimate tone, drawing you in despite yourself. Best of all, the book inspires the reader to think about the real nature of life and death, and the veil between the two.
If you’re looking for a touristy guide to ghostly places ( with loads of big colour photos!!)then maybe this book isn’t really for you. Personally I really enjoyed it, and my only criticism is that I wish it were much longer. Well done Neil Oliver!
by Bristol Book Blogger ????????????
Not as expected from the description. I was hoping for ghost stories but got a lot of historical facts about the areas and the figures who lived there, and perhaps a sentence or two if lucky about someone’s experience of feeling as if the were being watched or a spirit was nearby. It’s certainly not what I was expecting. Though the subject matter was interesting, it should have been marketed as a history/geography textbook, not a book about hauntings. I felt cheated.
by Venesse Parsons
My missing books were received by my neighbour. Apologies for previous review stating they went missing. A must buy for sure. They have hardbacks not paperback covers. Rivetting reading. Love your book Neil.
by Steve B
I bought this book because I’m interested in the subject, and I like Neil Oliver. It’s not really a “gazetteer of ghosts” in the usual sense, more a very personal meditation on memory and loss. There are some interesting stories though, if that’s what you are looking for. This is one of those books that will stay with you. It may even haunt you.
by Ice Queen
I bought the hardback and it’s gorgeous with a fabulous cover. The author has a flowing, almost poetic style of writing that never gets pretentious and is easy to read. I bought this book because I’m fascinated by ghosts and devour everything I can read about them and this book includes chapters on some unusual places such as Wistman’s Wood and Wayland’s Smithy that I’d never heard of before. The book also includes some really interesting personal experiences of the author while filming on location but his personal experiences never overshadow the main topic and are kept to a minimum. The text is accompanied by a selection of fascinating images. Some are gorgeous sketches and others photographs but they’re all in black and white and really add to the ‘haunted’ feel of the book. If you feel like settling down on a cold autumnal night to enjoy some spookiness, then I can recommend this book.
by Brett
Xmas prezzy for me mum she’ll love it I’m sure! ????????
by savvy shopper
This is a great book written well , very interesting tales great to read on a dark winters night with the wind howling outside.
by Lindyloo
I bought two hardcopies, one for me and one for my friends birthday. I’m a bit reluctant to give it to her I feel embarrassed. These ghost tales have been in print in various books for well over 60 years. Any person who has a passing interest in the paranormal will be more than familiar with these tales. Borley Rectory, check, Raynham Hall, check, Pendle Hill, check, Culloden, check…Berkeley Square, check…and so on. Me and my friend are in our 50’s and we have books from our schooldays with 90% or these stories in. Even the photo’s look worn, all old prints, not even new photo’s of the locations, that would have been something at least. Do not waste your money. Very, very disappointed. Granted the front cover is nice.