Description
Book SynopsisSeventy-seven tales of the supernatural, intended to frighten and excite and bring to heel their medieval audience, gathered from medieval chronicles, sagas, heroic poetry and romances. Strongly recommended. M R JAMES NEWSLETTER Stories of restless spirits returning from the afterlife are as old as storytelling. In medieval Europe ghosts, nightstalkers and unearthly visitors from parallel worlds had beenin circulation since before the coming of Christianity. Here is a collection of ghostly encounters from medieval romances, monastic chronicles, sagas and heroic poetry. These tales bore a peculiar freight of spooks and spirituality which can still make the hair stand on end. Look at the story of Richard Rowntree's stillborn child, glimpsed by his father tangled in swaddling clothes on the road to Santiago, or the sly habits of water sprites restingas golden rings on the surface of the river, just out of reach. The writer and broadcaster Andrew Joynes brings together a vivid selection of these tales, with a thoughtful commentary that puts them in context and lays bare the layers of meaning in them.
Trade Review(Reviewd together with 'Medieval Comic Tales') Both make a delightful contribution to our understanding and mapping of those mental landscapes. They also allowed me to see the physical medieval landscape differently, reminding me that in the medieval period it had supernatural and metaphorical dimensions. In these tales a wide range of medieval people come to life. * FINDS RESEARCH GROUP NEWSLETTER *
A collection of stories that have stood the test of time. * HISTORY MAGAZINE (US) *
[An] excellent compendium of medieval folklore. * FORTEAN TIMES *
Truly ... a landmark work. This impeccably researched and very readable book should appeal to a wide audience. * MEDIEVAL REVIEW *
Every reader is sure to find something new and many readers may find something to treasure in this sprightly anthology. * ARTHURIANA *
Strongly recommended. A convenient compendium indeed! * MR JAMES NEWSLETTER *
Assembles dozens of ghostly tales from an impressive array of original sources ranging from Iceland to Florence. * BBC HISTORY *
