CHRISTMAS TRAVELOGUE OF TERROR

I just finished reading Edward Parnell's excellent "Ghostland: In Search of a Haunted Country". As the back cover blurbs suggest, it is part travelogue, part history and part grief memoir. Through his colorfully descriptive writing, Mr. Parnell takes us on a road trip along the byways of the British Isles, to the birthplaces and scenes written about by such famous English horror writers as M.R. James, Arthur Machen and Algernon Blackwood. He also trods along the trails of a number of other, lesser known authors, to us Yanks at least.

What is the motivation behind Parnell's desire? Because he, himself is haunted. Haunted by the memories of his Mother, Father and Brother, all who died prematurely of cancer.

This book gives him a chance to reconcile his loss and to put it into context of the many places he had traveled with his family, and especially his brother after, they lost their parents. Along the way, readers are treated to a unique chapter in the history of ghost stories and terror tales.

I was delighted to see a portion of the book published in the Christmas 2019 issue of FORTEAN TIMES. It is from the section that discusses the ghost stories of famous authors that were adapted and televised during Christmastime in the U.K. during the 1970's. They are fondly remembered by many adults who were children back in those times and they have gained a new cult following on YouTube and other outlets in the wake of the "folk horror" genre.