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Post by dem bones on Nov 9, 2020 16:28:32 GMT
Starts today! Exclusive to VAULT - The GREAT NEW SERIES they ALL wanted! J. A. Brooks - Ghosts of London: The East End, City and North (Jarrold, 1982). Blurb: Do you know about the Black Dog of Newgate, Mother Damnable of Camden Town, the vampire-hunters of Highgate, or the ghost of the chicken that Sir Francis Bacon stuffed with snow? Ghosts of London sheds new light on a host of hauntings that have troubled the metropolis over the centuries, up to the present day. This volume deals with the City and the East End, plus the north and east of Greater London. The companion volume covers the remainder of the capital, including the multitude of ghosts which frequent the West End.
Both books are profusely illustrated (there are 59 pictures in this volume) and they form part of a growing series which includes the following titles:
Ghosts and Witches of the Cotswolds Scottish Ghost Stories Devon Ghosts Ghosts of the Broads Strange Scottish Stories Tales from Scottish Lairds Cornish Ghosts and Legends Ghosts of London: The West End, South and WestPersonal favourite of several Haunted London books sampled from teenage days, the majority of them library loans. Bought this on visit to the London Dungeon during its Tooley Street incarnation - complimentary tickets, on account of The Bride won a competition in Whizzer & Chips (they threw in a free skull mug, too!). Authors informative commentary includes entries on the Bethnal Green Poltergeist and attendant mass ghost hunt in February 1938; the Vicar of Ratcliffe, the Cock Lane Ghost, and a "vampire" fabrication in N6; the frozen chicken of Pond Square; the phantom flusher of the Bow Bells pub; the psychedelic donkey of Hyde Lane, Colindale, & Co. The late Lynsey de Paul, most haunted woman in pop, recalls an encounter with a restless spirit in Turpin's restaurant on Hampstead Heath. The owner confirms his premises are haunted by the ghost of a woman strangled - or possibly stabbed; details are sketchy - by the mass-murdering highwayman; something Lynsey wasn't aware of when she made her booking. It is apparent some thought went into selecting appropriate illustrations. Book also reproduces various newspaper and magazine items including a decent Victorian ghost story, The Spectral Visitant, or the Student's Death Bed from Mother Shiptons Miscellany for 2nd Dec. 1878.
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Post by Swampirella on Nov 9, 2020 16:58:59 GMT
A nice nostalgic moment just then when I saw your post, Dem! It's one of the very first books in my now oversized true ghost library, bought on a childhood trip to London & probably at the same place as you bought your copy. I have a vague memory of going to some dungeon-like place while there. Surprised they let me out again, now that I think of it. Also bought this one at the same time:
EDIT: It is also by J. A. Brooks. I'd add a photo of the Table of Contents if I was able to.
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Post by andydecker on Nov 9, 2020 18:32:09 GMT
Enlighten a non-Brit. West-End, South and West? Isn't the West End in the west?
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Nov 9, 2020 18:48:57 GMT
Enlighten a non-Brit. West-End, South and West? Isn't the West End in the west? It is west of some things, but not others.
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Post by dem bones on Nov 9, 2020 20:21:59 GMT
Back by public demand. The explosive new series THEY couldn't silence! Sally & Chips Barber - Ghastly & Ghostly Devon (Obelisk, 1992). Blurb: Ghastly and Ghostly Devon is a compilation of gruesome stories and ghastly deeds perpetrated in Darkest Devon. Murderous monks, resurrected rectors, bodies in bogs, craftily concealed corpses, misinformed messiahs and cave-dwelling cannibals are just some of the ghastly and ghostly participants, or victims, included within this book.Another charity shop find, an attractive 32 page pamphlet signed by 'Chips' himself! Best ghosts include the Rev Frank Parker of Luffincott (d. 1883; that's his grave below), whose favoured pastimes remain the study of black magic, being evil and returning from the dead, and the cobweb-covered skeleton haunting a four poster at Chambercombe Manor. Also the Grieff family of Exeter, not so much a Sawney Beane tribute act as a complete rip off; the huntsman eaten by his own hounds while wearing an immodest nightgown; and Spot the Messiah in Gittisham which throws in a gratuitous swipe at a certain "former Coventry City goalkeeper." Photo: Chips Barberphoto: Dem. Model. The Bride of Dem. Tower Hamlets Cemetery.
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Post by dem bones on Nov 9, 2020 20:33:32 GMT
A nice nostalgic moment just then when I saw your post, Dem! It's one of the very first books in my now oversized true ghost library, bought on a childhood trip London & probably at the same place as you bought yours! I have a vague memory of going to some dungeon-like place while there. Surprised they let me out again, now that I think of it. Also bought this one at the same time: Swampi; is West End, South & West also by J. A. Brooks? Enlighten a non-Brit. West-End, South and West? Isn't the West End in the west? The West End (Oxford Street/ Soho/ Charing X/ Strand/ Carnaby Street, etc) is City, so by rights it should have been covered in the first book.
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Post by andydecker on Nov 9, 2020 21:05:40 GMT
The West End (Oxford Street/ Soho/ Charing X/ Strand/ Carnaby Street, etc) is City, so by rights it should have been covered in the first book. Thanks all! I have to confess that after asking this I realized that I confused West End with East End. Whitechapel should be full of ghosts, I guess. The literary reappraisal of London fascinates me for a long time. It is seemingly everywhere, there are too many writers to mention. Books, comics, movies and TV. My interest was renewed when I stumbled on Andrew Hussey's wonderful Paris - The Secret History, which led me to Peter Ackroyd's London - The Biography which I had a hard time getting into and laid it aside.
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Post by Swampirella on Nov 9, 2020 21:31:31 GMT
It is also by J. A. Brooks. Certainly the two most wonderfully lurid covers in my collection
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Post by andydecker on Nov 9, 2020 22:02:01 GMT
I forgot to mention how much I like the cemetery photo. Well done, Dem and Bride.
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Post by Swampirella on Nov 9, 2020 22:18:13 GMT
While we're on the topic of Jarrold's books and their lurid covers, many people love this compilation from 1973, even though the contents are actually pure fiction. However, since it's been marketed as true ghost stories, I'm posting it here. After getting rid of my original copy, probably bought on a visit to the Broads area, I don't regret buying a replacement a few months ago, despite being mostly written in Norfolk dialect. If Richard Dalby's Library has a copy (for sale) it must be worthwhile.
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Post by jamesdoig on Nov 10, 2020 6:28:03 GMT
I certainly like the look of those Ghosts of London books. Here are a few relevant recent buys: This one seems to exist in a million cheap editions. There's an article about the author in the latest Green Book. I got it I think at the junk shop for 3 bucks: Got these two from the Beyond Q liquidation sale for a couple of bucks each: And from the Lifeline bookshop for $3, inscribed by the author: On Lifeline, the book fair is firing up again - 10-13 December, fingers crossed.
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Post by Swampirella on Nov 10, 2020 11:32:09 GMT
I certainly like the look of those Ghosts of London books. Here are a few relevant recent buys: This one seems to exist in a million cheap editions. There's an article about the author in the latest Green Book. I got it I think at the junk shop for 3 bucks: Got these two from the Beyond Q liquidation sale for a couple of bucks each: And from the Lifeline bookshop for $3, inscribed by the author: On Lifeline, the book fair is firing up again - 10-13 December, fingers crossed. Great finds! I hope the book fair doesn't get cancelled; they're like oxygen to us (used) book lovers!
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Post by dem bones on Nov 10, 2020 13:23:36 GMT
Joan Forman - Haunted East Anglia (Fontana, 1977: originally Robert Hale, 1974). Haunted East Anglia Cover photograph by Alan Kemp Blurb: HAUNTED EAST ANGLIA is more than a collection of ghost stories - though the Tolling Bell, the Walking Boots, the Rattling Thing in the Coalhouse and the Handsome Earl of Sandwich, among others, are ghosts enough for anyone. It's a fascinating blend of history, fable and myth, of country lore and scenes, of magic and witchcraft.
"From Norfolk to Northampton, Essex to Lincolnshire and Suffolk, from Mary Queen of Scots to Boadicea, an astonishing, never-ending trail of ghostly antics fills the pages." EVENING NEWS
"A fascinating book which should appeal to all lovers of East Anglia: SUFFOLK FAIRChas Sampson - Ghosts of the Broads (Jarrold, 1973). Richard Sutton - Preface Author's introduction
Wroxham Road Oulton Road Thurne Mouth Burgh Castle Salhouse Broad Breydon Water Barton Broad Potter Heighham South Walsham Broad Horning Brundall Acle Burgh St. Peter Somerleyton Reedham Belaugh Horsey Mere Ormesby Road Ludham Beccles Stokesby Hickling Broad Stalham St. Benet's Abbey Ranworth
Bibliography***** While we're on the topic of Jarrold's books and their lurid covers, many people love this compilation from 1973, even though the contents are actually pure fiction. However, since it's been marketed as true ghost stories, I'm posting it here. After getting rid of my original copy, probably bought on a visit to the Broads area, I don't regret buying a replacement a few months ago, despite being mostly written in Norfolk dialect. If Richard Dalby's Library has a copy (for sale) it must be worthwhile.
Your Ghosts of the Broads has far the better cover. I think this edition (above), blurbless and bereft of acknowledgements, is the Jarrold original before the London Dungeon cover overhaul. Had no idea it was a short fiction anthology - am more likely to sample a few stories now. A third from the same neck of the woods, Peter Haining's The Supernatural Coast (1992). Should imagine there are many more.
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Post by helrunar on Nov 10, 2020 13:37:25 GMT
To the ear of an American of "a certain age," Ghosts of the Broads sounds as if it should be filled with anecdotes of spectral manifestations of Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Belle Poitrine, and other celebrated ladies of a bygone era.
It would seem from the table of contents that "the Broads" refers to a district or region.
Swampi what fabou finds on your trip--as a youngster, I was constantly nagging my parents to drop me off at a bookshop whenever we went on vacation. Most of the time, they didn't mind. They were very nice people to grow up with.
H.
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Nov 10, 2020 14:51:45 GMT
as a youngster, I was constantly nagging my parents to drop me off at a bookshop whenever we went on vacation. Most of the time, they didn't mind. They were very nice people to grow up with. I cannot help but notice a contradiction in your narrative. If they did not mind, why did you have to "nag" them? What are you really trying to tell us? Were your parents really all that nice? We are here to help and support you, and expect only a nominal fee in return.
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