It’s not the house that is haunted. It’s me. And I want to be; I have to be. Because if I give them up—if I stop looking back—everything that ever happened to us will cease to exist.
Published in 2019, “Ghostland: In Search of a Haunted Country” is an intriguing blend of several different genres. Firstly, it‘s a sort of travelogue. The titular haunted country happens to be England, and Parnell takes us on a fascinating journey to haunted (and haunting) spots across the country that have served as an inspiration to numerous writers and artists. Think of it as an alternative – literary and historical – psychogeography of England, where landscape plays a pivotal role in the development of customs, traditions, folklore and one’s way of being.
Then there’s the literary history aspect of the book. If you’re a fan of classic English ghost stories, you’ll find a lot of background information on prominent writers such as M. R. James and Algernon Blackwood, interwoven with Parnell’s observations on the links between them and the natural surroundings they inhabited. The book contains a rich collection of references that can serve as a guide through the history of ghost story writing and supernatural fiction, in particular as to how it relates to land.
What Parnell additionally brings to the table is a very personal meditation on memory and identity, making this book, at least in part, a memoir. The author’s frequent reminiscences on his life, tragic personal losses and the sense of grief are seamlessly added to the narrative in a touchingly lyrical and engaging style. I was particularly moved by the parts of the book in which he describes his struggle to come to terms with his brother’s terminal illness and ultimate passing. Deeply nostalgic, there’s a lot in Parnell’s intimate reflections one can relate to.
Reading the e-book version of “Ghostland,” I was initially worried there might not be an index at the back of the book containing all these wonderful references in one place and so I started writing down a list of books, authors and TV programmes that I definitely wanted to go back to. However, I was much relieved to see that there is in fact a very convenient Selected List of Sources towards the end of the volume, arranged per chapter. It’s a treasure trove of source material for anyone interested in the topic; or, if you like, a map you can use in your own exploration of eerie England.
“Ghostland: In Search of a Haunted Country” is an excellent, genre-blending book, that brings together nature and travel writing, literary and cultural history, exploration of the supernatural, plus the added element of memoir. It’s filled with the sense of love, wonder, and appreciation for England’s landscapes and the ghostly tales that quietly echo through its forests, hills and moors.
Five stars out of five.
NOTES
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