Description
The Book of Dreams and Ghosts
Book Summary
This work brings together a dense anthology of paranormal tales, ranging from materialized premonitions to ghostly apparitions and haunted houses. Written by the poet, historian, and anthropologist Andrew Lang, the selection is based on rigorous historiographical documentation, offering the reader a unique perspective on the sociological background that inspired great authors of Anglo-Saxon literature, such as Henry James, H. P. Lovecraft, or Bram Stoker. An essential book for understanding the pinnacle works of the fantasy genre in their full dimension.
What is it about?
Andrew Lang, scholar and founder of psychical research, presents a careful selection of documented paranormal cases. The book explores phenomena such as premonitory dreams that come true, apparitions of specters, and tales of haunted dwellings, all drawn from verifiable historical sources. Far from being a mere collection of horror stories, the work analyzes the social and cultural context that made the rise of Victorian and Edwardian ghost literature possible. Lang demonstrates how these narratives, based on supposed real events, served as direct inspiration for classics like "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James, allowing the reader to understand the documentary roots of the great tradition of the ghost story.
Main themes
- Paranormal phenomena and their historical documentation.
- Premonitions and prophetic dreams materialized in reality.
- Ghostly apparitions and haunted houses in the Anglo-Saxon tradition.
- The sociological background of 19th and 20th-century horror and ghost literature.
- Psychical research as an academic discipline and its cultural influence.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at fans of fantasy and horror literature, especially those interested in the documentary origins of the genre. It will also be of great value to readers looking to understand the historical and cultural context surrounding authors such as Henry James, H. P. Lovecraft, Bram Stoker, or Sheridan Le Fanu. Likewise, it is ideal reading for those who enjoy anthologies of stories based on true cases and for scholars of the psychology of the paranormal.
What this book provides
- Access to a unique anthology of documented paranormal cases, extracted from rigorous historiographical sources.
- A deeper understanding of the masterpieces of the Anglo-Saxon fantasy genre by revealing their real-life inspirations.
- A sociological perspective on how Victorian and Edwardian culture approached supernatural phenomena.
- The opportunity to learn about the work of Andrew Lang, a key figure in psychical research and the literature of his time.
Technical specifications
- Author: Lang, Andrew
- Publisher: ERASMUS EDICIONES
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION, HORROR AND GHOST STORIES, CLASSIC HORROR AND GHOST STORIES
- Collection: CLASICOS EN EL PRESENTE
- Binding: Other
- Publication date: November 2012
- Number of pages: 202
- Weight: 305 g
Editorial review
This work by Andrew Lang represents a bridge between historical erudition and the pleasure of fantastic reading. Its value lies in offering the reader not only a collection of unsettling tales, but the documentary context that supports them. For the public interested in the classic horror genre, "The Book of Dreams and Ghosts" constitutes an indispensable tool for appreciating the real roots of some of the most famous fiction in Anglo-Saxon literature. Lang's selection, based on his work as a psychical researcher, provides a credibility uncommon in similar anthologies.