Glamorgan-based writer Marc Harris draws on the wild coast and wooded valleys of Wales to craft classic Gothic ghost stories in Wild and Uncanny Tales
Marc Harris set out to do something very straightforward. He wanted to write a book of Gothic ghost stories. That long-held aim became Wild and Uncanny Tales, a collection shaped by landscape, weather and a strong sense of place.
On the back cover, the book says it “‘brings a haunted Britain to life,’” and that gives a fair sense of what readers can expect.
Most of the stories are fictional, although some draw on real people, real events and real locations. A number of the poems are based on real-life scenarios. Harris is open about his influences.
He has been heavily influenced by traditional ghost stories and by writers such as M. R. James and Susan Hill, along with the wider tradition of Victorian literature.
Marc describes the tone of his work simply: “The stories in my book have a haunting, dreamlike, eerie quality.” They are mood-driven rather than tightly plotted, and the emphasis is on atmosphere and setting.
Nature is central to his writing.
For six years he lived in a caravan at Lavernock in the Vale of Glamorgan, overlooking the Bristol Channel and the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm.
“Writing at a desk, and staring out to sea, with such magnificent views of the coastal landscape of Wales, clearly inspired many of the stories within my book. These vistas let my vivid imagination loose.”
The sea, the cliffs and the changing skies of south Wales find their way into many of the stories.
Harris has walked and cycled thousands of miles in his lifetime, including along coastal paths in Wales. That time spent outdoors has informed his sense of detail. He writes about places he knows well. The coast is often present, sometimes calm, sometimes storm-battered. Woodland, rivers and ruined buildings also feature.
He says: “The world in which I write, is both familiar and strange, where history hangs heavy and tragedy has left its mark. Where spectral guardians walk and ancient spirits rule the woods, and where rivers keep their secrets.” That sense of landscape carrying memory runs throughout the collection.
Water in particular plays a strong role. Among the stories are a young girl waiting on a storm-tossed beach for a mother lost at sea, a ferryman guiding strange passengers to a ruined village, and spirits lingering within a sunken warship. These are traditional elements handled in a classic Gothic style.
Harris says he would like to think that “creating atmosphere and sense of place” are among his strongest qualities. Without sounding conceited, he adds that he would like to think his book “inhabits the soul.” It is a confident statement, but it reflects his belief that ghost stories should leave a lasting impression.
Wild and Uncanny Tales is aimed at adult readers, though suitable for teenagers. It will appeal to those who enjoy traditional Gothic fiction, folklore and stories grounded in real landscapes.
At its core, the book reflects a simple intention: to write Gothic stories inspired by the natural world, and to let the landscapes of Wales speak through them.
