The Realm of Ghosts

The Realm of Ghosts traces ghost lore and reported hauntings from ancient societies to the recent past, placing apparitions within a long history of belief. Eric Maple considers the traditions of primitive and pagan peoples, the influence of ancient Greece on ghost stories, and the changing ways communities have interpreted the dead.

Alongside reported encounters, the book discusses child ghosts, poltergeists, necromancy, funeral rites, marshland ghosts, witchcraft, sexual demons and the cult of the dead. Maple also includes material from his own investigations, while often treating ghost claims with a rational and sceptical eye. The result is a broad survey of folklore, testimony and occult tradition rather than a simple collection of supernatural tales.