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About The Secret History of Poltergeists and Haunted Houses
What poltergeist accounts through the ages reveal about our own worldviews
• Provides a wide array of case studies from ancient Greece and Rome to medieval Europe to the modern world
• Explores the relationship between poltergeists and troubled adolescence
• Looks beneath the Christian adulteration of pagan practices to reveal the hidden ancestral beliefs tied to poltergeists and haunted houses
Stories of poltergeists and their mischievous and sometimes violent actions--knocking, stone or chair throwing, moving objects with invisible hands, and slamming or opening doors--are a constant through the ages. What changes is how we interpret this activity. For our pagan ancestors this phenomenon was caused by helper spirits whose manifestations revealed their unhappiness with a household. The medieval Christian church demonized these once helpful spirits and held exorcisms to expel them from the houses they haunted--which proved effective less than half the time. The Age of Enlightenment cast these incidents as clever hoaxes, and many still believe this today. But poltergeist manifestations continue to appear and often defy attempts to debunk them as pranks. What then is behind this phenomenon?
Exploring accounts of poltergeists from ancient Greece and Rome, medieval Europe, and the modern world, Claude Lecouteux finds that while our interpretations of poltergeists may change, the manifestations always follow a similar course and evolution. He shows how modern scientific studies of poltergeist manifestations have found a strong tie between these visitations and the presence of a troubled adolescent in the house. Looking beneath the Christian adulteration of pagan practices to reveal the hidden ancestral beliefs tied to poltergeists and haunted houses, the author shows how these unhappy spirits serve as confirmation of the supernatural beings that share the earth with us and of our relationship with the natural and unseen world, a relationship we must take care to keep in balance.
• Provides a wide array of case studies from ancient Greece and Rome to medieval Europe to the modern world
• Explores the relationship between poltergeists and troubled adolescence
• Looks beneath the Christian adulteration of pagan practices to reveal the hidden ancestral beliefs tied to poltergeists and haunted houses
Stories of poltergeists and their mischievous and sometimes violent actions--knocking, stone or chair throwing, moving objects with invisible hands, and slamming or opening doors--are a constant through the ages. What changes is how we interpret this activity. For our pagan ancestors this phenomenon was caused by helper spirits whose manifestations revealed their unhappiness with a household. The medieval Christian church demonized these once helpful spirits and held exorcisms to expel them from the houses they haunted--which proved effective less than half the time. The Age of Enlightenment cast these incidents as clever hoaxes, and many still believe this today. But poltergeist manifestations continue to appear and often defy attempts to debunk them as pranks. What then is behind this phenomenon?
Exploring accounts of poltergeists from ancient Greece and Rome, medieval Europe, and the modern world, Claude Lecouteux finds that while our interpretations of poltergeists may change, the manifestations always follow a similar course and evolution. He shows how modern scientific studies of poltergeist manifestations have found a strong tie between these visitations and the presence of a troubled adolescent in the house. Looking beneath the Christian adulteration of pagan practices to reveal the hidden ancestral beliefs tied to poltergeists and haunted houses, the author shows how these unhappy spirits serve as confirmation of the supernatural beings that share the earth with us and of our relationship with the natural and unseen world, a relationship we must take care to keep in balance.
About the Author(s) of The Secret History of Poltergeists and Haunted Houses
Claude Lecouteux is a former professor of medieval literature and civilization at the Sorbonne. He is the author of numerous books on afterlife beliefs, including The Return of the Dead and The Secret History of Vampires. He lives in Paris.
Praise for The Secret History of Poltergeists and Haunted Houses
“I can’t imagine a more thorough text available on the subject of poltergeists and the homes they haunt. Are they spirits, genies, the dead, the Devil, demons, witchcraft, hoaxes, or from psychokinetic abilities? Lecouteux covers all of that as well as the variety of ways people from all eras would attempt to rid themselves of poltergeists. If you’re anybody who is anybody claiming to know anything about the paranormal, you have to read this book. Also, if you’re anybody looking for an insanely fascinating read about the evolution of poltergeists in human culture, you also really should read this book.”
Magical Buffet, June 2012
Magical Buffet, June 2012
“For those interested in paranormal research and study, this book is an incredible resource, presenting a substantial collection of documented accounts of paranormal activity in several classifications. Overall this is an excellent and interesting study.”
Frater U.I.F, Behutet Magazine, October 2012
Frater U.I.F, Behutet Magazine, October 2012
“...the book looks beneath the Christian adulteration of pagan practices and reveals the hidden ancestral beliefs linked to polts and their connection with household spirits such as brownies, hobgoblins and house elves found in European folklore. Recommended.”
The Cauldron, December 2012
The Cauldron, December 2012
