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The Dead Men Stood Together
As scary and gory as Darren Shan, as gripping as R.L. Stevenson, a haunting adaptation of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
‘The Devil is coming to your house.’
Crazy words begin a gripping story of madness, demons and death. Home from the sea, a boy’s uncle entrances him with tales of life aboard ship and of foreign lands. Soon the boy decides to join his uncle on his next voyage.
A violent storm blows the ship off course and the crew find themselves marooned in a sea of ice. As their despair grows, an albatross seems to befriend them and restore their hope. But seized by an evil madness, the uncle kills the great bird with his crossbow, and so condemns all on board to unimaginable horrors, of which life in death is the greatest . . .
‘The Devil is coming to your house.’
Crazy words begin a gripping story of madness, demons and death. Home from the sea, a boy’s uncle entrances him with tales of life aboard ship and of foreign lands. Soon the boy decides to join his uncle on his next voyage.
A violent storm blows the ship off course and the crew find themselves marooned in a sea of ice. As their despair grows, an albatross seems to befriend them and restore their hope. But seized by an evil madness, the uncle kills the great bird with his crossbow, and so condemns all on board to unimaginable horrors, of which life in death is the greatest . . .
216 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2013
3 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Chris Priestley
49 books397 followersHis father was in the army and so he moved around a lot as a child and lived in Wales. He was an avid reader of American comics as a child, and when he was eight or nine, and living in Gibraltar, he won a prize in a newspaper story-writing competition. He decided then “that my ambition was to write and illustrate my own book”.
He spent his teens in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, before moving to Manchester, London and then Norfolk. He now lives in Cambridge with his wife and son where he writes, draws, paints, dreams and doodles (not necessarily in that order). Chris worked as an illustrator and cartoonist for twenty years, working mainly for magazines & newspapers (these include The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Economist and the Wall Street Journal) before becoming a writer. He currently has a weekly strip cartoon called 'Payne's Grey' in the New Statesman.
Chris has been a published author since 2000. He has written several books for children & young-adults, both fiction and non-fiction, and
has been nominated for many awards including the Edgar Awards, the UKLA Children's Book Award and the Carnegie Medal. In recent years he has predominantly been writing horror.
Ever since he was a teenager Chris has loved unsettling and creepy stories, with fond memories of buying comics like 'Strange Tales' and 'House of Mystery', watching classic BBC TV adaptations of M R James ghost stories every Christmas and reading assorted weirdness by everyone from Edgar Allen Poe to Ray Bradbury. He hopes Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror will haunt his readers in the way those writers have haunted him.
He spent his teens in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, before moving to Manchester, London and then Norfolk. He now lives in Cambridge with his wife and son where he writes, draws, paints, dreams and doodles (not necessarily in that order). Chris worked as an illustrator and cartoonist for twenty years, working mainly for magazines & newspapers (these include The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Economist and the Wall Street Journal) before becoming a writer. He currently has a weekly strip cartoon called 'Payne's Grey' in the New Statesman.
Chris has been a published author since 2000. He has written several books for children & young-adults, both fiction and non-fiction, and
has been nominated for many awards including the Edgar Awards, the UKLA Children's Book Award and the Carnegie Medal. In recent years he has predominantly been writing horror.
Ever since he was a teenager Chris has loved unsettling and creepy stories, with fond memories of buying comics like 'Strange Tales' and 'House of Mystery', watching classic BBC TV adaptations of M R James ghost stories every Christmas and reading assorted weirdness by everyone from Edgar Allen Poe to Ray Bradbury. He hopes Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror will haunt his readers in the way those writers have haunted him.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
October 16, 2015
This is a re-telling of, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the classic poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, published in 1798. The poem is generally considered the beginning of British Romantic literature and I remember studying it many years ago at school.
I did think, at first, that such a straightforward prose telling of the poem was possibly rather pointless. However, my eleven year old son was totally gripped by this. He is not, unsurprisingly, familiar with the original poem and so was unaware of the plot and, as such (as we read it together for an English project), I saw it through his eyes. He had no idea what was coming and it brought the poem alive for me again.
The story itself is rather creepy and dark. The author has managed to keep the period with the language and the general historical feel is really good. The characters are introduced in a nameless way; so we see them as the ‘mariner’ who is the uncle of the main character – his young nephew who narrates the book. My son is eleven and with the dark themes, death and danger, I would suggest it for children of 10 and up. My son is now keen to read more books by Chris Priestley.
I did think, at first, that such a straightforward prose telling of the poem was possibly rather pointless. However, my eleven year old son was totally gripped by this. He is not, unsurprisingly, familiar with the original poem and so was unaware of the plot and, as such (as we read it together for an English project), I saw it through his eyes. He had no idea what was coming and it brought the poem alive for me again.
The story itself is rather creepy and dark. The author has managed to keep the period with the language and the general historical feel is really good. The characters are introduced in a nameless way; so we see them as the ‘mariner’ who is the uncle of the main character – his young nephew who narrates the book. My son is eleven and with the dark themes, death and danger, I would suggest it for children of 10 and up. My son is now keen to read more books by Chris Priestley.
May 4, 2016
I have always enjoyed the books of Chris Priestley. He has the ability to make an easy to read and accessible book (I guess he has a target audience) and yet still fill the pages with dread and horror. To me I think that says a lot about the authors ability in that he is able to convey so much in the pages of such an easy read - now this is not a criticism.
Now let me explain - some books take pages and pages to set things going with complicated and convoluted storylines and plot devices - not the case when you read one of Mr Priestleys books. The pages are clear and concise and you can see how things develop (and you think) you know where the story is going. Only he still manages to sneak in a few shocks along the way. And that for me is where his skill comes in, the ability to craft in such a storyline with out over loading the reader.
But the book itself - well I will not give anything away but you are looking at a re-imaging (its more than just the re-telling) of the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner so if you know that you can see where this book is going. However you do not need to know it - and I suspect it may even add to the enjoyment of the book. I will admit although I am familiar with it I do not know it off by heart that I can see the connections and similarities. However as a story it is just as powerful.
Now let me explain - some books take pages and pages to set things going with complicated and convoluted storylines and plot devices - not the case when you read one of Mr Priestleys books. The pages are clear and concise and you can see how things develop (and you think) you know where the story is going. Only he still manages to sneak in a few shocks along the way. And that for me is where his skill comes in, the ability to craft in such a storyline with out over loading the reader.
But the book itself - well I will not give anything away but you are looking at a re-imaging (its more than just the re-telling) of the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner so if you know that you can see where this book is going. However you do not need to know it - and I suspect it may even add to the enjoyment of the book. I will admit although I am familiar with it I do not know it off by heart that I can see the connections and similarities. However as a story it is just as powerful.
November 4, 2024
The Dead Men Stood Together was, perhaps, not quite what I was expecting. I actually ended up reading this in print, rather than the e-galley originally from Netgalley, and the cover of the finished version gave the impression of a book for much younger readers than I’d originally thought. This is supported by the size of the font (HUGE), which for some reason was all in bold, a choice I found rather odd.
Formatting aside, this was a strange book. It is based on The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, an odd choice considering the book’s intended audience – and especially when, on reading, I think I would have appreciated the book a lot more had I prior knowledge of the poem, which I expect most middle grade/teen readers won’t have. It is not entirely clear when the book is set, the prologue is clearly the late 19th century but the majority of the story is centuries before that – from the elements of the story I would hazard a guess at the 1700s, which is also when Ancient Mariner was published.
The Dead Men Stood Together tells of a young boy who joins his uncle on a supply ship, but their ship gets lost in a storm and ends up in frozen and foggy waters. They are soon frequently visited by an albatross, whom the crew begin to see as a beacon of hope. However, the boy’s uncle, who is possibly mad and completely untruthful, kills the albatross, and the crew turns on him. Fortunately, just before they can kill him, the ice and fog begin to clear, and they are free. It just gets weirder from there – although this is all a direct retelling of the Ancient Mariner, the poem in prose form. The only original element is the narrator, the young boy on a journey with his uncle.
This was an easy and quick read, but a very odd one. I would definitely have appreciated it a lot more if I’d previously read The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and I have a feeling the book will suffer a lot for much of its target audience being unfamiliar with the poem. I have to admit, whilst I’d heard of it, I knew very little about it before now. There were no names in the book – as with the poem, I believe – but this only meant that I had no chance to ‘get to know’ the characters. And now that I know that the book is pretty much the poem exactly, with a few additions at beginning and end, it feels almost lazy.
I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Originally posted on my former blog, Rinn Reads.
Formatting aside, this was a strange book. It is based on The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, an odd choice considering the book’s intended audience – and especially when, on reading, I think I would have appreciated the book a lot more had I prior knowledge of the poem, which I expect most middle grade/teen readers won’t have. It is not entirely clear when the book is set, the prologue is clearly the late 19th century but the majority of the story is centuries before that – from the elements of the story I would hazard a guess at the 1700s, which is also when Ancient Mariner was published.
The Dead Men Stood Together tells of a young boy who joins his uncle on a supply ship, but their ship gets lost in a storm and ends up in frozen and foggy waters. They are soon frequently visited by an albatross, whom the crew begin to see as a beacon of hope. However, the boy’s uncle, who is possibly mad and completely untruthful, kills the albatross, and the crew turns on him. Fortunately, just before they can kill him, the ice and fog begin to clear, and they are free. It just gets weirder from there – although this is all a direct retelling of the Ancient Mariner, the poem in prose form. The only original element is the narrator, the young boy on a journey with his uncle.
This was an easy and quick read, but a very odd one. I would definitely have appreciated it a lot more if I’d previously read The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and I have a feeling the book will suffer a lot for much of its target audience being unfamiliar with the poem. I have to admit, whilst I’d heard of it, I knew very little about it before now. There were no names in the book – as with the poem, I believe – but this only meant that I had no chance to ‘get to know’ the characters. And now that I know that the book is pretty much the poem exactly, with a few additions at beginning and end, it feels almost lazy.
I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Originally posted on my former blog, Rinn Reads.
September 16, 2014
An amazing re-telling of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner from a master spooky storyteller. I hadn't read the famous poem about the fate of an albatross and so didn't know what to expect. I enjoyed this story, even if I felt a little distant from the main character - but I think this is from the style of storytelling more than a lack of connection.
Well worth a read. I think boys will like this one.
Well worth a read. I think boys will like this one.
November 6, 2013
''The body of my brother's son/Stood by me knee to knee.....The dead men stood together/All stood together on the deck'
Chris Priestley's wonderful and deeply creepy 'Tales of Terror' series are in the tradition of ghost/horror stories by the likes of M.R. James and Edgar Allan Poe, but what Priestley does is to take that tradition and make it his own, adding his own twist and making it appealing even to those not familiar with James, Poe, and others like them.
'The Dead Men Stood Together' does the same thing for Coleridge's 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner'. I've never read that poem, but Priestley's take on it is fascinating and tells the story in a more 'accessible' fashion, but maintaining a real creeping terror and pretty horrific imagery for a book that's nominally aimed at about 11+ kids.
'The Dead Men Stood Together' (an actual line from the original poem) is narrated from the point of view of the Mariner's nephew (see the line from the original poem I quoted at the beginning of this review). He joins his uncle on a sea voyage, but when a fierce storm catches them, the ship is blown into a mysterious sea of ice that seems to be inhabited by some kind of spirits. All the crew fear they are doomed to die, but then a mysterious and beautiful albatross appears and befriends the ship. The Mariner kills the albatross, dooming his nephew and all the rest of the crew to yet further horrors, and death may not be the worst of it....
Very, very, very creepy. The fact that the narrator is never given a name, and his increasingly crazed uncle is referred to only as 'my uncle', and that the other characters are only referred to as titles (as in the original, there's a Hermit, a Pilot, and the Pilot's Son) actually somehow makes the whole story all the more universal and relatable.
The perfect book to curl up with on a dark winter's night.
Yet another excellent book from Mr Priestley.
Chris Priestley's wonderful and deeply creepy 'Tales of Terror' series are in the tradition of ghost/horror stories by the likes of M.R. James and Edgar Allan Poe, but what Priestley does is to take that tradition and make it his own, adding his own twist and making it appealing even to those not familiar with James, Poe, and others like them.
'The Dead Men Stood Together' does the same thing for Coleridge's 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner'. I've never read that poem, but Priestley's take on it is fascinating and tells the story in a more 'accessible' fashion, but maintaining a real creeping terror and pretty horrific imagery for a book that's nominally aimed at about 11+ kids.
'The Dead Men Stood Together' (an actual line from the original poem) is narrated from the point of view of the Mariner's nephew (see the line from the original poem I quoted at the beginning of this review). He joins his uncle on a sea voyage, but when a fierce storm catches them, the ship is blown into a mysterious sea of ice that seems to be inhabited by some kind of spirits. All the crew fear they are doomed to die, but then a mysterious and beautiful albatross appears and befriends the ship. The Mariner kills the albatross, dooming his nephew and all the rest of the crew to yet further horrors, and death may not be the worst of it....
Very, very, very creepy. The fact that the narrator is never given a name, and his increasingly crazed uncle is referred to only as 'my uncle', and that the other characters are only referred to as titles (as in the original, there's a Hermit, a Pilot, and the Pilot's Son) actually somehow makes the whole story all the more universal and relatable.
The perfect book to curl up with on a dark winter's night.
Yet another excellent book from Mr Priestley.
August 26, 2013
THE DEAD MEN STOOD TOGETHER is a modern reimagining of Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Now, although I am not familiar with the poem, I can say that I was totally swept away with Priestley's modern offering.
Despite the story being fairly simplistic, Priestley has crafted his novel perfectly. The catalyst for the story - the killing of an albatross - was expertly handled. The silence and the dread that followed was truly palpable, it seemed to drip off the page and coil itself around you. As the reader, you knew that things would never be the same again after this act.
I feel privileged to have been able to read an advance copy through Amazon's Vine Programme. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys clever, gripping stories tinged with dread and horror. Do not be put off by the fact that Priestley is a writer whose work is aimed maybe more for young adults; adults of any age should find much to enjoy here. If you do read this and enjoy it, I would also recommend you try his other novel, THE DEAD OF WINTER. And, if you are looking for a similar author, you would do well to try Marcus Sedgwick's work, especially his novel WHITE CROW.
Despite the story being fairly simplistic, Priestley has crafted his novel perfectly. The catalyst for the story - the killing of an albatross - was expertly handled. The silence and the dread that followed was truly palpable, it seemed to drip off the page and coil itself around you. As the reader, you knew that things would never be the same again after this act.
I feel privileged to have been able to read an advance copy through Amazon's Vine Programme. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys clever, gripping stories tinged with dread and horror. Do not be put off by the fact that Priestley is a writer whose work is aimed maybe more for young adults; adults of any age should find much to enjoy here. If you do read this and enjoy it, I would also recommend you try his other novel, THE DEAD OF WINTER. And, if you are looking for a similar author, you would do well to try Marcus Sedgwick's work, especially his novel WHITE CROW.
November 6, 2016
เรื่องเล่าสยองขวัญย้อนยุคถึงการผจญภัยเหนือธรรมชาติกลางทะเลของลูกชายในครอบครัวชาวเรือ สนุกตรงที่อ่านง่ายและผู้เขียนสร้างความรู้สึกน่วมได้ดี แต่ไม่ชอบจุดพลิกผันของเรื่องที่ดูขาดพลังไปบ้าง
June 27, 2019
There was a ship...
And that was where it began.
I pass, like night, from land to land;
I've strange power of speech;
That moment that his face I see,
I know the man that must hear me:
To him my tale I teach.
But gradually, this thought took root, like ivy in a wall. It wormed itself through the mortar & slowly dislodged brick after brick until his mind came tumbling down.
Because perhaps the sleeping man dreamt a dream in which a man thought himself to be in a dream & in that dream he threw himself from a church tower 🗼 & killed himself.
Perhaps we make the world ourselves, perhaps we invent it all at every moment. Perhaps all things are dead until we give them life with our imaginations. Perhaps there're a million worlds, each one existing only for that one person & none other.
Is that why you live out here on your own, because you think people are bad?
No, I don't shun people because I'm better than they're. I shun because I do not deserve to be with other people. I shun them as penance.
'Be prepared for everything & you'll stand some chance. And that's the best you can hope for as a seafaring man.'
I see the wood below me & the moon shining on the calm sea & the little harbour of my home town; & then I'm air, I'm breath, I'm silence. I'm the moment before a dreaming sleeper wakes.
This is such an amazing book. If you've read the poem - 'The rime of the mariner by S T coleridge. Then I'm definitely sure, that you'll love this one. Such an exquisite writing with powerful narration. An excellent work of art. I don't have to say much about it. Read it & find out more about it.
In a harbour town long ago, a boy is entranced by his uncle's stories of adventure in lands far away. Ignoring the crazy talk of the harbour pilot's son about the uncle being the Devil, the boy boards a ship with his uncle. But the uncle soon makes enemies of the captain and crew and, in frustration at their superstition, kills an albatross that has befriended the ship. As the ship sails on, madness and death ensue, and the boy and the crew face unimaginable horrors. A superbly gripping and haunting tale for fans of all classic horror.
And that was where it began.
I pass, like night, from land to land;
I've strange power of speech;
That moment that his face I see,
I know the man that must hear me:
To him my tale I teach.
But gradually, this thought took root, like ivy in a wall. It wormed itself through the mortar & slowly dislodged brick after brick until his mind came tumbling down.
Because perhaps the sleeping man dreamt a dream in which a man thought himself to be in a dream & in that dream he threw himself from a church tower 🗼 & killed himself.
Perhaps we make the world ourselves, perhaps we invent it all at every moment. Perhaps all things are dead until we give them life with our imaginations. Perhaps there're a million worlds, each one existing only for that one person & none other.
Is that why you live out here on your own, because you think people are bad?
No, I don't shun people because I'm better than they're. I shun because I do not deserve to be with other people. I shun them as penance.
'Be prepared for everything & you'll stand some chance. And that's the best you can hope for as a seafaring man.'
I see the wood below me & the moon shining on the calm sea & the little harbour of my home town; & then I'm air, I'm breath, I'm silence. I'm the moment before a dreaming sleeper wakes.
This is such an amazing book. If you've read the poem - 'The rime of the mariner by S T coleridge. Then I'm definitely sure, that you'll love this one. Such an exquisite writing with powerful narration. An excellent work of art. I don't have to say much about it. Read it & find out more about it.
In a harbour town long ago, a boy is entranced by his uncle's stories of adventure in lands far away. Ignoring the crazy talk of the harbour pilot's son about the uncle being the Devil, the boy boards a ship with his uncle. But the uncle soon makes enemies of the captain and crew and, in frustration at their superstition, kills an albatross that has befriended the ship. As the ship sails on, madness and death ensue, and the boy and the crew face unimaginable horrors. A superbly gripping and haunting tale for fans of all classic horror.
December 25, 2024
This is so out of my comfort zone and not something I would usually pick up - but I had this one laying around on my tbr for a while now and I decided to finally pick it up and give it a go - and I loved it. It's a retelling of an old poem - it's about a young man who loses his father to the sea. When his uncle visits him and his mother before he leaves for the next voyage the young man is intrigued and he decides to go with him - the uncle slowly descents into madness and the entire crew ends up dead because of otherworldy beings- entire crew but the boy who somehow survives but is left as a ghost to haunt his uncle for the rest of his life that is going to be much longer than any regular man's. It was a short book but it kept me on my toes and I genuinely enjoyed the writing so much it makes me want to pick up more of this author's books and read them all. It's a pretty nice retelling and the story is pretty good and creepy for it's target audience.
August 3, 2018
Based around the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner and the curse of killing the Albatross. An engaging story of the unknown mysteries and terrors of the unknown oceans. I enjoyed the storytelling perspective of the young boy, the warnings that hover round the tale from the beginning. Well worth reading for an enjoyable tale of ancient sea misadventures.
I will go back and read the original poem too as it's been a long time. I'm looking forward to comparing the two.
I will go back and read the original poem too as it's been a long time. I'm looking forward to comparing the two.
October 6, 2022
I like this book but I didn't love it. It was very short so quick to get through and at times seemed very Gaiman-esque in its story. I didn't love the clipped sentence structure and felt that a book this short did not need 6 parts. It was enjoyable and definitely more focused towards older readers of 12+ years, but I didn't feel very spooked by it.
September 1, 2020
I came here after reading various Uncle Montague tales (which I love). I didn’t find this particularly scary, but I’ve always found Priestly’s ideas to be unusual and interesting. I’d give this a 3.5 really, I’m keen to read more of his work.
August 27, 2022
such a strange story. half of it was completely based in the real world and then half way through it's like the writer decided to go a little crazy. worst thing is i can't even decide if i liked it or not
January 24, 2018
I thought this book would be a lot more horrifying then it actually was; less horror/suspense and more just plain weird. I was disappointed.
October 6, 2019
Chris Priestley enttäuscht mich nie.
November 13, 2023
Simple, well told tale of the spooky sea.
December 1, 2017
I picked this novel up when I visited a book fair earlier this year and was looking for new genres to try, especially horror. This author seems to be praised for his suspenseful writing and so I decided to give it a shot.
Maybe I am simply indifferent to horror books, but I was not exactly scared by it.
Nevertheless I was curious as to what was going on, certainly since the prologue has a very interesting narration.
Thriller? No. Horror? Absolutely not. But intriguing? Yes, yes, yes!
If you are looking for a good sailor's tale, read this novel and be wrapped up in a tale of hardship, betrayal and loyalty.
Maybe I am simply indifferent to horror books, but I was not exactly scared by it.
Nevertheless I was curious as to what was going on, certainly since the prologue has a very interesting narration.
Thriller? No. Horror? Absolutely not. But intriguing? Yes, yes, yes!
If you are looking for a good sailor's tale, read this novel and be wrapped up in a tale of hardship, betrayal and loyalty.
April 11, 2015
I love Chris Priestley's style of writing - it's very accessible, slowly sinister and really draws you in. Which is exactly what he does with The Dead Men Stood Together: his version of the Ancient Mariner Rime, written by Coleridge.
It's about a boy going on his first sea adventure with his strange, withdrawn and sea-battered Uncle. We follow the adventure through bizarre, horrific action in ice worlds, storms and starving destitution aboard ship. All of which is clouded by the dark presence of his Uncle and his apparent ability to bring morbid changes in the ship's circumstances.
It's really well written, bounces along and I felt myself in the adventure the whole time (I read it in one sitting!). The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because there is one key scene where the Uncle is about to be killed and the boy doesn't help him, which I felt was not a credible approach to that part of the story and jarred me quite a bit.
Nonetheless, when the story moves to even creepier heights of dead sailors and death ships, this book proves it is imaginative and creepy. Highly recommend!
It's about a boy going on his first sea adventure with his strange, withdrawn and sea-battered Uncle. We follow the adventure through bizarre, horrific action in ice worlds, storms and starving destitution aboard ship. All of which is clouded by the dark presence of his Uncle and his apparent ability to bring morbid changes in the ship's circumstances.
It's really well written, bounces along and I felt myself in the adventure the whole time (I read it in one sitting!). The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because there is one key scene where the Uncle is about to be killed and the boy doesn't help him, which I felt was not a credible approach to that part of the story and jarred me quite a bit.
Nonetheless, when the story moves to even creepier heights of dead sailors and death ships, this book proves it is imaginative and creepy. Highly recommend!
December 17, 2015
Christopher Priestley brings us more nautical chills with this retelling of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner – you know the one: Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s big poem, water, water everywhere, dead albatrosses, cursed sailors. That one.
We’ve plenty of time for Priestley, his horror stories are spooky in the manner of MR James. That they’re for kids is frankly irrelevant, they give us the willies too. His other gift – for crisp, uncluttered writing – is marvellously utilised to render Coleridge’s poem as prose. A new young protagonist gives us our viewpoint (he’s in one line in the poem), a fresh ending provides salvation, and much atmosphere is spun from Coleridge’s words along the way. It’s beautifully told, but for all that not as scary as some of Priestley’s other stories.
Did you know?
Coleridge – who was a philosopher as well as a poet – came up with the oft-used phrase “suspension of disbelief.”
October 24, 2013
I never heard of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner before I read this book and I deliberately didn’t look it up either. Would I struggle with the story or be missing something because of this? No. I don’t think I’ve missed out in any way.
The Dead Men Stood Together is so intriguing. I loved the opening chapter, it pulls you in and you’re left with so many questions; Why the hate? What boat? What curse? Of course all of these are answered over the course of the story but that first chapter guaranteed I wasn’t going anywhere until I read the whole book.
Both the writing and pacing are highly effective at gripping the reader. I enjoyed the narration style a lot but what really sold me on this book was the atmosphere Chris Priestley creates. I was in the story, unable to leave until I reached the last page and I’m still thinking about it.
This is the first Chris Priestley book I’ve read – it will certainly not be the last.
The Dead Men Stood Together is so intriguing. I loved the opening chapter, it pulls you in and you’re left with so many questions; Why the hate? What boat? What curse? Of course all of these are answered over the course of the story but that first chapter guaranteed I wasn’t going anywhere until I read the whole book.
Both the writing and pacing are highly effective at gripping the reader. I enjoyed the narration style a lot but what really sold me on this book was the atmosphere Chris Priestley creates. I was in the story, unable to leave until I reached the last page and I’m still thinking about it.
This is the first Chris Priestley book I’ve read – it will certainly not be the last.
February 13, 2015
Really enjoyed this reimagining of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (which doesn't require knowledge of the poem to enjoy). I loved the new character of the Mariner's nephew (who relates the tale) and the voice created for him. The main plot points are all taken from the original poem - Priestly has just added in some explanation for the nephew being on board the ship with the mariner and some additional details that make the story more logical (without losing any of the unworldly creepiness) or add texture/depth to support it becoming a novel rather than a long poem. The structural elements of the frame and the seven parts are also retained and used really well. While there is clearly plenty for those familiar with the original text to enjoy, I would definitely recommend this as a story in its own right for lovers of horror/chiller novels.
September 11, 2013
Pre-Release Mini-Review: The Dead Men Stood Together Read it if:
* you can’t resist a rollicking tale set on the high seas
* you have ever been held captive by an elderly person as they regale you with far-fetched stories from the distant past
* you are inclined to complain heartily and predict impending doom should the weather stray more than a couple of degrees either side of your preferred temperature
* you have an objectionable uncle (or indeed any type of irritating relative) and you would love to witness their come-uppance…particularly if that come-uppance involves the wearing of something large, ridiculous and foul-smelling as a means of public ridicule
* you can’t resist a rollicking tale set on the high seas
* you have ever been held captive by an elderly person as they regale you with far-fetched stories from the distant past
* you are inclined to complain heartily and predict impending doom should the weather stray more than a couple of degrees either side of your preferred temperature
* you have an objectionable uncle (or indeed any type of irritating relative) and you would love to witness their come-uppance…particularly if that come-uppance involves the wearing of something large, ridiculous and foul-smelling as a means of public ridicule
September 15, 2013
First Chris Priestly book I've read and really enjoyed it.
Young adult/adult short novel retelling Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Clever narrative arc moving from Robert Louis Stevenson adventure to Joseph Conrad psychological over view to Edgar Allan Poe horror and then to a un-Poe like redemptive conclusion.
Will be recommending this as a good transitional novel for teens moving into adult reading.
Young adult/adult short novel retelling Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Clever narrative arc moving from Robert Louis Stevenson adventure to Joseph Conrad psychological over view to Edgar Allan Poe horror and then to a un-Poe like redemptive conclusion.
Will be recommending this as a good transitional novel for teens moving into adult reading.
September 30, 2014
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a wonderful poem, long, but full of arresting images and memorable phrases. This book by Chris Priestley is a kind of homage in prose to it. It reminded me of the power of the original, whilst slightly changing my interpretation of it, which was wonderful. I recommend it.
January 9, 2015
I came to this book with no knowledge of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner other than its title and author's name, but what a wondrously dark tale Chris Priestly has woven from it. I keenly felt in turn, the thrill, stillness, claustrophobia, fear and sadness of this haunting story. Such treasures we find when we do not seek them.
October 26, 2014
Compelling re-telling of The Rime of the ancient Mariner. I read this rather quickly over the weekend it was compelling but I think I enjoyed Tales of Terror from the Black Ship more. Still I definitely must seek out more books by Chris Priestly.
August 29, 2016
Initial Thoughts
Who would have thought a book about a curse could feel so flat and lifeless? This retelling has grating, unsophisticated prose and does little to expand on the parts of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner that would be interesting.
Who would have thought a book about a curse could feel so flat and lifeless? This retelling has grating, unsophisticated prose and does little to expand on the parts of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner that would be interesting.
January 15, 2016
I found this book a little disappointing. The premise and the summary had me really excited to read it, but I found the writing style boring in places and it was hard to properly engage with the book at all.
Want to read
September 16, 2013I read a book review on the newspaper saying this book is based on a poem and it's super scary, so I'm in.
December 3, 2013
I wrote a review on my blog.
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