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A Mystery of Remnant and Other Absences
A ghost is an absence defined by its presence, or else a presence defined by its absence. The work of Brian Catling is filled with such visions, intrusions on the threshold of our world and the next. The stories collected within are fragments of a singular imagination, portals into worlds populated by dog-headed giants and reanimated bog bodies, spirits both beastly and mundane. These are tales about visionaries and mystics, about the need to venture into blurry territories of sight in which angels, ghosts and memories merge and reform. Together they showcase the distinctive voice underlying the very best of Catling’s work.
143 pages, Hardcover
Published July 23, 2025
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16 people want to read
About the author
Brian Catling
27 books346 followersAlso publishes as B. Catling.
Brian Catling was born in London in 1948. He was a poet, sculptor and performance artist, who made installations and painted egg tempera portraits of imagined Cyclops. He was commissioned to make solo installations and performances in many countries including Spain, Japan, Iceland, Israel, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Germany, Greenland and Australia. He also wrote novels.
He was Professor of Fine Art at The Ruskin School of Drawing & Fine Art, University of Oxford, and a fellow of Linacre College.
Brian Catling was born in London in 1948. He was a poet, sculptor and performance artist, who made installations and painted egg tempera portraits of imagined Cyclops. He was commissioned to make solo installations and performances in many countries including Spain, Japan, Iceland, Israel, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Germany, Greenland and Australia. He also wrote novels.
He was Professor of Fine Art at The Ruskin School of Drawing & Fine Art, University of Oxford, and a fellow of Linacre College.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 18, 2025
Catling, Brian - A Mystery Of Remnant And Other Absences
His previous book, Munky, I never understood. The characters, the narrative, the “mystery”.
This one provides an incisive prologue by Victor Rees. What to look for in Catling’s writing, how to grasp his intent better. Much is made of Catling’s theme of the hollowness of it all.
There are a handful of stories in this, along with fragments and prose poems. Poetry, whether rhyming or prose, no longer stirs me. Add music and I might enjoy it.
“Heart Of The Forest” opens with the impoverished artist, once brimming with talent. Greatness was predicted. Until he chased the muse deeper and deeper. A subtle story, and a second read will help.
An elaborate extension of a Poe classic, “Further Facts In The Case Of M. Valdemar”, leads us past the last breath, suggesting the blinders of medical experts. The experiment taken too far.
The longest, and most satisfying story far and away, is “A Pendon Parva Ghost”. This launches with a mummified heart, which someone consumes. The tale told by the erudite man, a self-styled guru of sorts, ever trawling for new disciples. In this outing, he drives a handful to a remote village, then into an obscure museum. Where, on display, is a labor of love. A marvelous contrast of surface and substance.
Concluding is an afterword by Iain Sinclair, again dissecting and interpreting our author.
At the back are story notes = extremely helpful.
I did not enjoy this book.
His previous book, Munky, I never understood. The characters, the narrative, the “mystery”.
This one provides an incisive prologue by Victor Rees. What to look for in Catling’s writing, how to grasp his intent better. Much is made of Catling’s theme of the hollowness of it all.
There are a handful of stories in this, along with fragments and prose poems. Poetry, whether rhyming or prose, no longer stirs me. Add music and I might enjoy it.
“Heart Of The Forest” opens with the impoverished artist, once brimming with talent. Greatness was predicted. Until he chased the muse deeper and deeper. A subtle story, and a second read will help.
An elaborate extension of a Poe classic, “Further Facts In The Case Of M. Valdemar”, leads us past the last breath, suggesting the blinders of medical experts. The experiment taken too far.
The longest, and most satisfying story far and away, is “A Pendon Parva Ghost”. This launches with a mummified heart, which someone consumes. The tale told by the erudite man, a self-styled guru of sorts, ever trawling for new disciples. In this outing, he drives a handful to a remote village, then into an obscure museum. Where, on display, is a labor of love. A marvelous contrast of surface and substance.
Concluding is an afterword by Iain Sinclair, again dissecting and interpreting our author.
At the back are story notes = extremely helpful.
I did not enjoy this book.
September 20, 2025
an excellent collection of short stories, poems, and other fragments, posthumously colected and published, some for the first time. the book also contains an afterward by Ian Sinclair, and a section contains notes on the selections.
All done in an extremely handsome hardcover as per usual from Swan River Press
All done in an extremely handsome hardcover as per usual from Swan River Press
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews