Blithe Spirits: A History of the Poltergeist

by S D Tucker

The Trickster-god is a strange and wonderful mythological figure who is found in folklore and legend right across the world, from the Norse Loki to the Greek Hermes to the Raven and Coyote of the Native American peoples. The ultimate "cunning fool," he and the many subversive tales told about him have been studied down the years by anthropologists, historians, literary theorists, and psychologists from Ted Hughes to C. G. Jung. Belief in Trickster-gods, this book argues, has today been transformed into popular belief in Trickster-ghosts, with those noisy, disruptive, roguish spirits known as poltergeists fulfilling largely the same imaginative function as more traditional Trickster-figures. By playing childish tricks upon us, poltergeists reveal our current worldview to be in some way incomplete, breaking the accepted circles of "official" materialistic, scientific logic and provoking laughter at their irreverent audacity in doing so. Rather than being intended to frighten, perhaps the true purpose of certain ghost stories is in fact to amuse, perplex, and provoke? Whether true or not, such ghost stories still function as genuine Trickster-myths, providing those who read them with access to a hidden realm lurking somewhere just beyond the rational, in which the usual rules of science, logic, and reality simply do not apply. Perhaps in doing so they act as a kind of "emotional safety-valve," intended to allow mankind temporary respite from the sometimes oppressive social forces surrounding us. Covering a wide global selection of reported poltergeist phenomena from ancient times right up to the present-day, and then subjecting them to a process of literary, historical, and sociological analysis, Blithe Spirits is one of the most unusual, original, and wide-ranging books about the subject ever to be written.

Genres: Paranormal

352 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2020

Reviews

[Henry Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, but Tucker tends to play quick and loose with his (very) impressive index, sometimes relying more on rapid referencing than thorough analysis - fine in the context of cross-referencing similarities between hauntings, but sometimes to the detriment of the point of the chapter. His biases are evident but he embraces them as his subjective perspective on an often subjective phenomena. I'd describe this work as "outsider scholarship" and take it as a helpful and well-researched book of references with Tucker's personal musings connecting the material. Tucker isn't looking to defend a thesis, he's looking to generate conversation and encourage lightness of being as the counterpoint to the frustrating nature of poltergeist research (a truly Fortean attitude).

That said, it's worth noting that Tucker takes a reductive approach to poltergeists that seems to unilaterally categorize them as faerie "tricksters" rather than cleaving to the divides you'll see elsewhere - ghosts, elementals, aliens, et cetera. Traumatic encounters with terrifying entities are described as tricksters perpetrating cruel practical jokes rather than considering the existence of truly malicious forces (or even benign ones).

Generally, though, it's a good read and a great source of both western hauntings and paranormal koans. I'd recommend it, but make sure to read the references and Tucker's musings critically and annotate your own perspectives as you go - and if you can get a friend's annotated copy, read that one.

[James Koppert · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible book in the level of research, the arguments made, the entertainment in how its written and the incredible insight, S.D. Tucker has delivered a paranormal masterpiece. It works due to even someone with a passing interest in the subject will be filled with wonder with what is written on the pages which is what Tucker hopes to achieve. The acasual nature of the poltergeist breaks all the rules of science and yet it occurs. Tucker uses this notion that their actions are intended to trick us into a state of disbelief a place where new thinking, art and philosophy occurs. This book deserves to be on a best sellers list for at least a decade.