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The Ghosts & Scholars Book of Follies and Grottoes
Sarob Press is spookily delighted to present thirteen eerie spectral tales (eight are wholly original to this volume) where the authors have taken, as inspiration, the theme of follies and grottoes. In her introduction Rosemary Pardoe tells us: ‘Follies may be fake temples, belvederes, pyramids, obelisks and towers, sham castles and ruins, eyecatchers, faux druid circles and hermitages (with or without fake hermit!), and many other things besides. Folly grottoes are often cut out of rock, and decorated, frequently with shells (such as the one at Margate, which is famously often claimed to be genuinely pre-Christian).’
And the dark and ghostly stories ... ‘range widely, from mysterious towers and classical temples to hidden grottoes; from revivals of the worship of ancient gods to unexpected distortions of space and time’.
Contents: “Introduction” by Rosemary Pardoe, “Baines’ Folly” by Christopher Harman, “Lady Elphinstone’s Folly” by John Ward, “The Ptolemaic System” by David Longhorn, “The Crooked Rook” by Rick Kennett, “Sweet Folly” by Gail-Nina Anderson, “Branks’s Folly” by C.E. Ward, “Folly” by Sam Dawson, “Minter’s Folly” by Chico Kidd, “Mothrot Hall” by Katherine Haynes, “‘Father’ O’Flynn and the Fressingfold Friezes” by Tina Rath, “Mad Lutanist” by Mark Valentine, “When I Heard My Days Before Me” by John Howard & “And Music Shall Untune the Sky” by S.A. Rennie
And the dark and ghostly stories ... ‘range widely, from mysterious towers and classical temples to hidden grottoes; from revivals of the worship of ancient gods to unexpected distortions of space and time’.
Contents: “Introduction” by Rosemary Pardoe, “Baines’ Folly” by Christopher Harman, “Lady Elphinstone’s Folly” by John Ward, “The Ptolemaic System” by David Longhorn, “The Crooked Rook” by Rick Kennett, “Sweet Folly” by Gail-Nina Anderson, “Branks’s Folly” by C.E. Ward, “Folly” by Sam Dawson, “Minter’s Folly” by Chico Kidd, “Mothrot Hall” by Katherine Haynes, “‘Father’ O’Flynn and the Fressingfold Friezes” by Tina Rath, “Mad Lutanist” by Mark Valentine, “When I Heard My Days Before Me” by John Howard & “And Music Shall Untune the Sky” by S.A. Rennie
177 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2022
37 people want to read
About the author
Rosemary Pardoe
53 books10 followersAlso writes under the names of: Mary Ann Allen, Mary Anne Allen, Ro Pardoe
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 9, 2023
Various (Editor: Pardoe, Rosemary) - Ghost & Scholars Book Follies And Grottoes
Logical companion to G&S Book Of Mazes.
A baker’s dozen here, primarily follies. Some cursed, some haunted. From malevolent to melancholy.
The older couple with more money than sound judgment. Actually, a LOT of money. Lord Elphinstone spares no expense in restoring the Highland estate. Nor does he refuse his wife’s vision of one restoration. “Lady Elphinstone’s Folly” yields a surprise answer to lofty expectation.
“Branke’s Folly” is an ugly thing, mostly hidden, thankfully, from the landowner Strickland’s view. Not from his antagonistic neighbor’s sight, however. The Colonel, one of those disreputable bullies, wants to acquire the folly in order to demolish it. Acquire by any means necessary, and “no” is not an option.
Predating radar, the acoustic mirror was used to hear incoming sounds, aircraft. One, however, seems to retain stray sounds. Echoes. Revealing fragments of the stories lives of RAF pilots during World War II. John Howard’s “When I Heard My Days Before Me” is a thoughtful, aching glance over the shoulder, and is an ideal closer for this collection.
Logical companion to G&S Book Of Mazes.
A baker’s dozen here, primarily follies. Some cursed, some haunted. From malevolent to melancholy.
The older couple with more money than sound judgment. Actually, a LOT of money. Lord Elphinstone spares no expense in restoring the Highland estate. Nor does he refuse his wife’s vision of one restoration. “Lady Elphinstone’s Folly” yields a surprise answer to lofty expectation.
“Branke’s Folly” is an ugly thing, mostly hidden, thankfully, from the landowner Strickland’s view. Not from his antagonistic neighbor’s sight, however. The Colonel, one of those disreputable bullies, wants to acquire the folly in order to demolish it. Acquire by any means necessary, and “no” is not an option.
Predating radar, the acoustic mirror was used to hear incoming sounds, aircraft. One, however, seems to retain stray sounds. Echoes. Revealing fragments of the stories lives of RAF pilots during World War II. John Howard’s “When I Heard My Days Before Me” is a thoughtful, aching glance over the shoulder, and is an ideal closer for this collection.
Displaying 1 of 1 review