This was tremendously fun and is right in line with the other 'In Search of' books.
McNally and Florescu are great researchers. While I don't agree with all of their interpretations (they make a few judgement calls on Robert Louis Stevenson that I think are impossible to really know), I always learn a lot.
If you are into the real origins behind classic horror, the In Search of books are great.
More insightful research on a gothic horror classic from my favourite duo of American professors. It's too bad they didn't get to do a fourth entry and cover The Phantom of the Opera.
Much as I wanted to like this there were things in it that as a native of Edinburgh I found annoying.
The heart in the cobblestones by St Giles is not called the Heart Of Edinburgh it is the Heart Of Midlothian, the river that runs through the city is not the river Leith but the Water of Leith. As for describing Prince's Street as chic all I can say is that it is clearly a long time say they've been along it. ' a typical Scot would never be seen drunk wandering through the streets of Edinburgh for fear of being consigned to eternal damnation imposed by his Calvanist creed.' really, clearly the authors have never been out and about in Edinburgh at the weekend.