Description

A CRIB NOTES MUST-READ FOR SPOOKY SEASON

‘Glorious’ PHILIP HOARE

‘A supernatural safari – just the sort of book to read over Halloween’ DAILY MAIL

‘Excellent’ LEON CRAIG

‘Every horror fan, coffin boffin and certified creep needs to read this book’ ALICE SLATER

‘As absorbing and seductive as any fictional ghost story’ BRIDGET COLLINS

Do you have what it takes to cross the threshold?

Crumbling turrets, crenelated walls, creaking floorboards. We all know a haunted house when we see – or feel – one. That creeping sense of wrongness. An icy shiver stealing down the spine.

But why do certain structures set this super-sensory alarm bell jangling, while others leave us unmoved? Can a house be purpose-built to be haunted? And does a building need a bloody legacy to set the skin tingling?

Tiptoe through the haunted gallery at Hampton Court Palace, encounter the spectral residents of Chillingham Castle and lose yourself in the labyrinthine layout of Winchester Mystery House as Caitlin Blackwell Baines unravels the psyche, the history and the folkloric fabrication that make a haunted house take on a life of its own.

Enter if you dare…

Publisher Review

With irresistible flair, How to Build a Haunted House is chillingly clever, richly atmospheric, and a feast of gothic curiosity. Baines gives voice to houses that whisper. — Lucy Rose, bestselling author of THE LAMB As someone who lived in one of these haunted houses, I found Caitlin Blackwell Baines’ book a remarkable document of the truth. All houses are haunted, but she singles out notable sites of spectral activity and writes about them with a glorious matter-of-factualness — Philip Hoare, author of LEVIATHAN This has that exhilarating quality that you get from the very best non-fiction. Fascinating, intriguing and thought-provoking, beautifully and intelligently written, it’s as absorbing and seductive as any fictional ghost story. An absolute must-read — Bridget Collins, bestselling author of THE BINDING A fascinating study of some of the world’s most famously haunted houses. From local legends and ghost stories to hugely popular money-making entertainments, Caitlin Blackwell Baines give us the facts, which seldom align with the legends, while communicating the mysterious appeal of haunted places. I finished reading with a strong desire to take up ghost-hunting myself — Lisa Tuttle, author of MY DEATH A curious and curiosity-satisfying dive into the architecture, cultural obsessions and social shifts that go into creating an enduring, localised ghost story. As multi-layered as the very best hauntings — Heather Parry, author of CARRION CROW An authoritative yet accessible examination of some of the most haunted houses in history. Rich in detail, it is wide-ranging and eclectic, and strikes the perfect balance between being both anecdotal and meticulously researched — Lucie McKnight Hardy, author of BOUND IN BLOOD An interesting cultural exploration of some of the best-known houses where things are said to go bump in the night — Edward Parnell, author of GHOSTLAND From New Orleans to the silver screen, these houses are haunted by more than ghosts: Caitlin Blackwell Baines unpicks the spectral stitches of a gothic staple and reveals the political turbulence, commodification of tragedy and commercialisation of fear in this ectoplasmic exploration of the humble haunted house. Every horror fan, coffin boffin and certified creep needs to read this book. — Alice Slater, author of the instant Sunday Times bestseller DEATH OF A BOOKSELLER