The Perilous Deep: A Supernatural History of the Atlantic

(Hardback)

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Description

The vast expanse, unknown depths, dangers and mysteries of the sea have led mariners to create fantastical stories of ghosts and monsters for centuries; it is a world strange and 'other' to the experience of land dwellers. This body of lore has served to bond nautical communities together around the world and throughout history, with international stories fusing with local tales. The Perilous Deep explores why these stories were told, how they were repeated and mutated and what fears, anxieties and desires they helped to express. This is a fascinating exploration of the supernatural history of the Atlantic Ocean and some of its neighbouring seas, showing how seafaring peoples have developed knowledge and a sense of control over nature through myths and legends.

Reviews

Not only does Karl Bells new book provide a colourful compendium of the merfolk, ghosts, phantom ships and sea monsters that have populated the seafaring folklore of the Atlantic nations for centuries, he also looks at how and why these tales came into being, and how they evolved and mutated as they were transmitted from place to place over time. -- Roger Cox * The Scotsman *
What a wonderful book this is, chock-full of mystery and magic. Promising to take the reader on a seafaring voyage, it delivers on all fronts. Beautifully written, engaging throughout and wonderfully illustrated, we encounter the merfolk, ghosts, phantom ships and sea monsters that have populated folklore tales, myths, legends and dreams for centuries. Take a dive into The Perilous Deep with Karl Bell, who brings exemplary scholarship as well as storytelling flair to the lightless depths of the supernatural and monstrous Atlantic. * Ruth Heholt, Professor of Literature and Culture, Falmouth University *
More than a compendium of maritime folklore, The Perilous Deep explores how mariners and landlubbers alike have used storytelling to make sense of their relationship to the sea. Engaging with the godlings, leviathans, ghost ships, serpents, selkies and mermaids that haunt the Atlantic, Karl Bell shows that while the ocean can be a place of terror, it is also a place of possibility. * David Hopkin, Professor of European Social History, Hertford College, University of Oxford, and President of the Folklore Society *
In this absorbing and entertaining survey, Karl Bell explores how the fear of and fascination with the vastness and unknowable depths of the North Atlantic Ocean were expressed through beliefs and stories of the supernatural. The meaning of spectral ships, omens, talismans, taboos, mermaids, sea monsters and Atlantis are explored using a rich range of sources from journalism, folklore and fiction. * Owen Davies, Professor of Social History, University of Hertfordshire *

Author Bio

Karl Bell is Associate Professor in Cultural and Social History and Co-Director of the Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures at the University of Portsmouth. His books include The Legend of Spring-Heeled Jack, winner of the 2013 Katharine Briggs Award.