Description
An Illustrated History of Ghosts is a visually rich, accessible exploration of humanity’s long and complex relationship with spirits, hauntings and the unseen. Written and illustrated by Adam Allsuch Boardman, this hardback blends historical research with graphic storytelling, offering readers a broad timeline of ghost lore from ancient civilisations to the present day. It does not sensationalise paranormal experiences but instead situates them within culture, belief, scepticism and shifting perceptions of the afterlife.
The book begins with foundational questions such as “What is a ghost?” and “What is a haunting?”, introducing readers to the ways different cultures have tried to explain strange experiences. The early chapters explore premodern ghost beliefs, including afterlife mythology, duppy traditions from the Caribbean, hantu in Southeast Asia, demons in classical lore and the earliest recorded historic hauntings. These sections highlight the global roots of ghost stories, acknowledging that many experiences have been lost through oral tradition or reframed by later societies.
Boardman then guides the reader through pivotal eras, including the rise of nineteenth-century spiritualism, séances, mediumship, spirit photography, talking boards and the cultural fascination with communicating across the veil. Ghost hunters, investigators and sceptics also appear throughout, offering a balanced perspective on how hauntings have been interpreted, challenged or manipulated across history.
The twentieth and twenty-first century chapters address ghost hunting technology, internet-era legends, modern hauntings, liminal spaces, urban folklore and the impact of media on how people perceive the paranormal today. Illustrated panels throughout bring each topic to life, making the content approachable for readers of various ages while still being informative enough for researchers, folklore lovers and spiritual practitioners.
While the book does not offer guidance on working with spirits, it provides valuable cultural and historical context for those drawn to ancestry work, liminal spaces, ritual storytelling and the study of hauntings within spiritual communities. It is equally suitable for casual readers who enjoy folklore, sceptical inquiry or beautifully illustrated non-fiction.
A captivating choice for horror fans, ghost enthusiasts, folklore readers and anyone curious about how hauntings have shaped human imagination across centuries.
