The Most Haunted House in England: Ten Years' Investigation of Borley Rectory (Collector's Library of the Unknown)

Rating:
Summary: A Decade of Compelling Research
Review: Harry Price, a talented writer, discovered the haunting of Borley Rectory. As a journalist might, he collected all the available evidences in and around Borley Rectory: interviews, witnesses, statements, photographs, histories, poltergeist literature, experiment, and sceancing. The approach of his book, "The Most Haunted House in England" is systematic. It reads as a court case with testimony and vigour. He took care not to pronounce himself a Spiritualist, in the case that his credibility might be put in question. He tried to be as disinterested as possible, but the culmination of evidence convinced him through and through. His style of writing is wonderfully simple but strong.

In my view, the preternatual is an obvious reality, especially as the evidence is showing. I have read close to a dozen books on poltergeists, all which cement the grounds for belief in them. Thankfully my 'gut feeling' of them being real was a reliable one.

Skepticism of the paranormal tends to dogmatism, as with religion. You see, modern science has decided, already, that ghost and poltergeists cannot be. But an intelligent student can see that poltergeists are common and well documented. In parapsychology circles the Poltergeist is the most convincing phenomena, which the possible exception of telepathy. There are too many witnesses, from all social groups, and coming from every country and every age. It would take a real fool, like Frank Podmore or Bertrand Russell, to deny the Poltergeist.

I recommend this book among the classics in preternatural literature. It has more weight than the available crap of today.

Rating:
Summary: But Is It True?
Review: Still..How much is really true!? First of all, this must be the absolute #1 Ghost/Paranormal Investigation of all time! Written in very "good spirits", humor, and British wry wit, it's the rare book that you'll without question read to the end!! Featuring a ghostly headless horseman,nun, carriages, unexplained flying household objects, eerie noises, wine turning into ink, locking of doors,mysterious written messages, etc. this must be the original "ghostbusters" story, and the author is surely one heck of a writer and paranormal investigator...Oddly, just about all the characters involved seem a bit unruffled by these bizarre unexplained activities, but that could be the famed stiff upper lip amusement of the Brits...Really a super impressive book, but not completely convincing, though I admit I'm a skeptic in any case. Possible "human" explanations could be dreams, wish fulfillment, human error, weather changes,wind (noises) faulty/shaky building construction, certain participants "playing games" on the others, an ill woman often unaccountable during these curious goings on, superstitions, faulty sensory perception (like seeing pictures in clouds), even the financial motivation to write a book, though Mr. Price is surely a terrific, thorough writer!..This book may give you the creeps,but my simple advice is to buy it here (used), and you will be amazed. Let you the reader decide...This book has even made me rethink a few things, though I remain essentially a skeptic...

Rating:
Summary: Incredible Amazing Ghostly TourDeForce...!!
Review: Still..How much is really true!? First of all, this must be the absolute #1 Ghost/Paranormal Investigation of all time! Written in very "good spirits", humor, and British wry wit, it's the rare book that you'll without question read to the end!! Featuring a ghostly headless horseman,nun, carriages, unexplained flying household objects, eerie noises, wine turning into ink, locking of doors,mysterious written messages, etc. this must be the original "ghostbusters" story, and the author is surely one heck of a writer and paranormal investigator...Oddly, just about all the characters involved seem a bit unruffled by these bizarre unexplained activities, but that could be the famed stiff upper lip amusement of the Brits...Really a super impressive book, but not completely convincing, though I admit I'm a skeptic in any case. Possible "human" explanations could be dreams, wish fulfillment, human error, weather changes,wind (noises) faulty/shaky building construction, certain participants "playing games" on the others, an ill woman often unaccountable during these curious goings on, superstitions, faulty sensory perception (like seeing pictures in clouds), even the financial motivation to write a book, though Mr. Price is surely a terrific, thorough writer!..This book may give you the creeps,but my simple advice is to buy it here (used), and you will be amazed. Let you the reader decide...This book has even made me rethink a few things, though I remain essentially a skeptic...

Rating:
Summary: But Is It True?
Review: The haunting of the Borley Rectory is perhaps the most famous ghost story of all.This book is a wonderful book. But how much of what described here is actually true? Harry Price was an unpopular man-even his supporters disliked him.After his death there was a re-appraisal of this case and it was largely discredited. As Price himself notes in his book, much of the evidence provided by the Foysters was dicey-Ms. Foyster could have faked it. The actual rectory itself burned to the ground,an event often described as "possibly supernatural." In fact, it was deliberately set afire by the last owner for the insurance money (his own sons admit it.) Since no trace of the building has been left, "parapsychologists" have decided that the whole area is haunted now. They claim that the village church is haunted. I believe in "ghosts" and haunted houses,but there is a great deal of evidence against this specific case which is being ignored because the story is so compelling and well told.This story isn't as one sided as you would imagine from the reviews of this book.

Rating:
Summary: Most terrifying book I have ever read...
Review: This book was responsible for keeping me up many a night. This story puts the "Blair Witch Project" to shame, in its accurate and frightening depiction of the events and history of the Borley Rectory. If you read one ghost story in your life, make this one it.