Book Review: The Secret History of Poltergeists and Haunted Houses by Claude Lecouteux

The Secret History of Poltergeists and Haunted Houses

By Claude Lecouteux

© 2012 Inner Traditions International

ISBN: 978-1-59477-465-2

246 pages

Paperback $18.95 (U.S.)

I expected The Secret History of Poltergeists and Haunted Houses to be little more than a collection of reports of the paranormal. I was surprised to find this book to be much, much more. To start with I learned that while spirits that make noise, usually knocking noises have been around for quite some time the term poltergeist is relatively new; first appearing in a dictionary in 1540.

The first chapter of the book is devoted to explain what a poltergeist, or what we have come to label a poltergeist has been defined as through history. The following chapters offer examples of these noisy, often mischievous spirits. The author shows how they have been thought to be spirits of the dead, devils, part of witchcraft or a hoax.

The chapters cover an age of writings or folk legends of poltergeist and include the Middle Ages, when these were thought of as mainly the dead, devils, brownies and more. Not only are tales of the phenomenon and often how these spirits were banished there is also a generous amount of other information included. There is also a chapter devoted to poltergeists that targeted individuals.

Even the appendixes are extremely informative with a sample of an exorcism ritual and writings on haunted houses.

I found this book to be both fascinating and informative. For those who are interested in more than just ghost stories this book is great.