Customer Reviews

Chronicles, the Historie of England (World Cultural Heritage Library)

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I have always been fascinated by Lindsay's "A Voyage to Arcturus", an incredible, allegory. However, a few years ago, I read his "Devil's Tor", (his final work), and found it ponderous. Not so "The Haunted Woman." It was thoroughly entertaining. This book ranks with some of the best fantasies in mood and mystery. It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a work so much.

This is the second novel from the author of 'A Voyage to Arcturus'. It is set in English middle-class society in the 1920's, but a thread of weird, metaphysical fantasy runs through it, making it as much of an oddity (albeit in a more conventional setting) than the author's first work. It is a strange, subtle book; and for those who are used to modern fantasy literature, it may come as something of a disappointment. But David Lindsay's vision of a higher reality is so compelling that even in this lesser work, it shines through, making the experience of reading the book a memorable one. One strange thing about this book is its 'haunting' quality. After the initial reading you may very well put it aside, thinking you will soon forget it ..... but you won't. I guarantee it! I would be pleased to hear from any devotees of David Lindsay's work. My E-mail address is P.J.CAMPBELL@livjm.ac.uk.

I have just finished "The Haunted Woman" and "enjoyed" it, if that is the right word, very much! I have also read Sellin's book and Wolfe's book on Lindsay recently. Sellin believed that the musician in THW was Crystalman. I don't agree. The world of the musician, who was probably Ulf in one sense, contrasted our world of convention and superficiality. The world of Ulf's tower was a step closer to Muspel light, to use words from Arcturus. I do not think that Lindsay is trying to say the exact same thing in every book. It would be easy for reviewers to look at each subsequent work through the lens of Arcturus. We have to give lindsay more credit than that. Isbel ends up moving back to what her life was before. She says if Marshall can endure her then she should be able to endure him, Lindsay's view on how most human relationships are, expressed quite succinctly. The world of Ulf's tower in "The Haunted Woman" was mysterious and powefully presented by Lindsay. In part the book is a cry against the phony conventionality and superficial nature of the world man, not Crystalman, has created. The last seventy or so pages I couldn't put the book down. It races to a heart pounding climax. It really makes you wonder about what we call real in our everyday existance with it's TV and malls and a whole host of other artificial barnacles on our short lives. "The Haunted Woman"? Yes Isbel was haunted by her experience and so shall the reader be haunted by this book. I know I shall be!