Zombies: A Field Guide to the Walking Dead
by Bob Curran
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Book Summary Information
Author: Bob CurranIllustrator: Ian Daniels
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-09
ISBN: 1601630220
Number of pages: 220
Publisher: New Page Books
Book Reviews of Zombies: A Field Guide to the Walking Dead
Book Review: An excellently researched tome on the undead
Summary: 5 Stars
Dr. Bob Curran presents an eminently readable, indepth, and fascinating tome on the history of the walking dead. The title of this book is "Zombies" but to limit it to that specific term and its origins also limits the impact of this comprehensive history of many cultures perception of the corporeal forms of the undead that have come back for varied reasons, both fair and foul, since nearly the dawn of time.
This book does explore the origin of the classic Haiti zombie but goes much deeper than that, explaining ancient European forms of the undead, the African origins of voodoo, and a wide array of other versions of those who come back from the grave since ancient times including Egyptian mummies (and Japanese ones as well).
While it must be stressed that this is more of a historical journey than one that delves into the modern day movie monster (only brief passages allude to the works of George A. Romero and others) this is still something that any true fan of the walking dead can appreciate. Dr. Curran has done exhaustive research and presents his efforts in a very easily readible format that certainly could allow some creative writers out there to develop "new" strains of undead in their books and movies based on historical context, outside of the traditional voodoo variety that are displayed in this book, such as the Draugr, as just one example.
If you are at all interested in the supernatural and the afterlife/living dead, this is a book you should have on your reference shelf. It certainly gave me a far greater appreciation for the origins of humanities long time fascination with those that return from the dead.
Summary of Zombies: A Field Guide to the Walking Dead
In the myths, legends, and folklore of many peoples, the returning, physical dead play a significant role, whether they are the zombies of Haiti or the draugr of Scandinavia. But what are the origins of an actual bodily return from the grave? Does it come from something deep within our psyche, or is there some truth to it?In Zombies, Bob Curran explores how some of these beliefs may have arisen and the truths that lay behind them, examining myths from all around the world and from ancient times including Sumerian, Babylonian, Egyptian, and Celtic. Curran traces the evolution of belief in the walking cadaver from its early inception in religious ideology to the "Resurrections" and cataleptics of 18th century Europe, from prehistoric tale to Arthurian romance. Zombies even examines the notion of the "living dead" in the world today--entities such as the "living mummies" of Japan.
Zombies is a unique book, the only one to systematically trace the development of a cultural idea of physical resurrection and explore the myths that have grown around it, including the miracles of Old Testament prophets. It will interest those enticed by the return of the corporeal dead and also those curious as to how such an idea sits within the historical context.
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