Part dissection of England’s collective folk imagination. our second book of the month, Beasts of England, is a testament to the creatures, beasts, and ghouls lurking in the dark recesses of a nation’s consciousness. Connolly curates eleven spine-tingling tales, each a celebration of a different local legend, told by those who grew up in the regions that gave these tales life. Authors like Lucy Rose (The Lamb), Ramsey Campbell (The Doll Who Ate His Mother), and Adam Nevill (The Ritual), return to their home-town horrors and drag them, kicking and screaming, into the light.
From time immemorial, the landscapes of England have stoked the flames of imagination, forging terrors beyond our understanding. For the Romans, England was a fog-bound half-mythical island at the edge of the world, a land of terrifying wonders. For Geoffrey of Monmouth, it was a place in which giants resided. Glidas saw a sinful island abandoned by God and ravaged by divine judgement, whilst Bede saw a chosen land of miracles and divine intervention. England has been many things to many people.
Spanning the length and breadth of this green and (un)pleasant land, this collection of short stories explores the rich mythology, folklore, and urban legends that flourish here. From ancient forests and the things that lurk in their shadows, to desolate moorlands, lakes, and cities, these authors will take you on a journey of discovery and introduce you to creatures that will haunt your steps eternally.
Beasts Of England continues Dead Ink’s stellar track record of publishing rich and thematic horror. Every author captures not just their own unique variety of terror, but also the breadth and essence of England between its covers. In many ways, our stories are the making of us, from the ones our parents tell us before bed to those we told our friends to explain why nobody has ever lived in that old house down the way. They seep into our language, our customs, and identity, and Beasts of England truly captures that feeling.
The book itself is a stunning hardback, with incredible illustrations by Michael Lacy, who provides a map which showcases where each story is from, as well as interior illustrations to precede each tale. The hardcover edition is also decorated with red and black sprayed edges, tying the bloody motif together in a package that will look right at home on any horror fan’s bookshelf.
Beasts of England edited by Nathan Connolly
Dead Ink Books | 9781917792868 | HB | £20 | Out Now
