Legends of the Peak

David Clarke. Ghosts and Legends of the Peak District. Jarrold, Norwich. 1990.
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David Clarke is one of a number of ufologists who are building an academic career on the back of their UFO research - he is now [1990] based at the Centre for English Cultural Tradition and Language at Sheffield University, the main base for foaftale research in Britain. As befits the background of its author the book goes beyond being a mere recital of popularised ghost stories, and covers local traditions and beliefs, folk customs. archaeological sites. stone circles. and all variety of anomalous phenomena.

David Clarke is the co-author of Phantoms of Sheffield, so of course gives a good deal of consideration to the whole range of mysterious light phenomena that are beginning to fall into earthlights research. There are also mentions of UFO cases (finding one dating back: to the 1760's) and a brief account of the 'phantom helicopter' which haunted the north of England in the early 'seventies. It's quite a slim book (128 pages) so few of the cases are looked at in any depth, but it provides a useful gazetteer to an interesting region of England. As such its main interest will be to locals of the Peak District, but many other researchers. particularly those who are collecting the 'Project Albion' regional guides to anomalous phenomena will also need this interesting bock, which is well-illustrated, well produced, and well worth the moderate price asked.
  • John Rimmer, from Magonia 40, 1991.

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