The Magic Island is an account of Seabrook’s experiences with Haitian Vodou in Haiti, and is considered the first popular English-language work to describe the concept of a zombie, defined by Seabrook as ‘a soulless human corpse, still dead, but taken from the grave and endowed by sorcery with a mechanical semblance of life—it is a dead body which is made to walk and act and move as if it were alive.’
Drawn by whispered tales of voodoo, the characters immerse themselves in Haitian life, traveling through dark jungles and bustling towns. They experience mesmerizing ceremonies, which are summoning the unseen forces and resurrecting the walking dead. Seabrook captures these rites in vivid detail, revealing both the deep cultural significance and the uncanny aspects that hold readers spellbound. Throughout his daring investigation, he grapples with ancient beliefs and modern misconceptions, forging a narrative that blends anthropological study, travelogue, and eerie storytelling, leading to unsettling revelations and discoveries.
A propos de l’auteur
William Seabrook (1884 – 1945) was an American occultist, explorer, world traveler, journalist and author, born in Westminster, Maryland. He began his career as a reporter and city editor of the Augusta Chronicle in Georgia and later worked for the New York Times. He is well-known for his writing on, and engaging in, cannibalism. Seabrook’s 1929 book The Magic Island, which documents his experiences with Haitian Vodou, is considered the first popular English-language work to describe the concept of zombies.
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