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Paranormal Britain

Belief in the Uncanny in England, Scotland, and Wales

Joseph O Baker author Tom Clark author Christopher D Bader author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Publishing:30th Apr '26

£21.99

This title is due to be published on 30th April, and will be despatched as soon as possible.

Paranormal Britain cover

Combines unique survey data with extensive fieldwork to provide the most in-depth study available on paranormal beliefs, experiences and tourism in the UK.

Paranormal Britain is the most systematic study available of the nature and scope of paranormal beliefs, experiences, and subcultures in contemporary Britain. Using original survey data from British citizens regarding their beliefs and experiences with UFOs, ghosts, psychics and other paranormal phenomena, this open access book details the prevalence and patterns of paranormalism in the U.K.

In addition to presenting original findings based on novel data, the authors also engaged in extensive ethnographic fieldwork with different paranormal subcultures. Among other adventures, readers get to ride along as they spend the night with the ‘most violent poltergeist in history,’ participate in the high ritual of a UFO cult, search for Nessie and werewolves, visit crop circles, learn to read Tarot, talk with alien abductees, and go on shamanic vision quests.

Authoritative and systematic, yet readable and entertaining, Paranormal Britain will be of interest to scholars researching the sociology of religion, science, and belief in late modernity.

The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by Chapman University.

Far from being a “normal island”, Clark, Bader and Baker’s excellent and entertaining new book demonstrates the ways in which modern Britain is a paranormal island. * Jamie Lewis, Cardiff University, UK *
This important and timely book can help us understand why paranormal beliefs are so popular in Britain today. The authors combine results from their new belief survey CASPAR with original fieldwork to reveal the complex and fascinating relationship between paranormal beliefs and organised religious belief in Britain. You don't have to be a believer or a sceptic: Paranormal Britain is packed with facts and discoveries that will both amaze and entertain you. * David Clarke, The National Folklore Survey for England, and Sheffield Hallam University, UK *
While it is a common assumption that British society is becoming increasingly secular, the evidence suggests otherwise. This fascinating, provocative, and enjoyable study of the social significance of the paranormal provides a compelling argument for the scholarly analysis of this important area of modern Western culture. * Christopher Partridge, University of Lancaster, UK *
For some people ghosts, monsters, and aliens are not just creations of Hollywood entertainment. This book explains in accessible, even gripping prose who these people are, how prevalent paranormal belief is in Britain, and why people hold such beliefs in our supposedly scientific age. A brilliant sociological intervention. * Titus Hjelm, University of Helsinki, Finland *

ISBN: 9781350561649

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

272 pages