For Halloween this
year (31 October 2015), I thought I would suggest a book to make your hair
stand on end. Sensitive souls beware!
"You the living, you understand us so little, we
ghosts. Of course, you regret the death of loved ones, you cry, but only
because you are missing them. We need you, your thoughts, your prayers, your
intentions, the energy that you possess without knowing it. You can improve the
condition of ghosts, these souls in waiting, who often are not at peace. Humble
beings, devoid of knowledge, wisdom, wandering in the darkness of this world,
you can help those who are on the other side of the crystal wall. Whenever you
think of us, every time you pray for us, a rocket shoots into the sky and this
light will come back to you, will assist and enlighten you."
From the gothic
elegance of Powderham Castle in Devon to the ruins of the Chateau de Lagnes in
Provence to the moated austerity of Schloss Schwarzenraben in Westphalia,
Prince Michael of Greece has sought out eleven of the most celebrated haunted
palaces and castles in Europe and describes them on the basis of his personal
research and contact with their ghostly inhabitants. Who are the ghosts of
these places? A serving woman, an Incan princess, a baroness whose lover was
killed by her husband in a duel....
Author: Michael of
Greece and Denmark was born on 7 January, 1939 in Rome, Italy. He is a member
of the Greek royal family and a descendant of the Romanov and Orléans families.
He is also a paternal first cousin of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He is
the author of several historical novels and biographies, as well as a contributing
writer to the Architectural Digest.
My thoughts: I
love this book which I read in 2001. I still remember the feeling of fear I had
while reading it. I had goose bumps, not something that normally happens to me
when reading dark books. This is a book based on true events, which cannot be
explained by normal reasoning. Now, do I believe these ghost stories? Do I
believe that Prince Michael communicates with ghosts? I really don't know.
Usually, I believe in what I see and in my instinct. But if these stories are
not true, then their author is a genius, with an incredible imagination. Anyway, this book is divinely well written
and scary. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the various haunted
castles, manors and palaces, enriched with details of their history.
