The Magic Island - Paperback

by William Seabrook (Author), Alexander King (Illustrator), Joe Ollmann (Foreword by)

The best and most thrilling book of exploration that we have ever read ... [an] immensely important book. -- New York Evening Post
A series of excellent stories about one of the most interesting corners of the American world, told by a keen and sensitive person who knows how to write. -- American Journal of Sociology
It can be said of many travelers that they have traveled widely. Of Mr. Seabrook a much finer thing may be said -- he has traveled deeply. -- The New York Times Book Review
This fascinating book, first published in 1929, offers firsthand accounts of Haitian voodoo and witchcraft rituals. Journalist and adventurer William Seabrook introduced the concept of the walking dead ― zombies ― to the West with his illustrated travelogue. He relates his experiences with the voodoo priestess who initiated him into the religion's rituals, from soul transference to resurrection. In addition to twenty evocative line drawings by Alexander King, this edition features a new Foreword by cartoonist and graphic novelist Joe Ollmann, a new Introduction by George A. Romero, legendary director of Night of the Living Dead, and a new Afterword by Wade Davis, Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society.

Back Jacket

The best and most thrilling book of exploration that we have ever read ... [an] immensely important book.--New York Evening Post
A series of excellent stories about one of the most interesting corners of the American world, told by a keen and sensitive person who knows how to write.--American Journal of Sociology
It can be said of many travelers that they have traveled widely. Of Mr. Seabrook a much finer thing may be said--he has traveled deeply.--The New York Times Book Review
This fascinating book, first published in 1929, offers firsthand accounts of Haitian voodoo and witchcraft rituals. Journalist and adventurer William Seabrook introduced the concept of the walking dead―zombies―to the West with his illustrated travelogue. He relates his experiences with the voodoo priestess who initiated him into the religion's rituals, from soul transference to resurrection. In addition to twenty evocative line drawings by Alexander King, this edition features a new Foreword by cartoonist and graphic novelist Joe Ollmann and a new Introduction by George A. Romero, director of Night of the Living Dead.

Author Biography

Journalist and explorer William Seabrook (1884-1945) possessed a fascination with the occult that led him across the globe to study magic rituals, train as a witch doctor, and sample human flesh. In addition to publishing more than a dozen books, he wrote for The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Reader's Digest, and Vanity Fair.