The Liminal Shore

Witchcraft, Mystery and Folklore
of the Essex Coast

The Liminal Shore is a brand-new work, seeking the spookiness of the isolated salt marsh and the hidden lore of the urban shore.  Detailing and cataloguing some of the captivating cultural legends, myths, and folklore from the fascinating coastline of Essex and its eerie and brooding borderland. The author explores many remarkable old folk-narratives and traditional tales of marsh-wizardry, cunning magic, and sea-witchery, alongside some of the region’s most enigmatic spine-chilling ghost-lore. The peculiar calendar-customs and eccentric festivals are also investigated, bringing to life many of the old and often forgotten rituals of this interesting and enchanted coast. Discover such characters as Hoppin’ Tom, Mother Redcap, Cunning Murrell, Rollicking Bill and Jop Summers, who among many others form part of a rich and diverse folkloric history of this deliciously atmospheric, strange, and often unexpected coastline.

Alex Langstone was born and raised in the heart of Essex Witch Country, that low lying region of mysterious salt marshes, haunted byways and deeply cut estuaries. He has authored several books and essays about folklore, magic, and the spirit of place. You can contact the author via his blog at www.alexlangstone.com or find him on social media.

“This book will be read in the decades to come, still delivering stabs of wonder and delight”

David Southwell
@HooklandGuide

Available in the following editions:

Paperback Edition: gloss laminate cover.

Standard Hardback Edition: a green case binding with copper foil blocking to cover & spine, 90gsm white paper stock, buttermilk endpapers, with green and white and tail bands.

Special Edition: a limited edition of 125 hand-numbered examples, bound in brown faux leather, with copper foil blocking to the front and spine, 90gsm cream paper stock, green endpapers, with black head and tail bands.

Fine Edition: A Hand bound edition of bound in a black leather with copper foil blocking on the leather to the front and spine, housed in a fully lined black library buckram blind embossed slip case. 90gsm cream paper stock.

Size: Paperback – Royal 234 x 156mm, Standard Hardback – Royal 234 x 156mm.

Pagination:  228 pages, 90gsm cream paper stock, plus 32 pages of black and white photographic plates, plus line drawings and figures by Paul Atlas Saunders.

Foreword
By David Southwell

Preamble
Enchanted Edgeland
Alchemists, Cunning Folk, and Witches

Part One: Tendring

  1. Manningtree and Harwich
  2. Witch Ghost Coast
  3. Colne Estuary and Oldest Town

Part Two: Blackwater

  1. Mysterious Isle
  2. Devil Haunted Marshes
  3. Ancient Port of Maldon

Part Three: Dengie

  1. Sea Secrets
  2. The Lonely Places of Marsh-Mystery
  3. Hart Family and The Curren

Part Four: Thames

  1. Mud Archipelago
  2. Salt Marsh, Creek, and Riverside
  3. Urban Shores

Index

Paperback Edition

£15.50 plus shipping

For shipping information click here

Standard Hardback Edition

Please note: this edition is now sold out, but we will shortly have stock available of the new Dust Jacketed Hardback edition of this book. We are introducing these editions as a replacement for our foil blocked Standard Hardbacks. We will be continuing with our Special Limited Edition books for future releases.

Special Edition

Sold out

Fine Edition

£365.00 plus shipping

For shipping information click here

Sold

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