February 14, 2013

Neil Arnold and Wildman

Neil Arnold – the author of many excellent books on cryptozoological and paranormal subjects, including Monster! and The Mystery Animals of the British Isles: London – has written a great review of my book, Wildman! The Monstrous and Mysterious Saga of the British Bigfoot.

Here’s Neil’s review:

“For centuries there have been sporadic reports in the wilds of Britain of strange, bipedal hair-covered beings, akin to the humanoid known as Bigfoot, often sighted in the Pacific Northwest. Although Britain harbours dense woodlands and ancient forest it has never been inhabited by any species of ape – so, what exactly are people seeing? Flesh and blood creature undiscovered by science? Hoaxers dressed up in gorilla suits? Paranormal manimals? Or something far weirder?

“Nick Redfern has written one of the most important cryptozoological and Fortean books of all time in ‘Wildman,’ because whilst books regarding American Bigfoot are two a penny nowadays, this quest is something altogether more unique as Nick delves into the archives, interviews witnesses, and trudges through some of Britain’s most inhospitable – and not so remote – wilds in search of a creature that simply cannot be. And yet the reports persist, a majority describing hulking ape-men with burning red eyes.

“These figures do not sound like your average monkey that has escaped from a zoo or circus , and yet Nick looks at these possibilities too with numerous cases pertaining to escapees from menageries and the like. Theories are put forward by several dedicated monster-hunters and zoologists as to what these manifestations could be, connecting such forms with age-old legends such as the Green Man, and the Woodwose of Medieval lore.

“It’s as if folklore has come to life. Nick peels back the layers of these incredible mysteries, and covers all manner of surreal and frightening cases from places such as Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, Rendlesham Forest in Suffolk, and the Bolam Lake area of Northumberland where a group of witnesses claimed to have seen a hairy man-beast.

“No stone remains unturned in ‘Wildman‘, so, if you don’t know your Man-Monkey from you Shug-Monkey, then it’s time to grab a torch and with stout heart venture into the deep, dark woods of British folklore, and let Nick Redfern be your guide. ‘Wildman‘ is essential reading for any monster-hunter, ghost investigator, paranormal enthusiast, zoologist, cryptozoologist, historian and seeker of all things unnatural. Brace yourself for a hairy ride.”

Filed under Bigfoot, Cryptozoologists, Cryptozoology, Eyewitness Accounts, Feral People, Folklore, Forteana, Hoaxes, Lair of the Beasts, Out of Place, Reviews