The Watkins
Book of Urban Legends
Gail de Vos
(Watkins Publishing)
Urban Legends is a hard cover book with a tactile cover, written by the very knowledgeable Gail de Vos, who has been story-telling, teaching and researching urban legends from both oral and online sources for many years. Thoughtfully compiled and laid out in a well organised manner, it is ideal for dipping into and reading a few of the legends with a cup of coffee, but proves to be so fascinating that you are invariably likely to settle down for a longer read once you open its pages.
It offers many stories to share with your friends and each and every one is bound to lead to a good conversation about the many tales told in its genre. Gail suggests that a more appropriate name for these mini-stories is “Contemporary Legends”, as they certainly aren’t confined to urban areas alone. In the book each legend is introduced with an explanatory section, then the legend itself, and includes any de-bunking or factual information on its verity. The book is helpfully divided into chapters covering various types of legends, from classic tales, through supernatural, to monsters, and much, much more.
Chapter 2 deals with Classic Contemporary Legends. These are tales that are mostly from earlier times and are generally no longer in circulation. I had never come across the tale titled ‘The Dog in the Elevator’ where a man with a large ferocious dog rides down in the hotel elevator with a number of guests, on reaching the ground floor, he asks them for their room numbers. As this scares them they decide to change their rooms, but at reception they discover he only wanted to know because, concerned his dog had frightened them, he had arranged to pay for their meal.
The third chapter deals with classic contemporary legends that are still circulating. These are ones that we have all probably come across in some form or other and are currently quite widespread. One I hadn’t heard before was ‘The Mexican Pet’, in which a family adopt a tiny dog on their holidays. Once back at home, it falls ill, getting worse every day. On taking it to the vet, they discover their dog is not a dog at all (shock!, horror!), but rather, an enormous sewer rat!
Chapter 4
examines contemporary legends on Health and Wellness – a relatively short
chapter that covers various folk cures, fears of new medicines, health benefits
or problems with various products. Interestingly, it also looks at the effect
that the possession of cursed items, (or items considered to be evil or
cursed), such as pictures, can have on their owners or viewers. And, in worst case scenarios, sometimes even resulting in death.
Chapter 5
covers Haunted Bridges, Tunnels and Natural Sites, this is a very comprehensive
section focusing on haunted places, especially in rural areas. These local legends often contribute to the
community’s sense of identity.
Unsurprisingly, Whitby in the UK is featured here, with its links to Bram
Stoker’s Dracula, and its regular gothic festivals it is always a popular destination.
Amongst its supernatural attractions it boasts both a Screaming Tunnel, and the
ghostly ringing’s of the Abbey’s sunken stolen bells.
Chapter 6 examines the tourism that has sprung up around hauntings and legends. These include ghost hunts, and themed tours. Many cities and towns have tours visiting various haunted locales, supernatural sites, and places where dark doings and nefarious deeds occurred in the past. These can prove so popular that, for example Marie Laveau’s tomb in New Orleans had so many visitors that the cemetery had to restrict access to tours and relatives only. Marie was a famous voodoo priestess queen, selling potions and spells during her lifetime, and, it is said that she still practises her art from the grave.
Ghost lore and supernatural tales from many places around the world are explored in the fascinating and in-depth Chapter 7, such as the tale of the vengeful Japanese ghost Teke-Teke, a young girl who was cut in half and still seeks for her legs by dragging herself along the ground by her clawed fingernails ('teke-teke' being the sound her nails make as they scrape over the ground). She haunts train stations and wash rooms, asking those who see her questions and woe betide anyone who gives her the wrong answers!
Chapter 8 covers monsters and cryptids from North America, some of which are relatively unknown in other parts of the world. A cryptid is a creature whose existence has been reported by travellers but is unverified as being real. The indigenous folk of North America have long believed in the Wendigo, an ancient spirit that can possess the long-term ill or depressed. It is always hungry and kills and consumes anyone that come near to it. It first enters written history in the 1630s, but as it is part of indigenous belief systems, its origin is likely to predate this by centuries or more.
The penultimate
chapter examines conspiracy theories. Many of these are internet fuelled, and with the ease of sharing they frequently spread world-wide.
They are usually based around current issues that prey on peoples’
minds and fears.
Finally, we round off with a chapter titled “Ostension, Games and Creepypastas". These are internet spread legends that include things such as games that the readers may choose to engage in by enacting the event or story themselves, and then by sharing their version, the story is perpetuated yet again.
In
conclusion, this is a thoroughly entertaining read, presented in an enjoyable
structure, perfect for dipping in and out of. It has extensive coverage of contemporary
legends and can provide many enjoyable topics for conversation and story-telling.
Highly recommended as a perfect coffee table book and at the same time a great
source book for those interested in the folklore of urban or contemporary
legends.
Essential Information: The Watkins Book of Urban Legends by Gail de Vos is available from real and online bookstores, and from the Watkins Publishing shop here
