Introduction

            For centuries we have scared ourselves half to death with tales of ghosts, poltergeists and other spectral phenomena. It is easy to dismiss such bizarre, otherworldly events as pure fiction and thoroughly enjoy them as such, albeit with a thrilling frisson of uncertainty. But many people, including such diverse personalities as Carl Jung and Donald Campbell, have not found it so easy to shrug off the possibility that what we call 'ghosts' may be very real experiences indeed.

Modern technology has opened up a whole new methodology for testing the authenticity of ghostly manifestations. Armed with video cameras and highly sensitive recording equipment, today's 'ghostbusters' are making remarkable claims which can only feed the debate about just what ghosts are, and force us to keep on questioning the meaning of the evidence they are laying  before our very eyes.

John and Anne Spencer are prime movers in this fascinating world and are actively involved in ghost vigils and psychic research. In this they have gathered 300 accounts of ghost sightings, poltergeist activity, and highly suggestive evidence for the possible influence - both malign and well-intentioned - of spirits. Divided into sections according to the nature of the phenomena ( including 'ghosts of the famous' , 'ghosts linked with fights and battles' 'timeslips' and 'ghostly animals' amongst many others ), the book builds into the most comprehensive file of evidence for the existence of ghosts ever compiled.