Cunning Murrell

By Arthur Morrison and Morrison Arthur

Book Overview

In 1854, a village's fears can be as powerful as any spell. In Hadleigh, Essex, James "Cunning" Murrell has built a formidable reputation as a practitioner of folk magic, consulted for herbal cures, charms, divination and protection from witches and evil spirits. Yet every apparent remedy raises another question: where does practical knowledge end, and where do deception, manipulation and belief begin? Beyond Murrell's cottage, gossip and accusations shape the lives of those around him, placing Sarah Martin under the pressure of a community quick to turn suspicion into persecution. Astrology and geomancy coexist uneasily with institutional knowledge, while social class and reputation determine whose claims are trusted. Murrell himself remains morally ambiguous, moving through a world in which alleged supernatural power may offer comfort, influence or danger-and where certainty is often the rarest commodity. Across coastal marshes and the Thames estuary, smuggling and coastguard patrols bring an adventurous dimension to this historical mystery, while the Crimean War reaches into local family life. Gothic and supernatural elements deepen a portrait of a society governed as much by rumour as by evidence, and the uncertain status of Murrell's abilities sustains the tension between magic and method. This book was out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions. It has been restored for today's and future generations. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 937841852X
• ISBN13: 9789378418525
• Release Date: March 2027
• Publisher: Alpha Edition
• Length: 152 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"