Episode 137 - Karl Bell - The Perilous Deep

My guest for this episode is author and historian Karl Bell, who joined me to talk about his new book, The Perilous Deep: A Supernatural History of the Atlantic.

Karl is Associate Professor in Cultural and Social History and Co-Director of the Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures at the University of Portsmouth. Prior to his latest work, he wrote The Legend of Spring-Heeled Jack, which was winner of the 2013 Katharine Briggs Award.

As its title mentions, The Perilous Deep focuses on the Atlantic Ocean. This is a place whose vastness and unfathomable depths have inspired tales of ghost ships, reports of encounters with mermaids and sea monsters, and legends of mysterious islands for centuries. These stories were told by both seafarers and coastal communities and formed an important part of their culture.

In the book, Karl explores why these stories were told, how they were repeated and mutated and what fears, anxieties and desires they helped to express. It offers an insight into the supernatural history of the Atlantic Ocean and some of its neighbouring seas, showing how seafaring peoples have developed knowledge and a sense of control over nature through myths and legends.

The Perilous Deep is published by Reaktion Books - further details are available at https://reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/the-perilous-deep.

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The podcast theme music is by The Night Monitor, from his album, ‘Close Encounters of the Pennine Kind’. You can find out more about The Night Monitor's music at https://thenightmonitor.bandcamp.com/.