Fairy Paths & Spirit Roads

This new book by Paul is an authoritative exploration of 'otherworldly routes' in both the old and new worlds. This is part of what Paul calls the 'psychogeographies' of antiquity - that there are certain roads used for ceremonial and symbolic purposes, often to do with death. He assumes that he is dealing with folklore but that it nevertheless forms part of what he calls a 'cognised landscape', whether it concerns 'fairy paths in Ireland, songlines in Australia, ritual roads in the Americas, or death roads in Europe'. He sees them as the mapping of mindscapes projected onto the landscape, often associated with earlier shamanic cultures. The first part explores the features of these various different traditions, while the second provides a sampler guide to some of the most famous roads together with map references and a local commentary. The black and white photos help convey a sense of place and indeed adventure as far afield as Mexico, Australia and Cornwall.