← All recordings
On-demand recording
The History of Ghosts and the Occult in Fiction and Film
with Prof Marisa Linton
£13.50
Watch risk-free — if it’s not for you, we’ll refund you in full. Just ask.
- ▶ Instant access by email after checkout.
- ♾ The link never expires — rewatch whenever you like.
- ↩ Happy or refunded — full refund if it’s not for you, even after watching.
What you’ll explore
- The 200-year Gothic tradition behind our love of the uncanny
- Recurring figures like the ghost hunter and the occult detective
- The lure of the psychological ghost story
- Fictionalised occult magicians and their real-life inspirations
About this talk
Why do tales of the uncanny and the supernatural cast such a spell over us, and why do they still resonate today? These stories tap into 200 years of Gothic tradition, epitomised by works such as Frankenstein, Dracula, and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Professor Marisa Linton traces the history of ghosts and the occult in fiction and film across the British Isles. She explores recurring figures such as the ghost hunter and the occult detective, examines the lure of the psychological ghost story, and investigates fictionalised occult magicians often inspired by real-life self-proclaimed magicians like Aleister Crowley, from The Devil Rides Out to the BBC Christmas Ghost Stories.
A peek inside
Your speaker: Prof Marisa Linton
Professor Marisa Linton is a historian, writer and Professor Emerita of History at Kingston University, where she taught the history of folklore, belief in magic, the history of women and the European witch-hunts. She is internationally recognised as a leading authority on the French Revolution, the European Enlightenment and the history of women in France.
Ready to watch? Instant access, yours to keep.