The Mystery of Spring-Heeled Jack: From Victorian Legend to Steampunk Hero

Description

An extensive investigation of the origins and numerous sightings of the mysterious and terrifying figure known as Spring-Heeled Jack * Shares original 19th-century newspaper accounts of Spring-Heeled Jack encounters as well as 20th and 21st-century reports * Explains his connections to Jack the Ripper and the Slender Man * Explores his origins in earlier mythical beings from folklore, his Steampunk popularity, and the theory that he may be an alien from a high-gravity planet Spring-Heeled Jack--a tall, thin, bounding figure with bat-like wings, clawed hands, wheels of fire for eyes, and breath of blue flames--first leapt to public attention in Victorian London in 1838, springing over hedges and walls, from dark lanes and dank graveyards, to frighten and sometimes physically attack women. News of this strange and terrifying character quickly spread, but despite numerous sightings through 1904 he was never captured or identified. Exploring the vast urban legend surrounding this enigmatic figure, John Matthews explains how the Victorian fascination with strange phenomena and sinister figures paired with hysterical reports enabled Spring-Heeled Jack to be conjured into existence. Sharing original 19th-century newspaper accounts of Spring-Heeled Jack sightings and encounters, he also examines recent 20th and 21st-century reports, including a 1953 UFO-related sighting from Houston, Texas, and disturbing accounts of the Slender Man, who displays notable similarities with Jack. He traces Spring-Heeled Jack's origins to earlier mythical beings from folklore, such as fairy creatures and land spirits, and explores the theory that Jack is an alien marooned on Earth whose leaping prowess is attributed to his home planet having far stronger gravity than ours. The author reveals how Jack the Ripper, although a different and much more violent character, chose to identify himself with the old, well-established figure of Spring-Heeled Jack. Providing an extensive look at Spring-Heeled Jack from his beginnings to the present, Matthews illustrates why the worldwide Steampunk community has so thoroughly embraced Jack.

John Matthews has made a lifetime study of the legends of King Arthur, the Celtic traditions, and more recently, the history of pirates. He is the author of more than 100 books, including Taliesin: The Last Celtic Shaman, The Grail: Quest for Eternal Life, The Wildwood Tarot, the award-winning Arthur of Albion, and the New York Times bestseller Pirates. He has acted as an advisor on several big budget movies, including King Arthur, and is the recipient of several awards including a Benjamin Franklin Award, a NAPPA Gold Medal, and a BIB Golden Apple. He lives in Oxford, England.

"Probably no one in the world but John Matthews could have written this book. His scholarship is, as always, of the highest order yet joined to a deep love of stories. His unwillingness to make artificial separations between traditional folklore and popular culture allows Spring-Heeled Jack to come vigorously to life." * Rachel Pollack, author of The Child Eater * "John Matthews intrigues, disturbs, and delights us with his detailed account of the legendary Spring-Heeled Jack who, whether real or not, terrified victims amid the shadows of Victorian London and beyond. Leaping into the fears of the unwary, such figures persist in the modern imagination, and Matthews gives us much to chew on with regard to our fascination with untamed, semi-animal, evil in superhuman guise. Victorian supernaturalism, ghost stories, Jack the Ripper, the Green Man, demonic lore, and much else illuminate the shifting image of 'Jack' in Matthews's crepuscular romp through the ginnels and repressions of fervid times, where unearthly clawing and ripping threatens to confront us with the archetypal fiend." * Tobias Churton, author of Aleister Crowley: The Beast in Berlin * "Thoroughly researched, John Matthews's writing is effortlessly accessible for both newcomers and those familiar with London's original bogeyman. This book could and should become one of the definitive texts about Spring-Heeled Jack in the years to come." * Jack Bowman, cowriter of The Springheel Saga audio dramas * "For a fascinating guide to the history and mystery of England's most famous phantom attacker, look no further than John Matthews's remarkable book." * Robert Valentine, cowriter of The Springheel Saga audio dramas * "This detailed and comprehensive account of--and inquiry into--the unsolved mystery of Spring-Heeled Jack is scholarly, highly entertaining, and deeply impressive. It's easily the best study available." * Mark Hodder, author of The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack *