The Magic Island

Name: The Magic Island
Price: 63.59 AUD
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ISBN: 9781025816654

W B Seabrook

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Hardback

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English

Tradd Street Press
14 February 2026

Tribal religions; Spirituality & religious experience; First Nations; Social & cultural anthropology; Travel & holiday guides

Summary
Details

""The Magic Island"" is a seminal travel narrative and ethnographic exploration of Haiti in the early 20th century. Written by W. B. Seabrook, the work delves into the rich and often misunderstood cultural landscape of the Caribbean nation, focusing heavily on the practices of Voodoo and local folklore. It is famously credited with introducing the concept of the ""zombie"" to the Western imagination, blending vivid storytelling with the author's firsthand observations of rituals, superstitions, and social structures.

Seabrook's account goes beyond mere sensationalism, offering a complex portrait of a society deeply rooted in spiritual traditions and historical resilience. The narrative captures the atmosphere of the island through evocative prose, detailing the author's encounters with local residents, spiritual leaders, and the mysterious ceremonies that define the internal life of the country. As both a historical document and a classic of travel literature, ""The Magic Island"" remains a provocative study of cultural intersection and the enduring power of myth. It serves as a vital resource for those interested in the history of the Caribbean, the evolution of modern horror tropes, and the anthropological study of indigenous religions.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

By: W B Seabrook
Imprint: Tradd Street Press
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 22mm
Weight: 717g
ISBN: 9781025816654
ISBN 10: 102581665X
Pages: 388
Publication Date: 14 February 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active