A geography of ghosts: the spectral landscapes of Mary Butts

Journal article | Zeitschriftenartikel

The paper considers the writings of Mary Butts (1890—1937) to explore a geography of ghosts. After examining earlier geographical engagements with the spectral and magical, and outlining the terms of recent scholarly debate concerning spectrality, the paper introduces Butts' life and work, focussing on her ghostly writings in stories, novels, journals, autobiography and an essay on the supernatural in fiction. Butts' discussion of magic and place, and her accounts of the landscapes of Dorset and west Cornwall, demonstrate a version of spectral landscape conveying enchantment, secret meaning and a culturally select geography. The paper concludes by considering Butts in relation to current discussions of spectral geography.

Object Details

• Extent: Seite(n): 335-357
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Status: Postprint; begutachtet (peer reviewed)

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Cultural Geographies, 15(3)

Classification and Topics

• Subject: ghosts; geography; Mary Butts; spectrality;

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Matless, David
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (when): 2008

Further information

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1474474008091331
• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-232183
• Rights: GESIS - Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften. Bibliothek Köln
• Last update: 21.06.2024, 4:27 PM CEST