How to Build a Haunted House

With irresistible flair, How to Build a Haunted House is chillingly clever, richly atmospheric, and a feast of gothic curiosity. Baines gives voice to houses that whisper. – Lucy Rose, bestselling author of THE LAMBAs someone who lived in one of these haunted houses, I found Caitlin Blackwell Baines’ book a remarkable document of the truth. All houses are haunted, but she singles out notable sites of spectral activity and writes about them with a glorious matter-of-factualness – Philip Hoare, author of LEVIATHANThis has that exhilarating quality that you get from the very best non-fiction. Fascinating, intriguing and thought-provoking, beautifully and intelligently written, it’s as absorbing and seductive as any fictional ghost story. An absolute must-read – Bridget Collins, bestselling author of THE BINDINGA fascinating study of some of the world’s most famously haunted houses. From local legends and ghost stories to hugely popular money-making entertainments, Caitlin Blackwell Baines give us the facts, which seldom align with the legends, while communicating the mysterious appeal of haunted places. I finished reading with a strong desire to take up ghost-hunting myself – Lisa Tuttle, author of MY DEATHA curious and curiosity-satisfying dive into the architecture, cultural obsessions and social shifts that go into creating an enduring, localised ghost story. As multi-layered as the very best hauntings – Heather Parry, author of CARRION CROWAn authoritative yet accessible examination of some of the most haunted houses in history. Rich in detail, it is wide-ranging and eclectic, and strikes the perfect balance between being both anecdotal and meticulously researched – Lucie McKnight Hardy, author of BOUND IN BLOODAn interesting cultural exploration of some of the best-known houses where things are said to go bump in the night – Edward Parnell, author of GHOSTLANDFrom New Orleans to the silver screen, these houses are haunted by more than ghosts: Caitlin Blackwell Baines unpicks the spectral stitches of a gothic staple and reveals the political turbulence, commodification of tragedy and commercialisation of fear in this ectoplasmic exploration of the humble haunted house. Every horror fan, coffin boffin and certified creep needs to read this book. – Alice Slater, author of the instant Sunday Times bestseller DEATH OF A BOOKSELLER

Caitlin Blackwell Baines is an art historian and author, specialising in Georgian art and architecture. Born in Toronto, she later emigrated to the UK to pursue an MA from the Courtauld Institute of Art and a PhD from the University of York in art history. Upon completing her studies, she moved to the Isle of Bute off the Western coast of Scotland, and worked as a curator at Mount Stuart, a late Victorian Gothic Revival palace. When she isn’t visiting haunted houses and recording her ghost story-themed history podcast, Haunted Homes, Caitlin is based in East Sussex.