A well-written and entertaining survey of some of London's premier occult landmarks. I was however surprised by the sites left out - Cock Lane, for example, scene of the first sensational poltergeist infestation (though not the first incidence, which is about 100 yards down the road from me in South Leicestershire). That said, Merlin Coverley's other work helps set his field of interest. He is a psychogeographer in the footsteps of Iain Sinclair. His sources are Peter Ackroyd, William Blake and Geoffrey of Monmouth. He is interested in the mythic London lying behind and beneath the facade we see today.
Though Mortlake is a bit off-piste for Coverley, he covers Dr John Dee briefly and accurately. Again, there is much more to be said about Dee but Coverley only claims to be an introduction. In that sense, his guide to other, more comprehensive studies is invaluable. I have been researching these subjects for more than fifty years and there were sources here that were completely new to me.
Like Covereley's companion volume Psychogeography, Occult London is a small, short book, but it is well worth a slow and careful read. Lack of space has required Covereley to weigh every word, carefully consider what to include and what to refer the reader on to elsewhere. Like his concept of London, the result is multi-layered and endlessly fascinating.
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