Description
Book Synopsis: “Ollmann spent 10 years researching Seabrook’s strange, ramshackle life, and it shows: his book is wonderfully rich and detailed. Nothing seems to escape his attention or his compassion.” —Rachel Cooke, The Guardian
The daring and destructive life of the man who popularized the word “zombie”
In the early twentieth century, travel writing represented the desire for the expanding bourgeoisie to experience the exotic cultures of the world past their immediate surroundings. Journalist William Buehler Seabrook was emblematic of this trend—participating in voodoo ceremonies, riding camels cross the Sahara desert, communing with cannibals and most notably, popularizing the term “zombie” in the West. A string of his bestselling books show an engaged, sympathetic gentleman hoping to share these strange, hidden delights with the rest of the world. He was willing to go deeper than any outsider had before. But, of course, there was a dark side. Seabrook was a barely functioning alcoholic who was deeply obsessed with bondage and the so-called mystical properties of pain and degradation. His life was a series of traveling highs and drunken lows; climbing on and falling off the wagon again and again. What led the popular and vivid writer to such a sad state? Cartoonist Joe Ollmann spent seven years researching Seabrook’s life, interviewing surviving family and accessing long neglected archives, in order to piece together the peripatetic life of a forgotten American writer. Often weaving in Seabrook’s own words and those of his biographers, Ollmann’s The Abominable Mr. Seabrook posits Seabrook the believer versus Seabrook the exploiter, and leaves the reader to consider where one ends and the other begins.
Details
Experience the daring and adventurous life of William Buehler Seabrook with The Abominable Mr. Seabrook book. This captivating biography, researched and beautifully written by Joe Ollmann, delves into the extraordinary travels and experiences of Seabrook, a man who popularized the term "zombie" in the Western world. With a keen attention to detail and a deep sense of compassion, Ollmann offers readers an intimate look into the strange and hidden delights that Seabrook encountered on his journeys.
Take a thrilling ride as you join Seabrook in voodoo ceremonies, camel rides across the vast Sahara desert, and encounters with cannibals. Ollmann's extensive research and interviews with surviving family members bring to life a man who was willing to go deeper and further than any outsider before him. The Abominable Mr. Seabrook is not just a biography; it's a mesmerizing exploration of a forgotten American writer who pushed boundaries and sought to share his extraordinary experiences with the world.
However, behind the fame and allure lay a dark side. Seabrook struggled with alcoholism and an obsession with bondage, finding solace in the mystical properties of pain and degradation. Ollmann's careful examination of Seabrook's life raises thought-provoking questions about the true nature of the man - was he a believer or an exploiter? As the pages turn, readers are encouraged to contemplate where one ends and the other begins.
If you're a lover of travel writing, history, or fascinating biographies, The Abominable Mr. Seabrook is a must-read. Immerse yourself in Seabrook's extraordinary world and discover the untold story of a man whose life was a rollercoaster ride of highs, lows, and unforgettable adventures. Don't miss out on this captivating journey - grab a copy of The Abominable Mr. Seabrook today and experience the thrilling life of a forgotten American writer.
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