🕊️ Spiritualism

This House is Haunted: The True Story of the Enfield Poltergeist

✍️ Playfair, Guy Lyon
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$19.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This book covers the classic 1977 Enfield poltergeist case involving Mrs Harper and her four children. Investigated by Guy Lyon Playfair and Maurice Grosse, the case features documented instances of levitation, strange voices, and physical objects defying natural laws. The work relies on six hundred pages of live transcripts, audio tapes, and film footage collected by the Society for Psychical Research team.

🕊️
Spiritualism
🏛 White Crow Books 📅 2011 📖 296 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781907661785
Fun Fact
Playfair’s "This House is Haunted" remains a foundational text for anyone serious about paranormal investigation. Its meticulous recounting of the Enfield Poltergeist offers compelling, first-hand evidence that few other cases can match. While skeptics may remain unconvinced, those seeking a deeply researched, terrifying true haunting will find it indispensable. This is not a sensationalized account, but a sober, detailed report that stands as a testament to the enduring mystery of the unexplained.

📝 Description: This House is Haunted: The True Story of the Enfield Poltergeist

Guy Lyon Playfair chronicles the haunting of the Harper family in Enfield, a north London suburb. Beginning on August 31st 1977, the household experienced minor knockings and moving furniture. The activity quickly escalated into chairs overturning, objects flinging, bedclothes whipping off, the levitation of a daughter, and a girl speaking in an old man's voice. Over thirty witnesses, including neighbors and police officers, saw these events, which culminated in physical matter passing through solid matter. Playfair, a researcher alongside Maurice Grosse of the Society for Psychical Research, arrived within days of the initial outbreak to investigate. They recorded the phenomenon through live tape audio and film, documenting the case until its resolution. The book draws directly on six hundred pages of live tape recording transcripts to present an unembellished account of the events as they unfolded. This title suits readers interested in real-world psychical research, poltergeist phenomena, and documented paranormal cases. It does not suit those seeking fiction or stylized ghost stories.

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
This account serves as a crucial primary source for enthusiasts of the paranormal, offering a detailed chronology of events that defy natural explanation. However, readers seeking traditional ghost stories with atmospheric prose or fictionalized drama will likely find this dry and repetitive. It is not suited for those who prefer definitive debunking or those easily unsettled by reports of physical violence without resolution. The text demands patience for its clinical tone, rewarding only those interested in the mechanics of psychical investigation rather than emotional storytelling.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers deeply fascinated by the intersection of genuine spiritualism and rigorous scientific inquiry will find this book essential. It offers a rare, unvarnished look at how one investigator approached the most controversial hauntings of his time with both skepticism and open-mindedness. Those who enjoy true crime narratives but crave a supernatural twist will appreciate the meticulous documentation provided. It is ideal for skeptics willing to be challenged by evidence that defies easy explanation. The narrative does not rely on cheap scares but rather on the bewildering reality faced by the Harper family, making it a compelling study of human endurance amidst inexplicable terror.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5
★★★★★
If you're captivated by real-life ghost stories, seek compelling evidence of the supernatural, or wish to explore one of the most thoroughly documented poltergeist cases ever, this book is essential. Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about the boundaries of reality.

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Esoterica Books editorial team

This account serves as a crucial primary source for enthusiasts of the paranormal, offering a detailed chronology of events that defy natural explanation. However, readers seeking traditional ghost stories with atmospheric prose or fictionalized drama will likely find this dry and repetitive. It is not suited for those who prefer definitive debunking or those easily unsettled by reports of physical violence without resolution. The text demands patience for its clinical tone, rewarding only those interested in the mechanics of psychical investigation rather than emotional storytelling.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While opinions remain divided, the book presents extensive documentation, including police reports, witness accounts from dozens of individuals, and the author's own first-hand observations, making it one of the most heavily scrutinized cases in paranormal history.
Readers will encounter a wide spectrum of poltergeist activity: furniture moving spontaneously, objects being thrown, mysterious knocks, levitations, disembodied voices, and even a child speaking in a deep, elderly male voice.

📖 Who should read this

If you're captivated by real-life ghost stories, seek compelling evidence of the supernatural, or wish to explore one of the most thoroughly documented poltergeist cases ever, this book is essential. Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about the boundaries of reality.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

The Nature of Poltergeists

This book provides an unparalleled catalog of poltergeist manifestations, from the classic raps and thrown objects to levitations and vocalizations through a human host. It explores the sheer breadth of phenomena attributed to these disruptive entities, pushing the boundaries of what is considered physically possible and offering a deep dive into their unpredictable, often terrifying, behavior.

Investigating the Unseen

Playfair's narrative offers an inside look at the meticulous, often frustrating, process of investigating supernatural claims. It details the challenges of documenting fleeting phenomena, interviewing witnesses, and attempting to apply scientific rigor to events that defy conventional explanation. The book highlights the dedication required to pursue truth in the face of skepticism and overwhelming mystery.

Family Under Siege

At its heart, this is a deeply human story about a family thrust into an unimaginable nightmare. The book portrays the psychological and emotional toll exacted by relentless supernatural assault, exploring themes of fear, resilience, and the desperate search for answers when one's home becomes a battleground against an invisible, malevolent force.

📜 Historical context

Published shortly after the events, Playfair's work became a cornerstone of modern paranormal literature, cementing its place among classic documented hauntings. It represents a pivotal moment in psychical research, moving beyond mere anecdote to integrate detailed observation, witness testimony, and early attempts at scientific recording. This book set a high standard for subsequent investigations into unexplained phenomena.

📚 Glossary

Poltergeist
Psychical Research
Enfield Poltergeist

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. How does the detailed documentation in this book challenge or reinforce your existing beliefs about the supernatural?
  2. If you were a member of the Harper family, how do you imagine you would cope with such relentless, inexplicable disturbances in your own home?
  3. Consider the role of the investigators in this case. What are the ethical and practical challenges of researching phenomena that defy scientific explanation?

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