Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Outlet (1978), Hardcover, 216 pages
Description
First published in 1978, five years after the release of the classic horror film from which it is adapted, The Wicker Man is a gripping horror classic. It is the tale of Highlands policeman, Police Sergeant Neil Howie, on the trail of a missing girl being lured to the remote Scottish island of Summerisle. As May Day approaches, strange, shamanistic and erotic events erupt around him. Initially he is convinced that the girl has been abducted for human sacrifice - only to find that he may be the revellers' quarry...
User reviews
LibraryThing member jsabrina
I don't know many people to whom I would recommend this book. It's a mystery. It's a story of religious conflict. It's a story of ancient rites enacted in a not-yet-modern place. It's the story of a stranger in a strange land. It's a passion play.
If you like "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, you
If you like Katherine Kurtz's "Lammas Night" you might like this darker exploration of the themes.
Personally, as someone who has been both a devout Christian and a devout Pagan, I enjoyed the mutual incomprehension of Sgt. Howie and the islanders.
The writing is good, although not extraordinary. I've seen other reviews complaining that the characters don't have depth, but I don't think they need it. They are archetypes, just as much as the Hobbyhorse and Punch, who appear in the final pages. We know just as much as we need to about everyone in the story. To add details would have detracted from the mythic quality.
If you like "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, you
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might like this much longer exploration of the theme of a community united in the process of selecting and making a sacrifice.If you like Katherine Kurtz's "Lammas Night" you might like this darker exploration of the themes.
Personally, as someone who has been both a devout Christian and a devout Pagan, I enjoyed the mutual incomprehension of Sgt. Howie and the islanders.
The writing is good, although not extraordinary. I've seen other reviews complaining that the characters don't have depth, but I don't think they need it. They are archetypes, just as much as the Hobbyhorse and Punch, who appear in the final pages. We know just as much as we need to about everyone in the story. To add details would have detracted from the mythic quality.
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LibraryThing member john257hopper
As chilling as the film (the original I mean, of course). We get to meet the sergeant’s fiancée here, as they go birdwatching in the first chapter. The book also features more minor characters on Summerisle as well, which give a deeper context to the story.
LibraryThing member MarionII
This book came after the original film, so there's interesting details in the intro. As a rule I read the book then watch the film, so I have my own idea of characters and I'm not replaying the film actors in my head. With this book, the only screen persona I couldn't shake was Christopher Lee as
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Lord Summerisle, which is no bad thing really. Good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member isabelx
'Much has been said of the strumpets of yore
Of wenches and bawdy house queens by the score
But I sing of a baggage that we all adore,
The Landlord's Daughter . . . '
'. . . Her ale it is lively and strong to the taste
It is brewed with discretion and never with haste
You can have all you like
If you
The Landlord's Daughter . . .'
A novel based on the film of the same name, and written by its writer and director. I liked the beginning, seeing Sergeant Howie and Mary together, guarding the golden eagle nest and I definitely felt I knew more about him from reading the book. There was more detail about the paganism of the islanders, and more interaction between Lord Summerisle and the policeman. There were a few things, however, that didn't work as well as in the film, notably Willow's dancing, singing and pounding the walls outside Howie's room at the pub, which was only shown from Howie's point of view, and didn't have the same impact as seeing Britt Ekland doing it, while the interminable discussions between Lord Summerisle and Howie became tedious after a while.
Of wenches and bawdy house queens by the score
But I sing of a baggage that we all adore,
The Landlord's Daughter . . . '
'. . . Her ale it is lively and strong to the taste
It is brewed with discretion and never with haste
You can have all you like
If you
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swear not to wasteThe Landlord's Daughter . . .'
A novel based on the film of the same name, and written by its writer and director. I liked the beginning, seeing Sergeant Howie and Mary together, guarding the golden eagle nest and I definitely felt I knew more about him from reading the book. There was more detail about the paganism of the islanders, and more interaction between Lord Summerisle and the policeman. There were a few things, however, that didn't work as well as in the film, notably Willow's dancing, singing and pounding the walls outside Howie's room at the pub, which was only shown from Howie's point of view, and didn't have the same impact as seeing Britt Ekland doing it, while the interminable discussions between Lord Summerisle and Howie became tedious after a while.
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LibraryThing member Scaryguy
A true horror classic!
LibraryThing member questbird
Fiction. The film was better.
LibraryThing member Equestrienne
I first saw the movie 30 years ago and, until recently, I had no idea that the novel even existed. Then I felt compelled to read it.
It took me less than 48 hours to whip through this book; much of it contained dialogue and scenes translated directly from screenplay to page. The book contains scenes
This novel is such a faithful adaptation of the film that any fan of the movie should enjoy reading the book.
I'm a little conflicted about The Wicker Man. As a traditional Celtic pagan, I am dismayed by the proliferation of the human sacrifice myth (as well as a horrific scene of animal sacrifice, that was one literary addition that I really could have lived without). One would think that maintaining a voluntarily separatist community devoted solely to their worship would be enough appeasement for the old goddesses and gods! That is the Summerisle that I would love to live on, certainly.
It took me less than 48 hours to whip through this book; much of it contained dialogue and scenes translated directly from screenplay to page. The book contains scenes
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that were edited from the movie (the original VHS version of the movie included them, but I have not yet watched a DVD which contains those scenes)as well as additional material.This novel is such a faithful adaptation of the film that any fan of the movie should enjoy reading the book.
I'm a little conflicted about The Wicker Man. As a traditional Celtic pagan, I am dismayed by the proliferation of the human sacrifice myth (as well as a horrific scene of animal sacrifice, that was one literary addition that I really could have lived without). One would think that maintaining a voluntarily separatist community devoted solely to their worship would be enough appeasement for the old goddesses and gods! That is the Summerisle that I would love to live on, certainly.
Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1978
Physical description
216 p.; 8.8 inches
ISBN
051753259X / 9780517532591
Other editions
The Wicker Man: A Novel by Robin Hardy (Paperback)