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  • The First Ghosts

  • Most Ancient of Legacies
  • By: Irving Finkel
  • Narrated by: Irving Finkel
  • Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (9 ratings)

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The First Ghosts

By: Irving Finkel
Narrated by: Irving Finkel
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Publisher's Summary

Dr Irving Finkel, curator at the British Museum, explores why the belief in ghosts is what makes us human.

There are few things more in common across cultures than the belief in ghosts. Ghosts inhabit something of the very essence of what it is to be human. Whether we personally 'believe' or not, we are all aware of ghosts and the rich mythologies and rituals surrounding them. They have inspired, fascinated and frightened us for centuries - yet most of us are only familiar with the vengeful apparitions of Shakespeare, or the ghastly spectres haunting the pages of 19th-century Gothic literature. But their origins are much, much older....

The First Ghosts: Most Ancient of Legacies takes us back to the very beginning. A world-renowned authority on cuneiform, the form of writing on clay tablets that dates back to 3400 BC, Irving Finkel has embarked upon an ancient ghost hunt, scouring these tablets to unlock the secrets of the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians to breathe new life into the first ghost stories ever written. In The First Ghosts, he uncovers an extraordinarily rich seam of ancient spirit wisdom that has remained hidden for nearly 4,000 years, covering practical details of how to live with ghosts, how to get rid of them and bring them back and how to avoid becoming one, as well as exploring more philosophical questions: what are ghosts, why does the idea of them remain so powerful despite the lack of concrete evidence and what do they tell us about being human?

©2021 Finkel Productions Limited (P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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Truly Fascinating

I could listen to Dr. Irving Finkle all day. The knowledge he shares on this ancient civilization is engaging and entertaining.

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Amazing and just a little creepy

As an academic, Finkel might have explored this topic from the place of other works on cuneiform - from on high and very dry. This book, however, goes to great lengths to explain the anthropology of belief, and how skepticism is a modern (perhaps Judeo-Christian) practice. This is a lively exploration of the common mechanics used for thousands of years to banish spooks, and the associated stories of the underworld. That the author was able to narrate this himself, bringing all his flair and wit, is a huge bonus. A must-have guide to spooky hygiene for every 1st millennium BCE home.

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Engaging, interesting and funny

Fans of Irving Finkel’s work (and exceptional presentation style) will no doubt enjoy this book as well as his others. It was my main reason for picking it up, despite my not being very interested in the subject of ghosts.
It’s a fascinating history of Assyrian beliefs not only about ghosts but the entire cycle of birth and death, with all the associated myth, rituals and practices, derived from the original cuneiform tablets. This, in combination with the author’s alacritous narration makes for a very engaging experience.

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