The Lively Ghosts of Ireland

I recently bought The Lively Ghosts of Ireland by Hans Holzer, published in 1967. My copy was given as a Christmas gift in 1996 to Barbara from Jan & Hal.  It’s inscribed on the free front endpaper. Here it is 2012 and I’m buying one of his earlier books that I somehow missed. But then it was old when it was gifted to Barbara.  I’ve collected some of his books but haven’t read even half of all he’s written.

Holzer is basically the only parapsychologist that I’ve continued to read since I started in the mid 60s after I experienced my first premonition. I was driving a car on Kuser Road near the old clay pits where I learned to swim as a kid. (My mother's friend Kip threw me in the deep water and said "swim.") Suddenly I saw a boy on a bicycle run in front of my car. I just stopped. Seconds later a boy came flying down a path out of the woods and bang! Right into the side of my car. I just sat there stunned. He got up, picked up his bike and took off in a flash. I think he was afraid I would get out of the car and holler at him or maybe tell his parents. But I was frozen in place. I took a deep breath and drove away very slowly.

It was soon after that I became aware of Hans Holzer and began by reading his first book, Ghost Hunter published in 1963. I continue off and on because I like his style. He presents his experiences in a neat, clean way. No dramatics, interesting but not pompous or theatrical. And he takes witnesses and a psychic along with him on his expeditions. He tells of his experience then delves into the history of the place. Who could ask for anything more?