A mystical spirit resides in the secluded Barrowbeck river valley. This northern British area’s pioneer settlers sought shelter here, acutely aware of its unpredictable temper that could swing from gentle to severe or even ruthless. They held its might in high regard and dispatched their spiritual mediator to strike a pact. The strangers were offered protection on the condition that they respected their role as stewards of the terrain.
Andrew Michael Hurley’s eerie folk tales span two millennia, telling the story of Barrowbeck’s inhabitants. Each generation labours, fighting for survival, disregarding the unusual events that occur in the hamlet. Over time, the accord fades from conscious awareness, yet not all forget. The territory is cast under a spell – children become possessed, animals receive curses, villagers retain weird customs without any recollection of how they originated. The fault is consistently levied on some alien, detrimental influence – a transient Italian devotee, a travelling circus entertainer. Nevertheless, the spirit is aware – and the reader realises – that a day of judgement approaches.
[Andrew Michael Hurley: ‘The narratives I savour the most are those I can’t comprehend’]
Hurleys intricately constructed narratives are filled with a disquieting, foreboding sensation. It’s like an unexpected knock on the door on a late, dark night – an unfamiliar face, regaling the listener with tales from a different realm. Despite being categorised as gothic terror, his oeuvre leans more towards supernatural than outright horror, a feeling further intensified by its parallels to our fraught contemporary world.
A number of stories from Barrowbeck are derived from a BBC Sounds commissioned series called Voices in the Valley, featuring 10 short segments. These have a strong connection to the tradition of spoken folklore and myth. Hurley’s expanding repertoire consistently engulfs his readers in a noticeable sense of locale, and Barrowbeck is no deviation. The landscape metamorphoses into a recurring character marked by the frosty climate, the obscurity, isolation, and a constant undertone of impending disaster.
“Mr Geography, authored by Tim Parks, presents a gripping dilemma between the mundane safety of daily life and the enticing allure of forbidden love. Hurley’s most recent book provides an intriguing gateway into the realm of folk-horror, offering multiple avenues for newcomers and seasoned readers to dive into his narrative, especially during the darkening evenings. Publisher John Murray has refreshed Hurley’s previous publications inclusive of The Loney, the acclaimed recipient of the 2015 Costa First Novel Award. Moreover, Hurley’s third novel, Starve Acre, has been adapted into a film now accessible on Apple TV+. The Polite Act of Drowning is penned by Charleen Hurtubise.”