Dr Irving Finkel, PhD is that rarest of modern scholars. At once both intellectually engaging and genuinely warm in his delivery, it is a real treat to hear him discus the mythology of the ancient world via the various lectures available online. Yet to really get swept up in that distinct narrative voice, and appreciate the almost bottomless depth of learning that churns beneath, there is no better vessel than The First Ghosts: Most Ancient of Legacies. This is doubly true with the audiobook version, as it is both unabridged and also narrated by the author himself, aside from the voices used for quoted passages within the work.

A detailed historical evaluation that looks at the spiritual side of the earliest civilisations through the lens of surviving cuneiform inscriptions and much repeated myth cycles, it is without a doubt the most accessible take on those ancient ideas available in print. Divided up into fifteen individual sections it adeptly covers all of the expected territory, such as the Descent of Inanna, epic of Gilgamash and the later Old Testament thoughts on restless spirits. Though as with anything, it is when the author delves into slightly more abstract scenarios that the text really shines.

The essay on pre-classical necromancy is a real eye-opener, as are the two earlier chapters on spirit specific sorcery. Finkel also takes the time to highlight a number of obscure incantations, most of which were either used to keep the dead where they belong without accidentally joining them or to placate ancestors who are rattling their chains too loudly after dark. A grammatical shorthand is offered to help differentiate between ghosts and demons, based on the cuneiform itself, as well as providing a hierarchy of sorts for the different classes of spirit that may be encountered by the average Sumerian in the street.

It is difficult to critique such a unique text, though perhaps the length may put some readers off. Thankfully the underlying structure actually keeps the paragraphs rattling along at a good pace, and if a certain section does not really resonate then the next is likely to instead. As an aside, the audiobook really shines here, as Finkel’s upbeat narration helps to smooth over the drier scholarly moments. Going with the author when putting such a production together always runs the risk of their inexperience dragging the whole project down, usually due to both ego and incompetence, but thankfully that is not the case here.

A work of peerless historical and folkloric rigor, Finkel’s masterpiece is destined to become a core artefact in every classically inclined necrourge’s arsenal. While it is primarily a scholarly work, and not a dedicated book of spells, the incantations and injunctions covered within are of great value, especially as they are backed up with copious notes on the social and mythological context that once made them so important to the lives of our ancestors. A rare instance where I would argue that owning both the hardback as well as the audiobook are the best way to experience the text, I really cannot recommend this one enough.

Title: The First Ghosts: Most Ancient of Legacies
Author: Dr Irving Finkel PhD
Genre: Mythology/Folklore
Tradition: Necromancy
Difficulty: Intermediate/Expert
Published: 2021
ISBN: 9781529303261
Score: 9/10