Some more pictures of the astonishing wax anatomy models at the Josephinum Medical Museum in Vienna. #anatomy #history #gothic

The wax models of the Josephinum in Vienna are incredibly detailed and weirdly glamorised. Created in the 18th century, sculptor Clemente Susini was influenced by religious conceptions of the divine body & created his models with classical sculpture in mind. Although eroticism likely played a part

Having seen the wax models created for his brother in Florence, Joseph II of Austria ordered 1,192 anatomical models for the newly founded Josephinum Military Academy of Surgery. They were created by Italian sculptor Clemente Susini, known for his accurate, and vivid, depictions of the human body

I love a good medical #museum and the Josephinum Medical History Museum in Vienna might be the best I’ve ever visited. Founded in 1783 as a military hospital by Emperor Joseph II, and houses one of the world’s largest collections of wax anatomical models. I will be posting more all week. #anatomy

2/2 Life is a bit complicated at the moment and I’ve still got a lot of work I need to do. But rest assured, they are still on the way. And hopefully they’ll be worth the wait. #ghosts #horror

A New Ghost Stories Podcast update

1/2 mentioned at the end of last year that I’m working on a new series of #podcast episodes. I had hoped to release some in the spring, but I’ve decided to release the series in the autumn…

#BOTD Nigel Kneale. A screenwriter who transformed British television, his Quatermass serials gripped a generation with their mix of science fiction & horror. His output over 50 years was diverse but he returned often to the idea that progress only reveals our primitive nature

The guy on the right looks embarrassed to be on the cover and so he should be. #books

Beyond Space and Time: an ESP casebook. Edited by Martin Ebon

#newbook “Actual records indicate that many trains, ships and airplanes involved in serious accidents carried fewer passengers than usual. Could this mean that some people ‘heard’ warnings, and listened?” Hhhmmm…

How can you not know? #trains

What’s harder to believe, that he could contact the dead, or speak fluent cat and dog? #books #ghosts

#BOTD Montague Summers. Called “the most seminal 20th century purveyor of pop culture occultism", he was an Anglican deacon who converted to Catholicism, pretending to be a priest despite having no diocese. He wrote widely on witches, werewolves, vampires & demonology, which he entirely believed in.

You remember Othello, that… uh… delightful romance. #books #shakespeare

#BOTD horror writer James Herbert. His first book The Rats was an instant bestseller, and set a template of visceral, uncompromising violence and social commentary that would recur in future works. He wrote a number of ghost stories, including The Survivor and The Secret of Crickley Hall. #books

Full marks to the designer of this delightful paperback edition of Whisky Galore by Compton Mackenzie #books #whisky

There’s still time to catch the rather excellent John Le Carre exhibition Tradecraft at the Bodleian West Library in Oxford. Well worth a visit. #books #spies #oxford

They could have called it the Necro-nom-nom-nom-icon and yet they chose not to. #books #lovecraft

Every fairground needs its sinister side #fairground #clowns

Some more shots from atop of the Wiener Riesenrad in Vienna, the famous ferris wheel from The Third Man. #films #history #fairground

If you go to The Third Man Museum you of course have to go to the Wiener Reisenrad - the world’s oldest ferris wheel. Best to book ahead, it went dark during the time we were waiting. #fairground #thethirdman #films #movies

Can we make it somehow flat and three dimensional at the same time? #books

#BOTD Eric Weiss, aka Harry Houdini. The famous magician began his act escaping from handcuffs, raising the stakes with straight-jackets and later being buried alive. He was an avowed sceptic and worked to expose fraudulent mediums. He was also the first person to fly a plane in Australia.

(Sigh) No money in this sort of thing anymore.

The final section of The Third Man Museum in Vienna features exhibits on the real history of Vienna from before WW2 through to its occupation. It also has exhibits on related spin offs, and bizarrely, the gravestone that overlooks the cast during the funeral scene. #film #movie #thethirdman

The actual zither used by Anton Karas to record the theme to The Third Man. It’s on display in the second store front of The Third Man Museum in Vienna, which focuses on the music and the film’s international promotion. #films #movies #thethirdman #filmnoir

Various Orson Welles memorabilia on display at The Third Man Museum in Vienna. #movies #film #thethirdman

Didn’t know there were so many episodes. They do have a little panel on it at the museum.

It’s only open on Saturdays, but well worth a visit if you get chance. I’ll be posting more pics over the next few days

Scenes from The Third Man Museum in Vienna. Founded by a pair of film obsessives, the museum is split across multiple store fronts - the first is dedicated to the film’s production and promotion. #films #movies #filmnoir

The punishment appears to be your head falling off #books #dostoevsky