No Hiding Place

by William Seabrook
No Hiding Place cover
Good Books rating 3.62
Technical
  • ID: 106
  • Added: 2025-09-02
  • Updated: 2025-09-02
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
content.time.com · Unknown · 2025-09-17
intriguing 3.50

The reviewer delves into the eccentric and adventurous life of William Seabrook, highlighting his bizarre experiences and controversial actions, including his alleged cannibalism. Seabrook's life was marked by a series of daring escapades and a fascination with the macabre, making him a fascinating yet unsettling figure.

The reviewer explores the extraordinary and often disturbing life of William Seabrook, an author and adventurer known for his bizarre exploits. Seabrook's life was filled with unusual incidents, from his time with the Druze militia to his alleged cannibalism. The reviewer notes that Seabrook's adventures were not driven by a sense of adventure but rather a desire to escape something unspecified. His fascination with bondage and sadomasochism also played a significant role in his life, making him a complex and controversial figure. The reviewer finds Seabrook's life both intriguing and unsettling, highlighting his impact on popular culture through his writings and the word 'zombie'.

Quick quotes

    He once walked across Kurdistan and gained weight.

    Then, serendipitously, I came across a story told by Wambly Bald, the Parisian newspaper columnist of the 1930s, and supported by Worthington, about how Willie ate a healthy portion of a Parisian transport worker.

    He wrote books about Africa and Haiti, witchcraft, voodoo and cannibalism, about crossing the Sahara desert and generally just bumming around.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-09-17
intriguing 3.50

The reviewer discusses William Seabrook's book 'No Hiding Place', highlighting his sensational life story filled with eccentricities and dark themes. The book reveals Seabrook's unusual fascinations and experiences, from his childhood influences to his adult adventures, including his interest in chaining women and his struggles with mental health.

The reviewer delves into William Seabrook's 'No Hiding Place', a book that offers a glimpse into the author's unconventional life. Seabrook's upbringing in Maryland's Pennsylvania Dutch country, influenced by his domineering mother and half-crazy grandmother, set the stage for his eccentricities. His grandmother introduced him to a dreamlike world through laudanum, which left a lasting impact on him. Seabrook's early fascination with women in chains evolved into a lifelong obsession, leading him to chain women as an adult, an activity that many of his partners seemed to enjoy. The reviewer also notes Seabrook's career as a writer, covering sensational topics and engaging with bohemian society. His struggles with melancholy, drunkenness, and mental health are also explored, culminating in his voluntary commitment to a mental hospital. Despite these challenges, Seabrook managed to write several books and even win a garden-club prize. The reviewer finds the book to be a compelling exploration of Seabrook's complex and troubled life.

Quick quotes

    The book is sensational and apparently omits little but the spectacular chunks that went into Seabrook's earlier personal histories.

    One of Seabrook's earliest boyish pleasures had been to gaze at pictures of women in chains.

    Seabrook struggled to write books, short stories, articles. Finally, desperate and dipsomaniac, he went voluntarily to a New York State hospital for the insane.

nuvomagazine.com · Unknown · 2019-09-15
intriguing 4.00

The review highlights William Seabrook's adventurous life and his book 'No Hiding Place', noting his unique experiences and the fine line between fact and fiction in his writings.

The reviewer delves into the intriguing life of William Seabrook, an adventurer and author known for his daring exploits and vivid storytelling. They appreciate his ability to blend fact and fiction, making his book 'No Hiding Place' a compelling read. However, they also acknowledge the challenges in distinguishing between his real experiences and his imaginative narratives. The reviewer finds Seabrook's work fascinating, though they might question the authenticity of some of his tales.

Quick quotes

    William Seabrook was a man of many adventures, and his book 'No Hiding Place' captures the essence of his daring spirit.

    The fine line between fact and fiction in Seabrook's writings adds a layer of intrigue to his stories.

    Reading 'No Hiding Place' is like embarking on an adventure with Seabrook himself.

lrb.co.uk · Unknown · 2015-11-02
intriguing 3.50

The reviewer discusses William Seabrook's complex life and career, highlighting his introduction of zombies to American popular culture and his exploration of occult practices. They note his controversial experiments, including eating human flesh and attempting to hex Hitler, while also acknowledging his literary contributions and influence on horror films.

The reviewer delves into the multifaceted life of William Seabrook, a figure known for his eccentric and often controversial exploits. Seabrook's memoir 'Asylum' and his introduction of zombies to American culture through 'The Magic Island' are highlighted. The reviewer notes Seabrook's interest in the occult, his sadomasochistic tendencies, and his travels to various parts of the world in search of exotic experiences. His influence on the horror genre, particularly through the film 'White Zombie,' is also mentioned. The reviewer provides a nuanced look at Seabrook's life, acknowledging both his literary contributions and his more controversial actions.

Quick quotes

    Seabrook was astounded when his informant told him that there were zombies at work in the plantations of the Haitian-American Sugar Corporation.

    The American occupiers were reinstating plantations and forcing peasants back to work in them in the name of modernity.

    Seabrook was mainly known for his self-mythologising travel books and disarming memoirs.

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