The Wicker Man

by Robin Hardy, Anthony Shaffer

First published in 1978, five years after the release of the classic horror film from which it is adapted, The Wicker Man is a gripping horror classic.

It is the tale of Highlands policeman, Police Sergeant Neil Howie, on the trail of a missing girl being lured to the remote Scottish island of Summerisle. As May Day approaches, strange, shamanistic and erotic events erupt around him. Initially he is convinced that the girl has been abducted for human sacrifice - only to find that he may be the revellers' quarry...

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Mystery, Classics, Thriller, Religion, Novels

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Nayra.Hassan · Rating 4 out of 5]

رجل الخيزران
شناعة الافكار و بشاعة النهايات هذا ما تتميز به روايات/افلام رعب السبعينات
فهل ننسي النذير وطارد الأرواح الشريرة؟و بالطبع روايتنا هذه رجل الخيزران/الغصن؛

و هي رواية صادرة عام ١٩٧٨ مبنية علي أحداث الفيلم ا
الشهير بذات الاسم لعام ١٩٧٣

الطقوس؛القربان؛ التضحية
كلمات قد نظن ان اوانها قد ولي و ذهب منذ عصور مضت؛ و لكن يدهشنا الإنسان بقدرته علي العودة للخلف

بطلنا شرطي يفاجأ بخطيبته السابقة التي لم يلتقيها منذ سنوات؛ تخبره ان ابنتها اختفت و يرحل معها لجزيرة معزولة ليبحث في ملابسات اختفاؤها

حيث تفاجئ جميعا بطائفة وثنية نسائية تترأسها امرأة شقراء مسنة؛ و تحيا الطائفة المريبة منعزلة بالكامل علي الجزيرة و تتكسب من عسل النحل الذي يربونه و يتماهون معه!! و تتوالي سلوكياتهم الغرائبية
ليتضح له انه تم اختيار الطفلة لتكون قربان ليعود محصول العسل لعافيته؛ و ان البنت المختفية ابنته!؟


host image


لتتوالي الأحداث و المفاجأت الكابوسية
التي تم تخليدها في فيلم بريطاني عام ١٩٧٣
و فيلم امريكي لنيكولاس كيدج عام ٢٠٠٦
و الاثنان صارا من رموز عالم الرعب الابدية
Cult
و الاثنين يخيفون د. أحمد خالد توفيق و انا👻

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting if mildly disappointing read. It's a novelization of the film by the people who produced it, but it wasn't published until several years after the film had been released. It follows the story in the film (which I enjoyed very much forty-some years ago) exactly, but adds quite a bit in the background, characterizations, and beliefs of the protagonist. Unfortunately, it adds a bit too much and tends drone on and on in places... I was ready for them to light the fire and have done with it. Fifty pages less would have been much more of a book. It does offer some interesting commentary about sex and religion and fanaticism, and also paints an interesting picture of rural Scotland, but overall I'd say this is one of those rare cases where the book doesn't live up to the movie.

[Old-Barbarossa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of the film I loved this.
More fleshing out of the main characters, many small additions to the plot...and a bit of "golden bough" stuff going on that the islanders view as a heresy...even the heathen have a schism in their church here.
I found I disliked Howie even more than in the film. This may be the story's main flaw. If there was more sympathy for him the end would be more horrific.

[Corto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

I have to say, even though I knew what was going to happen, I was as equally blown away when reading the ending, as I was the first time I saw the movie. Totally engrossing.

If you liked the movie- if you loved the movie- this novelization (written to promote the film's US release in 1978) is a must-read. By allowing us into Sgt. Howie's thoughts, the novel adds a significant layer of depth to the story. More importantly, the novel gives a very intricate and complete back-story on Sgt. Howie which makes him a much more sympathetic character than he was in the film.

Plot holes are explained or patched up, not to mention the fact that the story is much more intellectual than at first glance.

I see this story partially as a metaphor for the Sexual Revolution and Hippie movement of the 60's, and their conflict with the forces of conservatism arrayed against them. (My take is that the authors were saying that going too far to the extreme of either end of the cultural spectrum was a bad thing.) On a more superficial level, the story is a clever game in which a gallant hero is drawn into a situation well out of his control.

Really well done, and you can see what a labor of love this film was for its screenwriter and director. (Robin Hardy, the director, was the principal author of this novelization.)

Though this is billed as a horror movie/novel, it really transcends that genre in many ways. In this novel you get everything from theological debate, anthropology, history, feminism (how many horror novels name-drop Germaine Greer?), socioeconomics, ornithology, biology and folklore. It's also very "Scottish"- invoking Shakespeare, I would even go so far as nicknaming it "The Scottish Horror Movie".

I recently read David Pinner's "Ritual"- which inspired the movie, and have to say that Pinner's story doesn't have a patch on Hardy and Shaffer's very original creation.

Given that I saw the movie first, I can't recommend this book with any objectivity to someone who hasn't seen it. But, I thought this novel was fantastic, and I loved it.

[Robert Beveridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robin Hardy and Anthony Sheffer, The Wicker Man (Crown, 1978)

The emergence of a rabid cult following for the film version of The Wicker Man prompted the publication of the novel on which it was based. And a good thing, too. As fine as the film is, the book has its own special charm.

If you've been living in a cave the past thirty years, the plot of The Wicker Man goes as follows: Neil Howie, a Scots police Sergeant and fine upstanding Christian fellow, receives an anonymous letter saying that a girl has gone missing on Summerisle, a small island only barely under Scot protection, thirty-eight miles west of the last of the Outer Hebrides. Howie goes out to investigate, and finds that, while all the inhabitants of the island are seemingly quite forthcoming with what they know (save the none of them acknowledge the missing girl so much as exists), Howie is torn between his desire to see the case through and his offense at the various heathen goings-on on the decidedly non-Christian island.

The movie does an absolutely lovely job in detailing the various conflicting emotions of Neil Howie throughout, and in this it lies faithfully close to the book. Where the book does the movie one better is in the expanded opening (even the opening to the 104-minute version of the film, rarely seen, leaves quite a bit unanswered about the whole mess) and allowing us to get inside Howie's head for a few of the harder-to-understand decisions he makes over the course of his time on Summerisle. The downside of it all is that the same strengths one can get from a book opens up its weaknesses, and while The Wicker Man does handle sudden emotional changes with a more deft hand than most novels of its ilk, there are still some embarrassingly jarring ones (from offense to affability in an instant simply isn't convincing, no matter how you dress it up it still looks like an ogre). Still, it's obvious Hardy spent a lot of time thinking and plotting this one out before coming up with a final draft, and what finally got released is a pleasure. This is not at all easy to find these days, but whether you've seen the film or not, this is definitely one to pick up. **** ½

[Rob Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Wicked Man," now adapted for BBC radio, delves into the eerie realms of folk horror with finesse. The spectral echoes of the moors and the chilling resonance of ancient traditions paint a vivid tapestry. As the characters grapple with malevolent forces, the adaptation skillfully preserves the atmospheric dread that defines folk horror.

Quoting the chilling dialogue: "In the shadows of the ancient oaks, malevolence stirs," resonates with the primal fears woven into the narrative. The radio adaptation amplifies these moments, allowing the audience to feel the palpable unease that pervades the story.

With an expert blend of audio elements, the creaking of branches and distant whispers, the adaptation elevates folk horror's essence. "The Wicked Man" becomes not just a tale of suspense but a visceral experience, embracing the uncanny and leaving listeners haunted by the echoes of a bygone, malevolent era. A chilling journey into the heart of folk horror, this adaptation captivates, terrifies, and pays homage to the genre's timeless allure.

[Lynette · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a poorly-written book. Not only is the main character an arrogant asshole, he's as dumb as a rock, but thinks he's so intelligent and talented. For someone who claims to be so accepting of others' religions, he is a really intolerant bastard. Everything he does is impetuous; none of his theories are based in proof. None of the characters are the least bit sympathetic.

The writing itself is shit. The author will tell us something, and a character will repeat it a half page later. Most of the book is the sergeant bumbling around like an idiot, although I suppose that was intentional.

And all the ridiculous sex scenes, where he just stands with his mouth gaping like he's mentally deficient while memorizing the details so he can "write up a report". My god. Is the movie this stupid?

I'm sorry I wasted brain cells on this piece of crap. It wasn't even scary, just completely ridiculous on every level.

I think the Twilight series was better written.

[Izzy of Unapologetic Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually loved this book. I read it while on a vacation in a few days. I loved the movie when I saw it a while back, but this book adds to it. The most interesting part is the different aspects of the religion on the isle. Written down, you get more details of it. All in all, I could hardly put it down and wished there was more. I wish they would write a sequal as I keep wondering. What happened next?

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sergeant Neil Howie receives an anonymous letter reporting the strange disappearance of a young girl named Rowan Morrison from the private island Summerisle. No-one claims to know her and he soon becomes convinced that true evil is afoot.

Religious beliefs appear to be the central issue of this novel, but everything Howie experiences is to be treated as suspect up to the awful climax, since the entire plot hinges on an extremely clever and devious misdirection. Hardy has polished the story from the film script and this is entirely readable without any knowledge of the film.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite movie with much more detail

This certainly isn't going to be a 5 star worthy book for everyone. It probably wouldn't have been for me if it had not given such a deeper understanding of my all-time favorite movie. Even the movie is not for everyone but I fell in love with the music, and the oddness and I just love it . Unfortunately , with the making of the Wicker Man a series of mishaps followed and viewers were , sadly, left with a small portion of the movie that we were meant to see . This book brought such a deeper layer to the deeply religious , hapless Sergeant Howie . It gave such a deeper layer that I am, in fact, re-watching the movie right now for probably the 50th time, with a whole new understanding . Much of the dialogue is verbatim and even the songs' lyrics are, often, written on the pages.
If you are one of the few that, like me, absolutely love the Wicker Man (not the terrible Nicholas Cage version , mind you) then you will likely enjoy the added layers of backstory and a much more deeply explained religion of the Summersisle residents. This book shows a side of Sergeant Howie that we never get acquainted to in the movie. It shows a man, deep in his Christian convictions who struggles with his own temptations and also with an upholding of the law. The book Howie tries to remain tolerant and respectful despite his growing unease with this apparently heathen community.
It is a great tragedy that viewers will never get to see the original, uncut Wicker Man as intended. This book has filled a hole and expanded my love of the classic movie.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to mark this, because I know the film so well. Of course the story is great, and there is more back story here, which is nice, and some expanding on the film's action, as well as a couple of new characters. However, despite all that, the writing is simply heavy, overwrought, and just not very good.

I can't even quite decide whether it's best to come to the book well versed in The Wicker Man or completely ignorant of it. It's probably best just to consider the book nonexistent and watch the film instead.

[Kristyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't seen the original movie so I didn't really know what to expect going into this one. It's a folk horror with a surprising amount of singing. The whole time Sgt. Howie is investigating, it's almost like a fever dream with all the weird happenings. I really liked this one and am excited to watch the original movie.

[Suvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's natural to be suspicious about novelizations. What could be so different about them that makes them worth the read? The Wicker Man is a great answer to that: overall, the story feels more fleshed out and detailed. On the other hand, I found myself being irritated by Howie, the policeman who travels to a Scottish island to investigate a case of a missing girl. He's got a pile of religious hang-ups that results in endless patronising rants about the religious beliefs of the island. There is a girl missing and he's worried about the luscious lips of the innkeeper's daughter. Come on now. Get a grip.

That being said, The Wicker Man is fairly effective as horror, just more quiet than what you'd expect. A bit too quiet at times, but it does have a very present eerie mood. You just know the people have something to hide, and then it all culminates in one of the greatest endings of horror cinema. It's a bit different in the book and the movie, but they're both good in their own way. The former leaves a lingering mood and the latter has more desperation. Obviously, the drawback of the book is that you won't be able to hear the music or see Christopher Lee prancing around in a wig and a dress.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this film really well so I was always curious about the novel it was based on. Well, there's really not a lot to say; the book is extremely close to the film. Hardly surprising since the same writing partnership wrote the screenplay as wrote the novel. And I guess the production company must've trusted them enough to not suggest stupid changes when it came to the screenplay.

There are slight changes. The book opens differently, with Sergeant Howie trying to catch a bird poacher and a bit more background on his chaste relationship with his girlfriend. There are a couple of other minor diversions along the way too, but mostly it's just like the film.

I love the film, now I love the book too. The burning question now is, is the sequel book as bad as the sequel film? I think I'll have to find out.

[Plum-crazy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself continually visualising the film while reading this book. While it's many years since I've saw it & I can recall the general gist & of course the conclusion but I don't remember anything about Sergeant Howie's personal life being mentioned especially the fact that he had a girlfriend. Guess I need to watch it again! The book however gives a bit of his background & a better insight into his character is gained - although I did find some of these parts a bit hard going! I particularly loved the references to myth & folklore eg; the frog in the throat & the carrying of death out of the village.

A good read but I'd really love to hear a review from someone who has not seen the film as I'm sure it must cloud one's judgement.

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books based on movies are generally a mixed bag. I think that may be because some writers are hired for their writing ability but may not have personal interest in the movie. Or perhaps the person writing it may not be an accomplished novelist, although devoted to the film. I think this was a latter-case scenario here. Robin Hardy directed The Wicker Man, which has become a cult classic. He wasn’t exactly a novelist, however.

The story is passably written. It borrows freely from the screenplay by Anthony Shaffer, but the writing seems more the work of Hardy. Shaffer was an accomplished writer and some of the strange add-ins to this story don’t seem to fit his style. The novel adds episodes not in the film. As I note elsewhere (Sects and Violence in the Ancient World) it cuts out a somewhat important character for no apparent reason. Also Hardy seems to have a need to tell, rather than show, what a character is thinking. That can become a bit pedantic.

Reading the novel does give some insight into the film. The movie was also inspired by David Pinner’s Ritual, itself not a top-drawer effort. I left the novel thinking that, because of the changes, there’s not really a good novel for this movie. Perhaps it’s a rather strange situation, but the film certainly can stand on its own, in any case. The Wicker Man never really took off as a mainstream movie. It is a cult phenomenon and it has many fans in that way. It gets referred to in culture in various ways. Perhaps it was, after all, a project that was meant to be a film rather than a book.

[mirabilos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a bit too squeamish for some of the things, but I liked that the pagans won over the christians for once. (This was incidentally the point with which this movie was recommended to me.)

The sudden turn before the end surely caught me by surprise.

Some of the filming… was probably done cheaply.

The English of these Scotsmen was very comprehensible even to foreigners (though I still used subtitles, I could have done without for the most part).

[Lou Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel based on the screenplay of the original 1973 film starring Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee...I wasn't expecting any great literary classic. The film was based on David Pinner's book, Ritual. The main reason I picked it up, Radiohead did a great Wicker Man, Trumpton inspired video for their song 'Burn the Witch' and it made me hunt out the film and book. I have the DVD to watch now, as never seen it. But overall, the story kept me engaged right to the end. And it's not a good end...

[Richie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spooky goings on in the Scottish isles. Written hand in hand with the screenplay for the original movie the book fills in a lot of details that they couldn't fit into the movie. If you enjoyed the original movie (which I did) then you're going to like this story with all it's weird pagan rituals.

[Brontesrule · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5

Very disappointed - the movie was MUCH better.

[Ethan Tabor · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
I tried to read about 3 years ago, and it was incredibly insufferable. Seargeant Howie is even more unlikeable in this book, and the story is even more hamfisted with the religious superiority.

[Kristian Dobson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The original film is one of my all time favourite films. This novelisation, whilst having a few extra moments, isn’t written well enough for it to be anything more than a mildly interesting extension on an otherwise vastly superior film.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was creepy done well

[Tez · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Scottish island Summerisle an anonymous note alerts the mainland police to the disappearance of young girl Rowan Morrison. The deeply religious Sergeant Neil Howie takes on the case, travelling by seaplane and then rowboat to the privately-owned island. Lord Summerisle is the Justice of the Peace, and Howie needs his permission when it comes to conducting legal matters, and the sergeant's dead certain that numerous illegalities are rife on Summerisle.

Based on the British 1973 film written by Anthony Shaffer and directed by Robin Hardy, the director himself penned this novel, published in 1978. To sum up the theme in one word: rooting, a term with many meanings. The townsfolk practise a form of paganism, with deep worship for nature and fertility. Disturbingly deep, it seems to Howie. All signs point to an upcoming human sacrifice and it's a race against time to find Rowan and protect her from the people.

Okay, so the characters are unlikable, but the plot is fascinating, and even fun. The weird shiz factor (and my word, there's a lot of it) is undeniable and clearly its drawcard, making for a suspenseful, kooky read. It's simply bloody entertaining.

[JHM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know many people to whom I would recommend this book. It's a mystery. It's a story of religious conflict. It's a story of ancient rites enacted in a not-yet-modern place. It's the story of a stranger in a strange land. It's a passion play.

If you like "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, you might like this much longer exploration of the theme of a community united in the process of selecting and making a sacrifice.

If you like Katherine Kurtz's "Lammas Night" you might like this darker exploration of the themes.

Personally, as someone who has been both a devout Christian and a devout Pagan, I enjoyed the mutual incomprehension of Sgt. Howie and the islanders.

The writing is good, although not extraordinary. I've seen other reviews complaining that the characters don't have depth, but I don't think they need it. They are archetypes, just as much as the Hobbyhorse and Punch, who appear in the final pages. We know just as much as we need to about everyone in the story. To add details would have detracted from the mythic quality.

[Velma]

A cursory mention in a Guardian article caught my eye:

I'd always intended to read Sir James George Frazer's 756-page guide to magic, The Golden Bough – a book that inspired The Wicker Man, but only because director Robin Hardy was so immobile in recovery from a heart attack that he actually got time to read it. Perhaps after a decade of resolutely failing to do so I should accept that it was a 'dipper-inner'?

[nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely fantastic experience for fans of the movie. i'm so thoroughly enamored with the film that i can't say whether or not the book itself is like, a masterpiece or whatever, but some of the parts of this that went more in depth than the film made me so overwhelmed with emotion that i had to momentarily shut the book. i mean, that might have more to do with me being a dramatic person in general, but god, i adored reading this. so many extra details that make it all the more harrowing. hail the queen of the may!

[Hillary Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It goes into more depth and has more disturbing imagery the movie had (probably due to the budget). It's wonderfully written and would definitely recommend to any horror buffs. I'd love to read it again for May Day.

[Tom McGlynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit.

Yeah, this was an experience. So much more detailed, emotive and upsetting than the film, which is a masterpiece in its own right.

An infamously genre-defining work of horror that reads like a glorious, twisted fairytale.

[Hammaad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 1973 film being one of my favourite films in general, the novel was as good an experience. Thrilling mystery and absolutely terrifying