Africa

William Seabrook: Zombies, Cannibalism, Tormented Mind

While researching for a previous article, I came across an interesting fellow named William Seabrook. Seabrook’s occupation was as a Writer and Reporter but the rest of his credentials are Occultist, Explorer, Traveler, Cannibal, and Journalist. I understand if like me after reading that, you heard a record scratch and are currently looking back to make sure you read that right. Yes, casually tucked in among his other titles is Cannibal. What makes that more ironic or fascinating is that Seabrook is credited as one of the first authors to introduce zombies to western culture, not the kind we know today but the actual zombies of Haitian origins steeped deep in Voodoo lore. I know, I know, “Get to the part where he’s a Cannibal!” alright But first some background. Seabrook was a traveler and explorer who made a name for himself by writing articles for magazines like Cosmopolitan, Reader’s Digest, and Vanity Fair that detailed his adventures to parts