more questions on Sorcerer's House (spoilers)

Mo Holkar / UKG · 12 Apr 2010, 07:43 · from 2010-April.txt.gz

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From: lists at ukg.co.uk (Mo Holkar / UKG)
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:43:30 +0100
Subject: (urth) more questions on Sorcerer's House (spoilers)
In-Reply-To: <89D0B87F8F094A13AF4BB909DB05DE03@eMachinePC>
References: <89D0B87F8F094A13AF4BB909DB05DE03@eMachinePC>
Message-ID: <219955.36552.qm at smtp818.mail.ukl.yahoo.com>

At 05:16 12/04/2010, James Wynn wrote:
>There is a Mary King's Ghost Fest held in Edinburgh every year (it 
>was last month). I can't determine what is the story behind it. 
>Apparently she something a of a tourist draw in Edinburgh.

Mary King's Close is an underground street in Edinbirgh that's 
organized as a historical 'experience' museum. Mary King's Ghost Fest 
is run by the company that operate the Close.

The historical Mary King after whom the street was named is thought 
to have been the daughter of Alexander King, who owned the land in 
the 16th century. She is not thought to be a ghost herself (or at 
least is not marketed as such), although there are several ghosts 
allegedly associated with the site.

It is possible I suppose that Wolfe might have pulled up the name 
Mary King as associated with ghosts in Edinburgh and assumed that she 
was one, but I would expect him to be more thorough than that. It 
seems more likely to me that a different, more obscure Mary King is 
his source; or that the name is constructed for some onomastic purpose.

best wishes,

Mo

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