{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/5fd77337c08ac45a2c50d003/60104e3095094431c3416aeb?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"4 - James Herbert - The Rats (1974)","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/5fd77337c08ac45a2c50d003/1611680928110-644c4132f1797ec66ac531cc8bf25884.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p><strong><u>Warning this book has outdated attitudes, language and cultural depiction, which may cause offence today.</u></strong></p><p><br></p><p>Harris, a young East London art teacher, notices that one of his students has a bloodied bandage around his hand. Meanwhile, a baby girl and her dog are killed by a mischief of giant rats.</p><p><br></p><p>Harris takes the student to the hospital and sees the grieving mother with her dead child. According to the doctor, the number of seemingly unprovoked rat attacks have strangely increased.</p><p><br></p><p>The rats become increasingly more vicious and&nbsp;daring, as more and more public places are attacked including A tube station&nbsp;and Harris' own school.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Where did these mutant Rats come from and how can they be stopped!</p><p><br></p><p>Herbert became inspired to write The Rats, his first novel,&nbsp;in early 1972, whilst watching Tod Browning's Dracula; specifically, after seeing the scene where Renfield describes a nightmare he had involving hordes of rats.</p><p><br></p><p>Published 2 years later&nbsp;The first paperback edition sold out after three weeks. It received harsh criticism upon its publication, deemed to be far too graphic in its portrayals of death and mutilation.</p><p><br></p><p>James Herbert went on to write 23 books (including 3 sequels to the Rats)&nbsp;selling&nbsp;over 54 million copies worldwide.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Something horrific?</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Dark Harvest - Ann Pilling&nbsp;</p><p>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1764436.Black_Harvest</p><p><br></p><p>The Star Wars Archives. 1977–1983. 40th Anniversary Edition</p><p>https://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/film/all/43957/facts.the_star_wars_archives_19771983_40th_anniversary_edition.htm</p><p><br></p><p>The Stone Tape</p><p>https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/cZHLDbJPNTcyXLHMVgxdQR/nigel-kneales-the-stone-tape-in-six-facts</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Just in case anyone has too much money and wants to give a bit to us to help with our hosting n stuff. It would be amazing if you fancied sending us some pennies - thank you.</strong></p><p><a href=\"https://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>https://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$</strong></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"Ross, Jon & James | Exploring Cult British Horror Films, TV & Books"}