Oh Yeah Baby

I. Heading

The Last Apprentice: Night of the Soul Stealer
Delaney, Joseph
Publishing Date: 2007

II. Biographical Information

Joseph Delaney’s writing career began after releasing a science fiction book, written under the pen-name of J.K. Haderack.   Releases after that were written under his real name, which were mainly based upon actual experiences and memories from his childhood.   Delaney continued to write books, primarily for young adult readers.  
Joseph Delaney is a retired English teacher living in Lancashire, England.   He has three children and seven grandchildren.   He lives in boggart territory.   His village even has a boggart called the Hall Knocker, which was laid to rest under the steps of a nearby church.   Most places in the Last Apprentice books are based on real places.   The inspiration behind the stories often came from local ghost stories and legends.

III. Historical Background

In English folklore, a boggart is a household “fairy” which causes things to disappear, rattle, or shake.   Always malevolent, the boggart will follow its family where they go.   In Northern England, there was a belief to never name a boggart or it would decide for itself, causing massive destruction.
Necromancy is a form of magic in which the practitioner summons the spirit of a deceased person for his or her own purpose.   In the time of the Renaissance, necromancy was classified as “dark magic.”   Necromancy derives from the Greek term nekros, meaning, “dead body.”
A grimoire is a book of magic.   Such books typically include instructions on how to create magical amulets, how to perform certain spells, and how to summon supernatural entities.
Joseph Delaney’s inspiration for The Last Apprentice books was the environment around him.   He grew up in the setting of these books.   As a child, he always heard stories about ghosts, witches, and other supernatural spirits that would haunt everyone in his hometown.   His fascination with the supernatural grew to a...