The Religious Hysteria of Doctor Humphrey Humperdinck

Book excerpt: John Tan's thirteenth published work, The Religious Hysteria of Doctor Humphrey Humperdinck, is partly autobiographical, as it recounts his emotional breakdown, and partly inspired by a popular movie and television (cartoon) series. In a startling reaction to the uncongenial madness of the modern world, Dr Humperdinck decides on an experiment of taking on ghouls but botching the reverse exorcism process, he finds himself distracted and 'seeing things' in mundane places for seven years. In the course of his struggles to overcome his psychic and visual aberration, he had a therapeutic encounter with Professor John Wyndham Tanischi, a psychologist, who guided him on his journey of self-discovery and maturity, which led at last to his marriage to a former nurse at Poole's Sanatorium. For the first time in (softcover, hardcover) the text incorporate all the latest changes the author has made, he, who is always looking to make his book richer based on his own burgeoning experience.