Unearthing

Unearthing is a multimedia work by Alan Moore that exists as an essay, a photographic book, and an audio recording. The project centers on Steve Moore, a fellow writer who lived his entire life in one house on Shooter's Hill, sleeping just feet from where he was born. The photographic edition, published by Top Shelf Productions in 2012, combines Moore's text with atmospheric images by photographer Mitch Jenkins. The audio version features Moore's narration over an original score by production duo Crook&Flail, spanning just over two hours in length. The work traces connections between biography, location, and history through its examination of Steve Moore's life and his deep connection to a single place. This exploration of person and geography creates a unique form that bridges essay, biography, and psychogeography. Through its layered investigation of place and identity, Unearthing presents themes about the relationship between humans and their environment, and how physical spaces shape personal histories.

Readers describe Unearthing as dense, experimental, and challenging to follow. The stream-of-consciousness style and non-linear narrative create a dreamlike exploration of Steve Moore's life and London history. Readers appreciated: - The unique blend of biography, occult history, and psychogeography - Moore's poetic, detailed writing style - The photography and artwork in the physical edition - Deep exploration of a specific London location Common criticisms: - Overwhelming wall of text with minimal paragraph breaks - Meandering narrative that loses focus - Too esoteric and self-indulgent - Difficult to distinguish fact from fiction Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (246 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (31 ratings) One reader noted: "Like being trapped in someone else's dream - fascinating but exhausting." Another wrote: "The physical book is beautiful but the text needs more structure to be digestible." The audiobook version narrated by Moore receives praise for adding atmosphere through his delivery.

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The Street of Crocodiles by Bruno Schulz Memory and place interweave through fragments of autobiography that transform ordinary locations into mythological spaces.

🔍 The book originated from a short 4-page essay that expanded into a massive 184-page work over several years of development. 🏛️ Shooter's Hill, where the story takes place, has a documented history dating back to 1226 and was notorious for highwaymen during the 18th century. 🌟 Steve Moore, the subject of the book, was a mentor to Alan Moore (no relation) and helped him break into the comics industry in the 1980s. 🎭 The spoken word performance version featured projections on three screens and was accompanied by a score composed by Adam and Andrew Broder. 📚 The photographic edition was published in a limited run of 1,500 copies by Knockabout Comics/Top Shelf, with each copy weighing over 7 pounds.