These are sites developed for tourism and linked to death, assassination, incarceration, mass killing and tragedy. Yet 'dark tourism' is not a new phenomenon and similar sites have attracted human interest for many years.

From the gladiatorial combats of ancient Rome through to attendance at public executions in London of the 1600s, it seems that death and disaster have maintained a lasting appeal.

THE MARTYR VILLAGE OF ORADOUR-SUR-GLANE, MAIN STREET

The term has entered the mainstream and is a popular subject of media attention. It is used as a marketing term and the appeal of a range of global destinations as- sociated with dark acts shows no signs of abatement.

More recently the enduring appear has been reinforced in New York, Paric and beyond.

The Ground Zero site now attracts significant numbers of visitors since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In Paris, the death site of Diana, Princess of Wales evidenced pilgrimage and visitation following her death and the site of her burial place – Althorpe – achieved signifficant visitation.

In Africa, sites in Angola, South Africa, Sierra Leone, and Rwanda have all demonstrated the appeal of dark histories and tragic events to visitors. The range varies significantly from Holocaust sites to the manufactured experience operations which recreate tableaux and ‘historical’ experiences.

The motivation that impels expenditure in terms of travel, admission and other related costs compounds the proof of appeal.

MLEETA RESISTANCE TOURIST LANDMARK - LEBANON

The images in Tézenas' book are masterly, technically assured, probing, ironic, synonymous with our past and present. These pho tographs are about much more than tourism and the visiting of such sites, they challenge the nature of our behaviour, our history and our societies’ relationship with evil and mortality. They are a testament to our past, to our inability to move beyond it and our curious relationship with tragedy and death.

From the foreward by J. J. Lennon, Mof- fat Professor of Tourism - Glasgow Caledonian University. I Was Here - Photographs Of Dark Tourism, Ambroise Tézenas. £35.00 hardback.