Note: Encyclopedia of Fantasy (sf-encyclopedia.uk) and Library of Congress do not recognize identity of this novel under its US edition as The Visitor. The contemporary reviews quoted below make that clear, although the visitor, tutor Mr Bogle, is "fat" for Naomi Lewis and "lanky" for Kirkus.

Synopsis: "Ancient evil ... takes the form of Mr Bogle, a temporary tutor, directs itself towards a victim young and alone—a key situation with this most eerie of novelists. ... Harry and Mr Bogle are more and more often left alone together. What is he up to, this fat, bland, noiseless man ...? We seem him reviving the ancient Horn Dance, using old ritual too to rouse the village people ..." --brief review of the UK ed. by Naomi Lewis The Observer 1972-11-26 p27 (positive) "Another revival of English country witchery, sparked by a most diverting devil—the lanky, violin playing tutor Bogle. Bogle's alter ego emerges gradually; during his first days at the manor of Fury Wood there are subtle hints ... By Christmas Eve Bogle has whipped his followers into a frenzied mob that burns Fury Wood (in fulfillment of the old prophecy) and almost kills Harry and destroys the village as well. The theme of Christian vs. pagan is implicitly developed here in the conflict between the upper class interlopers and the yeomen ..." --KirkusReviews.com (contemporary starred review of the US ed.)