{"product_id":"americas-most-gothic-isbn-9780806543741","title":"America’s Most Gothic","description":"\u003cb\u003eInstant \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e Bestseller\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFrom the Bram Stoker nominated author team who penned \u003ci\u003eA Haunted History of Invisible Women\u003c\/i\u003e, the first book of its kind to investigate gothic tropes that define American lore. Here is the hidden, dark history of what frightens us - and why.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Gothic. Brooding, atmospheric, chilling, and not always the outpouring of a feverish imagination. Reality can be even stranger as borne out in this lush and ghostly look at real people who lived--and died—amidst the trappings of the Gothic.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFog clinging to an isolated mansion. A dangerous patriarch or an overbearing matron. Locked doors and forbidden rooms. Whispers of murder and madness. And a woman shadowed by omnipresent threats. You’ve guessed it. You’ve stumbled into a Gothic tale, and it will haunt you like a ghost.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe often think of the enduring tropes of the Gothic in terms of fiction and film—breath-catching escapes that tap into our fears, anxieties, forbidden desires, and unsettling dreams. But what if some of these chilly vibes are rooted in the experiences of real and tragic people who danced a macabre waltz with love and death? That’s why we’re here. Take the case of teenage Mercy Brown, victim—or was it predator?—of Rhode Island’s vampire hysteria of the 1890s. Marguerite de la Roque, a French noblewoman condemned for “sexual crimes” to Canada’s long-lost Isle of Demons. What happened to her and the barren landscape itself is the stuff of legend. And “Mad Lucy” Ludwell, the decidedly peculiar eighteenth-century high-society hauteur driven mad in the Virginia estate she prowls to this day. President Helen Peabody’s spirit still stringently watches over her Women’s College, now part of Ohio’s Miami University. Ghosts of workers lost in horrific conditions while building the Hoosac Tunnel warn of imminent danger. Settle in. There are more.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWelcome to the phantom ships, haunted academic halls, menacing landscapes, and family curses of America’s Most Gothic—a tour of true spectral sightings and disordered minds. But beware: it’s sure to get under your skin. The haunted—and haunting—figures herein want it that way.\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003ePraise for Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“New York ghost tour guides Hieber and Janes (coauthors of \u003ci\u003eHaunted History of Invisible Women\u003c\/i\u003e) separate fact from fiction in this spine-tingling investigation of ghostly mayhem and gory deeds. Intent on exploring the real-life stories behind the “gothic tropes” that define North American folklore… It’s a satisfying combination of well-sourced fact-checking, thoughtful literary analysis, and creepy chills.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eAmerica's Most Gothic\u003c\/i\u003e is a treasure trove of real-life women who lived and died by the same gothic tropes we devour in fiction—tragic heroines, doomed romances, dark academia, and lingering spirits. Hieber and Janes don’t just collect ghost stories—they resurrect the forgotten lives behind them with empathy, elegance, and just the right amount of dread. If you love gothic horror, this is the nonfiction book you didn’t know you needed.\" \u003cb\u003e—Sadie Hartmann\u003c\/b\u003e, Bram Stoker Awards® winning author of \u003ci\u003e101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes have once again given us a powerful homage to haunted history, this time threading classic gothic tropes through America’s famous ghost stories. With extensive research and expert analysis, they show us why and how we bend our tales to fit our enduring fascination with dead brides, sunken ships and mad women in the attic. A must read for fans of Gothic!” \u003cb\u003e—Agatha Andrews\u003c\/b\u003e, host of the \u003ci\u003eShe Wore Black \u003c\/i\u003epodcast on \u003ci\u003eAmerica's Most Gothic\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Spellbinding—\u003ci\u003eAmerica’s Most Gothic\u003c\/i\u003e seeks forgotten and untold stories of the supernatural and brings them to terrifying life in this engaging follow-up to \u003ci\u003eA Haunted History of Invisible Women\u003c\/i\u003e. Truth may be stranger than fiction, but it’s often more frightening, too. Tales of the macabre are balanced with real history and thoughtful analysis; you will savor this book even as it keeps you up at night. No one tells a story like Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes.” \u003cb\u003e—Jessica Cale\u003c\/b\u003e, host of the \u003ci\u003eDirty Sexy History\u003c\/i\u003e podcast on \u003ci\u003eAmerica's Most Gothic\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Not only do Hieber and Janes manage to shine a vaporous corpse-light on familiar tales like the doomed ghost ships of New England, the dream duo reintroduce several trailblazers forgotten by history like Charlotte Cushman, a nineteenth-century actor revered for playing Shakespeare and John Hammond, an eccentric inventor who built a medieval-style castle in Massachusetts and had an odd desire to be reincarnated as a black cat. A masterful collaboration.” \u003cb\u003e—Sam Baltrusis\u003c\/b\u003e, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eGhost Writers\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eWicked Salem\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eHaunted Castles of New England \u003c\/i\u003eon \u003ci\u003eAmerica's Most Gothic\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Delightfully harrowing and full of spine-tingling horrors, this is not your average book of ghost stories. Hieber and Janes go far beyond the obvious thrills and chills, providing fascinating context and lavish detail in this incredibly empathetic book as they gently remind us not only of what we are but what we may become.\" \u003cb\u003e—Deanna Raybourn\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Thought-provoking and deliciously eerie, this intriguing study of phantom females not only delves into the history behind the legendary hauntings that chill our blood, but also gives detailed descriptions of real-life ghost encounters.\" \u003cb\u003e—Leslie Rule\u003c\/b\u003e, bestselling author on \u003ci\u003eA Haunted History of Invisible Women\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This book accomplishes the impossible –to tell true stories of abuse, murder, horror, and the plight of women, and somehow make that an elegant and compelling piece of writing. Brava!” \u003cb\u003e—Jonathan Maberry\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eRelentless \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eInk \u003c\/i\u003eon \u003ci\u003eA Haunted History of Invisible Women\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"An absolute must-buy for the spooky people of the world.\" \u003cb\u003e—Mallory O'Meara\u003c\/b\u003e, bestselling author of\u003ci\u003e The Lady from the Black Lagoon \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eGirly Drinks \u003c\/i\u003eon \u003ci\u003eA Haunted History of Invisible Women\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A beautifully researched and well-written observation of women’s ghosts across time. If this book doesn’t leave with you a sense of wonder and a healthy dose of goosebumps, check your pulse—you may already be among the spirits.\" \u003cb\u003e—Marc Hartzman\u003c\/b\u003e, author of \u003ci\u003eChasing Ghosts: A Tour of Our Fascination with Spirits and the Supernatural \u003c\/i\u003eon \u003ci\u003eA Haunted History of Invisible Women\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Expert storytellers Hieber and Janes take us on tour through the lives of real women who would become legendary ghosts adding depth to stories I thought I knew and introducing me to characters I’ve never met before. With wit and empathy, \u003ci\u003eA Haunted History \u003c\/i\u003ebrings the spirit of these women to life. Their stories are touching, shocking, inspiring, and intimately relatable. They tell the ways women have learned to navigate their world, to thrive, and live authentically against the odds. They reveal the ways society objectifies and classifies women who defy norms and challenge the expectations of their time. These ghosts still have something to say and have much to teach. \u003cb\u003e—Leila Taylor\u003c\/b\u003e, author of \u003ci\u003eDarkly: Black History and America's Gothic Soul\u003c\/i\u003e on \u003ci\u003eA Haunted History of Invisible Women\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The ultimate paranormal compendium on female ghosts of America. Not only is this a compulsively readable book, it'll send a chill down your spine while illuminating the dark shadows of a nation.\" \u003cb\u003e—Kris Waldherr\u003c\/b\u003e, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Lost History of Dreams\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eUnnatural Women: A Novel of the Frankenstein Women \u003c\/i\u003eon \u003ci\u003eA Haunted History of Invisible Women\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Both a meditation on the misogyny of a ghost-hunting culture that capitalizes on false narratives of sex and death, and a fascinating look at the flesh-and-blood women behind the ghost stories.” \u003cb\u003e—Chris Woodyard\u003c\/b\u003e, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Victorian Book of the Dead \u003c\/i\u003eon \u003ci\u003eA Haunted History of Invisible Women\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“One of the authors is a believer and one is not, which creates a welcoming environment for both approaches. What they share is a sense of outrage at the many ways that women have been ignored, dismissed, insulted, and otherwise cruelly treated by society, and an interest in why we remember the ones that we do.” \u003cb\u003e—Smart Bitches, Trashy Books \u003c\/b\u003eon \u003ci\u003eA Haunted History of Invisible Women\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The things which truly frighten us are the things which are real. That is why women love horror: it allows us a healthy exploration of our real-life terrors. There is a sisterhood of haunted women throughout history, both actual people and fictional characters. I was thrilled to learn more about them all through the eyes of two women who are members of that sisterhood.” \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—Ohioana Library\u003c\/i\u003e Magazine \u003c\/b\u003eon \u003ci\u003eA Haunted History of Invisible Women\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Real-life tales of the arabesque, guaranteed to have your spine tingling, your nerves jangling, and your mind probing—sometimes reluctantly—the corrupted unknown lurking under the brittle veneer of “normality.” A book steeped in the heady miasma of Gothic intrigue.” \u003cb\u003e—Lindsey Fitzharris\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Butchering Art\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eLeanna Renee Hieber\u003c\/b\u003e is an award-winning author and paranormal history expert. A regular speaker at Sci-Fi \/ Fantasy conventions, she’s appeared on film and television on shows including “Mysteries at the Museum” and “Beyond the Unknown.” She’s a three-time Prism Award-winner for her debut novel, \u003ci\u003eThe Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, \u003c\/i\u003eand a Daphne Du Maurier Award-finalist for \u003ci\u003eDarker Still. \u003c\/i\u003eAfter earning a BFA in Theatre Performance and a focus study in the Victorian Era, she spent many years in the professional regional theatre circuit, skills that serve her well as a speaker and a ghost tour guide for Boroughs of the Dead in New York. Leanna lives in New York, NY and can be found online at: LeannaReneeHieber.com.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAndrea Janes\u003c\/b\u003e (she\/her) is the Founder and owner of Boroughs of the Dead, New York City's premier ghost tour company, which has been featured on NPR.org, \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eJezebel\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTODAY\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Huffington Post\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGothamist\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Travel Channel\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eCondeNast Traveler\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMashable\u003c\/i\u003e, and more. Andrea is also the co-author of \u003ci\u003eA Haunted History of Invisible Women\u003c\/i\u003e. Visit boroughsofthedead.com.","brand":"Citadel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48232922775781,"sku":"NP9780806543741","price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780806543741.jpg?v=1767721406","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/americas-most-gothic-isbn-9780806543741","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}