For lovers of all things supernatural and the occult, a well-researched, entertaining, and accessible popular history of our cultural fascination with ghosts, from the rise of Spiritualism in the Victorian era to The Conjuring franchise, illustrated with rarely seen documents and line drawings. From our earliest conceptions of ghosts to A&E's
Ghost Hunters, Chasing Ghosts explores our obsession with the spiritual world--and what that says about our relationship with life, death, and everything in between.
The ghost tour begins with a brief history of ancient and medieval ghosts, the Fox Sisters and the rise of Spiritualism in the 19th century, and early notable ghost believers like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The tour takes a turn for the terrifying as we explore famous haunted sites like the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia and the LaLaurie House in New Orleans, and learn about famous ghosts like the Bell Witch of Tennessee and the Greenbrier Ghost of West Virginia. Along the way, we hear the stories of ghost hunters like Ed and Lorraine Warren, learn the history of ghost photography, and see how people are using modern-day technology to prove the existence of ghosts.
Deeply researched and presented in an entertaining and accessible way, Marc Hartzman expertly blends popular history, pop culture, and a trove of archival material that will satisfy believers and skeptics alike.
