Chasing Ghosts : A Tour of Our Fascination with Spirits and the Supernatural

Take a spirited tour through the supernatural history of America, from its haunted sites to its famous ghosts to its ghost-obsessed pop culture.

“A fantastic book.”—Ben Kissel, co-host of Last Podcast on the Left

Take a spirited tour through the supernatural history of America, from its haunted sites to its famous ghosts to its ghost-obsessed pop culture.

Ghosts are everywhere—whether you believe in them or not. Every town has its local legends, and countless books, movies, and TV shows are haunted by their presence. But our obsession with ghosts runs deeper than we know—and is embedded in the very fabric of American history.
 
Writer and historian Marc Hartzman takes readers on a fascinating journey through supernatural history, including:
 
   • The Fox Sisters and the rise of Spiritualism 
   • The supernatural obsessions of famous figures like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 
   • Famous haunted sites like the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia and the LaLaurie House in New Orleans
   • Famous ghosts like the Bell Witch of Tennessee and the Greenbrier Ghost of West Virginia
   • Paranormal investigators like Ed and Lorraine Warren  

Deeply researched and highly entertaining, with archival images and black and white illustrations, Chasing Ghosts will satisfy believers and skeptics alike.