In the twenty-first century, as in centuries past, stories of the supernatural thrill and terrify us. But despite their popularity, scholars often dismiss such beliefs in the uncanny as inconsequential, or even embarrassing. The editors and contributors to The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History have made a concerted effort to understand encounters with ghosts and the supernatural that have remain present and flourished. Featuring folkloric researchers examining the cultural value of such beliefs and practices, sociologists who acknowledge the social and historical value of the supernatural, and enthusiasts of the mystical and uncanny, this volume includes a variety of experts and interested observers using first-hand ethnographic experiences and historical records. The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History seeks to understand the socio-cultural and socio-historical contexts of the supernatural. This volume takes the supernatural as real because belief in it has fundamentally shaped human history. It continues to inform people's interpretations, actions, and identities on a daily basis. The supernatural is an indelible part of our social world that deserves sincere scholarly attention. Contributors include: Janet Baldwin, I'Nasah Crockett, William Ryan Force, Rachael Ironside, Tea Krulos, Joseph Laycock, Stephen L. Muzzatti, Scott Scribner, Emma Smith, Jeannie Banks Thomas, and the editors

The most terrifying British ghosts are brought together in this, a unique and original compilation of spine-chilling true encounters both ancient and modern. Not for the faint of heart, this book contains over thirty compelling experiences that reveal a dark and disturbing reality to the realm of the paranormal - deadly curses and murderous ghosts, violent poltergeists, haunted relics and spirit possession - all unsettling insights into a frightening supernatural world. From the mysterious happenings at Hinton Ampner to the eerie Black Monk of Pontefract, the celebrated Enfield Poltergeist and the sinister power of the Hexham Heads, paranormal historian Paul Adams and writer and photographer Eddie Brazil have opened case files spanning over 250 years, from the eighteenth century to the present day, in order to carry out a detailed and chilling examination of the extreme hauntings of Britain.

If you're one of the countless fans of ghost hunting TV shows itching to get off the couch and track some spirits on your own, this book provides everything you need to know to conduct a successful paranormal investigation.

Professional ghost hunter Rich Newman shares proven scientific methods, tried-and-true low-tech approaches, and the latest technology used by the pros. You'll learn what ghosts are, why hauntings occur, the different types of supernatural phenomena, and the importance of conducting responsible investigations. Find out how to form a team, interact with ghosts, gather and examine evidence--and what not to do when seeking spirits.

Along with helpful hints, insider tips, and seasoned insights gained from Newman's decade of field work, Ghost Hunting for Beginners is peppered with true accounts of ghost stories from famous cases and the author's own investigations.

"Stephen Ellis' search for answers to unexplained things began in 1979. While visiting San Francisco, one night an image of a girl appeared before him in his room...a girl he later found out had been murdered in that room one month earlier.

Shaking-off the natural tendency to disbelieve what he saw, Ellis began to research material on "ghosts." He found that many people had ghostly experiences, but none had logical explanations for them. Ellis began to find that valid explanations existed, but had often been concealed by those seeking personal gain or distorted by some religious dogma.

"Explaining the Unexplained" offers a no nonsense look at questions concerning reincarnation to ESP to ghosts. Ellis offers realistic answers to questions and events that, until now, have lacked rational explanation. "Explaining the Unexplained" investigates the world's most captivating mysteries and supports its views with strong, empirical and circumstantial evidence. If you're looking for answers, this book is a "must read."

Heighten your intuition, connect with deceased loved ones, and surpass the psychological roadblocks holding you back with psychic medium Rebecca Rosen's fresh and hip prescriptive program, a unique and refreshing blend of self-help wisdom and psychic insight.

In "Spirited," readers can learn how to dig into their past to identify the root of the "damage" that's keeping them from living their best lives. In her colorful and youthfully vibrant voice, medium-to-the-stars Rebecca Rosen shows us how to draw on the power of our intuitive gifts to connect with spirit energy--loved ones who have passed--to provide the clarity necessary to master real-life issues, including relationships, job fulfillment, finances, and body image.

From the bestselling author of "She's Not There" comes another buoyant, unforgettable memoir--"I'm Looking Through You" is about growing up in a haunted house...and making peace with the ghosts that dwell in our hearts.
For Jennifer Boylan, creaking stairs, fleeting images in the mirror, and the remote whisper of human voices were everyday events in the Pennsylvania house in which she grew up in the 1970s. But these weren't the only specters beneath the roof of the mansion known as the "Coffin House." Jenny herself--born James--lived in a haunted body, and both her mysterious, diffident father and her wild, unpredictable sister would soon become ghosts to Jenny as well.
"I'm Looking Through You" is an engagingly candid investigation of what it means to be "haunted." Looking back on the spirits who invaded her family home, Boylan launches a full investigation with the help of a group of earnest, if questionable, ghostbusters. Boylan also examines the ways we find connections between the people we once were and the people we become. With wit and eloquence, Boylan shows us how love, forgiveness, and humor help us find peace--with our ghosts, with our loved ones, and with the uncanny boundaries, real and imagined, between men and women.

In the history of the numinous there are few things more common than the belief in ghosts. From the earliest writings such as the Epic of Gilgamesh to today's ghost-hunting reality TV shows, ghosts have chilled the air of nearly every era and every culture in human history. In this book, now available in B-format paperback, Lisa Morton wrangles together history's most enduring ghosts into an entertaining and comprehensive look at what otherwise seems to always evade our eyes.

Todos disfrutamos de una buena historia de fantasmas. Quiza la fascinacion humana con lo sobrenatural provenga del hecho de que la mayoria de nosotros, en algun punto de nuestras vidas, hemos vivido algo que no pudimos explicar del todo. Desde una edad temprana, James Van Praagh fue conciente de una dimension que la mayoria de nosotros no puede ver, y ha dedicado su vida a explicarnosla. "Fantasmas entre nosotros" es un viaje increible al mundo de los espiritus que devela uno de nuestros grandes interrogantes de la vida: Que ocurre despues de la muerte?

Van Praagh, autor bestseller del "New York Times" y coproductor ejecutivo de la serie de CBS "The Ghost Whisperer," comparte sus conocimientos y experiencias acerca de fantasmas, un tema que a muchos nos puede parecer bizarro y aterrador. Pero cuando un guia experto nos brinda una explicacion detallada sobre este mundo del mas alla, el rechazo y la aprension pueden transformarse en conocimiento e inspiracion. Con increibles anecdotas reales, lecturas escalofriantemente precisas e informacion invaluable de como comunicarte con los del otro lado, Van Praagh nos desafia a cuestionar nuestras percepciones y nos muestra como comprender y aceptar a los fantasmas nos ayudara a vivir una vida mas plena y feliz. "Fantasmas entre nosotros" es una guia completa y unica que te llevara a conocer el mundo de los espiritus como nunca te lo hubieses imaginado.

The Wild West is infamous for its outrageous stories, cowboys, and gun battles. But the region is also known for its ghost stories, unexplained deaths, bizarre murders, and peculiar burials. In Weird Wild West, author Keven McQueen brings together a fabulous collection of tales of the darker and stranger side of Texas, Oklahoma, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, and Washington. Exploring mysterious deaths, true crime stories, and paranormal activity, this eerie collection uncovers long buried and disturbing stories of the region. Included are the unforgettable tales of the body-snatching of Billy the Kid, the revenge curse of a former deputy district attorney in Colorado, and the weird tale of Mr. Moon, who couldn't keep his dearly departed wife in the ground despite his best efforts. An intriguing, frightful, and entertaining exploration of the strange and gothic side of the Western states, Weird Wild West promises to send chills down your spine.

'Shapton has created a mystical territory - a performance, an exhibition, a guestbook - in which I felt the ghost within myself; the thing that will outlive me. A fearless and exquisite book' Miranda July Guestbook explores the glimmering, unsettling things that haunt us in the midst of life, combining stories, vignettes and an evocative curiosity cabinet of artifacts and images - found photographs, original paintings, Instagram-style portraits - to transform the traditional ghost story into something else entirely. 'Leanne Shapton has a way of making books entirely new, surreal, and uncanny ... Guestbook contains ghost stories for a world of images and captions, in which the ghosts are all of us, and our strange time' Sheila Heti, author of How Should a Person Be?

New England is renowned for its quaint towns, beautiful landscapes, and busy ports. But it is also infamous as the setting for unexplained deaths, ghost stories, bizarre murders, and peculiar wills and epitaphs. In New England Nightmares: True Tales of the Strange and Gothic, author Keven McQueen explores the darker and stranger side of New England and the Mid-Atlantic. With shocking and unforgettable tales from the tip of Maine all the way to the New Jersey shore, this eerie collection explores our fascination with death and the unknown, including tales of medical students digging up bodies to dissect, of a murderer's bones being wired together after death, and of Dr. Timothy Clark Smith, who requested that he be buried with a breathing tube and glass window so he could see the outside world. An intriguing and frightful look into the odder side of the Northeast, New England Nightmares promises to send chills down your spine.

Beneath California's scenic landscape lies a strange and dark side, full of spine-tingling tales and frightful imagery. Creepy California: Strange and Gothic Tales from the Golden State explores the disturbing and macabre stories of unexplained deaths, intentional live burials, true crimes, and ghosts who haunt the Pacific Coast. This spooky collection includes the extraordinarily odd, like the account of a coroner, who "borrowed" the stylish clothes of one dead man and even sold the corpse's head to a doctor for scientific research, and the paranormal, like the tale of a haunted, two-story house in San Francisco that was moved across town in an effort to dislodge its ghostly tenants. The attempt failed, and the San Francisco Chronicle commented that "the neighborhood has been kept in a constant dread and torment by unearthly groans, mysterious lights, and agonized shrieks emanating from their dread habitation." An intriguing and frightful look at the disturbing side of the state, Creepy California promises to send chills down your spine and keep you looking over your shoulder.

Before the Civil War, a network of secret routes and safe houses crisscrossed the Midwest to help African Americans travel north to escape slavery. Although many slaves were able to escape to the safety of Canada, others met untimely deaths on the treacherous journey-and some of these unfortunates still linger, unable to rest in peace. In Hauntings of the Underground Railroad: Ghosts of the Midwest, Jane Simon Ammeson investigates unforgettable and chilling tales of these restless ghosts that still walk the night. This unique collection includes true and gruesome stories, like the story of a lost toddler who wanders the woods near the Story Inn, eternally searching for the mother torn from him by slave hunters, or the tale of the Hannah House, where an overturned oil lamp sparked a fire that trapped slaves hiding in the basement and burned them alive. Brave visitors who visit the house, which is now a bed and breakfast, claim they can still hear voices moaning and crying from the basement. Ammeson also includes incredible true stories of daring escapes and close calls on the Underground Railroad. A fascinating and spine-tingling glimpse into our past, Hauntings of the Underground Railroad will keep you up all night.

Tales behind the trails of America's national parks, thoroughly investigated and combining the popularity of ghost stories with the traditional aspects of a hiking guide. Readers will meet the chupacabra that roams the swamps inside Big Thicket National Preserve, Death Valley's moving rock and the disembodied legs that run around the Mammoth Cave Visitor Centre. A fright factor rating is listed for each hike, along with information on trailhead access, maps and difficulty levels.

Part the dimensional veil and follow Terry Boyle into the world of spirits, with a fourth book of spine-tingling paranormal adventures. Meet the forever-beautiful spectre of Marilyn Monroe, who came to the French River seeking sanctuary from fame and fans, and decided to stay. Journey to the remarkable Victorian Beild House Inn in Collingwood; sleep in the bed of King Edward VIII of England, and wait for the deceased doctor to make a room call. Acquaint yourself with the lonely woman who searches empty rooms and narrow hallways of the Grafton Village Inn. She glides up the central staircase to the ballroom, where she fades from sight. Who is the mysterious woman dressed in white-satin at the Joseph Brant Museum? Is she searching for a door that will lead to freedom? Musket in hand, a sentry paces the grounds of Fort George, prepared for the next American invasion. Does he know he is a casualty of time, not war? With a list of addresses, phone numbers, and websites for each location, Terry Boyle invites all ghost enthusiasts along for some adventure. Feeling brave? This could be the perfect itinerary for your next trip.

Compiled by paranormal investigator Gregor Stewart, this new book contains a chilling range of spooky tales from around Kirkcaldy. From haunted public houses, which have left both customers and staff terrified, to the ruins of the ancient Ravenscraig Castle, which still attract a mysterious visitor many years after their death, this collection of ghostly goings-on, phantom footsteps and playful poltergeists is sure to appeal to everyone interested in the paranormal and the history of Fife's largest town. Richly illustrated with over fifty images, Haunted Kirkcaldy is guaranteed to make your blood run cold.

Greyfrair's Cemetery in Edinburgh has a centuries old reputation for being haunted. Its gruesome history includes use as a mass prison, headstone removal, witchcraft, bodysnatching, desecration, corpse dumping and live burial. In 1998, something new and inexplicable began occurring in the graveyard. Visitors encountered 'cold spots', strange smells and banging noises. They found themselves overcome by nausea, or cut and bruised by something they could not see. Over the space of two years, twenty-four people were knocked unconscious. Homes next to the graveyard wall became plagued by crockery smashing, objects moving and unidentified laughter. Witnesses to these attacks ran into the hundreds. There were two exorcisms of the area. Both failed. The section of Greyfriars where the attacks occurred is now chained shut. The entity responsible has been named the 'Mackenzie Poltergeist'. It has become one of the best-documented and most conclusive paranormal cases in history. The Poltergeist is still growing stronger. This is its story.

Haunted Doncaster contains a selection of the reported sightings and stories from ordinary people in Doncaster who believe they have had an extraordinary experience. The majority of the haunted locations in this book have been investigated first-hand by the authors, who give the reader an insight into their experience and provide information about the stories behind the alleged sightings. Each tale is accompanied by an atmospheric black-and-white photograph. This book is aimed at anyone interested in the spectres that inhabit Doncaster's homes, pubs, and highways.

This collection of true-life ghost stories tells of apparitions, manifestations, strange sightings, and happenings in Neath's streets, cemeteries, and alehouses. Authentic stories that have been collected by the author over a period of 40 years, most of which have never been published, unearth a chilling range of supernatural phenomena. Stories as diverse as the drowning man off Morfa Beach saved by a mysterious presence in a rowing boat, the unexplained smashed mirror in the old Victoria Pub, the eerie image of a Victorian policeman in Old Market Street, and ghostly monks at the Cistercian Neath Abbey, will enthrall anyone with an interest in the supernatural history of the area. Illustrated with both old picture postcards and atmospheric modern photographs, this is the perfect read for anyone wanting to know more about the mysteries side of Neath.

The area round Pendle Hill (Burnley, Nelson, Colne and over to Skipton) has long been associated with witches and ghostly goings on. This is a collection of myths and tales about the infamous witches. It appeals to those with an interest in the history of the region.