Discover the spine-chilling history of ghosts and the supernatural across the world in this illustrated guide.

A History of Ghosts, Spirits and the Supernatural charts the extraordinary narrative of one of the most fascinating and controversial subjects in the world, covering everything from Neolithic ancestor worship and ancient necromancy to modern-day ghost-hunting and creepypasta tales, and from the Japanese onryo to the La Llorona of Latin America.

The perfect introduction to the subject, this spellbinding volume details the numerous ways in which spirits and the spirit world have been depicted in myth and religion, folklore, art, and literature.

In this ghostly novel, you will find:

• Recounts of infamous tales of haunted houses and ghost ships, séances and mediumship, poltergeists, possessions, and demonic encounters.
• Feature profiles for other ghostly or undead beings such as vampires and werewolves.
• There are numerous reasons that ghost stories and tales of the uncanny are a common feature of cultures all over the world.

The Heartland of Georgia, a vast region stretching from Columbus to Savannah and from the edge of Atlanta to Florida, is home to historic sites of Sherman's March to the Sea and Andersonville Civil War Prison. Because of this history, the area is one of the most haunted in the United States. All manner of paranormal phenomena haunt the battlefields, houses, prison sites and forts throughout this region. Spirits even stalk the streets of Savannah, one of the most haunted cities in the world. Join author and historian Jim Miles as he details the past and present of the ghosts that haunt central Georgia and Savannah.

This fascinating work provides a complete overview of paranormal phenomena, including the beliefs, attitudes, and notable figures who have attempted to explain, defend, or debunk the mysteries behind the unknown. Recent interest in the paranormal as pop culture fodder belies its historical status as an important subject of cultural, philosophical, and scientific significance. This book traces the trajectory of paranormal studies from its early role as a serious academic and scientific topic studied by mainstream scientists and eminent scholars to its current popularity in books, film, and TV. This compelling reference work details the experiences, encounters, and ideas that make up this controversial field of study. The contributed entries examine the broad phenomena of the paranormal, addressing the history of scientific investigations along with its contemporary media depictions to illustrate the evolution of cultural attitudes about the paranormal. A selection of primary documents provides real-life accounts and contributions from noted experts that explore the full scope of themes from spiritualism to poltergeists to astrology. Accompanying images, timelines, quotations, and sidebars make the content come to life and encourage alternative explanations of these events. Contains more than 120 factual entries as well as extensive excerpts from several primary documents in the area of the paranormal Features contributions from noted experts in its field from across viewpoints-including believers and skeptics Profiles a number of important individuals who have contributed to the history and study of the field Includes such topics as near-death experiences, paranormal dreams, the supernatural, magic, and the occult

This book is much more than an authoritative and compelling look at the cultural history of the supernatural over the last century in America-it also explains why we want to believe. The supernatural-psychic phenomena (telepathy, clairvoyance, or ESP), communicating with the dead, and the sighting and tracking of ghosts-has played an integral role in American culture across the last century. In fact, attention and interest in the supernatural has increased, despite our society's reliance upon and enthusiasm for science and technology. Even some top scholars, officials from the military and police, and public figures in places as high as the Oval Office have believed in at least some aspects of the supernatural. Supernatural America: A Cultural History is the first book to examine the cultural history of the supernatural in the United States, documenting how the expansion of science and technology coincided with a rise in supernatural/paranormal beliefs. From the flourishing of "spiritism" in the 1920s to the early 21st century, when the paranormal is bigger than ever, this entertaining and educational book explains the irresistible allure of the supernatural in America. Shares hundreds of real-life stories, and uses hundreds of sources, many of them forgotten Provides a bibliography of authoritative books and articles, both in support of and arguing against beliefs in the supernatural