A History of Ghosts
A History of Ghosts

Author: Peter H. Aykroyd

Publisher: Rodale Books

Published: 2009-09-29

Total Pages: 266

ISBN-13: 1605293512

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Peter Aykroyd spent his childhood watching his family's parlor séances through the crack of a basement door. Here, for the first time, Aykroyd tells the strange and delightful story that inspired his son, Dan, to make the mega-hit, Ghostbusters. Part history, part family legend, A History of Ghosts starts in 1848 in upstate New York, where the spiritualist craze first began. Aykroyd introduces the reader to notable mediums while telling the story of the development of spiritualism, interweaving a personal history marked by a fascination with ghosts and spirits with the larger narrative about the role the paranormal has played in our culture. Such legendary figures as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini appear and vanish. Everyone loves a good ghost story. Successful TV shows such as Medium and Ghost Hunters are proof that our national obsession with ghosts is here to stay. Millions of Americans believe in the paranormal—and even skeptics have heard a bump in the night and suspected it might be something supernatural.

A History of Ghosts, Spirits and the Supernatural
A History of Ghosts, Spirits and the Supernatural

Author: DK

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2024-09-10

Total Pages: 903

ISBN-13: 0593958411

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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 mediumships, poltergeists, possessions, and demonic encounters. Feature profiles for other ghostly or undead beings, such as vampires and werewolves. The numerous reasons that ghost stories and tales of the uncanny are a common feature of cultures the world over. A serious but reader-friendly overview of a fascinating and controversial subject that explores the supernatural across the world and throughout history. The most holistic history of the subject available, A History of Ghosts, Spirits, and the Supernatural will shock and delight you in equal measure - whether you are a believer or a skeptic.

A History of Ghosts
A History of Ghosts

Author: Peter H. Aykroyd

Publisher:

Published: 2009-09-29

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13:

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The father of "Ghostbusters" star Dan Aykroyd shares the blockbuster movie's real-life inspiration: his own family's colorful history and experiences with the paranormal. color photo insert.

A History of Ghosts, Spirits and Other Supernatural Phenomena
A History of Ghosts, Spirits and Other Supernatural Phenomena

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2024-08-20

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780744098730

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Discover the spine-chilling history of ghosts and the supernatural throughout time and around the world in this stunningly illustrated guide. A History of Ghosts, Spirits, and Other Supernatural Phenomena explores stories from around the world, from the Japanese onryo ("vengeful spirit") to the Irish banshee, and the dybbuk of Jewish folklore to La Llorona ("the weeping woman") of Latin America. The perfect introduction to the subject, this fascinating volume charts the various ways in which spirits and the spirit world have been depicted in myth and religion, folklore, art, and literature, and recounts infamous real-life tales of haunted houses and ghost ships, séances and mediumship, poltergeists, possessions, and demonic encounters. Features profile other ghostly or "undead" beings such as succubi and incubi, vampires, and werewolves, as well as exploring the numerous reasons that ghost stories or tales of the uncanny have a place in cultures all over the world. Entries also explore scientific theories around ghosts and hauntings, such as stone-tape theory (the idea that spirits can leave a sound impression on audio tape) or Kirlian photography (images of electrical discharges at the point of death). The most comprehensive illustrated history of the subject available, A History of Ghosts, Spirits, and Other Supernatural Phenomena will shock and delight you in equal measure--whether you are a believer or a skeptic.

On Ghosts
On Ghosts

Author: Ronald L. Murphy, Jr.

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2016-09-01

Total Pages: 202

ISBN-13: 9781537438757

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Join folklorist and historian Ronald L. Murphy, Jr. as he leads a fascinating tour of the spirit world throughout history. Investigate various cultures and religions and examine their attitudes toward death and what awaits beyond life's boundaries. Are ghosts the spiritual essence of the deceased, or are they elemental forces of the natural world? Come along and take a survey of the paranormal as we study the subject of ghosts.

Ghosts, Apparitions and Poltergeists
Ghosts, Apparitions and Poltergeists

Author: Brian Righi

Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide

Published: 2011-10-08

Total Pages: 102

ISBN-13: 0738722219

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Skeletal remains rotting behind cellar walls, temple priests removing brains with iron hooks, phantom locomotives roaring across midnight plains—Brian Righi isn't making this stuff up. The ghost stories he finds in history are far more chilling than any Hollywood horror scene. Join the seasoned paranormal investigator on a tour through mankind's millennium-old obsession with death and the afterlife. Ghosts, Apparitions and Poltergeists surveys 4,000 years of hauntings and ghost huntings—from the embalming rituals of ancient Egypt to the Ouija boards and séances of nineteenth century Spiritualism—highlighting a few outlandish tales and colorful characters along the way. Once you've learned the history, launch a paranormal investigation of your own with Righi's guide to modern ghost hunting, full of detailed advice culled from his seven years of experience in the field.

Ghosts, Spirits, and Psychics
Ghosts, Spirits, and Psychics

Author: Matt Cardin

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2015-07-28

Total Pages: 498

ISBN-13:

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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.

Ghosts
Ghosts

Author: P. G. Maxwell-Stuart

Publisher: Tempus Publishing Limited

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 9780752443874

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Traces the history of ghost phenomena through the ages and the ways in which people have tried to deal with the hope, the fear, the curiosity, and the disbelief which ghosts have aroused.

A Natural History of Ghosts
A Natural History of Ghosts

Author: Roger Clarke

Publisher: Penguin UK

Published: 2012-11-01

Total Pages: 348

ISBN-13: 0141958146

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A natural history of the supernatural from Roger Clarke, lifelong investigator into England's creepiest real-life ghost stories 'Is there anybody out there?' No matter how rationally we order our lives, few of us are completely immune to the suggestion of the uncanny and the fear of the dark. The subject of whether ghosts exist has fascinated some of the finest minds in history and it remains a subject of overwhelming interest today. This is the first comprehensive, authoritative and readable history of the evolution of the ghost in the west, examining as every good natural history should, the behaviour of the subject in its preferred environment: the stories we tell each other. What explains sightings of ghosts? Why do they fascinate us? What exactly did the haunted see? What did they believe? And what proof is there? Taking us through the key hauntings that have obsessed the world from the poltergeist of Cock Lane through the true events that inspired The Turn of the Screw and the dark events of Borley Rectory right up to the present day, Roger Clarke unfolds a story of class conflict, charlatans and true believers. His surprising castlist ranges from Samuel Johnson to John Wesley, and from Harry Houdini to Adolf Hitler. Inspired by a childhood spent in two haunted houses, Roger Clarke has spent much of his life trying to see a ghost. Written as grippingly as the best ghost fiction, A Natural History of Ghosts takes us on an unforgettable hunt through the most haunted places of the last five hundred years and our longing to believe.

The Big Book of Ohio Ghost Stories
The Big Book of Ohio Ghost Stories

Author: James A. Willis

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2019-07-17

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13: 1493043919

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Hauntings lurk and spirits linger in the heart of America Reader, beware! Turn these pages and enter the world of the paranormal, where ghosts and ghouls alike creep just out of sight. Author James A. Willis shines a light in the dark corners of Ohio and scares those spirits out of hiding in this thrilling collection. From ghostly soldiers that still haunt Fort Meigs to the eerie Franklin Castle, there’s no shortage of bone-chilling tales to keep you up at night. There’s even a carved tombstone of an infant at Cedar Hill cemetery, whose ghostly eyes keep watch over those wander too close. Around the campfire or tucked away on a dark and stormy night, this big book of ghost stories is a hauntingly good read.