Consists of an introductory essay on the Appalachian setting & a choice selection of folk stories about ghosts, true experiences & tall tales. Ninth Printing 1995.
Nancy Roberts has often been described to as the "First Lady of American Folklore" and the title is well deserved. Throughout her decades-long career, Roberts documented supernatural experiences and interviewed hundreds of people about their recollections of encounters with the supernatural. This nationally renowned writer began her undertaking in this ghostly realm as a freelance writer for the Charlotte Observer. Encouraged by Carl Sandburg, who enjoyed her stories and articles, Roberts wrote her first book in 1958. Aptly called a "custodian of the twilight zone" by Southern Living magazine, Roberts based her suspenseful stories on interviews and her rich knowledge of American folklore. Her stories were always rooted in history, which earned her a certificate of commendation from the American Association of State and Local History for her books on the Carolinas and Appalachia.
A collection of spine-tingling Appalachian ghost stories and tall tales passed down from generation to generation. Whether they tell of faucets that drip blood, monster catfish that lurk at the bottom of quarries, or strange lights on the mountaintop, these stories will make you--like the people who are sharing them--question what you believe. Foxfire has brought the philosophy of simple living to hundreds of thousands of readers, teaching creative self-sufficiency and preserving the stories, crafts, and customs of Appalachia. Inspiring and practical, this classic series has become an American institution. In July 2016, Vintage Shorts celebrates Foxfire's 50th Anniversary.
In the mysterious shadows of the Appalachian Mountains, ghosts linger long after their bodies have been put to rest. This old, eroded mountain chain stretches from northern Alabama in the south all the way to Maine in the northeast. Veteran ghost writer Susan Smitten has written a spine-tingling collection of tales to thrill and entertain: - in Tryon, North Carolina, a woman's great-grandmother continues to watch over her family from beyond the grave - East Tennessee State University has been called the most haunted campus in the southern United States the old lunatic asylum in Weston, West Virginia, is a ghost hunter's paradise - old habits die hard--or don't die at all--for the founder of the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia ...and more, from all over the Appalachians.
Adults and children alike enjoy a good ghost tale. The Southern Mountain region is rich with haunted legends and superstitions. These short stories are previously unpublished and have been handed down for generations spanning nearly a century. * On a winding, dangerous road in Rich Mountain a lone driver offers a ride to a pale and sad young girl. He soon discovers that his silent passenger hasn't accompanied him to their destination, and he questions his sanity when he realizes she is gone. There is proof that she occupied the passenger seat, but where did she go? Hugh should consider himself lucky that she didn't stay along for the ride. * A coal miner seeks housing and employment in a small camp in West Virginia, but the only house available is known to be haunted. Previous residents report hearing wheezing and coughing from an unseen occupant hobbling on a cane throughout the house. Many families left the house to escape the haunt, but this miner doesn't believe in ghosts. Will disbelief be enough to do away with the ghostly legend, or will Jim actually discover that ghosts do exist? These and 10 more chilling stories of supernatural, superstition, ghosts and phantoms will incite you to consider the question do ghosts really exist? Can a spirit return from the grave to seek justice? Can a proclaimed fortune teller cast a spell of revenge? Can amulets and good luck charms change your destiny? Discover why the people of the Southern Appalachian Mountains delight in sharing stories around campfires at stir offs, pie suppers, and during brush arbor. Take a step back in time, get a chill down your spine next to a warm fire in the dark of night while smelling sweet sugar molasses. Are you ready to wander into the woods alone? Or will the spirits of the ridge keep you at bay?
Witches, Ghosts, and Signs: Folklore of the Southern Appalachians by the renowned West Virginia folklorist and former West Virginia University English professor Patrick W. Gainer not only highlights stories that both amuse and raise goosebumps, but also begins with a description of the people and culture of the state. Based on material Gainer collected from over fifty years of field research in West Virginia and the region, Witches, Ghosts, and Signs presents the rich heritage of the southern Appalachians in a way that has never been equaled. Strange and supernatural tales of ghosts, witches, hauntings, disappearances, and unexplained murders that have been passed down from generation to generation from as far back as the earliest settlers in the region are included in this collection that will send chills down the spine.
Tradition, community, and pride are fundamental aspects of the history of Appalachia, and the language of the region is a living testament to its rich heritage. Despite the persistence of unflattering stereotypes and cultural discrimination associated with their style of speech, Appalachians have organized to preserve regional dialects -- complex forms of English peppered with words, phrases, and pronunciations unique to the area and its people. Talking Appalachian examines these distinctive speech varieties and emphasizes their role in expressing local history and promoting a shared identity. Beginning with a historical and geographical overview of the region that analyzes the origins of its dialects, this volume features detailed research and local case studies investigating their use. The contributors explore a variety of subjects, including the success of African American Appalachian English and southern Appalachian English speakers in professional and corporate positions. In addition, editors Amy D. Clark and Nancy M. Hayward provide excerpts from essays, poetry, short fiction, and novels to illustrate usage. With contributions from well-known authors such as George Ella Lyon and Silas House, this balanced collection is the most comprehensive, accessible study of Appalachian language available today.
" West Virginia boasts an unusually rich heritage of ghost tales. Originally West Virginians told these hundred stories not for idle amusement but to report supernatural experiences that defied ordinary human explanation. From jealous rivals and ghostly children to murdered kinsmen and omens of death, these tales reflect the inner lives—the hopes, beliefs, and fears—of a people. Like all folklore, these tales reveal much of the history of the region: its isolation and violence, the passions and bloodshed of the Civil War era, the hardships of miners and railroad laborers, and the lingering vitality of Old World traditions.