Cursed Objects
Strange but True Stories of the World's Most Infamous Items
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Andrews McMeel Publishing
Published:15th Sep '20
Should be back in stock very soon
An illustrated compendium that reveals the true stories behind the most infamous, creepy, and bizarre real-life cursed objects throughout history. Spanning decades and continents, subjects range from the opulent Hope Diamond to the humble Busy Stoop chair.
Beware...this book is cursed! These strange but true stories of the world’s most infamous items will fascinate true believers as well as history buffs, horror fans, and anyone who loves a good spine-tingling tale.Beware...this book is cursed! These strange but true stories of the world’s most infamous items will fascinate true believers as well as history buffs, horror fans, and anyone who loves a good spine-tingling tale.
They’re lurking in museums, graveyards, and private homes. Their often tragic and always bizarre stories have inspired countless horror movies, reality TV shows, novels, and campfire tales. They’re cursed objects, and all they need to unleash a wave of misfortune is . . . you. But never before have their true stories been compiled into a fascinating, chilling volume.
In Cursed Objects, author and oddities expert J. W. Ocker investigates the eerie histories, bizarre legends, and unexplained misfortunes attached to notorious objects around the world. Meet Annabelle the Doll, whose story became part of The Conjuring horror franchise; the Dybbuk Box, which inspired The Possession; the Unlucky Mummy, rumored to have been connected to the Titanic disaster; and the Ring of Silvianus, a Roman artifact linked to the inspiration for Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
Well researched, illustrated, creepy, and darkly funny, Cursed Objects explores not just what supposedly happened, but how legends of curses persist and why people remain fascinated by objects associated with tragedy, death, and the supernatural.
Perfect for paranormal enthusiasts, horror fans, strange-history readers, and anyone who prefers their nonfiction with a little darkness.
- Explore the true histories and eerie legends behind notorious objects blamed for bad luck, tragedy, hauntings, and unexplained events
- Encounter famous creepy artifacts including Annabelle the Doll, the Dybbuk Box, Unlucky Mummy, Conjured Chest, Ring of Silvianus, crystal skulls, haunted dolls, and ancient objects
- Discover how curses, folklore, superstition, coincidence, historical events, and pop culture become intertwined
- J. W. Ocker combines research, macabre illustrations, firsthand encounters, and humor
Open this entertaining cabinet of cursed curiosities—if you dare—and discover the true histories behind objects people have feared for generations.
“This book is so fun that I couldn't put it down. It reminded me that life is short, death is nigh and a little humor can help us seize the day just as well as a memento mori.”—The New York Times
“A visual feast of a book...this eye-catching miscellany is perfect for anyone who wants a treasure chest of weird trivia to peruse.”—Bustle
“Well researched....The entry about the Black Aggie statue in Druid Ridge Cemetery in Pikesville, Maryland, is especially chilling….The only question that remains is, who is courageous enough to brave the myriad scary (and true) stories within?”—Memphis Flyer
“I loved J. W. Ocker's Cursed Objects! This cabinet of cursed curiosities is insanely entertaining and dangerously informative, but be forewarned: you may be cursed with reading it late into the night once you open it.”—Lisa Morton, author of Calling the Spirits: A History of Seances and Ghosts: A Haunted History
“A deliciously scary and entertaining look into the spooky stuff of nightmares. Through rich histories, adorably macabre illustrations, and a modicum of hilarity, this book will entrance readers until the last page—if you survive that long!”—Lydia Kang, author of Quackery
“You don't have to believe in magic to love the stories surrounding these cursed objects. From weresheep, to frozen mummies, to my favorite — the chapters on horrifying objects that have no right to NOT be cursed, J. W. Ocker's Cursed Objects is a delightful overview of all things cursed.”—Dylan Thuras, co-founder of Atlas Obscura
“Anyone who shares a smidge of his passion for the peculiar will want to buy a copy for themselves and one to give away.”—New Hampshire Magazine
“An inherently fascinating, informative, and thought-provoking read from cover to cover.”—Midwest Book Review
“If you’re like me and want it to always be spooky season, this is a book for you.”—Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
“Ocker is a solid writer who offers a campfire-tale mystique to his prose.”—Hollywood Soapbox
ISBN: 9781683692362
Dimensions: 209mm x 140mm x 30mm
Weight: 578g
272 pages