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Cursed Objects

Strange but True Stories of the Worlds Most Infamous Items

J. W. Ocker

$34.99

Hardback

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English
QUIRK BOOKS
01 December 2020
"They're lurking in museums, graveyards, and private homes around the world. Their stories have inspired countless horror movies, reality TV shows, campfire tales, books, and even chain emails. They're cursed objects, and in order to unleash a wave of misfortune, all they need...is you. As a culture, we can't seem to get enough of cursed objects. But never before have the true stories of these infamous real-life items been compiled into a fascinating and chilling volume.

Entries include-

Annabelle the Doll, a Raggedy Ann doll which inspired the acclaimed horror franchise The Conjuring The Tomb of Tutankhamen, the discovery of which kicked-started media hysteria over a rumored ""Curse of the Pharaohs"" The Ring of Silvianus, a Roman artifact believed to have inspired J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit The Hope Diamond, which was owned by kings and inspired the Heart of the Ocean in James Cameron's Titanic The Dybbuk Box, which was sold on eBay and inspired the horror film The Possession

Whether you believe in curses or not, the often tragic and always bizarre stories behind these objects will fascinate you. Many of them have intersected with some of the most notable events and people in history. But beyond Hollywood and beyond the hysteria, author J. W. Ocker suggests that cursed objects are simply objects which have been witness to great human tragedy, and thereafter operate as mechanisms for remembering and retelling those stories. Cursed Objects will be equally appealing to 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 appeal to 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.

Many of these unfortunate items have intersected with some of the most notable events and people in history, leaving death and destruction in their wake. But never before have the true stories of these eerie oddities been compiled into a fascinating and chilling volume.

Inside, readers will learn about-

.

Annabelle the Doll, a Raggedy Ann doll that featured in the horror franchise The Conjuring

.

The Unlucky Mummy, which is rumored to have sunk theTitanicand kick-started World War I

.

The Dybbuk box, which was sold on eBay and spawned the horror film The Possession

.

The Conjured Chest, which has been blamed for fifteen deaths within a single family

.

The Ring of Silvianus, a Roman artifact believed to have inspired J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit

.

And many more!"

By:  
Imprint:   QUIRK BOOKS
Country of Publication:   United States
Dimensions:   Height: 203mm,  Width: 135mm, 
Weight:   567g
ISBN:   9781683692362
ISBN 10:   1683692365
Pages:   272
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active

J. W. (Jason) Ocker is an Edgar Award winning travel writer, novelist, and blogger. His book Poe-Land- The Hallowed Haunts of Edgar Allan Poe was nominated for an Anthony Award and won the 2015 Edgar Award for Best Critical/Biography. His other books include The New England Grimpendium and The New York Grimpendium, each of which won a Lowell Thomas Award from the American Society of Travel Writers, and A Season with the Witch- The Magic and Mayhem of Halloween in Salem, all published by Countryman Press/W.W. Norton. He's the author of the novels Death and Douglas (Sky Pony) and Twelve Nights at Rotter House (Turner). He is also the creator of OTIS- Odd Things I've Seen (oddthingsiveseen.com), where he chronicles his visits to thousands of oddities of culture, art, nature, and history across world. His writing can be found in the Boston Globe, CNN, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, The Guardian, and more.

Reviews for Cursed Objects: Strange but True Stories of the Worlds Most Infamous Items

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 A perfect tome for Halloween.--Hollywood Soapbox 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 A fun read that doubles as a jumping off point for those who either want to just enjoy a good story or discover something new to research more in depth. --FangirlNation


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