Cursed in New England: Stories of Damned Yankees |
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Cursed in New England: Stories of Damned Yankees
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by Joseph A. Citro and Jeff White
Sales Rank: 706955
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List Price: $14.95
$11.66
At Amazon
on 8-1-2008.
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Features
Cover Type: Paperback with 272 pages
Published by: Globe Pequot; First edition September 1, 2004
Written in: English
ISBN 10 Number: 076272868X
ISBN 13 Number: 978-0762728688
Book Dimensions:
8.4 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
Weighs: 11.2 ounces
From Publishers Weekly
Vermont native Citro has spent years studying the darker side of New England; in books such as Passing Strange, Curious New England and Green Mountains, Dark Trails hes told stories of hauntings and horrors, of mysteries and superstitions. Here he looks at some of the areas most famous curses, from the 1600s through the 1960s, and while his tone is generally impartial ("in the interest of journalistic objectivity"), he admits a fascination that verges on belief. Convicted citizens who knew themselves to be innocent often pronounced final curses on their accusers (Citro reports that in the late 17th century, after being told by a condemned lady that God would give him blood to drink, a dishonest cleric suffered an internal hemorrhage and drowned in his own blood), while desperate people called down evil on those who had refused them help (in the early 19th century, Citro writes, a lady who has been refused passage on a Lake Champlain steamship caused it to burst into flame). In most of these stories, the curses act as the vengeance of the powerless on the powerful. Citro does a fine job of presenting the evidence for curses, but hes not afraid to debunk them either. Creepy b&w illustrations add to the pleasure of this informative and entertaining volume for all students of the supernatural.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Product Review
Vermont native Citro has spent years studying the darker side of New England; in books such as Passing Strange, Curious New England and Green Mountains, Dark Trails he’s told stories of hauntings and horrors, of mysteries and superstitions. Here he looks at some of the area’s most famous curses, from the 1600s through the 1960s, and while his tone is generally impartial ("in the interest of journalistic objectivity"), he admits a fascination that verges on belief. Convicted citizens who knew themselves to be innocent often pronounced final curses on their accusers (Citro reports that in the late 17th century, after being told by a condemned lady that God would give him blood to drink, a dishonest cleric suffered an internal hemorrhage and drowned in his own blood), while desperate people called down evil on those who had refused them help (in the early 19th century, Citro writes, a lady who has been refused passage on a Lake Champlain steamship caused it to burst into flame). In most of these stories, the curses act as the vengeance of the powerless on the powerful. Citro does a fine job of presenting the evidence for curses, but he’s not afraid to debunk them either. Creepy black and white illustrations add to the pleasure of this informative and entertaining volume for all students of the supernatural. -- Publishers Weekly
"Cursed in New England is a must read for anyone who wants to know more about these parts. By gathering together stories, synthesizing them, analyzing them, Joseph A. Citro has over the years made a significant contribution to New England History and culture. He does it all in a simple, elegant prose style and with insight and a sneaky sense of humor."
--Ernest Hebert, author of The Old American, The Dogs of March, and five other novels
Reader Reviews
In his new book, Joseph Citro thoroughly explores the history and folklore of death and misfortune brought about through the power of words. And Citro doesn't disappoint. The book is fascinating, educational, entertaining and hard to put down. The curses that unfold in these pages stretch from the earliest days of New England colonialism through the modern age of politics. Of course, there must be an entry from the days of Salem's witch hysteria, and Citro supplies the eerie tale of Giles Corey, an elderly man pressed to death for refusing to consent to trial, and whose dying curse plagued generations of Salem sheriffs. In a land where Native Americans paid a dear price to Europe's colonial spirit, you'll find numerous Indian curses such as the one that ravaged the town of Burton and another that made a death-trap of the Saco River. The horrifying fate of Rogers' Rangers follows hard on the heels of plunder and slaughter. The entire population of Dudleytown felt the power of a curse. A luxury steamer on Lake Champlain burned to the water after being cursed by a displaced passenger. The ancient tree of Tarkiln demanded its due respect. And an entire island in Boston Harbor disappeared after a man executed there vowed it would be so. Citro even takes on the mighty Kennedy clan, revealing the tradition of bad luck that has followed family members through several generations and has repeatedly dashed their hopes for power. Although reluctant to veer into a sensational "tabloid" style of writing, Citro rightly explains that the greatest New England curse of the 20th century can hardly be ignored. Citro has a pleasant way of telling tales; this is the sort of fellow you want sitting in the best chair at a fireside gathering, regaling the party with stories. He lays down the stories in an engaging narrative, then follows it up with citations from available research and his own experiences. The personal touch is a delightful extra step that is lacking from many books in this genre. From cursed springs to damned village, he's been there, and he records his impressions of the experience. When his research debunks a legend, he provides the explanation. In one case, for instance, the well-known story of a self-inflicted curse has its roots in a work of early fiction that spread and was accepted as truth.
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Cursed in New England: Stories of Damned Yankees
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