Cursed Objects: Strange but True Stories of the World's Most Infamous Items (Hardcover)

Description

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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 the Titanic and 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! 

About the Author

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J. W. (Jason) Ocker is an Edgar Award-winning travel writer, novelist, and blogger. His previous books include Poe-Land, A Season with the Witch, and Cursed Objects. He is also the creator of the blog and podcast OTIS: Odd Things I’ve Seen (oddthingsiveseen.com), where he chronicles his visits to oddities around the world.

Praise For…

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“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