El. knyga: Secret History of the Jersey Devil

Essential for the cryptid-keeper's library. This secret history is a welcome and necessary text on the historicity of the Leeds/Jersey Devil. Sharon A. Hill, author of Scientifical Americans: The Culture of Amateur Paranormal Researchers Fascinating. An enchanting exploration whence monsters might come. Steve A. Wiggins, author of Holy Horror: The Bible and Fear in Movies The Secret History of the Jersey Devil can provide folklorists with historical context for understanding a legend and the behavior surrounding it. Daniel Peretti, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Journal of Folklore Research In this fine study of accounts about a monstrous creature inhabiting the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, Regal and Esposito show how the shape of the creature shifted to reflect changing times. Their detailed analysis shows how speculation about the New Jersey Devil played around the changing frontiers of scientific knowledge. It also demonstrates the relish for fantastic stories, the gullibility of believers, and the flair for hyperbole, satire, and exploitation of believers that seem to be irrepressible features of American life. Regal and Esposito even liken the conspiracy theories and manipulation of facts in our own time to the same proclivities that keep bringing the New Jersey Devil back to life. Amanda Porterfield, Florida State University, Journal of American History A thorough dissection of the American monster, [ The Secret History of the Jersey Devil] is a fascinating look at almost every aspect of the Devil . . . Here [ Regal and Esposito] not only untangle the various major threads that were braided into the Devil's biography, but also uncover the many murkier, more nebulous components that go into the gradual generation of a monster legend. J Caleb Mozzocco, Fortean Times This is a detailed and exceptionally well-referenced account of the birth, growth, survival and triumph of a legendary monster. John Rimmer, Magonia Review of Books