Author picture

Chris Woodyard

Author of The Victorian Book of the Dead

13 Works 774 Members 11 Reviews

Series

Works by Chris Woodyard

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Common Knowledge

Gender
female
Education
The Ohio State University (BA, Medieval and Renaissance Studies)
Occupations
author
editor
blogger
Organizations
Costume Society of America
Fairy Investigation Society
Research Society for Victorian Periodicals
Short biography
[from The Ohio State University website]
Chris Woodyard is an Ohio writer and historian. She received her BA degree with Honors in Medieval and Renaissance Studies from The Ohio State University, where her emphasis was on art history. She is the author of nine books on Ohio ghost-lore, the Haunted Ohio series, as well as three volumes on historical ghost stories, and The Victorian Book of the Dead, a book on the popular and material culture of Victorian mourning and death. She has given presentations at the Costume Society of America on "The Woman in Black: Victorian Mourning as Criminal Disguise" and "Making Shrouds: Mode, Memory, and Memento Mori." Her chapter on Irish fairylore in the United States entitled “Changelings and Banshees: Irish America” was included in the 2018 book, Magical Folk: British & Irish Fairies 500 AD to the Present, edited by Simon Young and Ceri Houlbrook, (London: Gibson Square), a collection of essays on the regional fairy-lore of Britain and Ireland, with a look at how these beliefs translated to the United States. She is a member of the Costume Society of America, The Fairy Investigation Society, and the Research Society for Victorian Periodicals.
Nationality
USA
Places of residence
Beavercreek, Ohio, USA
Associated Place (for map)
Ohio, USA

Members

Reviews

11 reviews
This book has a twist-it is mostly newspaper articles from Ohio newspapers published in the mid to late 1800s and early 1900s. The author inserts personal thoughts and brief explanations throughout the book which adds a modern day perspective. From ghosts and haunted houses to poltergeists that set fires, this book held my interest to the end. The flowery writing of reporters of the day can become a bit tedious at times but the views of that era they present were very interesting.
½
Not sure if your youngster is ready for Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark? Give 'em Spooky Ohio as a test run. Its illustrations are creepy but not as creepy as Gammell's in Scary Stories.

I appreciated Woodyard including notes about the stories at the end as well as a bibliography, so kids whose interest in folklore was piqued during reading, have other books to look up.
Ghost story book that sometimes goes more into urban legend and folklore than ghost stories. Good book overall but did drag at some points. Broken into various sections such as houses, theaters, public spaces, cemeteries and the like.
I just love the Haunted Ohio series! The stories and experiences are well thought out and well written. I love the research that went into each story. The author did a great job expressing themselves and each book is so very easy to read!

This set of books is a 5 star set that would make a welcome addition to any paranormal reader's book shelf! (I had my entire set of books stolen and Im still pouting over it! *lol* :-(

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Statistics

Works
13
Members
774
Popularity
#32,870
Rating
4.0
Reviews
11
ISBNs
14

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