Exhumed - by Aaron Mahnke (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An engrossing and macabre exploration of the folklore and early medical practices that led to the New England Vampire Panic in the 1890s, from critically acclaimed podcaster and bestselling author Aaron Mahnke.

What would drive a man to exhume the body of his daughter and remove her heart? That question has haunted Aaron Mahnke, creator and host of the award-winning podcast Lore. Fueled by a decade of research, Mahnke excavates the past to understand the hysteria that fueled the ghastly exhumation of Mercy Brown in 1892, who like her mother and sister before her, succumbed to "consumption" at the age of 19.

With Exhumed, Mahnke presents a unique history of the intersection of folklore and science, and how pop culture and both genuine medical advancements and pseudoscience of the time shaped the perspectives of people in 19th century America. From the death of George Washington to Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein, Mahnke leads reads on a fascinating journey through history, touching on methods of mummification, the multifaceted role of executioners, medicine made from corpses, European folklore that traveled across the Atlantic, and so much more. He reveals that as shocking as Brown's exhumation might seem, it also reflected surprisingly common attitudes and beliefs about the relationship between the dead and the living, the nature of science and magic, and the fate of a human soul. It all builds to a revelatory understanding of human behavior that continues to this very day.

Possessing an irreverent view of science, history, and the human condition, Exhumed is perfect for fans of Mary Roach's Stiff, as well as readers of forgotten American histories like Brad Meltzer's New York Times bestselling The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington.

Review Quotes

"What possessed a group of 19th-century New Englanders to dig up a young woman's remains, remove her heart and liver, and incinerate them so that their ashes could be fed to her sickly brother?

Rhode Island farmer George Brown's family was plagued by tuberculosis: His wife died in 1883, followed by his oldest child and then his father. Years later, his 19-year-old daughter Mercy succumbed to the illness; his son Edwin was on the verge of death, too, which led Brown to sanction what to modern readers will seem like a horrifying act. The incident was part of a larger hysteria that took hold first in Eastern Europe, then made its way to the United States: the New England Vampire Panic. But, to make sense of what happened, Mahnke--host of the podcast Lore devoted to urban legends and folklore--embarks on a journey through history as he explores our evolving understanding of the human body. The author takes the scenic route, with frequent detours and witty asides as he covers medical cannibalism, the death of George Washington (attempts to revive the deceased Founding Father serve as a jumping-off point for an examination of early blood transfusions), fears of being buried alive, and much more. With an eye for relevant and enjoyably macabre detail--all of which eventually coalesces into a rich whole--Mahnke deftly channels Mary Roach; her fans will appreciate Mahnke's fresh observations and gift for metaphor. Lest readers dismiss our forebears as laughably ignorant, however, the author points out, 'They were simply doing the best they could with the limited information they had at the time....They weren't distant, superstitious barbarians; they were normal people just like you and me.'" Indeed, though many will be expecting a bookish cabinet of curiosities, they'll find instead a work that balances out the grotesque with real empathy. Above all, they'll see how seemingly disparate events are often linked in surprising ways; as Mahnke notes, Mercy's exhumation wasn't 'a single piece of rope anchored to one specific spot. It was a massive braided rope, with many smaller strands joined together into something bigger.'"

Come for the morbid tidbits; stay for the sharply honed insights into both history and the human psyche."--Kirkus Reviews

"A macabre marvel. Exhumed is a narrative act of alchemy blending folklore, fear, and forgotten science into an intoxicating elixir. Mahnke guides us on a mesmerizing tour from the sands of ancient Egypt to the frost-bitten graveyards of New England. Part history, part horror, and entirely mesmerizing. Read it with the lights low and the doors locked."--Josh Gates, explorer and host of Expedition Unknown

"The absolute horror and disbelief behind the story of Mercy Brown has always been chilling to me. In Exhumed, Aaron Mahnke blends incredible research with expert storytelling to lead readers on a path to understanding how something so horrifying became so, well...accepted. As compelling as it is, I suspect this dark walk through history and human nature will also lead readers to ask, 'Could something like this happen again?'"
--Amy Bruni, Kindred Spirits, Travel Channel

"With Exhumed, Aaron Mahnke masterfully lays a foundation of bizarre folklore and unusual context, then builds it into a journey of discovery that both frightens and entertains. This is a great one."
--Brad Meltzer, bestselling author of The JFK Conspiracy

About the Author

Aaron Mahnke is the writer, host, and producer of the award-winning podcast Lore, which has been downloaded over half a billion times. His love of the mysterious and frightening has also led to a number of other chart-topping documentary podcasts. He lives in the historic Boston area--the heart of Lovecraft Country and the epicenter of the Salem Witch Trials.