Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire by Mahnke, Aaron
Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire by Mahnke, Aaron

Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire

An engrossing and macabre exploration of the folklore and early medical practices that led to the New...
$36.00 USD
$36.00 USD
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Author: Aaron Mahnke
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Subtotal: $36.00
Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire by Mahnke, Aaron

Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire

$36.00
Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire by Mahnke, Aaron

Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire

$36.00
Author: Aaron Mahnke
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Description
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.

Author: Aaron Mahnke
Publisher: Running Press Adult
Published: 08/04/2026
Pages: 368
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.30w x 1.40d
ISBN: 9798894141817


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 05/01/2026 pg. 126
Booklist 07/01/2026
Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2026

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.
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