About the author
Nancy Roberts was an American folklorist and journalist often described as the "First Lady of American Folklore." Over a long career she traveled the Carolinas, Georgia, and the Appalachian region collecting oral accounts of hauntings and local legend, interviewing hundreds of people about their own encounters with the supernatural and publishing the results as regional ghost-story collections. The books gathered here, North Carolina Ghosts and Legends, Ghosts of the Southern Mountains and Appalachia, South Carolina Ghosts: From the Coast to the Mountains, Civil War Ghost Stories and Legends, Ghosts from the Coast, and Georgia Ghosts, were issued and reissued by the University of South Carolina Press, the University of North Carolina Press, and Blair. Roberts worked from firsthand testimony rather than invention, presenting the stories as records of what local people said they had witnessed at specific, identifiable places. Her books remain a standard point of reference for American regional ghost lore and folklore collecting.
📖 Where to start with Nancy Roberts
💬 What our editors say about Nancy Roberts's books
“Roberts delivers a compelling compilation of spectral encounters, yet this text is not for those seeking dry academic analysis or purely fictional horror. It suits readers who enjoy atmospheric storytelling rooted in ethnographic…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Ghosts of the Southern Mountains and Appalachia
“Roberts delivers a compelling synthesis of historical context and uncanny encounters, making this a standout for enthusiasts of American folklore. The author’s reputation ensures a level of credibility that elevates standard…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Civil War Ghost Stories and Legends
“Roberts delivers a compelling collection of North Carolina’s haunted past, anchored by genuine local encounters and profound research. While literary figures like Carl Sandburg endorse her approach, this book is primarily for…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on North Carolina Ghosts and Legends
📋 Editions by Nancy Roberts in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghosts of the Southern Mountains and Appalachia | 2019 | University of South Caroli | 102 | 9781643360416 |
| Civil War Ghost Stories and Legends | 2019 | University of South Caroli | 160 | 9781643360379 |
| North Carolina Ghosts and Legends | 2019 | University of South Caroli | 112 | 9781643360454 |
| Georgia Ghosts | 1997 | Blair | 267 | 9780895871725 |
| Ghosts from the Coast | 2001 | University of North Caroli | 184 | 9780807849910 |
| Haunted Houses: Chilling Tales From 26 American Homes Roberts, N | 2020 | Globe Pequot Publishing | 160 | 9781493047130 |
| South Carolina Ghosts: From the Coast to the Mountains | 2019 | University of South Caroli | 112 | 9781643360355 |
