About the author
William Lynwood Montell was an American folklorist and longtime professor at Western Kentucky University, known for decades of fieldwork collecting oral history and traditional narrative from Kentucky and the Appalachian South. Tales of Kentucky Ghosts and Haunted Houses and Family Ghosts of Kentucky, both published by the University Press of Kentucky, gather ghost stories and haunted-house accounts recorded directly from residents across the state, many contributed by young people who collected the stories from older relatives. Montell's method throughout his career emphasized preserving folk narrative in the words of the people who told it, treating ghost lore as a form of community history and belief rather than as entertainment alone. His books on hauntings sit alongside a wider body of scholarly and popular folklore work on Kentucky life, oral tradition, and regional history.
📖 Where to start with William Lynwood Montell
💬 What our editors say about William Lynwood Montell's books
“Montell delivers a compelling survey of Kentucky’s ghostly legacy, drawing heavily on oral traditions from local elders. The collection offers a rich tapestry of hauntings, from rose-scented presences to the Gray Lady, providing…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Haunted Houses and Family Ghosts of Kentucky
“Montell’s anthology succeeds as a serious ethnographic document rather than a simple horror compendium. However, readers seeking fast-paced, fictional thrillers or graphic supernatural violence will find this work too slow and…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Tales of Kentucky Ghosts
“Montell delivers a comprehensive anthology that excels in preserving the voice of Kentucky’s oral tradition without excessive academic jargon. The variety of tales, from ghost brides to haunted employers, offers broad appeal for…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Tales of Kentucky Ghosts
📋 Editions by William Lynwood Montell in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haunted Houses and Family Ghosts of Kentucky | 2014 | University Press of Kentuc | 312 | 9780813147444 |
| Tales of Kentucky Ghosts | — | University Press of Kentuc | 222 | 9780813168272 |
| Tales of Kentucky Ghosts | 2010 | University Press of Kentuc | 222 | 9780813125930 |
| Ghosts of the Bluegrass | 2009 | University Press of Kentuc | 200 | 9780813192376 |
| Haunted Houses and Family Ghosts of Kentucky | — | University Press of Kentuc | 312 | 9780813122274 |
