231:
Allan Poe. Under the pseudonym H. C. Chester, he has also co-written the middle-grade trilogy, Curiosity House, with his daughter, bestselling YA novelist Lauren Oliver. The first book in the series, Curiosity House: The
Shrunken Head (2016), was nominated for an Edgar Award in the "Best Juvenile Mystery" category.
242:
places the current controversy over media violence in a broad historical context. Examining everything from
Victorian murder ballads to the productions of the nineteenth-century Grand Guignol, the book makes the somewhat contrarian argument that today's popular entertainment is actually less violent
230:
His 2014 book, The Mad
Sculptor: The Maniac, the Model, and the Crime that Shook the Nation, was nominated for an Edgar Award in the Best Fact Crime category. In addition to his work as a crime historian, Schechter is the author of an acclaimed series of detective novels based on the works of Edgar
226:
Schechter is
Professor Emeritus at Queens College, and specializes in American true crime, specifically serial murders of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Using primary sources such as newspaper clippings and court records, he supplies thorough documentation of every case he profiles, while still
246:
In his 1973 article, "Kali on Main Street: The Rise of the
Terrible Mother in America", Schechter uses the phrase "horror-porn," which is cited by the Oxford English Dictionary as the first printed appearance of the word "porn" in its now-common figurative meaning: "As the second element in
247:
compounds: denoting written or visual material that emphasizes the sensuous or sensational aspects of a non-sexual subject, appealing to its audience in a manner likened to the titillating effect of pornography.
467:, the story of Belle Gunness a Norwegian immigrant who murdered at least 14 people primarily bachelors, most notably on a farm in La Porte, Indiana between 1902 and 1908. New York: Little A (2018).
261:
has called
Schechter a "serial killer expert", a "deft writer", praising his ability to recreate "from documentation the thoughts and perspectives of long-dead figures."
1071:
176:
where he taught classes in
American literature and myth criticism for forty-two years. Schechter's essays have appeared in numerous publications including
173:
1096:
207:
924:
868:
473:(Bloodlands Collection) A short historical narrative about a series of child murders during the Depression. Amazon Original Stories, (2018).
455:, the story of Roger Irwin's obsession with the sister of model Veronica Gedeon and his subsequent descent into madness. New Harvest, (2014)
1076:
997:
807:
238:, he explores the relationship between contemporary commercial entertainment and the narrative archetypes of traditional folklore.
234:
In addition to his historical crime books and mystery fiction, Schechter has written extensively on
American popular culture. In
1091:
345:
1037:
Poison Served His
Purpose: a murder in New York gives us a landmark case and one gripping story," book review by Nathan Ward,
284:, the first in Schechter's Poe mystery series, for its "entertaining premise . . . supported by rich period atmospherics."
507:(Bloodlands Collection) A short historical narrative about The murderous Bender Family. Amazon Original Stories, (2018).
339:
88:
973:"Nonfiction Book Review: The Devil's Gentleman: Privilege, Poison, and the Trial That Ushered in the Twentieth Century"
799:
269:"a riveting tale of murder, seduction and tabloid journalism run rampant in New York not so different from today".
407:
Depraved: The
Definitive True Story of H. H. Holmes, Whose Grotesque Crimes Shattered Turn-of-the-Century Chicago
215:
84:
1026:
1032:
492:
250:
With David Black, Schechter also co-wrote the teleplay for the Season 8 Law & Order episode, “Castoff.”
113:
485:(Bloodlands Collection) A short historical narrative about Charlie Schmid. Amazon Original Stories, (2018).
1081:
954:
884:
479:(Bloodlands Collection) A short historical narrative about Howard Unruh. Amazon Original Stories, (2018).
1086:
600:
to track down a liver-eating murderer. Like the previous book, this one also takes place in New York.
540:
420:
74:
51:
379:
The Serial Killer Files: The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the World's Most Terrifying Murderers
497:
333:
185:
1044:
391:
The Devil's Gentleman: Privilege, Poison, and the Trial that Ushered in the Twentieth Century,
1056:
993:
920:
914:
864:
803:
607:
491:(Bloodlands Collection) A short historical narrative about Robert Nixon, whose story inspired
860:
823:
521:
Ripped From the Headlines: The Shocking True Stories Behind the Movies' Most Memorable Crimes
70:
573:
514:
211:
169:
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853:
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134:
109:
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to put down yet another murderer. This time, he takes his mystery to Massachusetts.
430:
410:
194:
1038:
987:
434:
372:
318:
293:
123:
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with Warren Rosenberg and Jonna Gormely Semeiks. Harper Collins College (1998).
580:
to solve a series of shocking murders in Baltimore in 1835. Pocket Books, 2000.
769:
597:
162:
98:
1049:
453:
The Mad Sculptor: The Maniac, the Model, and the Murder That Shook the Nation
443:(contributed an essay), Edited by R. Barri Flowers, Prometheus Books, (2012).
726:, editor with Michael Walters, New York: Everyman's Library/Penguin, (2019).
587:
1043:
Harold Schechter's "Five Best Killer Stories: sensational murder trials…,"
1027:
http://www.nysun.com/on-the-town/harold-schechters-dangerous-pastime/13904/
227:
managing to create compelling narratives and fully fleshed-out characters.
1033:
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/books/24grim.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
276:
a "first-rate true crime and first-rate popular history." Writing in the
989:
Maniac: The Bath School Disaster and the Birth of the Modern Mass Killer
851:
Mahdi, Louise Carus; Foster, Steven; Little, Meredith (1 January 1987).
527:
Maniac: The Bath School Disaster and the Birth of the Modern Mass Killer
1031:"Murder by Mail:in gilded Age New York" book review by William Grimes,
563:
534:
328:
696:, edited with Jonna Gormely Semeiks, Oxford University Press, (1992).
165:
855:
Betwixt & Between: Patterns of Masculine and Feminine Initiation
315:
Deranged: The Shocking True Story of America's Most Fiendish Killer!
427:
Killer Colt: Murder, Disgrace, and the Making of an American Legend
423:, who killed in Canada and the United States. Pocket Books, (2008).
403:
Depraved: The Shocking True Story of America's First Serial Killer
353:
Fiend: The Shocking True Story of America's Youngest Serial Killer
178:
The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times
1018:
441:
Masters of True Crime: Chilling Stories of Murder and the Macabre
409:, the story of Chicago serial murderer Herman Mudgett, alias Dr.
892:
562:, Pocket Books, (1996) – A Novel based on the fictional son of
465:
Hell's Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men
147:
243:
than the gruesome diversions of the supposedly halcyon past.
1052:
Savage Pastimes: A Cultural History of Violent Entertainment
1045:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/weekend/fivebest/?id=110010848
720:, editor with Kurt Brown, New York: Knopf/Everyman, (2011).
714:, editor with Kurt Brown, New York: Knopf/Everyman, (2007).
669:
Savage Pastimes: A Cultural History of Violent Entertainment
296:. He has two daughters from a previous marriage: the writer
240:
Savage Pastimes: A Cultural History of Violent Entertainment
651:
The Manly Movie Guide: Virile Video & Two-Fisted Cinema
513:(Bloodlands Collection) A short historical narrative about
1025:"Harold Schechter's Dangerous Pastime, " by Gary Shapiro,
916:
Democracide: America on the Road to Fascism and Bankruptcy
675:
The Whole Death Catalog: A Lively Guide to the Bitter End
325:
Deviant: The Shocking True Story of the Original "Psycho"
590:
to solve a series of murders in New York. Pocket Books.
943:. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. September 2020.
459:
Man-Eater: The Life and Legend of an American Cannibal
447:
Psycho USA: Famous American Killers You Never Heard Of
690:, Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, (1980).
621:
Patterns in Popular Culture: A Sourcebook for Writers
387:(co-written with David Everitt) Gallery Books (2006).
417:
Bestial: The Savage Trail of a True American Monster
712:
Conversation Pieces: Poems that Talk to Other Poems
369:
Fatal: The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer
300:, and professor of philosophy Elizabeth Schechter.
192:. His newest book, published in September 2023, is
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94:
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58:
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28:
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852:
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629:, with David Everitt, New York: H. Quist, (1980).
547:Murderabilia: A History of Crime in 100 Objects,
393:New York: Random House/Ballantine Books, (2007).
50:True Crime Writer/Author, Professor Emeritus at
796:Murderabilia: A History of Crime in 100 Objects
1039:http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110010807
700:Original Sin: The Visionary Art of Joe Coleman
657:American Voices: A Thematic/Rhetorical Reader
639:Kidvid: A Parents' Guide to Children's Videos
8:
635:, with David Everitt, Berkley Trade, (1982).
751:, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2021.
745:, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2017.
739:, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2015.
706:The Bosom Serpent: Folklore and Popular Art
429:(2010), the story of 19th century murderer
236:The Bosom Serpent: Folklore and Popular Art
174:Queens College, City University of New York
688:New Gods: Psyche and Symbol in Popular Art
627:Film Tricks: Special Effects in the Movies
437:, and the trial. Ballantine Books, (2010).
18:
770:"Queens College Emeritus Professors list"
749:Curiosity House #3: The Fearsome Firebird
702:, essay. New York: Heck Editions, (1997).
665:with David Everitt. Berkley Trade (2000).
743:Curiosity House #1: The Screaming Statue
718:Killer Verse: Poems of Murder and Mayhem
317:, the story of New York serial murderer
761:
694:Discoveries: Fifty Stories of the Quest
359:, child murderer. Pocket Books, (2000).
208:State University of New York at Buffalo
371:, the story of 19th century murderess
16:American true crime writer (born 1948)
737:Curiosity House #1: The Shrunken Head
623:, New York: Harper & Row, (1980).
385:A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers
7:
731:As H. C. Chester, with Lauren Oliver
505:Little Slaughterhouse on the Prairie
399:(Editor) Library of America, (2008).
197:: A History of Crime in 100 Objects.
161:(born June 28, 1948) is an American
824:"Edgar Awards Best Fact Crime list"
1072:American non-fiction crime writers
724:Reel Verse: Poems About the Movies
549:Workman Publishing Company. (2023)
517:. Amazon Original Stories, (2018).
501:. Amazon Original Stories, (2018).
365:(Introduction) Amok Books, (2002).
14:
1097:American male non-fiction writers
859:. Open Court Publishing. p.
405:, retitled in later releases as
397:True Crime: An American Anthology
190:True Crime: An American Anthology
708:, Peter Lang Publishing, (1998).
586:(2001) – Poe teams with Showman
214:. He is also a 1969 graduate of
172:. He is a Professor Emeritus at
955:"Law and Order Castoff credits"
606:(2006) – Poe works with author
596:(2004) – Poe joins forces with
543:, Albatross Funny Books. (2021)
566:, and his path of destruction.
1:
671:, St. Martin's Press, (2005).
413:Pocket Books (reprint, 2008).
292:Schechter is married to poet
919:. AuthorHouse. p. 153.
645:Start Collecting Comic Books
529:, New York: Little A. (2021)
523:, New York: Little A. (2020)
461:, New York: Little A (2015).
363:Panzram: A Journal of Murder
340:The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
280:reviewer James Polk praised
182:International Herald Tribune
89:State University of New York
913:Gilbert, Nathaniel (2006).
677:, Ballantine Books, (2009).
210:where his PhD director was
1113:
986:Schechter, Harold (2021).
800:Workman Publishing Company
794:Schechter, Harold (2023).
331:, the killer who inspired
184:. He is the editor of the
941:Oxford English Dictionary
381:(2003). Ballantine Books.
272:Booklist called his book
145:
1077:American mystery writers
653:, Berkley Trade, (1997).
449:Ballantine Books, (2012)
433:, brother of arms maker
346:The Silence of the Lambs
265:called Schechter's book
216:City College of New York
85:City College of New York
1092:American male novelists
349:, Pocket Books, (1998).
321:. Pocket Books, (1998).
206:Schechter attended the
641:, Pocket Books (1986).
375:. Pocket Star, (2003).
992:. Amazon Publishing.
594:Mask of the Red Death
267:The Devil's Gentleman
975:. Publishers Weekly.
604:The Tell-Tale Corpse
421:Earle Leonard Nelson
52:Queens College, CUNY
168:who specializes in
633:The Manly Handbook
533:Did You Hear What
419:, serial murderer
186:Library of America
926:978-1-4259-5922-7
870:978-0-8126-9048-4
647:Diane Pub (1990).
608:Louisa May Alcott
259:Publishers Weekly
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897:. Retrieved
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828:Edgar Awards
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777:. Retrieved
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1087:1948 births
833:29 November
779:29 November
584:The Hum Bug
541:Eric Powell
435:Samuel Colt
373:Jane Toppan
319:Albert Fish
294:Kimiko Hahn
124:Kimiko Hahn
59:Nationality
1066:Categories
1050:Review of
899:2020-11-29
756:References
598:Kit Carson
535:Eddie Gein
511:The Pirate
498:Native Son
309:True crime
180:, and the
163:true crime
99:True crime
47:Occupation
35:1948-06-28
588:PT Barnum
572:(1999) –
570:Nevermore
282:Nevermore
202:Education
101:, fiction
67:Education
274:Depraved
188:volume,
130:Children
62:American
564:Ed Gein
554:Mystery
539:, with
477:Rampage
329:Ed Gein
141:Website
106:Subject
996:
923:
867:
806:
576:joins
560:Outcry
334:Psycho
254:Praise
222:Career
166:writer
120:Spouse
537:Done?
471:Panic
95:Genre
994:ISBN
959:IMDB
921:ISBN
865:ISBN
835:2020
804:ISBN
781:2020
343:and
150:.com
29:Born
1055:at
495:'s
75:PhD
1068::
957:.
887:.
863:.
861:67
843:^
826:.
802:.
798:.
772:.
337:,
263:PW
218:.
112:,
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73:,
71:BA
37:)
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54:.
33:(
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