Books with author Charlotte Montague

Strap in for a terrifying look into the life and times of the original strange man: Edgar Allan Poe. Poe is viewed as the ultimate doomed romantic whose last days are shrouded in sordid mystery. His life was a disaster, but his achievements in writing are amazing. He is widely recognized as father of the modern short story, inventor of the detective story and the master of horror. A Boston born writer, editor, and literary critic, he's best known for his creepy and macabre tales as well as being one of the central figures in the Romanticism movement in the United States. Accurately being dubbed as the ultimate doomed romantic, Poe was a drunk, his last days are shrouded in mystery akin to that of his short stories. During his lifetime, Edgar Allan Poe didn't make a dime out of writing, but his legacy to the world is one of never-ending riches. He left behind seventy-three wonderfully gruesome stories and a novel filled with suspense and brilliantly twisted plots. Hist stories and poems are now read and revered globally. As another master of horror, Stephen King, has said, we are all "the children of Poe." Abraham Lincoln, Josef Stalin, Michael Jackson, and Bart Simpson all have one thing in common; they are fans of the nineteenth century American writer and poet, Edgar Allan Poe. The writer of "The Raven" has legions of such devotees across the globe. The list of authors inspired by Poe is long and varied, but his profound influence reaches much further-into music, film, and art just as much as modern day literature. There have been more than a dozen film adaptations of his story "The Fall of the House of Usher," and his works have inspired composers ranging from Claude Debussy to Lou Reed. More than 160 years after his death, Charlotte Montague has written a fascinating account of Poe's life and times, in which she uncovers a strange man, standing deep in the shadows, who's unique imagination and macabre writing have changed popular culture forevermore. n the process, she uncovers a strange man, standing deep in the shadows, whose macabre stories and twisted plots changed literature forever.

Based on contemporary reports and diaries, with historic photographs and period posters, Houdini is an intriguing biography of the world’s greatest magician and escape artist. Ninety years after his death, this book from the Oxford People series brings both the man and his magic back to life again for one last performance. In the early 1900s, Houdini’s handcuff show was a huge sensation that toured the best venues in the USA and Europe, and when audiences demanded more, he introduced straight-jackets, water-filled tanks, and nailed shut packing crates. His outdoor spectaculars became increasingly elaborate. In the early winter of 1906, he leaped manacled from the MacArthur Bridge in Detroit, Michigan, freeing himself from two pairs of handcuffs beneath the icy waters. Houdini's mega-star status allowed him to fly airplanes, star in his own movies, write and publish his own books, and even become president of the Society of American Magicians. This biography is an authoritative view from accomplished biographer Charlotte Montague, and belongs on the shelf of any lover of magic, escape artistry, and enigmatic figures.

Pirates and Privateers narrates the incredible careers of the most interesting and infamous pirates in history, including legends like Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Anne Bonney. The romantic image of the pirate has been seen as something of a Hollywood icon ever since Errol Flynn first climbed the rigging for the film Captain Blood, in 1935. The hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, starring the megastar Johnny Depp, proved undoubtedly that swashbuckling sells. But what do we know about the real Captain Jack Sparrows of yesteryear? Who were they? Where did they come from? And what heinous and daring acts did they perform on the path towards riches and infamy?Pirates and Privateers delves into the real lives of these men and women, whose seafaring adventures have become legendary. It explores the criminal careers of some of the most fascinating scoundrels and scallywags in history, including Blackbeard, the Barbarossa Brothers, Captain Kidd, Anne Bonney and Mary Read.

More than eighty years after his death, Charlotte Montague has written an intriguing biography of the enigmatic author and, in the process, uncovered the mystery of the strange man behind the darkness—H. P. Lovecraft—the master of modern horror fiction. Part of the Oxford People series, this book dares you to explore the hidden secrets of your own imagination through the life of a man whose writing was inspired by nightmares. H. P. Lovecraft was virtually unknown during his lifetime and only published his stories in pulp magazines such as Weird Tales and Astounding Stories. He died a recluse in poverty and obscurity, aged just 46. Consumed with self-doubt, despair, and monstrous inner demons, his nightmares inhabit every page of his writing. H. P. Lovecraft and the universe he created are part of an astonishing cultural phenomenon. Lovecraft's reputation has been revived to the point of reverence, and he now occupies a position of great respect within American literature—as one of the most significant horror fiction writers of the twentieth century. His dark grotesque creations have inspired authors such as Stephen King and Clive Barker, as well as film directors John Carpenter, Sturart Gordon, and Roger Corman. Dark forbidden knowledge is always a central theme in Lovecraft's stories, with protagonists who dare to discover hidden secrets which, in the end, completely destroy them.Explore the depths of H. P. Lovecraft's own dark secrets, and discover some things about your own.

Based on contemporary reports and diaries and supported with historic photographs and period posters, Houdini is an intriguing biography of the world’s greatest magician and escape artist. Ninety years after his death, this brings both the man and his magic back to life again for one last performance. In the early 1900s, Houdini’s handcuff show was a huge sensation which toured the best venues in the USA and Europe, and when audiences demanded more, so he introduced straight-jackets, water-filled tanks, and nailed shut packing crates. His outdoor spectaculars became increasingly elaborate. In the early winter of 1906, he leaped manacled from the MacArthur Bridge in Detroit, MI, freeing himself from two pairs of handcuffs beneath the icy waters. Houdini's mega-star status allowed him to fly airplanes, star in his own movies, write and publish his own books, and even become president of the Society of American Magicians. This biography is an authoritative view from accomplished biographer Charlotte Montague, and belongs on the shelf of any lover of magic, escape artistry, and enigmatic figures.

From Bram Stoker’s Dracula to Stephenie Meyer’s hugely successful Twilight series of books, writers, artists and film makers have been entranced by the vampiric legend for hundreds of years. In the West, the vampire myth is widely thought to have been based on the life of Vlad the Impaler, a 15th century Wallachian warrior-prince whose devotion to cruelty and killing made the lives of his subjects miserable, bloody and short. However, bloodsuckers of all shapes and sizes feature in many cultures.Vampires explores these diverse myths and legends, their impact upon popular culture and the possible explanations behind such phenomena. The book also investigates the lives of real-life individuals who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of blood, drawing on the vampiric tradition for their inspiration.

The romantic image of the pirate has been seen as something of a Hollywood cash cow ever since Errol Flynn first climbed the rigging for the film Captain Blood, in 1935. The hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, starringthe Johnny Depp, proved undoubtedly that swashbuckling sells. But what do we know about the real Captain Jack Sparrows of yesteryear? Who were they? Where did they come from? And what heinous and daring acts didthey perform on the path towards riches and infamy? Pirates and Privateers delves into the real lives of these men and women,whose seafaring adventures have become legendary. It explores the criminal careers of some of the most fascinating scoundrels and scallywags in history.Contents: PIRATES: Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, Calico Jack, Anne Bonney and Mary Read, Capt. Kidd, Henry Morgan, L’Olonnais, Henry Avery, Black Bart, Charles Vane, Black Caesar, James Kelly, Richard Cole and John Richardson, John Gow,Kanhoji Angria, Thomas Tew. WOMEN OF THE SEA: Grace O’Malley, Mrs Ching, Charlotte de Berry, Lady Killigrew, Mary Crickett. PRIVATEERS: Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Martin Frobisher, Sir Christopher Newport, Sir Thomas Modyford, Fortunatus Wright, Sir John Hawkins, Sir Richard Hawkins, Michael Geare, Sir Christopher Myngs , Alexander Godfrey, Joseph Barss, Robert Morris, Athanase Postel, Ambroise Louis Garneray, Robert Surcouf. MODERN PIRACY.

Vampires explores the diverse myths and legends, their impact upon popular culture and the possible explanations behind such phenomena. The book also investigates the lives of real-life individuals who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of blood, drawing on the vampiric tradition for their inspiration.From Count Dracula to Edward Cullen, for centuries we have been enthralled by the mysterious legends that surround these dangerous creatures, and vampires rarely have been more popular than they are today. Pale-skinned, dark-cloaked, garlic-hating—the folklore is crawling with memorable images that share one thing in common: their lust for blood.This book examines the vampire myth from all angles: from its genesis in folklore to its status today as one of the most iconic figures in popular culture. We will try to find out how this strange creature, who came into being centuries ago transformed through gothic imagination from a hideous monster into a suave villain. This book creates a beautiful addition to anyone interested in the paranormal, and a great gift for gothic readers.

In the West the vampire myth is widely thought to have been based on the life of Vlad the Impaler, a 15th century Wallachian warrior-prince whose devotion to cruelty and killing made the lives of his subjects miserable, bloody and short. However, bloodsuckers of all shapes and sizes feature in many cultures. The most famous of these is the chupacabra, or 'goat killer', a creature that is rumoured to have attacked and mutilated as many as 2,000 animals in Puerto Rico and Latin America. The chupacabra is variously described as half alien, half tail-less dinosaur with quills running down its back, a panther with a long serpent's tongue and a hopping animal that leaves an unbearable sulphurous stench in its wake. Whatever his form, one thing is for sure, the chupacabra shares little with his dark-cloaked, virgin-biting, garlic-hating, European cousin, apart from his lust for blood. VAMPIRES explores these diverse myths and legends, their impact upon popular culture and the possible explanations behind such phenomena.

From Bram Stoker’s Dracula to Stephenie Meyer’s hugely successful Twilight series of books, writers, artists and film makers have been entranced by the vampiric legend for hundreds of years. In the West, the vampire myth is widely thought to have been based on the life of Vlad the Impaler, a 15th century Wallachian warrior-prince whose devotion to cruelty and killing made the lives of his subjects miserable, bloody and short. However, bloodsuckers of all shapes and sizes feature in many cultures.Vampires explores these diverse myths and legends, their impact upon popular culture and the possible explanations behind such phenomena. The book also investigates the lives of real-life individuals who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of blood, drawing on the vampiric tradition for their inspiration.