Strange Tales of the Dark and Bloody Ground: Authentic Accounts of Restless Spirits, Haunted Honky Tonks, and Eerie Events in Tennessee

by Christopher K. Coleman

In 1775 Cherokee leaders sold most of Tennessee and Kentucky to the recently arrived white settlers, but Dragging Canoe, a proud chief, said that the sacred land should not be defiled by the white man's ax and plow. "This is the Dark and Bloody Ground!" he proclaimed to the assembled chiefs. Perhaps it is the abundance of decaying mansions that harbor dark and sinister secrets, or perhaps it is Tennessee's tragic heritage of war and defeat, or it may just be the love of a good story that accounts for the fact that Tennessee is steeped in strange tales. Each of these 40 accounts has been exhaustively researched and is presented as accurately as possible,

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2000

About the author

Christopher Kiernan Coleman has written extensively on History, Folklore and culture, as well as military history; he has had articles published in both popular magazines and scholarly journals has six books currently in print. He has previously published books with Rutledge Hill Press, Cumberland House, Thomas Nelson, Source Books, Barnes & Noble, Fall River Press, John F. Bair and Schiffer Publishers. He received his BA in History from St. Anselm College and pursued his graduate studies at the University of Chicago. He previously worked with Metro Nashville’s municipal museums for over five years, He has also been site manager for the Bradford-Berry House, (a two hundred year old historic home) and a Director emeritus of a cultural agency. He also lectures part time as an adjunct instructor at Volunteer State College as well as speaking at other public venues. Mr. Coleman is a member of the Tennessee Historical Society, the Tennessee Folklore Society, The Company of Military Historians, The Middle Tennessee Civil War Round Table, and the Battle of Nashville Preservation Society. Prior to settling in Nashville, Tennessee, he produced sponsored films and documentaries in New York. Mr. Coleman has been involved in the publishing industry for over ten years.

Reviews

[David Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is difficult to find well written, well structured, and interesting books like this. Too often they're turned into re-imagined narratives or delivered in a manner that is overly goofy and childish. However, this book has a great tone, historical context, well structured vignettes, and great structure. The only think I would've liked to see was perhaps a little bit more depth on a couple of the sections or more discussion of folklore in relations to the unique hauntings of the area.

[Betsy Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book of true Tennessee ghost stories. Very well-written and highly entertaining.

[Dennis Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I buy and read books about ghosts on a fairly regular basis and have found that there is seldom a proper balance between the ghost story itself and the history of the possible haunt. Some authors breeze along with one ghost story after another never quite giving the reader any real idea of what may have caused the haunting. Other authors spend most of their time telling the reader why the place might be haunted and then spend only a paragraph or two on actual sightings of the ghost. It is rare indeed to find a book that seems to have the mix just about right and Christopher Coleman has given us one of those rare books.

[Seraphina Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in the strange happenings in Tennessee then this would be a good book to start with.