"In 1845 twenty thousand people gathered in Lawrenceville, Illinois, to witness the hanging of Betsey Reed for poisoning her husband. Considered a witch by some, a victim by others; this is her story." -- Taken from Amazon.com.

Although Illinois saw no dramatic witch trials, witchcraft has been a part of Illinois history and culture from French exploration to the present day. On the Illinois frontier, pioneers pressed silver dimes into musket balls to ward off witches, while farmers dutifully erected fence posts according to phases of the moon. In 1904, the quiet town of Quincy was shocked to learn of Bessie Bement's suicide, after the young woman sought help from a witch doctor to break a hex. In turn-of-the-century Chicago, Lauron William de Laurence's occult publishing house churned out manuals for performing bizarre rituals intended to attract love and exact revenge. For the first time in print, Michael Kleen presents the full story of the Prairie State's dalliance with the dark arts.

Third edition of the Woodford Reserve Series in Kentucky Literature.

Take a step back in time with the Bedside Book of Bad Girls: Outlaw women of the Midwest. Join author Chris Enss as she digs up and reveals startling facts about some of the most fascinating renegade women of the Midwest. Meet Flora Mundis, the horse thief who disguised herself as a man; Victoria Woodhull, out-spoken activist for free love, con artist, and the first female candidate for president; Ma Barker, mother of the notorious Barker Gang; Opal Long and Patricia Cherrington, trusted sisters of the Dillinger Gang; and many more. Experience history as if you were actually there. Stand witness to the trial and hanging of Elizabeth Reed, and ride the rails with Fannie and Jennie Freeman, the mother-daughter team who bilked railroad companies out of more than $150,000. In eleven captivating profiles, Enss brings to life the stories of these fascinating pistol-packing, horse-thieving, poker-swindling outlaws.

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go--they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. In this guide, renowned husband-and-wife travel writing team Shirley Slater and Harry Basch offer up their favorite RV trips around the U.S., including scenic routes along Virginia's Skyline Drive and the New England coast, plus jaunts down Mexico's Baja Peninsula and through Canada to the Alaska Highway. On each trip you'll get all the famous, infamous, and off-the-wall attractions; campgrounds along each route, from luxurious private RV parks with heated swimming pools and golf courses to quiet, forested campgrounds in state and national parks; tips for making life on the road easier and more comfortable; and a complete guide to buying or renting an RV, with tips on how to decide which type is right for you. All this, plus information on wildlife watching and scenic views, the best parks and beaches, quick-and-easy recipes, packing suggestions, info on road etiquette and safety, and more. Head off the beaten path with Frommer's, to discover the real life lurking around the bend. Other helpful guides for your trip include Frommer's USA, Frommer's California, Frommer's Portable Los Cabos & Baja, Frommer's Alaska, Frommer's Texas, Frommer's Florida, Frommer's Miami & The Keys, Frommer's Virginia, Frommer's New England, and Frommer's Portable Maine Coast.

In this guide, renowned travel writing team Harry Basch and Shirley Slater offers updates on their favorite RV trips around the U.S., including scenic routes along Virginia's Skyline Drive and the New England coast, plus jaunts through the Heart of the Heartlands (Indiana, Iowa and Illinois) and to Alaska via Canada. On each trip you'll get all the famous, infamous, and off-the-wall attractions; campgrounds along each route, from luxurious private RV parks with heated swimming pools and golf courses to quiet, forested campgrounds in state and national parks; tips for making life on the road easier and more comfortable; and a complete guide to buying or renting an RV, with tips on how to decide which type is right for you. All this, plus information on wildlife watching and scenic views, the best parks and beaches, quick-and-easy recipes, packing suggestions, info on road etiquette and safety, and more. Head off the beaten path with Frommer's, to discover the real life lurking around the bend.