You may not have heard the name Ed Gein before, but he's probably your worst nightmare. Otherwise known as the butcher of Plainfield, his crimes inspired some of the most iconic American horror characters of all time, including Norman Bates and Leatherface.
So in this episode, we get to know a little more about Eddie - who he was, what he did, and how he became one of the most influential serial killers in American history, as we ask... who is Ed Gein?
Guests:
- Alex James, an American Studies postgraduate student at the University of East Anglia, with an interest in American’s obsession with serial killers and true crime.
- Harold Schecter, a Professor Emeritus at Queens College, the City University of New York, where he taught American literature for forty-two years. He has published over forty books including ‘Deviant: The True Story of Ed Gein’ and he is a two-time Edgar Award nominee. If you want to know anything about American serial killers, this is the man to speak to.
Additional Resources:
BOOK: Deviant by Harold Schecter
GRAPHIC NOVEL: Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? By Harold Schecter
BOOK: Psycho by Robert Bloch
If you enjoy this episode, you might also like:
Who is Ed Gein?
Why Do Americans Love Halloween?
Why Do Americans Love Aliens?
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This episode is sponsored by What's Your Map
What's Your Map is the British Podcast Award-winning show from map expert Professor Jerry Brotton. In each episode, he invites a special guest to share a map that means something to them. It's a fascinating show, and you can listen to the new season right now: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/whats-your-map/id1766500219
