Witches, Ghosts, and Signs: Folklore of the Southern Appalachians, by the renowned West Virginia folklorist and former West Virginia University English professor Patrick W. Gainer, not only highlights stories that both amuse and raise goosebumps, but also begins with a description of the people and culture of the state. Based on material Gainer collected from over fifty years of field research in West Virginia and the region, Witches, Ghosts, and Signs: Folklore of the Southern Appalachians presents the rich heritage of the southern Appalachians in a way that has never been equaled. Strange and supernatural tales of ghosts, witches, hauntings, disappearances, and unexplained murders that have been passed down from generation to generation from as far back as the earliest settlers in the region are included in this collection that will send chills down the spine.
Dr. Patrick W. Gainer was an English professor at West Virginia University from 1946-1972. He was a renowned folklorist and musician who devoted his entire academic career to recording and preserving Appalachian folklore.
Patrick W. Gainer is Professor Emeritus of English at West Virginia University.
