Beware the Banshee’s Cry: The Folklore & History of Messengers of Death

Unveil the mystery of the banshee and other entities that bridge the gap between life and death with this book’s extensive Celtic folklore and historic cases. From deities like the Morrigan to death-related beings such as the Doppelgänger, Steven J. Rolfes examines what banshees are and how they have captivated humanity for centuries.

This book presents numerous examples of banshees, such as the omens connected to President Abraham Lincoln’s murder and modern encounters with the herald of the grave. You’ll learn about the piercing wails at the 1876 hanging of a young Irish murderer, the sign of impending death that came for the German philosopher Goethe, and much more. From ghostly white women in Germany to avian creatures in the jungles of Sri Lanka, this book will thrill you with tales of death messengers from all around the world.

Steven J Rolfes is the author of numerous books on Ohio and Cincinnati, including Historic Downtown Cincinnati (with Kent Jones), Cincinnati Theaters, and Supernatural Lore of Ohio. Passionate about history, Rolfes has been published in various magazines and hosts a summer radio program telling ghost stories. He has worked as a teacher, border patrol agent, salesman, jeweler, former ESL teacher for Spanish-speaking immigrants, and detective. He is a volunteer at the Cincinnati History Museum and an employee at the Ohio Regional Transit Authority.