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Spawn of Evil
Vintage paperback
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1964
56 people want to read
About the author
Paul I. Wellman
73 books19 followersPaul Iselin Wellman, newspaperman, writer of popular history, novelist and screenwriter, is best known for his books set in the Great Plains of the United States and Kansas. In addition to his books several Hollywood movies , Cheyenne, The Walls of Jericho, Jubal, Apache, The Comancheros, and The Iron Mistress are based on his novels.
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wel...
http://www.washburn.edu/reference/cks...
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wel...
http://www.washburn.edu/reference/cks...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 12, 2008
If you think H.H. Holmes was America's first serial killer, wait 'til you get a load of the Harpe Brothers. These and other fascinatingly nefarious historical characters, along with meticulous research and colorful writing make this book well worth seeking out.
December 2, 2019
Maybe it's the fact that I moved in the middle of my reading this book, could not read it at night since it was so cold, or the fact that I got sick with the cold.
Finally finished it and was not even aware of how close I was to finishing it when I did.
This book is about the cave in rock outlaws but the first few chapters are about the infamous Harpe brothers. Who have done down in history as America's very first documented serial killers. The Harpes were two outlaws who might of been related went through multiple colonies up and down the Mississippi and Ohio river, robbing and killing [mainly killing] wantonly. Any person they came across.
The book first really describes the extreme circumstances of traveling through the river and the forest. It details one journey of several families traveling down the river on flatboats. Basically if the waters didn't get you, then the natives would. All through out the forest at the bank of the river a swarm of natives would come out of the foliage and kill you. Then someone decided to take advantage of this death trap and exploit a cave clearing that provided easy access to rob families and cargo. So people traveling through had to deal with river pirates and eventually The Harpes would join these river pirates although not for long.
It recounts the Harpes travels and their murders.
It also recounts story of Sam Mason the top river pirate who turned the cave into basically a saloon. Or damn near close to it. Talks about New Orleans at the time and the saloons there. Talks about the counterfeiting. Turns out that money was very very different in early America, but that changed of course. I learned where the phrase "my two bits" comes from.
Basically people would chisel coins into multiple pieces. So in a nutshell "my two bit opinion." means here are my two bits of chiseled coin.
Did not finish it as fast as I should of, and as I said...maybe it's being sick and the moving, but this book wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. Pretty basic book. Not bad, not great. I would of liked a little more info about the time period.
Normally would of finished it weeks before. I thought it would take me at least 4 days to read. Instead it took me 4 weeks.
I actually own the paperback version, but this was the only version available on this site. Normally don't buy "good" condition books, but I decided to buy this as "good" after taking the risk and buying other books in 'good" condition and getting really good copies, so I decided to risk it with this book and I got a pretty good copy.
I only got one book in bad condition and I bought it as "really good."
Really good? The photos are literally taped to the book and you can't read the title on the side of the book. That is NOT "really good" condition. I wanted to send it back and get a better copy, but instead I just kept it. Still haven't read it but plan to.
Finally finished it and was not even aware of how close I was to finishing it when I did.
This book is about the cave in rock outlaws but the first few chapters are about the infamous Harpe brothers. Who have done down in history as America's very first documented serial killers. The Harpes were two outlaws who might of been related went through multiple colonies up and down the Mississippi and Ohio river, robbing and killing [mainly killing] wantonly. Any person they came across.
The book first really describes the extreme circumstances of traveling through the river and the forest. It details one journey of several families traveling down the river on flatboats. Basically if the waters didn't get you, then the natives would. All through out the forest at the bank of the river a swarm of natives would come out of the foliage and kill you. Then someone decided to take advantage of this death trap and exploit a cave clearing that provided easy access to rob families and cargo. So people traveling through had to deal with river pirates and eventually The Harpes would join these river pirates although not for long.
It recounts the Harpes travels and their murders.
It also recounts story of Sam Mason the top river pirate who turned the cave into basically a saloon. Or damn near close to it. Talks about New Orleans at the time and the saloons there. Talks about the counterfeiting. Turns out that money was very very different in early America, but that changed of course. I learned where the phrase "my two bits" comes from.
Basically people would chisel coins into multiple pieces. So in a nutshell "my two bit opinion." means here are my two bits of chiseled coin.
Did not finish it as fast as I should of, and as I said...maybe it's being sick and the moving, but this book wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. Pretty basic book. Not bad, not great. I would of liked a little more info about the time period.
Normally would of finished it weeks before. I thought it would take me at least 4 days to read. Instead it took me 4 weeks.
I actually own the paperback version, but this was the only version available on this site. Normally don't buy "good" condition books, but I decided to buy this as "good" after taking the risk and buying other books in 'good" condition and getting really good copies, so I decided to risk it with this book and I got a pretty good copy.
I only got one book in bad condition and I bought it as "really good."
Really good? The photos are literally taped to the book and you can't read the title on the side of the book. That is NOT "really good" condition. I wanted to send it back and get a better copy, but instead I just kept it. Still haven't read it but plan to.
July 27, 2018
Started off great. The first half of the book told a great story of the untold history and legends of the area I grew up in. This was basically a history of Americas first documented serial killers. The second half, not so much. The book sort of devolved into a soap opera telling of the beginning of the Mormon movement and the tell of an amateur detective. I did not find it near as engaging as the first half.
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April 10, 2008364.1
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April 29, 2011BOOK: Criminal empire east of Mississippi R. Early 1800s Zuhl - F351.W45
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June 27, 2007 Meet the Harpes, America's first family of serial killers. History comes alive.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews