New England Myths and Legends: The True Stories behind History's Mysteries

by Diana Ross McCain

New EnglandMyths and Legends explores unusual phenomena, strange events, and mysteries in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. From vampires to an angel, a ghost rapper to a phantom ship, New EnglandMyths and Legends pulls back the curtain on some of the region’s most fascinating and compelling stories.

Genres: Folklore

216 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2019

About the author

Diana Ross McCain is an independent historian who has been researching, writing, and speaking about Connecticut and New England’s past for more than thirty years. She was on the staff of the Connecticut Historical Society in Hartford for twenty-five years. Since 2015 she has been a partner in “Come Home to Connecticut,” an enterprise which offers historical and genealogical research services, consulting, and programming.

Diana is the author of several non-fiction books, including It Happened in Connecticut, Mysteries and Legends of New England, and Connecticut Coast, all published by Globe Pequot Press; and the award-winning To All on Equal Terms: the Life and Legacy of Prudence Crandall. She has also written extensively for publications such as Early American Life and Connecticut magazines, and the Hartford Courant. Thy Children’s Children is her first novel.

Diana holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history, and a master’s degree in library science. A native of Ohio, Diana has lived in Connecticut for forty years.

Reviews

[LB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought and read this while on vacation in Vermont. I always try to pick up something from the local history section that I might not come across elsewhere.

This was a fun, quick read. Some of the stories are more grounded in documented fact while others are more fanciful. I had heard some of them before (being a native New Englander) but others were totally new to me (mainly the CT stories).

The prose is pleasant and the stories well told. I also appreciated the pictures but sometimes wished for more (I turned to Google to satisfy my curiosity on a few items). A fun, lighthearted read for anyone interested in local history, or early American myths.

[Isis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fascinating book. The research was clearly there, and the stories were interesting to read.

[Jo-jean Keller · Rating 3 out of 5]

l enjoyed these myths particularly the phantom ships and the fearsome frogs, just two of the 15 tales included.

[Daniel Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked some of the stories and learning more about local legends, but a little overwritten.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most stories are well know by New Englanders. A bit over written.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was entertaining enough to read and had a lot of stories I'd never heard of before, but the writing itself was somewhat dry and confusing on more than one occasion. I loved that these myths and legends are all rooted in true events and the author's research is top notch, if a little muddy. It was a good spooky read to kick off my Fall reading list, but I don't think I'll be revisiting the book itself in the future.