A Fever in the Heartland

The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them

De: Timothy Egan

Narrado por: Timothy Egan

"With meticulous detective work, Timothy Egan shines a light on one of the most sinister chapters in American history—how a viciously racist movement, led by a murderous conman, rose to power in the early twentieth century. A Fever in the Heartland is compelling, powerful, and profoundly resonant today."—David Grann, author of THE WAGER and KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

A historical thriller by the Pulitzer and National Book Award-winning author that tells the riveting story of the Klan's rise to power in the 1920s, the cunning con man who drove that rise, and the woman who stopped them.

The Roaring Twenties—the Jazz Age—has been characterized as a time of Gatsby frivolity. But it was also the height of the uniquely American hate group, the Ku Klux Klan. Their domain was not the old Confederacy, but the Heartland and the West. They hated Blacks, Jews, Catholics and immigrants in equal measure, and took radical steps to keep these people from the American promise. And the man who set in motion their takeover of great swaths of America was a charismatic charlatan named D.C. Stephenson.

Stephenson was a magnetic presence whose life story changed with every telling. Within two years of his arrival in Indiana, he’d become the Grand Dragon of the state and the architect of the strategy that brought the group out of the shadows–their message endorsed from the pulpits of local churches, spread at family picnics and town celebrations. Judges, prosecutors, ministers, governors and senators across the country all proudly proclaimed their membership. But at the peak of his influence, it was a seemingly powerless woman–Madge Oberholtzer–who would reveal his secret cruelties, and whose deathbed testimony finally brought the Klan to their knees.

A FEVER IN THE HEARTLAND marries a propulsive drama to a powerful reckoning with one of the darkest threads in American history.

Photo courtesy of The Indiana Album: Evan Finch Collection.

©2023 Timothy Egan (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Powerful . . . As a narrative, “A Fever in the Heartland” is gripping; as a rumination on the moral obscenity of white supremacy — whatever guises it wears — the book is damning.” —The New York Times Book Review

"With meticulous detective work, Timothy Egan shines a light on one of the most sinister chapters in American history—how a viciously racist movement, led by a murderous conman, rose to power in the early twentieth century. A Fever in the Heartland is compelling, powerful, and profoundly resonant today." —David Grann, author of The Wager and Killers of the Flower Moon

"Egan has done it again, mastering another complicated American story with authority and surprising detail. The Klan here are not the nightriders of the late 19th century, but a retooled special interest group and unusually potent political power. The influence they wielded over states and policy should put a chill in every American. Bravo.” —Ken Burns

Outstanding piece of literature!

From DC Stevenson to Donald Trump, and the Horse Theft Detective Agency to Proud Boys-Oath Keepers don’t we ever learn. I think I know where Trump got his playbook.

A must read

Listening to this book one can see why Trump has used religion and hate to become so popular. So sad to see the real American way. Read about our American history u may not be so proof that flag u salute.

Outstanding

This should be a required element in American History curriculum. Unfortunately efforts to ignore or rewrite the shameful chapters of this nation’s history are on the rise. Read/listen to this book…

Great

I love hearing the author read their own book - it adds nuance and for listeners we know the emphasis is where it’s intended. I really appreciate that Mr. Egan takes the time to do this.

Good always wins

A very frightening period in history. Excellent read. I learned a lot about this time in history.

Excellent read

Very well written and informative. A tremendous amount of interesting information. Certainly part of history worth remembering.

The Trump Playbook revealed

I am sick. History repeating itself yet again. Why can’t we learn from our past mistakes and failures to make a better world??

Another amazing book by Tim Egan!

We can’t understand the dangers of violent hate groups today unless we understand the power they have had in the past in the United States. And this book shows the January 6 is not an outlier in US history.

Fantastic Read

The historical basis for this book was so enlightening. A part of our history that needs to be told over and over again.

Fascinating and scary

Learned more about the KKK than I could have imagined. Frightening to think how close we are to duplicating the hate. The author/narrator is crisp and easy to listen to. Recommended for history prople.