Episode 20

Who is Ed Gein?

You may not have heard the name Ed Gein before, but he's probably your worst nightmare. Otherwise known as the butcher of Plainfield, his crimes inspired some of the most iconic American horror characters of all time, including Norman Bates and Leatherface.

So in this episode, we get to know a little more about Eddie - who he was, what he did, and how he became one of the most influential serial killers in American history, as we ask... who is Ed Gein?

Guests:

  • Alex James, an American Studies postgraduate student at the University of East Anglia, with an interest in American’s obsession with serial killers and true crime.
  • Harold Schecter, a Professor Emeritus at Queens College, the City University of New York, where he taught American literature for forty-two years. He has published over forty books including ‘Deviant: The True Story of Ed Gein’ and he is a two-time Edgar Award nominee. If you want to know anything about American serial killers, this is the man to speak to.

Additional Resources:

BOOK: Deviant by Harold Schecter

GRAPHIC NOVEL: Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? By Harold Schecter

BOOK: Psycho by Robert Bloch

If you enjoy this episode, you might also like:

Who is Ed Gein?

Why Do Americans Love Halloween?

Why Do Americans Love Aliens?

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America: A History
Making American History Great Again

About your host

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Liam Heffernan

Liam's fascination with America grows year on year. Having graduated with a Masters in American Studies with Film, he loves pop culture and has been to Vegas four times which, in his opinion, is not enough.

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