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Chasing the Headless Horseman

The History, Hijinks, and Halloweens of the Real Sleepy Hollow
By J. W. Ocker
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Brief Description
National best-selling and Edgar Award-winning travel writer J. W. Ocker investigates the town that inspired Washington Irving's famous short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Ocker dives into the storied history of the Headless Horseman's stomping grounds, visiting the village's graveyard where Irving himself is buried... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback

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A spirited look at Sleepy Hollow’s haunted corners, local lore and its connection to one of America’s most famous ghost stories

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

National best-selling and Edgar Award-winning travel writer J. W. Ocker investigates the town that inspired Washington Irving's famous short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Ocker dives into the storied history of the Headless Horseman's stomping grounds, visiting the village's graveyard where Irving himself is buried and exploring all the present-day spookiness of one of the strangest towns in the country.

Blending travelogue, cultural criticism, and behind-the-scenes reporting, Ocker uncovers the tensions between tourism and tradition, profit and preservation, fiction and fact. With wit and curiosity, Chasing the Headless Horseman tells the story of how one small town reinvented itself as America's Halloween capital, complete with statues, street signs, and an 18-foot-tall Headless Horseman.

A must-read for anyone who loves ghost stories, Halloween, or small-town drama, Ocker's new book does for Sleepy Hollow, New York, what his A Season with the Witch did for Salem, Massachusetts.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781324112228

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 September 2026

Country: United States

Imprint: Countryman Press Inc.

Illustration: 40 illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 350g

Pages: 288

Collections

Health & Wellness J. W. Ocker Non-Fiction Self-Help & Personal Development Travel & Adventure

About the Author

J. W. Ocker is a best-selling, Edgar Award–winning author of macabre travelogues and horror novels. His books include A Season with the Witch, Twelve Nights at Rotter House, and The United States of Cryptids. Ocker lives in New Hampshire.

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