Deranged: The Shocking True Story of America's Most Fiendish Killer! [Paperback]

Harold Schechter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998

LURED FROM THE SAFETY OF HOME -- INTO THE JAWS OF HELL

"America's principal chronicler of its greatest psychopathic killers" (The Boston Book Review), Harold Schechter shatters the myth that violent crime is a modern phenomenon -- with this seamless true account of unvarnished horror from the early twentieth century. Journey inside the demented mind of Albert Fish -- pedophile, sadist, and cannibal killer -- and discover that bloodlust knows no time or place....

On a warm spring day in 1928, a kindly, white-haired man appeared at the Budd family home in New York City, and soon persuaded Mr. and Mrs. Budd to let him take their adorable little girl, Grace, on an outing. The Budds never guessed that they had entrusted their child to a monster. After a relentless six-year search and nationwide press coverage, the mystery of Grace Budd's disappearance was solved -- and a crime of unparalleled gore and revulsion was revealed to a stunned American public. What Albert Fish did to Grace Budd, and perhaps fifteen other young children, caused experts to pronounce him the most deranged human being they had ever seen.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Harold Schechter is a professor of American culture at Queens College (CUNY) who takes an academic interest in the history of violent folklore: "Our pop entertainments aren't necessarily more brutal than those of the past," he writes. "They are simply ... more state of the art." In this book Schechter turns his keen historian's gaze on real-life serial killer Albert Fish, who killed--and ate--as many as 15 children in New York City in the 20s. Fish resembled a meek, kindly, white-haired grandfather, but was actually an intense sadomasochist whose sexual fetishes included almost everything known to psychiatry. For example, he stuck 29 needles into his pelvic region. Apparently Schechter, while writing his book Deviant about Ed Gein, asked Robert Bloch (author of Psycho), "Why are people so fascinated by Ed Gein?" Bloch answered, "Because they haven't heard about Albert Fish."
Also recommended: Depraved, Schechter's book about Herman Mudgett a.k.a. Dr. H. H. Holmes. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Harold Schechter is a professor of American literature and culture. Renowned for his true-crime writing, he is the author of the nonfiction books Fatal, Fiend, Bestial, Deviant, Deranged, Depraved, and, with David Everitt, The A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. He is also the author of Nevermore and The Hum Bug, the acclaimed historical novels featuring Edgar Allan Poe. He lives in New York State.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books; First Thus edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671025457
• ISBN-13: 978-0671025458
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,461 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Harold Schechter is a professor of American literature and culture. Renowned for his true-crime writing, he is the author of the nonfiction books Fatal, Fiend, Bestial, Deviant, Deranged, Depraved, and, with David Everitt, The A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. He is also the author of Nevermore and The Hum Bug, the acclaimed historical novels featuring Edgar Allan Poe. He lives in New York State.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dastardly deeds!, April 3, 2000

By 

Richard P. Mayhew (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deranged: The Shocking True Story of America's Most Fiendish Killer! (Paperback)

Mr. Schechter seems fixated on books about mad dog killers that begin with the letter D for example Deviant, Depraved and this offering Deranged. I have read all three books and this one is the best, they are all good by the way. The research done is impresive, Mr. Schechter must have gone through volumes of microfiche to find the newspaper stories that he has added to statements made by participants he has taken from trial records and other sources. The structure of the story is well written and easy to follow. The subject Mr. Albert Fish is so...Deranged that it is hard to find a place to start when describing his evil and perverse acts. From sending dirty letters to ladies at lonely hearts clubs to murdering and cannibilizing a little girl. Trust me, this guy makes Jeffery Dahmer look sane and mellow. I have loaned this book to buddies and it has never been gone for more than 3 days, it is a quick read, hard to put down. This book will make you walk around the house checking to make sure the doors and windows are locked. Good work Prof. Schechter.

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The stuff to haunt dreams., August 9, 2001

By 

Meaghan Good "meggilyweggily" (Venedocia, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deranged: The Shocking True Story of America's Most Fiendish Killer! (Paperback)

It's kind of sad that hardly anybody knows (or cares) about Albert Fish anymore. In my opinion he's much more interesting than Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, etc. I agree with the jury's verdict: Albert Fish was insane but he deserved to die anyway. Harold Schechter's descriptions of not only Fish's crimes but also the things that he did to himself -- sticking needles up his groin, whipping himself etc -- turned my stomach. It was all so incongruous, as Fish looked like everybody's grandfather. Yet another insightful, entertaining book from Harold Schechter.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable, but true., March 30, 2000

By 

Edward Gordon Brown - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deranged: The Shocking True Story of America's Most Fiendish Killer! (Paperback)

Mr. Schechter pens yet another true-crime story that is worthy of a reserved spot for any true-crime buff. As the late author Robert Bloch said: "People are only into Ed Gein because they haven't heard of Albert Fish."

So, here is Fish's book. It is unbelievable. One has to remind oneself that this is actually TRUE. This really did happen. I couldn't believe it. A person who indulged in a numerous variety of perversities, sexual fetishes (some way, way too bizarre to mention here!) the unspeakably ghastly aftermath of Grace Budd was reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale classic "Little Red Riding Hood". In my previous review of a Schechter novel I said had found myself sympathizing (in a very awkward way) to Gein and actually saw a motive for his madness. In Fish's case I could not sympathise with him whatsoever. He was possibly the most deranged man to ever walk on Earth (in my opinion)...but contrary to what others may think, he was aware of the fiendish nature of his crimes. He planned Grace Budd's abduction with a cool cunning, and killed her in the most outrageous way possible... This makes for possibly the sickest yet most compelling read in the genre ever.

Hats off to Mr. Schechter once more for providing impeccable research and a story with no boring moments in it whatsoever.