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2.51k reviews for:
A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them
Timothy Egan
4.34 AVERAGE
2.51k reviews for:
A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them
Timothy Egan
4.34 AVERAGE
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
sad
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
Well that was fascinating and horrifying and, fuck, not much has changed in 100 years.
I read a lot about the Klan in grad school (wrote one of my papers for graduation on a related topic), but didn’t remember this story. That a woman had to die at the hands of this man, to even begin to bring down the Klan, is just terrible. The subtitle is a bit misleading. “The woman who stopped them” is only because she died and the family, etc. prosecuted. She didn’t do it herself… She should still be remembered, but.
And for anyone who thinks the north, or out west, was some happy place with no racial animus, this book will really open your eyes.
I read a lot about the Klan in grad school (wrote one of my papers for graduation on a related topic), but didn’t remember this story. That a woman had to die at the hands of this man, to even begin to bring down the Klan, is just terrible. The subtitle is a bit misleading. “The woman who stopped them” is only because she died and the family, etc. prosecuted. She didn’t do it herself… She should still be remembered, but.
And for anyone who thinks the north, or out west, was some happy place with no racial animus, this book will really open your eyes.
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
This was a very hard read/listen based upon the subject matter and brutality described. I had to put it down several times, because in 2025, 100+years later, it feels like we're experiencing some of this same stuff!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail
Book Club Review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was an interesting and eye-opening read, though not always an easy one. At first, I found it tough to get into—the beginning is dense with information and names, and it was a challenge to keep everyone straight. It also served as a heavy, painful reminder of how cruel and terrifying people can be, especially when fueled by mob mentality and hate.
But once the story reached the trial of D.C. Stephenson—the KKK’s Grand Dragon in Indiana—it really picked up. Stephenson was truly a nightmare of a man, and watching the justice system begin to catch up with him was both satisfying and disturbing. I appreciated how Egan highlighted the power of one brave woman and the legal system’s role in trying to hold him accountable, even if imperfectly.
What stood out to me the most was how much more I learned about the Ku Klux Klan. I had no idea how widespread their hatred was—it extended far beyond racism, touching almost every corner of American society at the time.
This is a heavy read with difficult subject matter, so reader beware. But if you’re interested in history, true crime, or stories of courage in dark times, it’s worth pushing through the dense parts. By the end, it left me both heartbroken and hopeful.
This was an interesting and eye-opening read, though not always an easy one. At first, I found it tough to get into—the beginning is dense with information and names, and it was a challenge to keep everyone straight. It also served as a heavy, painful reminder of how cruel and terrifying people can be, especially when fueled by mob mentality and hate.
But once the story reached the trial of D.C. Stephenson—the KKK’s Grand Dragon in Indiana—it really picked up. Stephenson was truly a nightmare of a man, and watching the justice system begin to catch up with him was both satisfying and disturbing. I appreciated how Egan highlighted the power of one brave woman and the legal system’s role in trying to hold him accountable, even if imperfectly.
What stood out to me the most was how much more I learned about the Ku Klux Klan. I had no idea how widespread their hatred was—it extended far beyond racism, touching almost every corner of American society at the time.
This is a heavy read with difficult subject matter, so reader beware. But if you’re interested in history, true crime, or stories of courage in dark times, it’s worth pushing through the dense parts. By the end, it left me both heartbroken and hopeful.
challenging
dark
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
a must-read about the rise and fall of the KKK in the '20s. the heavy themes are crucial to explore in order to understand the historical through line of white supremacy and fascism in America. Egan excellently explores the figures that dominated the klan's rise & the individuals who fought tirelessly (and often to their own detriment) against the oppression and fascism in their hometowns. Madge Oberholtzer's life and death signifies the importance of doing what is right even when it is scary. I will carry the bravery, persistence, and dignity of those who stood in opposition to the klan's hatred with me as we continue the fight against racism one hundred years later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced