The Soul of Wes Craven Paperback – June 7, 2024

You know him as the Sultan of Slash, the Guru of Gore, and the Father of Freddy. Now get to know the real person behind some of the most iconic horror movies of our time. With his latest book, Author Joseph Maddrey presents a revealing look at the life, career, and soul of filmmaking auteur Wes Craven. Featuring new interviews with the friends, family, and colleagues who knew him best, The Soul of Wes Craven offers fans insight into the master of horror like never before.THE SOUL OF WES CRAVEN features:Over eighty new interviews - all exclusive to this bookNever before seen photos from Wes’s life and careerChapters on Wes's alter egos Thomas Sparrow & Abe SnakeA history of his poetry, short stories, and articlesCoverage of his various forays into televisionNew details on lost, canceled, and abandoned projectsPreviously untold stories of his studio strugglesFresh insights into Wes’s creative influencesAn index of attributed scripts (and where to find them!)A list of Wes’s favorite books, music, and moviesAn Afterword by Jonathan Craven“Finally, the Bible is written for the cult of Wes Craven! … The reason Wes Craven is often overlooked and taken for granted is because this book didn’t exist. Now it does, and we have no more excuses."- Grady Hendrix, author of Paperbacks from Hell and The Final Girl Support Group“The Soul of Wes Craven reveals not only the soul but the brilliant mind that Wes Craven possessed. From his very humble upbringing to his death from brain cancer, we get a rare glimpse into the wide-ranging influences that made Wes Craven a visionary filmmaker. Illuminating and touching, I learned even more about the man who changed my life by casting me as Nancy Thompson in A Nightmare on Elm Street. This intimate, well-researched look into his life expands my appreciation of the maestro.”- Heather Langenkamp, star of A Nightmare on Elm Street and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare“As a screenwriter working with Wes Craven, I knew I had entered a magical world but I barely knew what a profound and remarkable man I was getting to know. Joseph Maddrey’s book allows us to discover the brilliance, the painful journey and the triumph of an extraordinary life. You will be as lucky to meet Wes in these pages as I was in real life.”- Bruce Joel Rubin, screenwriter of Deadly Friend, Ghost, and Jacob’s Ladder“Overwhelmingly and understandably identified as a master of horror, Wes Craven was widely viewed as a filmmaker lurking behind a Halloween fright mask. With his incredibly detailed and engagingly written The Soul of Wes Craven, Joseph Maddrey brilliantly peers behind that mask to reveal the true face, heart and, yes, soul, of a deceptively complex and influential writer and director. Anyone seeking a comprehensive and genuine understanding of the life and work of Wesley Earl Craven from Cleveland, Ohio, will find this book as insightful and intriguing as it is invaluable.”- Mark Dawidziak, author of A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe and Everything I Need to Know I Learned in The Twilight Zone“An incredible, insightful, and revelatory look at the life of a genre icon. Filled with fantastic stories, captivating new details, and plenty of heart, this is the love letter tapestry of a literary, philosophical, and spiritual life that Wes Craven—and every film lover—deserves.”- Thommy Hutson, screenwriter of Scream: The Inside Story and Truth or Dare Read more