The Amityville Horror: A True Story (book) - Revision history

GaryJJSpate at 23:45, 4 August 2026

2026-08-04T23:45:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:45, 4 August 2026
Line 12:		Line 12:

	== Overview ==		== Overview ==
	The book was commissioned after Prentice-Hall editor Tam Mossman introduced George and Kathy Lutz to Anson.<ref name="~~wikipedia~~">{{cite web \|title=The Amityville Horror \|url=https://en.~~wikipedia~~.~~org~~/~~wiki~~/~~The_Amityville_Horror~~ \|publisher=~~Wikipedia~~}}</ref> The Lutzes did not work directly with Anson; instead, ~~they submitted approximately 45~~ hours of tape-recorded ~~recollections~~, ~~which~~ Anson ~~used as~~ the ~~basis for the finished text~~ — though the ~~exact~~ figure ~~varies somewhat between accounts, with some sources citing closer~~ to 35 hours.<ref name="~~wikipedia~~"/><ref name="mentalfloss"/> Anson wrote the book during his recovery from a heart attack, having decided, by his own account, to write the Lutzes' story largely as they had told it to him.<ref name="writersdigest"~~>{{cite web \|title=Vintage WD: Jay Anson, The Man Who Wrote The Amityville Horror \|url=https:/~~/www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/vintage-wd-jay-anson-the-man-who-wrote-the-amityville-horror \|publisher=Writer's Digest \|date=2020}}</ref><ref name="grokipedia">{{cite web \|title=Jay Anson \|url=https://grokipedia.com/page/Jay_Anson \|publisher=Grokipedia}}</ref> It recounts the family's reported 28 days in the house, culminating in their flight, leaving virtually all their possessions behind — the book's final scene describes a wave of "greenish-black slime" advancing up the staircase as they left.<ref name="~~wikipedia~~"/>		The book was commissioned after Prentice-Hall editor Tam Mossman introduced George and Kathy Lutz to Anson.<ref name="writersdigest">{{cite web \|title=Vintage WD: Jay Anson, The Man Who Wrote The Amityville Horror \|url=https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/vintage-wd-jay-anson-the-man-who-wrote-the-amityville-horror \|publisher=Writer's Digest \|date=2020}}</ref> The Lutzes did not work directly with Anson; instead, George gave Anson roughly 35 hours of tape he had recorded on his own, with a further five hours of follow-up interviews with Anson himself to fix the chronology in his mind — though other accounts round the total figure up to around 45 hours.<ref name="writersdigest"/><ref name="mentalfloss"/> Anson wrote the book during his recovery from a heart attack, having decided, by his own account, to write the Lutzes' story largely as they had told it to him.<ref name="writersdigest"/> It recounts the family's reported 28 days in the house, culminating in their flight, leaving virtually all their possessions behind — the book's final scene describes a wave of "greenish-black slime" advancing up the staircase as they left.<ref name="bsaboutmovies">{{cite web \|title=Exploring: Amityville \|url=https://bandsaboutmovies.com/2020/02/14/exploring-amityville/ \|publisher=B&S About Movies \|date=2025}}</ref>

	== Publication and sales ==		== Publication and sales ==
	Published in hardcover by Prentice-Hall in September 1977, the book became a major commercial success, with total sales across its many editions estimated at around 10 million copies.<ref name="~~wikipedia~~"/> It formed the basis for a 1979 film adaptation and a long-running horror franchise that has continued for decades since.		Published in hardcover by Prentice-Hall in September 1977, the book became a major commercial success, with total sales across its many editions estimated at around 10 million copies.<ref name="bsaboutmovies"/> It formed the basis for a 1979 film adaptation and a long-running horror franchise that has continued for decades since.

	== Reception and controversy ==		== Reception and controversy ==
	The book's claim to be a true story drew scrutiny almost immediately. William G. Roll, head of the Psychical Research Foundation, publicly described the book as a work of fiction, and colleague Rick Moran characterised it as sloppily researched and riddled with factual errors, while noting persistent suggestions that the Lutzes had been coached by an outside party.<ref name="writersdigest"/> That party was later identified as Ronald DeFeo's own defence attorney, William Weber.<ref name="~~wikipedia~~"/> A mover who removed the Lutzes' possessions from the house the day after they fled reported experiencing no paranormal phenomena inside.<ref name="~~wikipedia~~"/> See [[Amityville Horror]] for the fuller account of the case and the evidence supporting its fabrication.		The book's claim to be a true story drew scrutiny almost immediately. William G. Roll, head of the Psychical Research Foundation, publicly described the book as a work of fiction, and colleague Rick Moran characterised it as sloppily researched and riddled with factual errors, while noting persistent suggestions that the Lutzes had been coached by an outside party.<ref name="writersdigest"/> That party was later identified as Ronald DeFeo's own defence attorney, William Weber, who told ''People'' magazine, "I know this book's a hoax. We created this horror story over many bottles of wine."<ref name="psiencyclopedia">{{cite web \|title=Amityville Hoax \|url=https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/amityville-hoax/ \|publisher=Psi Encyclopedia (Society for Psychical Research)}}</ref> A mover who removed the Lutzes' possessions from the house the day after they fled reported experiencing no paranormal phenomena inside.<ref name="bsaboutmovies"/> See [[Amityville Horror]] for the fuller account of the case and the evidence supporting its fabrication.

	== See also ==		== See also ==

GaryJJSpate at 23:49, 3 August 2026

2026-08-03T23:49:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:49, 3 August 2026
Line 8:		Line 8:
	\|genre=Horror non-fiction (disputed)		\|genre=Horror non-fiction (disputed)
	}}		}}
			{{tick}}
	'''The Amityville Horror: A True Story''' is a 1977 book by [[Jay Anson]], presenting the claimed paranormal experiences of the Lutz family at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York — the same house where Ronald DeFeo Jr. had murdered his family the previous year. It became a publishing sensation and launched a long-running film franchise, while remaining one of the most disputed "true story" claims in the history of paranormal publishing.<ref name="mentalfloss">{{cite web \|title=9 Fascinating Facts About Jay Anson's 'The Amityville Horror' \|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/books/amityville-horror-book-facts \|publisher=Mental Floss \|date=2022}}</ref>		'''The Amityville Horror: A True Story''' is a 1977 book by [[Jay Anson]], presenting the claimed paranormal experiences of the Lutz family at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York — the same house where Ronald DeFeo Jr. had murdered his family the previous year. It became a publishing sensation and launched a long-running film franchise, while remaining one of the most disputed "true story" claims in the history of paranormal publishing.<ref name="mentalfloss">{{cite web \|title=9 Fascinating Facts About Jay Anson's 'The Amityville Horror' \|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/books/amityville-horror-book-facts \|publisher=Mental Floss \|date=2022}}</ref>

GaryJJSpate at 23:44, 3 August 2026

2026-08-03T23:44:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:44, 3 August 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{~~BookInfobox~~		{{InfoboxBook
	\|title=The Amityville Horror: A True Story		\|title=The Amityville Horror: A True Story
	\|author=[[Jay Anson]]		\|author=[[Jay Anson]]
Line 8:		Line 8:
	\|genre=Horror non-fiction (disputed)		\|genre=Horror non-fiction (disputed)
	}}		}}
			'''The Amityville Horror: A True Story''' is a 1977 book by [[Jay Anson]], presenting the claimed paranormal experiences of the Lutz family at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York — the same house where Ronald DeFeo Jr. had murdered his family the previous year. It became a publishing sensation and launched a long-running film franchise, while remaining one of the most disputed "true story" claims in the history of paranormal publishing.<ref name="mentalfloss">{{cite web \|title=9 Fascinating Facts About Jay Anson's 'The Amityville Horror' \|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/books/amityville-horror-book-facts \|publisher=Mental Floss \|date=2022}}</ref>
	'''The Amityville Horror: A True Story''' is a 1977 book by [[Jay Anson]], presenting the claimed paranormal experiences of the Lutz family at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York — the same house where Ronald DeFeo Jr. had murdered his family the previous year. It became a publishing sensation and launched a long-running film franchise, while remaining one of the most disputed "true story" claims in the history of paranormal publishing.

	== Overview ==		== Overview ==
	The book was commissioned after Prentice-Hall editor Tam Mossman introduced George and Kathy Lutz to Anson. The Lutzes did not work directly with Anson; instead, they submitted ~~roughly~~ 45 hours of tape-recorded recollections, which Anson used as the basis for the finished text. Anson wrote the book during ~~a three-month~~ recovery ~~period following~~ a heart attack, having decided, by his own account, to write the Lutzes' story largely as they had told it to him. It recounts the family's reported 28 days in the house, culminating in their flight, leaving virtually all their possessions behind — the book's final scene describes a wave of ~~green~~-black slime advancing up the staircase as they left.		The book was commissioned after Prentice-Hall editor Tam Mossman introduced George and Kathy Lutz to Anson.<ref name="wikipedia">{{cite web \|title=The Amityville Horror \|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amityville_Horror \|publisher=Wikipedia}}</ref> The Lutzes did not work directly with Anson; instead, they submitted approximately 45 hours of tape-recorded recollections, which Anson used as the basis for the finished text — though the exact figure varies somewhat between accounts, with some sources citing closer to 35 hours.<ref name="wikipedia"/><ref name="mentalfloss"/> Anson wrote the book during his recovery from a heart attack, having decided, by his own account, to write the Lutzes' story largely as they had told it to him.<ref name="writersdigest">{{cite web \|title=Vintage WD: Jay Anson, The Man Who Wrote The Amityville Horror \|url=https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/vintage-wd-jay-anson-the-man-who-wrote-the-amityville-horror \|publisher=Writer's Digest \|date=2020}}</ref><ref name="grokipedia">{{cite web \|title=Jay Anson \|url=https://grokipedia.com/page/Jay_Anson \|publisher=Grokipedia}}</ref> It recounts the family's reported 28 days in the house, culminating in their flight, leaving virtually all their possessions behind — the book's final scene describes a wave of "greenish-black slime" advancing up the staircase as they left.<ref name="wikipedia"/>

	== Publication and sales ==		== Publication and sales ==
	Published in hardcover by Prentice-Hall in September 1977, the book became a major commercial success, with total sales across its many editions estimated at around 10 million copies. It formed the basis for a 1979 film adaptation and a long-running horror franchise that has continued for decades since.		Published in hardcover by Prentice-Hall in September 1977, the book became a major commercial success, with total sales across its many editions estimated at around 10 million copies.<ref name="wikipedia"/> It formed the basis for a 1979 film adaptation and a long-running horror franchise that has continued for decades since.

	== Reception and controversy ==		== Reception and controversy ==
	The book's claim to be a true story drew scrutiny almost immediately. William G. Roll, head of the Psychical Research Foundation, publicly described the book as a work of fiction, and colleague Rick Moran characterised it as sloppily researched and riddled with factual errors, while noting persistent suggestions that the Lutzes had been coached by an outside party — later identified as Ronald DeFeo's own defence attorney, William Weber. A mover who removed the Lutzes' possessions from the house the day after they fled reported experiencing no paranormal phenomena inside. See [[Amityville Horror]] for the fuller account of the case and the evidence supporting its fabrication.		The book's claim to be a true story drew scrutiny almost immediately. William G. Roll, head of the Psychical Research Foundation, publicly described the book as a work of fiction, and colleague Rick Moran characterised it as sloppily researched and riddled with factual errors, while noting persistent suggestions that the Lutzes had been coached by an outside party.<ref name="writersdigest"/> That party was later identified as Ronald DeFeo's own defence attorney, William Weber.<ref name="wikipedia"/> A mover who removed the Lutzes' possessions from the house the day after they fled reported experiencing no paranormal phenomena inside.<ref name="wikipedia"/> See [[Amityville Horror]] for the fuller account of the case and the evidence supporting its fabrication.

	== See also ==		== See also ==
Line 25:		Line 24:
	* [[Lorraine Warren]]		* [[Lorraine Warren]]

	== ~~Where to buy~~ ==		== References ==
	* [https://amzn.to/4yKRfyh Buy on Amazon]		{{Reflist}}

			== External links ==
			* [https://amzn.to/4yKRfyh Buy on Amazon] ''(Amazon Associates affiliate link — purchases made through this link help fund The EERIE Files)''

	[[Category:~~Books~~]]		[[Category:Literature]]
	[[Category:~~In The Media~~]]		[[Category:Fiction Inspired by Real Events]]

GaryJJSpate at 19:01, 29 July 2026

2026-07-29T19:01:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:01, 29 July 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{BookInfobox		{{BookInfobox
	\|title=The Amityville Horror: A True Story		\|title=The Amityville Horror: A True Story
	\|author=Jay Anson		\|author=[[Jay Anson]]
	\|publisher=Prentice-Hall		\|publisher=Prentice-Hall
	\|published=13 September 1977		\|published=13 September 1977
Line 9:		Line 9:
	}}		}}

	'''The Amityville Horror: A True Story''' is a 1977 book by Jay Anson, presenting the claimed paranormal experiences of the Lutz family at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York — the same house where Ronald DeFeo Jr. had murdered his family the previous year. It became a publishing sensation and launched a long-running film franchise, while remaining one of the most disputed "true story" claims in the history of paranormal publishing.		'''The Amityville Horror: A True Story''' is a 1977 book by [[Jay Anson]], presenting the claimed paranormal experiences of the Lutz family at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York — the same house where Ronald DeFeo Jr. had murdered his family the previous year. It became a publishing sensation and launched a long-running film franchise, while remaining one of the most disputed "true story" claims in the history of paranormal publishing.

	== Overview ==		== Overview ==

GaryJJSpate: /* Where to buy */

2026-07-29T14:07:58Z

Where to buy

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:07, 29 July 2026
Line 29:		Line 29:

	[[Category:Books]]		[[Category:Books]]
			[[Category:In The Media]]

GaryJJSpate: Created page with "{{BookInfobox |title=The Amityville Horror: A True Story |author=Jay Anson |publisher=Prentice-Hall |published=13 September 1977 |isbn=978-0-553-13160-4 |pages=201 |genre=Horror non-fiction (disputed) }} '''The Amityville Horror: A True Story''' is a 1977 book by Jay Anson, presenting the claimed paranormal experiences of the Lutz family at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York — the same house where Ronald DeFeo Jr. had murdered his family the previous year. It beca..."

2026-07-29T00:37:18Z

Created page with "{{BookInfobox |title=The Amityville Horror: A True Story |author=Jay Anson |publisher=Prentice-Hall |published=13 September 1977 |isbn=978-0-553-13160-4 |pages=201 |genre=Horror non-fiction (disputed) }} '''The Amityville Horror: A True Story''' is a 1977 book by Jay Anson, presenting the claimed paranormal experiences of the Lutz family at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York — the same house where Ronald DeFeo Jr. had murdered his family the previous year. It beca..."

New page

{{BookInfobox
|title=The Amityville Horror: A True Story
|author=Jay Anson
|publisher=Prentice-Hall
|published=13 September 1977
|isbn=978-0-553-13160-4
|pages=201
|genre=Horror non-fiction (disputed)
}}

'''The Amityville Horror: A True Story''' is a 1977 book by Jay Anson, presenting the claimed paranormal experiences of the Lutz family at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York — the same house where Ronald DeFeo Jr. had murdered his family the previous year. It became a publishing sensation and launched a long-running film franchise, while remaining one of the most disputed "true story" claims in the history of paranormal publishing.

== Overview ==
The book was commissioned after Prentice-Hall editor Tam Mossman introduced George and Kathy Lutz to Anson. The Lutzes did not work directly with Anson; instead, they submitted roughly 45 hours of tape-recorded recollections, which Anson used as the basis for the finished text. Anson wrote the book during a three-month recovery period following a heart attack, having decided, by his own account, to write the Lutzes' story largely as they had told it to him. It recounts the family's reported 28 days in the house, culminating in their flight, leaving virtually all their possessions behind — the book's final scene describes a wave of green-black slime advancing up the staircase as they left.

== Publication and sales ==
Published in hardcover by Prentice-Hall in September 1977, the book became a major commercial success, with total sales across its many editions estimated at around 10 million copies. It formed the basis for a 1979 film adaptation and a long-running horror franchise that has continued for decades since.

== Reception and controversy ==
The book's claim to be a true story drew scrutiny almost immediately. William G. Roll, head of the Psychical Research Foundation, publicly described the book as a work of fiction, and colleague Rick Moran characterised it as sloppily researched and riddled with factual errors, while noting persistent suggestions that the Lutzes had been coached by an outside party — later identified as Ronald DeFeo's own defence attorney, William Weber. A mover who removed the Lutzes' possessions from the house the day after they fled reported experiencing no paranormal phenomena inside. See [[Amityville Horror]] for the fuller account of the case and the evidence supporting its fabrication.

== See also ==
* [[Amityville Horror]]
* [[Ed Warren]]
* [[Lorraine Warren]]

== Where to buy ==
* [https://amzn.to/4yKRfyh Buy on Amazon]

[[Category:Books]]