A Fever in the Heartland

The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them

By: Timothy Egan

Narrated by: Timothy Egan

Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

"With meticulous detective work, Timothy Egan shines a light on one of the most sinister chapters in American history—how a viciously racist movement, led by a murderous conman, rose to power in the early twentieth century. A Fever in the Heartland is compelling, powerful, and profoundly resonant today."—David Grann, author of THE WAGER and KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

A historical thriller by the Pulitzer and National Book Award-winning author that tells the riveting story of the Klan's rise to power in the 1920s, the cunning con man who drove that rise, and the woman who stopped them.

The Roaring Twenties—the Jazz Age—has been characterized as a time of Gatsby frivolity. But it was also the height of the uniquely American hate group, the Ku Klux Klan. Their domain was not the old Confederacy, but the Heartland and the West. They hated Blacks, Jews, Catholics and immigrants in equal measure, and took radical steps to keep these people from the American promise. And the man who set in motion their takeover of great swaths of America was a charismatic charlatan named D.C. Stephenson.

Stephenson was a magnetic presence whose life story changed with every telling. Within two years of his arrival in Indiana, he’d become the Grand Dragon of the state and the architect of the strategy that brought the group out of the shadows–their message endorsed from the pulpits of local churches, spread at family picnics and town celebrations. Judges, prosecutors, ministers, governors and senators across the country all proudly proclaimed their membership. But at the peak of his influence, it was a seemingly powerless woman–Madge Oberholtzer–who would reveal his secret cruelties, and whose deathbed testimony finally brought the Klan to their knees.

A FEVER IN THE HEARTLAND marries a propulsive drama to a powerful reckoning with one of the darkest threads in American history.

Photo courtesy of The Indiana Album: Evan Finch Collection.

©2023 Timothy Egan (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Powerful . . . As a narrative, “A Fever in the Heartland” is gripping; as a rumination on the moral obscenity of white supremacy — whatever guises it wears — the book is damning.” —The New York Times Book Review

"With meticulous detective work, Timothy Egan shines a light on one of the most sinister chapters in American history—how a viciously racist movement, led by a murderous conman, rose to power in the early twentieth century. A Fever in the Heartland is compelling, powerful, and profoundly resonant today." —David Grann, author of The Wager and Killers of the Flower Moon

"Egan has done it again, mastering another complicated American story with authority and surprising detail. The Klan here are not the nightriders of the late 19th century, but a retooled special interest group and unusually potent political power. The influence they wielded over states and policy should put a chill in every American. Bravo.” —Ken Burns

History is repeating and needs to be recognized.

If we are not taught about what gullible fools we can be when a “strong man” appears and makes promises, how can we prevent one from taking control again? History keeps repeating. I agree, we must teach accurate history in our schools, NOT ban books and call truth WOKE as if heads in the sand is a virtue.

Well researched and fascinating story that needed a professional narrator.

Timothy Eagan is a brilliant writer but he should spend the money on a reader that does justice to his work. I wish I would have just read this one.

Egan’s most compelling yet.

This is Timothy Egan’s true story of one of the most hidden but tumultuous periods in America’s history. His profound insights and extensive research make this a “must read” for anyone who wonders how we, as a nation, arrived at the point we are today. As always, his writing is a joy to read, in spite of the painful subject matter. Loved it.

Timely and insightful

A book that should be read and heard now. It is highly instructive for our times.

Fascinating!

This is an incredible and well told story about a slice of history that although 100 years old resonates today. Highly recommended.

Why have we never been taught this Indiana history?

As a student in a Catholic school, growing up in small town Indiana, I never had heard of this distressing history in my own state. Of course we had heard of the KKK, but never believed that it had impacted us personally. I hope that my grandchildren read this book and understand that much of this same phenomenon is occurring today under the spell of a charismatic madman. Hopefully our country has enough brave journalists, attorneys and legislators to combat the sway of bigotry propelled by ignorance and fear.

Lesson for our time

A tremendous story of the 1920s with parallels to the 2020s. Well researched, written and read by the author. Should be widely read and cautions accepted.

Vital History

In an age where our political leaders say things like “diluted American blood” and “America is not a racist country” this history is vital! Egan weaves an impressive history that has too readily been forgotten, overlooked, and white-washed. The villains are deplorable but the hero’s overshadow them with their depth of goodness. A must read!

A prime example of how love of money and greediness for power lead to corruption and lawlessness.

The more American historical narratives I read, the more I see that money seems to nearly always be the prime motivator for prejudice and discrimination by any means necessary. We see it play out over and over again in history. This book lays out how the KKK infected Indiana, its people, government, judicial system and laws demonstrating how they used fear and intimidation to rule from the governor’s mansion to the farmer’s bedroom by leading the call for morality laws dictating alcohol use, designating neighborhoods in which Black people, Jews and Catholics could live and schools they could attend.

Sounds familiar? Yes, we are today experiencing the same otherism (an us vs. them mentality), only now, it’s not people in white sheets and conical hats terrorizing school boards, city council meeting and the U.S. Capitol. For the same rhetoric of the early 20th century KKK is alive and kicking today disguised as parental rights, pro-life and Christian nationalism.

I found this book to be written like a thriller movie. Will the bad guys finally get the punishment they deserve? Will the good win over evil? I read this book in 3 days because I needed to know these answers, despite being fully aware of where we are today and how far or no so far we’ve come.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about systematic racism in America as well as what how a cult of personality infects a society with lies, fear and revisionist history.

The Similarities Between Then and Now Are Striking

I learned so much through this book. I had no idea this had happened or how dangerously close we came to democracy unraveling. It is, sadly, happening again.