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

"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 and page-turning reckoning with one of the darkest threads in American history.


Photo courtesy of The Indiana Album: Evan Finch Collection.

Scary Close to Today's Reality

What an education on the power and danger of human hypocrisy, the privilege of wealth and power in the context of white supremacy. Deeply researched and meticulously presented by the author from the relatively localized confederate roots in the 1860's south to its northerly zenith of power and corruption in 1920's Indiana as well as other states; and yet, so parallel and relevant to the extreme Right-Wing politics of today. Absolutely a must read for those who value democracy on just how fragile it can be to the power and corruption of any group think movements, particularly in a form similar to the KKK.

Tim Eagan does it again

Tim has become one of our best non fiction storytellers of the century. His ability to bring events to life is unique and highly interesting. As a owner of 550 books, this is very high in my favorites.

Excellent and shocking history!

Thank you for the engrossing and edifying history listen!
It was shockingly brutal but oh so needed to this day. I hold out hope for our country and our world to love each other for who we are and not how we look.
A proud Irish Catholic American woman!
May you be blessed❤️

Should be taught schools.

So many Americans know little or nothing of their shared history.

which is sad.

Fantastic book

Liked the reading. Liked the content. Like to learn. Definitely shocked by what I learned. But this is an incredible book for all of American to learn.