I am a graduate of the University of New Mexico. To date, I have written The Hanging Of Susanna Cox: Pennsylvania's Most Notorious Infanticide And The Legend That's Kept It Alive; Peter Montelius: Printer and Teacher, Teacher and Printer; The Forgotten Nephew: D.E. Lick; and now The Face Of A Monster: America's Frankenstein. I frequently contribute to Passed Time, a website devoted to establishing a dialogue based on primary resources as a means of preserving the history and looking at it from the perspective of those who lived it. Additionally, I run the Earnest Archives and Library, a privately held library with a focus on the contributions of Pennsylvania Germans to American history.
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The year 2018 will herald the 200th anniversary of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. The timing seems right for the story of a real monster. German-born immigrant Anton Probst arrived in New York in 1863. Within two hours of his arrival, he enlisted in the Union Army. During the American Civil War, Probst bore witness to mankind's brutality. Afterwards, he became an inmate at the disreputable Blockley Almshouse in Philadelphia.
Frankenstein was first conceived by Shelley in 1816. Her monster was an embodiment of abandonment and loneliness, feelings Shelley shared. In despair, the creature resorted to violence. Fifty years after Frankenstein's conception, Anton Probst adopted characteristics of Shelley's monstrous creation. He became Philadelphia's first mass-murderer when he slaughtered members of the Christopher Dearing family.
After his death, Probst's story continued. The creature that he had become left a deep impression on the people of Philadelphia and New York. Researchers used Anton Probst's body to show the effects of galvanization, the same means by which Frankenstein's monster stirred to life. Incredibly, similarities surface between Shelley and her circle, her monster, and events that transpired when the blood of innocents was shed an ocean away. One defining difference is present. Unlike Shelley,s creature, the story of America's monster is very real.
Reality and Fiction Intersect in The Face of a Monster, America’s Frankenstein - Patricia Earnest Suter
The book is currently being sold on:
And Other Fine Bookstores
The newest edition of Der Reggeboge (The Rainbow) Journal of the Pennsylvania German Society is out. Established in 1891, the Pennsylvania German Society is dedicated to exploring 325 plus of Pennsylvania German history in the colonies and America. Volume 54 of Der Reggeboge is dedicated to the study of Fraktur in this case, Fraktur Fest IV! This issue includes, “In the Beginning: A Fraktur Genesis,” by Russ Earnest and Patricia Earnest Suter. In this case, the word Fraktur encompasses a discussion of the early American version of the illuminated manuscript to include religious text, New Year’s Greetings, House Blessings, Vorschrift, Birth and Baptism Certificates, and more. Additionally, articles written by June Burk Lloyd, Del-Louise Moyer, Marilyn A. Becker, and Deborah Bussert Baker complete the discussion. Beautifully illustrated, Der Reggeboge showcases both free hand and printed works. To learn more, contact the Pennsylvania German Society at www.pgs.org
Bibliography
Bibliography as lead author:
(2018) The Face of a Monster: America’s Frankenstein. Russell D. Earnest Associates.
(2014) The Forgotten Nephew: D.E. Lick and Old Stumpstown. Russell D. Earnest Associates.
(2012) Peter Montelius: Teacher and Printer, Printer and Teacher. Russell D. Earnest Associates.
(2010) The Hanging of Susanna Cox: Pennsylvania’s Most Notorious Infanticide and the Legend that’s Kept It Alive. Stackpole Books.
(1993) Kids and Kin: The Family History Vacation that Involves Kids. Russell D. Earnest Associates.
Bibliography as contributing author:
(2016) The Jungmann Woodblock Fraktur Artist of Reading, Pennsylvania: With a Peek at other Woodblock Artists. Russell D. Earnest Associates.
(2016) His True and Facile Pen: Balsbaugh and Swatara Brethren Fraktur. Russell D. Earnest Associates.
(2015) God Bless This House: The Printed House Blessings (Haus-Segen) of the Pennsylvania Germans 1780-1921. Russell D. Earnest Associates.
Articles:
(2014) “Printing Points the Way to Genealogical Research: Barry/Barrey Family Documents” Endpapers. Delaware Bibliophiles.
(2016) “A Student Produced Book: Print Shop Project at Whalen Junior High School 135” Endpapers. Delaware Bibliophiles.
(2017) “The Delaware Paper Mills and the “Wanted” Poster: A Comparison of Immigrant Stories Between William Young, entrepreneur, and The Janney (Jenney) Family, Runaway Indentured Servants. Endpapers. Delaware Bibliophiles.
Blogs:
See “Pat Earnest” on Passed Time (www.passedtime.com)
See post on The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time by David P Perlmutter (thewrongplaceatthewrongtime.blogspot.com)
Interviews:
"Patricia Earnest Suter Interview: “True events are almost always my inspiration” (www.dorsetbookdetective.wordpress.com)
"Interview with Patricia Earnest Author of The Face of a Monster: America’s Frankenstein" (https://authorvoices.com/authorvoices-author-interviews/interview-patricia-earnest/)
Upcoming Projects
Non-fiction: Patent No. 1054: The Stoy Family and Their Infallible Cure of the Bite of the Mad Dog (Working Title ONLY).
As Amazon makes self-publishing so incredibly easy, I will probably go this route.
I am helping dad, Russell D. Earnest, with Papers for Birth Dayes: Guide to the Fraktur Artists and Scriveners, 3rd edition. We promised mom, Corinne P. Earnest, we would finish it for her.
Fiction: I have a couple of on-going projects. One is based on a York, Pennsylvania friendship book (c. 1915) and another has nothing at all to do with history. I will keep those interested updated.
Reviews
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4.6 out of five stars on Amazon!
The Face of a Monster: America’s Frankenstein by Patricia Earnest Suter
Multi-volume author, Patricia Earnest Suter introduces us to her book about a real monster in America:The year 2018 will herald the 200th anniversary of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. The timing seems right for the story of a real monster. German-born immigrant Anton Probst arrived in New York in 1863. Within two hours of his arrival he enlisted in the Union Army. During the American Civil War, Probst bore witness to mankind's brutality. Afterwards, he became an inmate at the disreputable Blockley Almshouse in Philadelphia.
5 out of five stars on Readers' Favorite!
The Face of a Monster: America’s Frankenstein by Patricia Earnest Suter
Reviewed by Tracy Young for Readers' Favorite
Anton Probst was a German immigrant who traveled to America to find a better life. Along with many others, he began his new life as a soldier and spent three years fighting in the Civil War. Once the conflict was over, he was embroiled in the underbelly of this relatively new country and became one more statistic fighting to survive. The Dearing family gave him a taste of normality and offered him gainful employment and a place to call home. How did Anton Probst repay them? In the most heinous way possible. Fifty years earlier, Mary Shelley had created a fictional monster that is still an iconic figure in literature, but how does Frankenstein’s monster bear any resemblance to Probst? Patricia Earnest Suter tells us how in The Face of a Monster: America's Frankenstein.
This is a superbly researched book that not only explores the history of Probst and the circumstances that lead him to commit such a violent crime, but also the background of Mary Shelley and her fictional monster. Loss and death played a major part in Mary’s life and Patricia Earnest Suter explains how that led to the monster's character. Probst is a monster that shocked Philadelphia, yet it is his name that is remembered rather than the victims' names. Does that mean society is more interested in the horrors of the human mind? There is a wealth of information in this book and the author writes with passion. The Face of a Monster: America's Frankenstein is a fascinating read and incredibly informative.
5 out of five stars on
My American Almost Royal Cousin Series
The Face of a Monster: America’s Frankenstein by Patricia Earnest Suter
Reviewed by Veronica Cline Barton for My American Almost Royal Cousin Series
What drives a person to become a monster? A psychological question that has been studied and analyzed for centuries. Author Suter does a masterful job of delving into the history of one of the early mass murderer’s in American history, detailing the story of Anton Probst, a German immigrant who brutally slaughters an entire family. She innovatively compares and contrasts his story and environment with the life and writings of Mary Shelley on the 200th anniversary of her classic tale Frankenstein (The Modern Prometheus), a monster physically created, that ultimately turns evil due to the environmental influences of its surroundings and lack of empathy and care by its creator and others around it.
Events
May 20, Time TBDHimmel’s (Heaven’s) ChurchMay 20, Time TBDHimmel’s (Heaven’s) Church , 107 Covered Bridge Road Dornsife, PA 17823May 20 Patricia Earnest Suter of rdearnestassociates/Earnest Archives and Library will speak on her book about Peter Montelius, printer at Himmel’s, teacher, organist, chorister, surveyor, justice of the peace and ancestor of many Himmel’s folks. View full list of the 2023 events at Himmel’s