Friday, the Thirteenth

The original novel about bad luck on Friday the Thirteenth

In Thomas William Lawson's 1907 novel, a stock broker picks Friday the Thirteenth as the day in which he will set about events that bring Wall Street to its knees.

When originally published, the novel was a resounding success, selling more than 60,000 copies in the first month of sales. After the novel's success, stock brokers around the world allegedly refused to trade on any Friday the 13th.

Ironically, Lawson, who was rich from his publishing, as well as his own manipulation of the stock market, died a poor man in 1925.

Lawson's classic text, originally published by W. Heinemanm of London, is updated with an introduction by paranormal raconteur, Mark Leslie, the author of such texts as Tomes of Terror: Haunted Bookstores & Libraries and Creepy Capital: Ghost Stories of Ottawa & the National Capital Region and Fiction River: Superstitions. Leslie also shares 13 unique and interesting facts about Friday the 13th in an addition appended to the end.