Nightmare Alley Summary
William Lindsay Gresham

Nightmare Alley Overview

In Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham, Stanton “Stan” Carlisle’s life was defined by greed. He was greedy for money, respect, and revenge. When Stan turned to fraudulent magic and trickery to make his fortune, he was outsmarted by a con woman even more cunning than Stan. Themes in the novel include the dangers of alcohol, types of manipulation, and the similarities between magic, religion, and psychiatry.