The following version of the novel was used to create this study guide: Gresham, William Lindsay. Nightmare Alley. NYRB Classics, April 6, 2011. Kindle.

In Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham, Stanton “Stan” Carlisle manipulated, tricked, and deceived his way through life in hopes of making his fortune. Despite his careful plans to leave the carnival and make a name for himself, Stan ended up working in the lowest position, that of the geek. Stan had once asked how to avoid becoming a geek, but the information did him little good as fate placed him in the very spot he had hoped to avoid.

Stan believed he had the power to manipulate the world when he performed a cold reading on a police officer who intended to arrest some members of the carnival where Stan was working. The officer did not arrest Stan’s friends and even told Stan he was glad they had met as he was leaving. That night, Stan had sex with Molly, a beautiful young girl who worked in the carnival. To convince her to join a vaudeville act he believed would make them rich, he promised Molly he would always take care of her.

Stan quickly became disenchanted with the vaudeville act when a rich lady offended them by inviting them to perform at a party but asking that they not “mingle with the guests” (114). At this point, Stan became intent on revenge. He preyed on the elderly Addie Peabody, who was lonely for her deceased daughter, Caroline, by holding a séance at Addie’s house and arranging for Caroline to ask her mother to give Stan her house for his church. Stan rigged the house to produce the effects he needed to make his séances believable.

Molly stopped participating in Stan’s séances because she believed what he was doing was wrong. About this same time, Stan began having trouble with his nerves. He could not sleep even when he took sedatives. For this reason, he visited a psychiatrist, Dr. Lilith Ritter, who had been suggested to him by a member of his congregation. Lilith learned Stan’s weaknesses through her role as a psychiatrist and then used those weaknesses to take advantage of him. They also began a sexual relationship through which Lilith manipulated Stan.

Lilith gave Stan information about a wealthy industrialist, Ezra Grindle. Stan could use the information to manipulate Grindle. Grindle was suspicious of Stan. However, Stan was able to pass a test Grindle presented to him. Grindle believes Stan could help him communicate with his late sweetheart, Doris “Dorrie” Mae Cadle, who had died after a botched abortion. Grindle blamed himself for her death. With Lilith’s help, Stan came up with a plan to trick Grindle into believing he would be able to be with Dorrie physically if he was willing to donate money.

Stan manipulated Molly into agreeing to play the role of Dorrie and allowing Grindle to have sex with her during a séance. When Grindle did not let go of Molly/Dorrie as he was supposed to do, Molly lost patience and called out to Stan to help her. Grindle was shocked when he saw Stan punch Molly. Stan punched Grindle and left the house before Grindle could recover from the blow. Grindle searched the room and discovered the switches Stan used to make the special effects. He realized Stan had tricked him but could not figure how Stan knew about Dorrie since he did not even tell Lilith about her.

When Stan told Lilith that he had botched the séance with Grindle, Lilith gave him the money Grindle had donated to Stan’s church. She told him they should not see each other for a while. In a hotel that night, Stan discovered all of the money in the stash except for the outside bills had been replaced with one-dollar bills. Lilith had tricked him.

Stan reached his lowest point when he read in the paper that Lilith and Grindle had been married. He began drinking and became addicted to alcohol. His paranoia caused him to believe Grindle had men looking for him. He killed a police officer, making him a wanted man. Stan attempted to get a job as a fortune teller in a carnival, but the carnival owner saw right away that he was addicted to alcohol. Stan was offered the job of the geek.