the accursed is the fifth volume of united states writer joyce carol oates' gothic series. the novel was published by ecco on march 5, 2013. it is set in and around princeton, new jersey in the early twentieth century, and explores a variety of supernatural themes, tracing their effect upon members of several families who reside in the area. "the accursed" contains a number of historical figures used in a fictional context, among them president woodrow wilson, and writers mark twain and upton sinclair and his first wife meta.