The Second Ghost Book

by Cynthia Asquith

Contents:
• "Introduction," essay by Elizabeth Bowen
• "Captain Dalgety Returns," short story by Laurence Whistler
• "Christmas Meeting," short story by Rosemary Timperley
• "Danse Macabre," short story by L.A.G. Strong
• "The Memoirs of a Ghost," short story by G.W. Stonier
• "The Bewilderment of Snake McKoy," short story by Nancy Spain
• "A Story of Don Juan," short story by V.S. Pritchett
• "The Guardian," short story by Walter de la Mare
• "Whitewash," short story by Rose Macaulay
• "The Chelsea Cat," short story by C.H.B. Kitchin
• "W. S.," short story by L.P. Hartley
• "The Amethyst Cross," short story by Kathleen Freeman writing as Mary Fitt
• "Bombers' Night," short story by Evelyn Fabyan
• "Spooner," short story by Eleanor Farjeon
• "Autumn Cricket," short story by Lord Dunsany
• "The Restless Rest-House," short story by Jonathan Curling
• "Back to the Beginning," short story by John Connell
• "Possession on Completion," short story by Collin Brooks
• "Hand in Glove," short story by Elizabeth Bowen
• "The Lass with the Delicate Air," short story by Eileen Bigland
• "One Grave Too Few," short story by Cynthia Asquith

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Lady Cynthia Mary Evelyn Asquith was an English writer, now known for her ghost stories and diaries. She also wrote novels and edited a number of anthologies, as well as writing for children and on the British Royal family.

Her father was Hugo Richard Charteris, 11th Earl of Wemyss (1857 – 1937) and her mother Mary Constance Wyndham (see The Souls). In 1910, she married Herbert Asquith, son of H. H. Asquith, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916.

In 1913 she met D.H. Lawrence in Margate, and became a friend and correspondent.

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, when it is a collection of short stories of several authors it's a bit complicated to rate the book. This one, besides being older ghost stories, has a variety of styles and stories. Some I liked, others I found a bore so a 3, maybe 3,5 stars seems to be the most accurate for this collection.

[Mark H · Rating 2 out of 5]

A better variety of ghost stories than the first ghost book, mainly newly written (back then) and many by women. These are mostly from the 1950s, but there are few stories that still impress.

Weirdly, many of the stories are about writers.

[Denis Joplin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was published in the 50s, and it's quite obvious in some of the words and expressions.

It consists of short ghost stories from different writers and, as it is normal, in these cases, some are quite good, some are not.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, but not really my thing. Genteel, old-school ghost stories (in a very 1950s British sort of way). Don't get me wrong, there are some very well written stories in there (and some that are not so well-written), but if you're looking for spine-tinglers, look elsewhere.

[Leona Heraty]

Wonderful, spooky stories! Loved it! :-)