Halloweird: Classic Stories from the Season of Samhain

Gilded Nightmares – Timeless British Library Books

by Johnny Mains (Editor)

When she was able to hear something besides her own pulse she listened to the phrase the two in white whispered again and again, distinguishing, at last, the words.

“Come out… come out into the dark… come with us…”

In the flickering candlelight of pitchy Autumn nights, malevolent spirits crowd the gloom and weird, terrible things come to pass. Ever since the days of the pagan Samhain, storytellers have observed the tradition of spinning tall, twisted tales of dark magic, spectral stalkings and unearthly creatures to mark this festival’s uniquely frightening aura.

Collecting up a haunting haul of short stories and a handful of strange seasonal poetry spanning from 1780 to the 1970s, this new volume celebrates the riotous weird of the Halloween season through the works of legendary ghost story writers such as Edith Wharton alongside rare literary treats, rediscovered by Johnny Mains and returning to print for the first time since their original publication.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Halloween, Anthologies, Folklore, Poetry, Classics

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2024

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another collection from the British Library which covers the season of Samhain/Halloween. It includes short stories and some poetry (one from Rabbie Burns no less). Samhain is one of the two pagan fire festivals in Britain’s pagan year. The other is Beltane in May. The publication range is from 1780 to the 1970s: although most of the tales are pre 1930s.
There is poetry from Mayne, Burns, Revi and Geraldine. Short stories by R Fryer, Elizabeth Train, Letitia Douglas, Edgar Wakeman, Lyllian Huntley (x2), Herminie Kavanagh, Alphonse Courlander, Eleanor Fitzgerald, Rachel Macnamara, Tod Robbins, Flavia Richardson, Edith Wharton, Elizabeth Walter, Virginia Lafefsky and Mary Williams (this one is excellent).
There is the usual diet of spurned lovers, bone carriages, graveyards, castles, ghosts, ghouls, one set in the old US west (cowboys and all), unexpected apparitions and the usual sense of the reader saying “Don’t open that door!!” In more modern parlance FAFO.
Then there’s the oddest line in the book from the poem “Twas the night of All Hallows” by Geraldine:
“She lies there, but lo! most amazing to note,
Encircling her neck was a FROLICSOME GOAT”
Don’t ask.
This is a good collection. There are a couple of duds, but some pretty good ones too. The cover art is effective too.

[rina.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful anthology! Ever since I discovered the Tales of The Weird series and the Hardback Classics series from the British Library in 2020, I had hoped that they would release a Halloween themed collection at some point so you can imagine that I bought the book right when it was released.🖤🎃🧡

The book is split in two parts, the first collects some poetry (I would have liked more poems actually and it was interesting but sometimes difficult to understand the dialect used in some) and the second short stories. I find the introductions before each work very enlightening.

The many facets of Halloween are highlighted here: Whimsy, ghosts, apparitions, romance, parties, trick or treat and other Halloween customs, with locations ranging from a mining town in the USA to a remote hill in Surrey.
Well worth a read if you love spooky stories, especially because most of them are really obscure!

[cinnamon girl ୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these stories! 👻
My favourites were The Sword by Rachel Swete Macnamara (this one has The Picture of Dorian Gray vibes) and Moonlight - Starlight by Vigrinia Layefsky (I wish I could find her writing somewhere more, it's very melancholic).😌

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started with Robert Burns and a great Edith Wharton story later! Good October reading

[Runalong · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the one hand this collection helps explore the history of Halloween short stories from more 19th century tricks where Pravda are played to slightly more supernatural tales as time passes. But none really jump out for me as that scary more interesting historical curios. Diverting but not much else

[Joanne Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series of short stories from the editor. My favorite was ‘Struther Kannock’s Halloween and my scariest was The New House. I really enjoyed the collection for all of the stories that have been lost to time.

[Elizabeth Judd Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

An anthology of Halloween poems and short stories from the 1780’s to the 1970’s. It’s a good mix of styles and stories.

[Happy Goat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology is an impressive feat, with the content ranging from poems and stories published in the late 1800's to the mid 1900's, several of which are not available in print anywhere else (that I could find, and certainly not easily available if you can find them).

Gothic, creepy, atmospheric tales set around Halloween, that really show the progression of literature as well as the social opinions of the holiday over these decades. Some very difficult language in some (not many) of them, unfortunately reflective of the time period and to be expected in stories published originally so long ago, but no critiques outside of that.

[Gary Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm grateful for these books existing. Johnny Mains is on a roll with his editing of BL books, although his choices can be (deliberately) esoteric. This is fine given how anthologies often just reprint the "received" classics; his collections tend to be off piste, giving recognition to anonymous writers or stories previously 'lost'. My only gripe is that the quality of these aren't always amazing, but variety is also what you expect from an anthology.

Firstly, the poetry works well as an aperitif. The Burns poem is a classic and takes A few readings to appreciate the narrative, although maybe not too important to do so. Likewise, the precursor poem by John Mayne (no relation to the editor, as pointed out). The stories then move from strength to strength. I should have reviewed closer to when I finished the book though, as I can't now remember from the titles which were the strongest. Edith Wharton story I think? There was a long one anyway, that I particularly enjoyed. Ah well, means I'll need to re-read, albeit my book shelf is already groaning under the weight of the British Library's voluminous horror releases in recent years...

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read most but not all (saving some for next year). Aptly titled, these definitely tend more towards “weird” than “scary”, but in a fun, wild way. I think I would have actually liked more poems - they took more work to read but I really enjoy reaching farther back in time with these works. The stories were fun with great imagery. I love these anthologies that bring us lesser-known works and authors.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readers having any expectations of any serious horror or supernatural stories will be disappointed with a majority of the stories having a Scooby-Doo sort of resolution. The only good ones were the last 4 with what preceded being more of a meh experience.
The poetry section ws extremely disappointing the Burns selection being a waste of paper and reading effort.

[Verity Quarmby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb, well curated and beautifully presented book of short stories centred around Halloween. There’s not a single ‘duff’ story between its beautifully presented covers. I just wish I could get on better with the poetry of Burns.

[Kayleigh Dobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scary stories that range from shorts originally published from the late 1800's to the mid 1900's, and very charming they are too. I'm truly impressed that the editor pulled these stories and poems together, considering some of them are basically impossible to find in print elsewhere.

[Holly Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to see Johnny Mains talk about this anthology last year at the British Library's Tales of the Weird festival. This is a must-read over October and I loved reading a story a night in the build up to Halloween/Samhain

[Scott Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully designed, creepy little collection. I appreciated the editor’s research and the biographical details that were included for each author.

[Undomiel Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*

[Ophelia Wertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the selection of stories in this book!! Would definitely recommend you give this one a read!!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

My favourite story was probably The New House. I had a hard time at various points throughout the book with the old prose language.

[Emily Dickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to rate an anthology book, personally would have preferred a lot more gothic stories but there were still some stories I liked and a nice selection of poetry.

[Liberty Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

my fave christmas tradition is reading scary stories so i
so grateful for this beautiful anthology

[Chelsea Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended reading: in the daylight!

[Magdalena Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

It looks stunning, but it's a little bit disappointing. The poems felt like a filler and the stories were - on average - fine. I skipped a couple because just couldn't get into them; a few were okay but pretty forgettable; however, there were still some good ones! And overall it did make me feel all nice inside because I love Autumn and Halloween so much 🍂🎃
Some of my favourite stories were:
~ 'Out of the Night' by Elizabeth Phipps Train (second in the book, so nice start to the collection, gripping and kinda romantic too!)
~ 'Moonlight-Starlight' by Virginia Layefsky (genuinely creepy; kids playing a weird game on a Halloween night, no thanks)
~ 'The New House' by Elizabeth Walter (really fun, nice spin on a haunting in a modern and not old house, though it should've come with a trigger warning about child's presumable death)