Great Ghost Stories

Great Ghost Stories #1

by R. Chetwynd-Hayes (Compiler), Stephen Jones (Compilation)

Featuring eerily atmospheric modern tales of foreboding and unease by such contemporary authors as Garry Kilworth, Brian Lumley, Ramsey Campbell, Tony Richards, and R. Chetwynd-Hayes, as well as disquieting classic ghost stories by literary giants like Ambrose Bierce, Washington Irving, Sir Walter Scott, F. Marion Crawford, and J. Sheridan Le Fanu, this anthology of highly original and often long-obscure works by twenty-five noteworthy masters of the macabre is guaranteed to raise more than a shiver. Gleaned from the renowned Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories series, which was edited from 1972 to 1984 by prolific horror fiction writer and erudite anthologist R. Chetwynd-Hayes, these tales reflect the enduring fascination in our literary tradition with phantoms, specters, ghouls, and wraiths. There's a Fetch, too—in Tina Rath's intricately plotted tale of a violent husband, a shrinking wife, a scheming woman, and a Doppleganger. Behind Guy de Maupassant's simply titled "An Apparition" lurks a tale that Chetwynd-Hayes places among the top ten ghost stories ever written. From Daniel Defoe's entertaining eighteenth-century period piece to the subtle slice of contemporary ghostly life from Stephen King, solace in these remarkable, chilling fictions comes only at the feet of very dark angels.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies

272 pages, Paperback

First published July 6, 2004

About the author

Ronald Henry Glynn Chetwynd-Hayes aka Angus Campbell.

Ronald Chetwynd-Hayes was an author, best known for his ghost stories. His first published work was the science fiction novel The Man From The Bomb in 1959. He went on to publish many collections and ten other novels including The Grange, The Haunted Grange, And Love Survived and The Curse of the Snake God. He also edited over 20 anthologies. Several of his short works were adapted into anthology style movies in the United Kingdom, including The Monster Club and From Beyond the Grave. Chetwynd-Hayes' book The Monster Club contains references to a film-maker called Vinke Rocnnor, an anagram of Kevin Connor, the director of From Beyond the Grave.

He won the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement for 1988, and the British Fantasy Society Special Award in 1989.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories in here had a very high level of writing. It really stretched my mind to incorporate the imagery. Plus, because the authors were from different countries and different time periods, it was great fun to read each story and work to pick up hints on the time period and setting.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read only two of these stories previous to this anthology so this collection was largely new to me (given my bibliophila, always a plus). Ghost stories rely on buildup--artful use of atmosphere, imagery and language--to get a person in the proper frame of mind to evoke the appropriate fear response and many of these stories deliver the goods.

However, in spite of being chosen from gifted writers, I didn't care for a couple of these. In my personal opinion, I can't believe any man can be so terrified of a specter that whines to have her hair combed. What a sap! If ever had to pick your own clotted follicles out of a drain after a shower, it's probably a tad disgusting but horrible enough to scar you for life? Please.

The stories are largely by male writers; one of those by a female author isn't really scary. Her entry is more of a murder mystery with supernatural trappings attached. But it's a fine anthology overall with recognizable names so classic horror fans might get a kick out of it.

[Mrs. Bun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love ghost stories and this selection of 25 stories from both contemporary and legendary authors did not disappoint. There were some tales so original I read them multiple times, in awe of the boundless imaginations some writers have. Many of these stories take place in England and there is a distinctly Victorian feel to many of them - gentlemen and halls and horse drawn carriages and such. This was a well curated collection and in my opinion just the right sort of book to have at the bedside on a dark autumn night.

[David Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of horror, so the short ghost stories genre is pretty unknown to me. I was surprised how many of the stories were really more about the relationships and emotional experiences of the characters within the story than about anything scary happening. Finding a creative way to tell the typical ghost story also seemed more important the many of the authors than any details actually meant to be frightening.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorites were Stephen King's and Sir Walter Scott's Stories.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a few good stories, the others I tend to have gotten lost & wondered why were they even in here? Lost my concentration.

[H. F. Greenwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Underground” 3.5 stars

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun

[Tricia Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stories where a little hard to get through.