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The Classic Horror Collection
This collection of bone-chilling tales is sure to keep readers awake for many nights. It includes stories from classic writers such as Bram Stoker, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, M.P. Shiel, William Hope Hodgson and Ambrose Bierce. Their haunting visions of cosmic terrors and everyday frights provide a thrilling excursion into the eerie depths of the horror genre.
The Classic Horror Collection features over 50 imaginitive works, including:
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
The Call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft
The Screaming Skull by Francis Marion Crawford
The Mortal Immortal by Mary Shelley
An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce
The Medici Boots by Pearl Norton Swet
... and many more!
The Classic Horror Collection features over 50 imaginitive works, including:
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
The Call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft
The Screaming Skull by Francis Marion Crawford
The Mortal Immortal by Mary Shelley
An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce
The Medici Boots by Pearl Norton Swet
... and many more!
928 pages, Hardcover
Published May 1, 2018
61 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
Ambrose Bierce
2,423 books1,296 followersdied perhaps 1914
Caustic wit and a strong sense of horror mark works, including In the Midst of Life (1891-1892) and The Devil's Dictionary (1906), of American writer Ambrose Gwinett Bierce.
People today best know this editorialist, journalist, and fabulist for his short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and his lexicon.
The informative sardonic view of human nature alongside his vehemence as a critic with his motto, "nothing matters," earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce."
People knew Bierce despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, to encourage younger poet George Sterling and fiction author W.C. Morrow.
Bierce employed a distinctive style especially in his stories. This style often embraces an abrupt beginning, dark imagery, vague references to time, limited descriptions, the theme of war, and impossible events.
Bierce disappeared in December 1913 at the age of 71 years. People think that he traveled to Mexico to gain a firsthand perspective on ongoing revolution of that country.
Theories abound on a mystery, ultimate fate of Bierce. He in one of his final letters stated: "Good-bye. If you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags, please know that I think it is a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. To be a Gringo in Mexico--ah, that is euthanasia!"
Caustic wit and a strong sense of horror mark works, including In the Midst of Life (1891-1892) and The Devil's Dictionary (1906), of American writer Ambrose Gwinett Bierce.
People today best know this editorialist, journalist, and fabulist for his short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and his lexicon.
The informative sardonic view of human nature alongside his vehemence as a critic with his motto, "nothing matters," earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce."
People knew Bierce despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, to encourage younger poet George Sterling and fiction author W.C. Morrow.
Bierce employed a distinctive style especially in his stories. This style often embraces an abrupt beginning, dark imagery, vague references to time, limited descriptions, the theme of war, and impossible events.
Bierce disappeared in December 1913 at the age of 71 years. People think that he traveled to Mexico to gain a firsthand perspective on ongoing revolution of that country.
Theories abound on a mystery, ultimate fate of Bierce. He in one of his final letters stated: "Good-bye. If you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags, please know that I think it is a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. To be a Gringo in Mexico--ah, that is euthanasia!"
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 20, 2020
I bought this book, along with The Classic Science Fiction Collection (also by Arcturus) at the same time just over two years ago. Little by little I completed both volumes. That's what I like about short stories and novellas. I can read one or two and then set the book aside for days or even weeks, before reading another story. Granted, not every story is an easy-to-read page turner, but if one is wanting a solid overview of horror tales from the past 100 years, or so, then this will more than suffice.
April 30, 2023
There are a few (precious few) gems in this collection - J. Sheridan Le Fanu's "Camilla" for one, Stoker's "Dracula's Guest" for another - but beyond those this collection is a tiresome read. Yes, there are stories by the recognized greats, and yes, there are stories by unrecognized authors who should be remembered.
But as a whole? Not worth it unless you're a horror historian doing research in the evolution of the genre. Each of the stories were from their time, written in a style modern readers might find tiring if not numbingly pedantic. Good in their time, yes, and now not so much so.
But as a whole? Not worth it unless you're a horror historian doing research in the evolution of the genre. Each of the stories were from their time, written in a style modern readers might find tiring if not numbingly pedantic. Good in their time, yes, and now not so much so.
January 26, 2025
I think in many cases the value of the stories in these collections must have been in relation to the field at the time they were written. A more coherent ordering, or even a contextualising paragraph before each story or author, might have drawn this out. As it was, it felt more like a random assortment pulled from Protect Gutenberg - with noticeable typographical issues, although that may have been the fault of the e-book I got from my local library.
November 3, 2019
I'm a horror fan. However, as I have grown up mostly on sci-fi, I have missed a lot of classic horror stories. This collection was an interesting insight into the style of many authors. I recommended this book for everybody who needs to catch up on horror novels.
August 14, 2022
Great Halloween Stories!
October 18, 2024
Poe - I love Poe, dark, simple and just enough creep to have you think twice
Lovecraft - Strange and eerie happenings in Lovecraft stories, definitely an October read
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu - Great classic Vampire and Ghost story
Lovecraft - Strange and eerie happenings in Lovecraft stories, definitely an October read
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu - Great classic Vampire and Ghost story
October 15, 2023
This book is an anthology of some of the most famous horror writers focusing on shorter works. There are so many writers featured that this book is a wonderful mammoth at nearly a thousand pages. I was quite taken by the cover, that was one reason I got it. The other reason is that I've always wanted to get into horror and this seemed like a good gateway book. ". It certainly gave me what I came here for: an introduction to the horror genre and a short list of authors whom I want to read more from.
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February 6, 2021
Great collection of classic horror stories.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews