Perturbed Spirits: A Book of Ghost & Terror Stories

by R.C. Bull, Herbert van Thal (Introduction), Robert W. Chambers (Contributor)

Although innumerable anthologies and a vast library of ghost and strage stories exist—the demand for such books is such that they soon go out of print and become scarce. For many years Mr. Bull has been collecting books of this nature and now has a library probably second to none in this country. Not only does the Editor collect these books but avidly reads them—the result is that the present collection is both unusual and full of stories that are rarely found. This is certainly not only a book for the connoisseur of the supernatural ghost or strange story but an admirable book for the winter fireside.

11 • Introduction (Perturbed Spirits) • essay by Herbert van Thal
15 • The Demoiselle d'Ys • (1895) • short story by Robert W. Chambers
31 • Wolverden Tower • (1896) • novelette by Grant Allen
61 • The Dead Valley • (1895) • short story by Ralph Adams Cram
71 • The Corpse Light • (1899) • short story by Dick Donovan
85 • The Death Mask • (1920) • short story by Henrietta D. Everett [as by Mrs. H. D. Everett]
97 • The Invisible Eye • (1870) • short story by Alexandre Chatrian and Émile Erckmann (trans. of L'œil invisible ou L'auberge des trois pendus 1857) [as by Erckmann-Chatrian]
115 • The Man with the Nose • (1872) • short story by Rhoda Broughton
135 • Ghost of Honour • (1936) • short story by Pamela Hansford Johnson
143 • The Derelict • (1912) • novelette by William Hope Hodgson
171 • Véra • (1883) • short story by Villiers de l'Isle-Adam (trans. of Véra 1874)
183 • The Devil of the Marsh • (1893) • short story by H. B. Marriott Watson
189 • The Unquiet Grave • (1935) • short story by F. M. Mayor
197 • Mortmain • (1931) • novelette by John Metcalfe
233 • The Haunted Station • (1894) • novelette by Hume Nisbet
255 • The Lost Room • (1858) • short story by Fitz-James O'Brien
273 • The Fireplace • (1925) • short story by Henry S. Whitehead

287 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1954

About the author

Randolph Cecil Bull

Reviews

[Bunta Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book of very varied, striking and hard-to-find stories, from late 19/ early 20 C, worth tracking down. These tales do stay with you but I especially like 'The Death Mask' by HD Everard and John Metcalfe's 'Mortmain', extremely creepy and hard to shake off. Enjoy!

[Shawn]

PLACEHOLDER REVIEW

"Mortmain" by John Metcalfe - Mr. Temple's new wife, Salome, had previously been married to the ogre Humphrey Childs, who passed away just a month ago. As they travel the nearby canals on a yacht for their honeymoon, though, the two find themselves haunted by moths and a looming pink-painted, weed and rust encrusted hulk of a house-boat, the Daisy, once owned by Childs, which impossibly seems to follow them everywhere.... and something seems to be driving the newlyweds apart... A slow burn story, all about an accrued eerie sense of menace. As noted by some, there's a feeling of Robert Aickman in the abstract approach and style - a normal setting with minor, abnormal occurrences, and an air of psychological conflict. It ends in a creepy, slow-motion chase. Quite good.

[Jeff Hobbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Demoiselle d'Ys / Borbert W. Chambers --3
Wolverden Tower / Grant Allen --1
The Dead Valley / Ralph Adams Cram --2
The Corpse Light / Dick Donovan --3
The Death Mask / H.D. Everett --3
The Invisible Eye / Erckmann-Chatrian --2
The Man with the Nose / Rhoda Broughton --2
Ghost of Honour / Pamela Hansford Johnson --3
The Derelict / William Hope Hodgson --3
Vera / Villiers de l'Isle-Adam --1
The Devil of the Marsh / H.B. Marriott-Watson --2
The Unquiet Grave / F.M. Mayor --3
Mortmain / John Metcalfe --2
The Haunted Station / Hume Nisbet --2
The Lost Room / Fitz James O'Brien --2
The Fireplace / Henry S. Whitehead--3