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Spirits of the Season: Christmas Hauntings
Festive cheer turns to maddening fear in this new collection of seasonal hauntings, which includes the best Christmas ghost stories from the 1860s to the 1940s.
The traditional trappings of the holiday are turned upside down as restless spirits disrupt the merry games of the living, Christmas trees teem with spiteful pagan presences and the Devil himself treads the boards at the village pantomime.
As the cold night of winter closes in and the glow of the hearth begins to flicker and fade, the uninvited visitors gather in the dark in this distinctive assortment of Yuletide chillers.
The traditional trappings of the holiday are turned upside down as restless spirits disrupt the merry games of the living, Christmas trees teem with spiteful pagan presences and the Devil himself treads the boards at the village pantomime.
As the cold night of winter closes in and the glow of the hearth begins to flicker and fade, the uninvited visitors gather in the dark in this distinctive assortment of Yuletide chillers.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
March 6, 2020
“It is a genial, festive season, and we love to muse upon graves, and dead bodies, and murders, and blood.”
If you’re already trying to decide what to read over the festive period in 2020, I’ve got you covered. Spirits of the Season is a fantastically well-rounded collection of stories where things go bump in the night.
Given that the collection is comprised of stories published between the years 1867-1940, I was surprised at how readable each and every story was, as sometimes I can struggle with older writing styles. I also love anthologies because they open me up to a range of authors that I want to explore in the future - I had always known that Algernon Blackwood was a huge inspiration for HP Lovecraft and now after reading The Kit-Bag I will be on the hunt for more of his work.
Although the stories are set over the Christmas period, they are not necessarily festive - don’t expect stories brimming with Christmas trees and presents and Santa! (Although one story does revolve around a cursed fir tree) The festivities are more subtle, obviously in line with the time period in which they are written.
The majority of the stories received a rating of 4 stars or higher from me! Standouts for me were as follows: - The Kit-Bag, wherein a key piece of evidence in a court case follows a lawyer after he heads home.
- The Prescription, which tells the story of a doctor who is woken from his sleep to tend to a sick woman, but nothing is as it seems...
- Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk, where a man ends up having to spend the night on an abandoned vessel.
- Smee was so creepy!! Smee is a game similar to hide n seek and it is played out in the house where a young woman died years before.
I could honestly go on and on. This collection was mostly stellar, (just a few stories I rated 3 stars), I can’t recommend it enough! The horror is mostly understated, but some stories really turn up the chill factor! 4 stars.
If you’re already trying to decide what to read over the festive period in 2020, I’ve got you covered. Spirits of the Season is a fantastically well-rounded collection of stories where things go bump in the night.
Given that the collection is comprised of stories published between the years 1867-1940, I was surprised at how readable each and every story was, as sometimes I can struggle with older writing styles. I also love anthologies because they open me up to a range of authors that I want to explore in the future - I had always known that Algernon Blackwood was a huge inspiration for HP Lovecraft and now after reading The Kit-Bag I will be on the hunt for more of his work.
Although the stories are set over the Christmas period, they are not necessarily festive - don’t expect stories brimming with Christmas trees and presents and Santa! (Although one story does revolve around a cursed fir tree) The festivities are more subtle, obviously in line with the time period in which they are written.
The majority of the stories received a rating of 4 stars or higher from me! Standouts for me were as follows: - The Kit-Bag, wherein a key piece of evidence in a court case follows a lawyer after he heads home.
- The Prescription, which tells the story of a doctor who is woken from his sleep to tend to a sick woman, but nothing is as it seems...
- Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk, where a man ends up having to spend the night on an abandoned vessel.
- Smee was so creepy!! Smee is a game similar to hide n seek and it is played out in the house where a young woman died years before.
I could honestly go on and on. This collection was mostly stellar, (just a few stories I rated 3 stars), I can’t recommend it enough! The horror is mostly understated, but some stories really turn up the chill factor! 4 stars.
December 22, 2019
4.5 bumped up because I had a LOT of fun with it.
full post here: https://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/201...
Not to steal thunder from either this book or the British Library, but ever since Valancourt came out with their first Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories, I've sort of made it my yearly mission to read this type of thing around Christmas time, in a very small way carrying on a tradition which, as the editor of this volume notes, began orally, changing to print in the early 1820s.
As you will notice from the cover photo, this is yet another volume included in the British Library Tales of the Weird series, of which I have become a huge fangirl. Believe it or not, I've actually had this book in my possession since August, but through sheer willpower I somehow managed to put off reading it until now, not an easy task. The good news is that it was completely worth the wait. Many hours of pure reading pleasure are to be found here, and I'm not exaggerating. The stories in Spirits of the Season are all somehow connected to events that occur around Christmas time, and of the fourteen stories in this book, I had previously read only five: "The Four-Fifteen Express," by Amelia B. Edwards (1867), "Number Ninety," by B.M. Croker (1895), E. Nesbit's "The Shadow" from 1905, "The Kit-Bag," by Algernon Blackwood (1908), and "Smee," by A.M. Burrage (1929), leaving nine new-to-me tales to discover, which is always a good thing. My top two favorites: "The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance," by MR James and HR Wakefield's "Lucky's Grove," two most excellent stories.
Spirits of the Season makes for great Yuletide reading, but if you missed it this holiday season, not to worry. It can be enjoyed just as much any time of the year, and for true fans of these old stories -- the famous and the "unjustly obscure" -- it is a definite no-miss. Editor Tanya Kirk has certainly made some excellent choices for inclusion here, and they are very much appreciated by this reader.
recommended. Highly.
full post here: https://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/201...
Not to steal thunder from either this book or the British Library, but ever since Valancourt came out with their first Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories, I've sort of made it my yearly mission to read this type of thing around Christmas time, in a very small way carrying on a tradition which, as the editor of this volume notes, began orally, changing to print in the early 1820s.
As you will notice from the cover photo, this is yet another volume included in the British Library Tales of the Weird series, of which I have become a huge fangirl. Believe it or not, I've actually had this book in my possession since August, but through sheer willpower I somehow managed to put off reading it until now, not an easy task. The good news is that it was completely worth the wait. Many hours of pure reading pleasure are to be found here, and I'm not exaggerating. The stories in Spirits of the Season are all somehow connected to events that occur around Christmas time, and of the fourteen stories in this book, I had previously read only five: "The Four-Fifteen Express," by Amelia B. Edwards (1867), "Number Ninety," by B.M. Croker (1895), E. Nesbit's "The Shadow" from 1905, "The Kit-Bag," by Algernon Blackwood (1908), and "Smee," by A.M. Burrage (1929), leaving nine new-to-me tales to discover, which is always a good thing. My top two favorites: "The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance," by MR James and HR Wakefield's "Lucky's Grove," two most excellent stories.
Spirits of the Season makes for great Yuletide reading, but if you missed it this holiday season, not to worry. It can be enjoyed just as much any time of the year, and for true fans of these old stories -- the famous and the "unjustly obscure" -- it is a definite no-miss. Editor Tanya Kirk has certainly made some excellent choices for inclusion here, and they are very much appreciated by this reader.
recommended. Highly.
December 18, 2019
Just exceptionally good. RTC.
December 20, 2018
SPIRITS OF THE SEASON offers a fine selection of seasonal shockers in the best old-fashioned Victorian and Edwardian sense. Here you'll find ghost stories perfect for reading in front of a roaring fire, a blanket drawn up over your feet and a mug of hot cocoa in hand. Things begin with THE FOUR-FIFTEEN EXPRESS by the great Amelia B. Edwards; this is a stunning mix of horror and Holmesian detective story and a fine way to kick things off. F. Anstey's THE CURSE OF THE CATAFALQUES is neatly juxtaposed with the first as it's a purely humorous story and one that happens to be very funny.
Frank Cowper's CHRISTMAS EVE ON A HAUNTED HULK is one of my all-time favourites; I've read it before but it's always worth another look. Imagine a classic haunted house story relocated to a rotting boat and you'll be there; it's superlative stuff. Frank R. Shackton's THE CHRISTMAS SHADRACH was completely unknown to me, but it works very well because it's so very different to the rest; a light love story with supernatural touches. Don't let the description put you off, because it's written in an irresistable way.
NUMBER NINETY by B.M. Crokey is a classic spend-the-night-in-a-haunted-house-for-a-bet story, predictable but very well written with a maximum of weirdness. Edith Nesbit's THE SHADOW is much more subtle and genteel, reminding me of LITTLE WOMEN in terms of the setting, and worth a look for fans of the author. Then there's THE KIT-BAG by the great Algernon Blackwood; here he manages to make a great deal from very few ingredients and the result is truly hair-raising. M.R. James' THE STORY OF A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN APPEARANCE is one of the famous author's slighter efforts, although the depiction of grisly Punch and Judy play is memorably dark.
E.F. Benson's BOXING NIGHT ably mixes the crime and ghost stories to very good effect; there's nothing to dislike about it at all. Marjorie Bowen's THE PRESCRIPTION is another very old-fashioned one, and I didn't think I'd care for it much, but it certainly does the job come the end. THE SNOW is by Hugh Walpole and a solid story of ghostly revenge, and then there's A.M. Burrage's SMEE, a truly excellent tale of a children's parlour game gone awry. It's so good that it automatically went up to near the top of my “all time favourite” list. J.B. Priestley's THE DEMON KING is more obscure, with sinister shenanigans at a pantomime, while the final story, H. Russell Wakefield's LUCKY GROVE, is a show-stopper about a haunted Christmas tree.
Frank Cowper's CHRISTMAS EVE ON A HAUNTED HULK is one of my all-time favourites; I've read it before but it's always worth another look. Imagine a classic haunted house story relocated to a rotting boat and you'll be there; it's superlative stuff. Frank R. Shackton's THE CHRISTMAS SHADRACH was completely unknown to me, but it works very well because it's so very different to the rest; a light love story with supernatural touches. Don't let the description put you off, because it's written in an irresistable way.
NUMBER NINETY by B.M. Crokey is a classic spend-the-night-in-a-haunted-house-for-a-bet story, predictable but very well written with a maximum of weirdness. Edith Nesbit's THE SHADOW is much more subtle and genteel, reminding me of LITTLE WOMEN in terms of the setting, and worth a look for fans of the author. Then there's THE KIT-BAG by the great Algernon Blackwood; here he manages to make a great deal from very few ingredients and the result is truly hair-raising. M.R. James' THE STORY OF A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN APPEARANCE is one of the famous author's slighter efforts, although the depiction of grisly Punch and Judy play is memorably dark.
E.F. Benson's BOXING NIGHT ably mixes the crime and ghost stories to very good effect; there's nothing to dislike about it at all. Marjorie Bowen's THE PRESCRIPTION is another very old-fashioned one, and I didn't think I'd care for it much, but it certainly does the job come the end. THE SNOW is by Hugh Walpole and a solid story of ghostly revenge, and then there's A.M. Burrage's SMEE, a truly excellent tale of a children's parlour game gone awry. It's so good that it automatically went up to near the top of my “all time favourite” list. J.B. Priestley's THE DEMON KING is more obscure, with sinister shenanigans at a pantomime, while the final story, H. Russell Wakefield's LUCKY GROVE, is a show-stopper about a haunted Christmas tree.
December 24, 2019
Spirits of the Season is only the second book of British Library's Tales of the Weird series that I've read, but it's even better than the first one. Apart from the baffling inclusion of The Christmas Shadrach (1891) by Frank R. Stockton (not creepy in any sense of the word nor interesting), there's no actual weak link that short story collections such as these usually have.
All of these could handle multiple readings, but most importantly: they're perfect for a cold winter night and can make you double-check the shadows in the room. The absolute best of the best:
The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood (1908): An old favorite that really managed to creep me out the second time around as well. It can be hard to imagine that a ghost story concerning a bag could do that, but it's very intense.
The Snow by Hugh Walpole (1929): Beautifully written revenge story, an eerie atmosphere, and an excellent ending.
The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance by M. R. James (1913): The master of horror whose imagery in the nightmarish Punch and Judy show always gets me.
Smee by A. M. Burrage (1929): A game of hide and seek takes a chilling turn. There's something about lighting a match and seeing something you don't want to see, or coming into a slow realisation that there's something wrong with the group you're spending time with.
All of these could handle multiple readings, but most importantly: they're perfect for a cold winter night and can make you double-check the shadows in the room. The absolute best of the best:
The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood (1908): An old favorite that really managed to creep me out the second time around as well. It can be hard to imagine that a ghost story concerning a bag could do that, but it's very intense.
The Snow by Hugh Walpole (1929): Beautifully written revenge story, an eerie atmosphere, and an excellent ending.
The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance by M. R. James (1913): The master of horror whose imagery in the nightmarish Punch and Judy show always gets me.
Smee by A. M. Burrage (1929): A game of hide and seek takes a chilling turn. There's something about lighting a match and seeing something you don't want to see, or coming into a slow realisation that there's something wrong with the group you're spending time with.
December 17, 2024
This anthology of hauntings set during the Christmas season is perfect reading for the cold and dark days at the end of the year.
The Four-Fifteen Express (1867) by Amelia B. Edwards (4/5)
A chance encounter on a train ride leads to an unsolved mystery about a missing person. Almost felt like a Hitchcock film before turning into a well done Victorian ghost story.
The Curse of the Catafalques (1882) by F. Anstey (2/5)
After a man tries to trick his way into marrying an heiress, he learns about a dark secret. A humorous story with humour that doesn’t always work with a disappointing ending.
Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk (1889) by Frank Cowper (5/5)
A man trapped on a derelict shipwreck at night discovers that he may not be alone. Excellent prose, complete darkness, and unsettling sounds help to create an atmosphere of claustrophobia and terror. Outstanding.
The Christmas Shadrach (1891) by Frank Stockton (3/5)
After a man discovers a stone that has the ability to quell passion, his attempts to use it to his advantage don’t go as planned.
Number Ninety (1895) by B.M Croker (3/5)
A man decides to spend the night in a supposedly haunted mansion. A strong start with an abrupt ending.
The Shadow (1905) by E. Nesbit (5/5)
Shadows of the past impact both young and old during a Christmas party. Reminds me of the ghost stories of Edith Wharton. Outstanding.
The Kit-Bag (1908) by Algernon Blackwood (5/5)
Just before Christmas a man borrows a duffel bag from his boss, a lawyer who represented a murderer. Later he hears strange noises and sees movement in his supposedly empty building. Chilling.
The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance (1913) by M.R. James (3/5)
A man searching for his missing brother has a lurid nightmare about a Punch and Judy show. Interesting and unsettling but not my favorite M.R. James story.
Boxing Night (1923) by E.F. Benson (3/5)
Two sisters living in a remote farmhouse have the same dream, warning of the danger of a stranger seeking shelter during a winter storm.
The Prescription (1929) by Marjorie Bowen (4/5)
A doctor is woken up in the middle of the night to tend to a sick woman, in this story about science vs. the supernatural.
The Snow (1929) by Hugh Walpole (5/5)
A woman fighting to control her temper seems to be plagued by the presence of her husband’s vindictive first wife. Suspenseful with beautiful prose and an impactful ending.
Smee (1929) by A.M. Burrage (4/5)
A game of hide and seek at a Christmas party takes an eerie turn.
The Demon King (1931) J.B. Priestley (3/5)
A humorous story about an actor portraying a demon in a traditional holiday play and what happens after it looks like he doesn’t show up.
Lucky’s Grove (1940) by H. Russell Wakefield (5/5)
Strange things start happening after a tree is removed from a sacred grove to be used as a Christmas tree. Good build up and introduction of characters with a powerful finale.
This was a fun read. I’m looking forward to reading more books from the British Library Tales of the Weird.
The Four-Fifteen Express (1867) by Amelia B. Edwards (4/5)
A chance encounter on a train ride leads to an unsolved mystery about a missing person. Almost felt like a Hitchcock film before turning into a well done Victorian ghost story.
The Curse of the Catafalques (1882) by F. Anstey (2/5)
After a man tries to trick his way into marrying an heiress, he learns about a dark secret. A humorous story with humour that doesn’t always work with a disappointing ending.
Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk (1889) by Frank Cowper (5/5)
A man trapped on a derelict shipwreck at night discovers that he may not be alone. Excellent prose, complete darkness, and unsettling sounds help to create an atmosphere of claustrophobia and terror. Outstanding.
The Christmas Shadrach (1891) by Frank Stockton (3/5)
After a man discovers a stone that has the ability to quell passion, his attempts to use it to his advantage don’t go as planned.
Number Ninety (1895) by B.M Croker (3/5)
A man decides to spend the night in a supposedly haunted mansion. A strong start with an abrupt ending.
The Shadow (1905) by E. Nesbit (5/5)
Shadows of the past impact both young and old during a Christmas party. Reminds me of the ghost stories of Edith Wharton. Outstanding.
The Kit-Bag (1908) by Algernon Blackwood (5/5)
Just before Christmas a man borrows a duffel bag from his boss, a lawyer who represented a murderer. Later he hears strange noises and sees movement in his supposedly empty building. Chilling.
The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance (1913) by M.R. James (3/5)
A man searching for his missing brother has a lurid nightmare about a Punch and Judy show. Interesting and unsettling but not my favorite M.R. James story.
Boxing Night (1923) by E.F. Benson (3/5)
Two sisters living in a remote farmhouse have the same dream, warning of the danger of a stranger seeking shelter during a winter storm.
The Prescription (1929) by Marjorie Bowen (4/5)
A doctor is woken up in the middle of the night to tend to a sick woman, in this story about science vs. the supernatural.
The Snow (1929) by Hugh Walpole (5/5)
A woman fighting to control her temper seems to be plagued by the presence of her husband’s vindictive first wife. Suspenseful with beautiful prose and an impactful ending.
Smee (1929) by A.M. Burrage (4/5)
A game of hide and seek at a Christmas party takes an eerie turn.
The Demon King (1931) J.B. Priestley (3/5)
A humorous story about an actor portraying a demon in a traditional holiday play and what happens after it looks like he doesn’t show up.
Lucky’s Grove (1940) by H. Russell Wakefield (5/5)
Strange things start happening after a tree is removed from a sacred grove to be used as a Christmas tree. Good build up and introduction of characters with a powerful finale.
This was a fun read. I’m looking forward to reading more books from the British Library Tales of the Weird.
November 20, 2023
This was disappointing. Yes, a few stories got me into a spooky, festive mood - just about - but most of them were just ok. These British Library books usually have a very good introduction, but this one was simply rubbish. Even every single intro, a few words about each author before their story, was lazy and basically pointless. I''m rounding this up from 2.5 to 3 stars for the effort, I guess.
I'm not making this up but the best two stories ("The Four-Fifteen Express" and "The Shadow") just so happen to be written by women and this collection features stories predominantly written by men. "The Curse of the Catafalques" and "The Kit Bag" were alright (and of course a classic tale from M.R. James, though not his best, is also featured and is one of the better ones), but most of them were meh and lacked any atmosphere. There are so many excellent collections that you can pick up to get into a spooky, festive mood, but unfortunately that is not it, I'm afraid. I'll definitely look into a few other festive collections from BL but will check the list of stories first instead of going blind.
I'm not making this up but the best two stories ("The Four-Fifteen Express" and "The Shadow") just so happen to be written by women and this collection features stories predominantly written by men. "The Curse of the Catafalques" and "The Kit Bag" were alright (and of course a classic tale from M.R. James, though not his best, is also featured and is one of the better ones), but most of them were meh and lacked any atmosphere. There are so many excellent collections that you can pick up to get into a spooky, festive mood, but unfortunately that is not it, I'm afraid. I'll definitely look into a few other festive collections from BL but will check the list of stories first instead of going blind.
December 14, 2023
Who doesn't love a great ghost story for Christmas?
There's such a nice tradition of telling spooky stories around this time of year and out of the plethora of 'Tales of the Weird' British Library anthology series, this seasonal themed volume was the perfect pick out of the many to choose from.
One aspect I really liked was that the tales were ordered in sequence of first published, with the opening story from 1867 all the way up to 1940.
Seeing the changing styles added to my enjoyment, there's something more chilling surrounding a first-person narration for the Victorian stories.
There's a nice mix of authors included from the well-known M. R. James to some overlooked writers too.
Whilst E. Nesbit (best known for her children's novels) also adds a nice mixture to this memorable collection.
There's such a nice tradition of telling spooky stories around this time of year and out of the plethora of 'Tales of the Weird' British Library anthology series, this seasonal themed volume was the perfect pick out of the many to choose from.
One aspect I really liked was that the tales were ordered in sequence of first published, with the opening story from 1867 all the way up to 1940.
Seeing the changing styles added to my enjoyment, there's something more chilling surrounding a first-person narration for the Victorian stories.
There's a nice mix of authors included from the well-known M. R. James to some overlooked writers too.
Whilst E. Nesbit (best known for her children's novels) also adds a nice mixture to this memorable collection.
February 19, 2023
I read most of these out loud to my husband off and on for the last couple of months. They’re fun to read aloud, and it doesn’t take that long to get through one. It’s a solid collection of Christmas ghost stories, edited by Tanya Kirk, and I do like her taste!
The oldest of the bunch was published in 1867, and newest was 1940. Favorites were “The Shadow,” by E. Nesbit, “The Kit-Bag,” by Algernon Blackwood, “Boxing Night,” by E.F. Benson, and “Smee,” by A.M. Burrage. The Nesbit story was the scariest of them all by a mile. Most are mildly spooky and predictable in their familiarity (good ghost stories are told and retold), but they’re well-told and easy to sink into.
The oldest of the bunch was published in 1867, and newest was 1940. Favorites were “The Shadow,” by E. Nesbit, “The Kit-Bag,” by Algernon Blackwood, “Boxing Night,” by E.F. Benson, and “Smee,” by A.M. Burrage. The Nesbit story was the scariest of them all by a mile. Most are mildly spooky and predictable in their familiarity (good ghost stories are told and retold), but they’re well-told and easy to sink into.
December 17, 2023
The second book for my Creepy Christmas reading! A really strong collection of classic supernatural stories, with a sometimes tenuous Christmas theme.
December 27, 2025
great collection of early ghost stories. not a single piece was bad, some of them were GREAT fun. thoroughly enjoyed this
December 20, 2018
A collection of Ghostly tales set at Christmas and originally published in Christmas magazines and annuals from 1867 to 1940; some are better than others but all show the large range of tales out there as no two are alike.
Recommended for Fans of Kate Mosse's The Mistletoe Bride & Other Haunting Tales and similar.
Recommended for Fans of Kate Mosse's The Mistletoe Bride & Other Haunting Tales and similar.
January 5, 2021
Interesting collection of seasonal hauntings.
December 12, 2024
Excellent collection of Yuletide horror stories, from both established and lesser known authors. The ones that stood out for me were:
The Four-Fifteen Express – Amelia B. Edwards: Though I've read this one before, it remains excellent, full of suspense and mystery, with great pacing. A man going to visit some friends for Christmas, meets an old acquaintance of his on the train.
The Curse of the Catafalques – F. Anstey: Really witty, humorous and ironic, this is not your typical ghost story. Really enjoyable and weird in the end. A man agrees to impersonate a stranger, so as to meet a rich girl.
Number Ninety – B.M. Croker: A short and exciting story about a dare concerning a haunted house. Not really innovative, but well-written and full of atmosphere.
The Kit-Bag – Algernon Blackwood: Somewhat predictable but even so, a great idea, well executed by the Master's pen. A young lawman is about to leave for a much needed vacation after a lengthy murder case, and asks a friend to lend him a kit-bag
Boxing Night – E.F. Benson: My personal favourite of this collection, Benson evokes masterfully the wintry atmosphere of an isolated rural place, and weaves a creepy yeet heartwarming story. Two elderly sisters have the same horrendous dream about an intruder who is after their stashed money.
The Prescription – Marjorie Bowen: A Christmas gathering, a seance, a past crime. No innovation here, but really good atmosphere and plot.
Lucky’s Grove – H. Russell Wakefield: This one has a really dark pagan undercurrent, as well as a hint of folk horror. It should had been trimmed a bit (it has unnecessary character details) but has really memorable imagery, and the ending is simply awe-inspiring. A rich man celebrates Christmas in his mansion, and takes a fir tree from a nearby grove that is held to be sacred.
The Four-Fifteen Express – Amelia B. Edwards: Though I've read this one before, it remains excellent, full of suspense and mystery, with great pacing. A man going to visit some friends for Christmas, meets an old acquaintance of his on the train.
The Curse of the Catafalques – F. Anstey: Really witty, humorous and ironic, this is not your typical ghost story. Really enjoyable and weird in the end. A man agrees to impersonate a stranger, so as to meet a rich girl.
Number Ninety – B.M. Croker: A short and exciting story about a dare concerning a haunted house. Not really innovative, but well-written and full of atmosphere.
The Kit-Bag – Algernon Blackwood: Somewhat predictable but even so, a great idea, well executed by the Master's pen. A young lawman is about to leave for a much needed vacation after a lengthy murder case, and asks a friend to lend him a kit-bag
Boxing Night – E.F. Benson: My personal favourite of this collection, Benson evokes masterfully the wintry atmosphere of an isolated rural place, and weaves a creepy yeet heartwarming story. Two elderly sisters have the same horrendous dream about an intruder who is after their stashed money.
The Prescription – Marjorie Bowen: A Christmas gathering, a seance, a past crime. No innovation here, but really good atmosphere and plot.
Lucky’s Grove – H. Russell Wakefield: This one has a really dark pagan undercurrent, as well as a hint of folk horror. It should had been trimmed a bit (it has unnecessary character details) but has really memorable imagery, and the ending is simply awe-inspiring. A rich man celebrates Christmas in his mansion, and takes a fir tree from a nearby grove that is held to be sacred.
December 31, 2020
This was my Christmas Eve read from Emma this year, and as it was short stories I extended it so that I could read them over the Christmas week. I absolutely loved this collection. I thought I had pinned my hopes too high when I saw that the final story was entitled Lucky’s Grove (it couldn’t be, could it?! I thought feverishly), but lo! The seasons magic was at work and I was graced with at least one story featuring my favourite God of the Norse (or indeed any) pantheon. The Demon King was also great fun, featuring as it did a rather theatrical demonic fae-creature. And I would urge anyone to read The Curse of The Catafalque’s, which was genuinely funny in a way that made me snigger out loud, but was also gripping enough to leave you anticipating the reveal of the curse itself. In amongst all that was some spectacular cosy wintery scenes and traditional ghostly fare coming alongside giddy seasonal parties - a couple of these giving a pleasant enough chill that will certainly linger; The Shadow and Smee to name but two.
The only story I didn’t enjoy as much as the others here was Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk, which just didn’t quite give me the same chill as the others - possibly as there was no visibility for much of the story. But overall I loved this collection and will definitely revisit these stories again next Yule.
The only story I didn’t enjoy as much as the others here was Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk, which just didn’t quite give me the same chill as the others - possibly as there was no visibility for much of the story. But overall I loved this collection and will definitely revisit these stories again next Yule.
December 28, 2018
A really solid collection of Christmas flavoured Ghost Stories. It contains Smee by Burrage, which is one of my all time favourite s. Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk is fantastic and does something new with the genre. Priestley shines with The Demon King. James does clown type menace with A Story of a Disappearance and Reappearance- Punch and Judy. Shudders. And why have I never heard of Lucky Grove before. Move over The Fir Tree. This one has more menace
December 18, 2020
There are some excellent stories in here (Lucky’s Grove was a particular favourite) but it suffers from the problem all anthologies suffer in that some of the stories were a bit dire.
December 26, 2023
Gets three stars just for 'the Demon King' short story, which was my favourite of the bunch.
December 26, 2021
If I have a such thing as comfort reading, it's in the form of horror stories from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. This nothing as cozy as a mostly predictable, old ghost story. When I need a safe read, I reach for one of these.
The entries here range from 1867 to 1940, moving in chronological order, and feature both the usual suspects (M. R. James, Majorie Bowen, Algernon Blackwood, etc) as well as some lesser knowns. The stories rarely have anything to do with Christmas directly, they mostly just take place on it, in ways that feel little more than coincidental. A few of the stories are bearably comical. One is about an actor showing up to a theater performance, but he's not who he seems to be. I've read several stories recently with this theme and that's got me wondering why it was once popular.
Edith Nesbit's The Shadow is a standout. It's quick and seems simple, but it's haziness and lack of explanation make it a winner, and the way the entity is described is wonderfully creepy.
The last story, Lucky's Grove by H. Russell Wakefield, makes use of a lot of passive words (rather, somewhat, likely), does some sudden head-hopping, asks you to keep track of too many characters, bombardes you with exposition, has jarring references to things like Disney, and somehow was one of my favorites. The language is playful and sardonic and the whole experience was enjoyable, despite those issues. I wanted more. It's also one of the few stories that actually revolves around Christmas. I will be reading more by him, once I can hunt down his unfortunately scarce books.
The entries here range from 1867 to 1940, moving in chronological order, and feature both the usual suspects (M. R. James, Majorie Bowen, Algernon Blackwood, etc) as well as some lesser knowns. The stories rarely have anything to do with Christmas directly, they mostly just take place on it, in ways that feel little more than coincidental. A few of the stories are bearably comical. One is about an actor showing up to a theater performance, but he's not who he seems to be. I've read several stories recently with this theme and that's got me wondering why it was once popular.
Edith Nesbit's The Shadow is a standout. It's quick and seems simple, but it's haziness and lack of explanation make it a winner, and the way the entity is described is wonderfully creepy.
The last story, Lucky's Grove by H. Russell Wakefield, makes use of a lot of passive words (rather, somewhat, likely), does some sudden head-hopping, asks you to keep track of too many characters, bombardes you with exposition, has jarring references to things like Disney, and somehow was one of my favorites. The language is playful and sardonic and the whole experience was enjoyable, despite those issues. I wanted more. It's also one of the few stories that actually revolves around Christmas. I will be reading more by him, once I can hunt down his unfortunately scarce books.
December 10, 2020
This was just excellent Christmas entertainment! Some of the stories were more humorous than scary (The Curse of the Catafalques and The Christmas Shadrach) and the stories move from more benign ghosts to the frightfully delicious tales at the end with The Demon King (there’s something unearthly going on at the village pantomime!) and then ends with a bang in Lucky’s Grove about a haunting Christmas tree... I’m eagerly awaiting the next batch of Christmas ghost stories put out by the British Library, Chill Tidings.
December 29, 2022
as always i must express my opinion per story but on the whole i really enjoyed this collection!
the four fifteen express - 3 stars
i enjoy a train mystery as much as the next golden age detective fan but i didn't think this was particularly christmas-centric (a theme which i will return to) and it was extremely obvious where it was going to go. thankfully it was written in an engaging enough way that i sped through it without much trouble
the curse of the catafalques - 3 stars
more of a satire than i expected and i DO love a bastard narrator, which this man certainly is. was a bit disappointed that the story was not set in a church which i expected when i asked my mum what a catafalque is. god do i wish we got to see a little more of the Curse than a red glowing door
christmas eve on a haunted hulk - 5 stars
LOVED IT. haunted shipwrecks are so so good and this was one of the better Stubborn Man narrators in the collection. also think this would be my dad's favourite mostly for all the boat stuff. there's something so visceral and unpleasant about the description of lying in the pitch black hull of this wreck listening to a murder being committed from decades past... scintillating
the christmas shadrach - 2 stars
underwhelming! earns points for christmas theming but i just was not interested in this misogynist's travails. no ghosts and no real menace because honestly i hope people cool towards this guy. i can see why the author has been forgotten when mark twain stuck around, there's not a lot of staying power
number ninety - 3 stars
a classic haunted house story and of course the stinger is very good; it's always satisfying when someone who refused to heed the warnings gets their comeuppance. i do wonder if it would be more effective as an m.r. james style epistolary piece
the shadow - 5 stars
absolutely menacing in the extreme. loved the class commentary and the sort of polyamorous subtext. might be wishful thinking but who knows, e. nesbit was cool! i've enjoyed every ghost story i've read of hers... maybe i should try the railway children
the kit-bag - 4 stars
this one had a slow start but holy shit does it build to a dramatic climax... i wasn't convinced by the survival of the protagonist but i'm glad he did because he seemed like a nice man. there's a fun implied legal drama in the befores and afters of this, especially the lack of chain of evidence for this big murder sack
the story of a disappearance and an appearance - 4 stars
MY GUY MONTY!!! this one is confusing so i cannot give it my guy's usual five stars but i do love the dream punch and judy show and trying to untangle exactly what did happen to the uncle between his disappearance and being found dead. punch and judy shows already inspire a great deal of dread so i will cherish any examples of Evil Punch. also i hope the toby dog got out okay
boxing night - 2 stars
think me and e.f. benson are unlikely to be bosom buddies. it's barely a ghost story and barely christmas themed, and the climax is extremely predictable. obviously the miserly uncle is going to try and steal the money! the little biography before the story mentioned that benson is generally viewed as a big misogynist and having read his portrayal of these women i have to agree
the prescription - 3.5 stars
this one has ups and downs... i think the reveal of the physical prescription isn't really needed for the story to be unnerving, especially when we have the doctor's narrative and the story of the wife's murder to draw our own conclusions from already. i've noticed in reading a lot of these anthologies that stories which insist on physical evidence of the ephemeral tend to interest me a lot less... like i'm already sold on the ghost marjorie. that's why i'm reading a ghost story
the snow - 3 stars
i love an unlikeable female protagonist as much as the next dyke but i'm not convinced by the portrayal here. i do love a revenge ghost but this one veered too close to Woman Scorned without much subversion for me to find it very interesting
smee - 4 stars
the invention of haunted sardines is incredible to me. i must play sardines with a ghost immediately. i think we would become good friends unlike these cowards who find the presence of the ghost "uncanny" and "spiritually upsetting". also the explanation of the ghost once again did not need to be repeated three or four times. i do have reading comprehension skills
the demon king - 5 stars
this one is probably not objectively a five star story but oh my god the premise. the vibes. the devil himself is like yknow what i think it's time for my PANTO DEBUT. and he just works really hard at it and tries to make it the best panto this town has ever seen! frankly i think they should book him for next year instead of kirk ireton.
lucky's grove - 4 stars
it was honestly surreal reading this story with its references to walt disney and central heating in the same volume as stories like disappearance and catafalques which feel so vastly removed from this setting despite being about as far distant from lucky's grove as lucky's grove is from me now. i enjoyed the oblivious blundering into certain doom as much as i always do but in a way i think this story over eggs the pudding a bit. like do we need menacing ornaments AND a snake apparition in the tree AND a haunted exploding cracker. i know it's christmas but sometimes more is less.
the four fifteen express - 3 stars
i enjoy a train mystery as much as the next golden age detective fan but i didn't think this was particularly christmas-centric (a theme which i will return to) and it was extremely obvious where it was going to go. thankfully it was written in an engaging enough way that i sped through it without much trouble
the curse of the catafalques - 3 stars
more of a satire than i expected and i DO love a bastard narrator, which this man certainly is. was a bit disappointed that the story was not set in a church which i expected when i asked my mum what a catafalque is. god do i wish we got to see a little more of the Curse than a red glowing door
christmas eve on a haunted hulk - 5 stars
LOVED IT. haunted shipwrecks are so so good and this was one of the better Stubborn Man narrators in the collection. also think this would be my dad's favourite mostly for all the boat stuff. there's something so visceral and unpleasant about the description of lying in the pitch black hull of this wreck listening to a murder being committed from decades past... scintillating
the christmas shadrach - 2 stars
underwhelming! earns points for christmas theming but i just was not interested in this misogynist's travails. no ghosts and no real menace because honestly i hope people cool towards this guy. i can see why the author has been forgotten when mark twain stuck around, there's not a lot of staying power
number ninety - 3 stars
a classic haunted house story and of course the stinger is very good; it's always satisfying when someone who refused to heed the warnings gets their comeuppance. i do wonder if it would be more effective as an m.r. james style epistolary piece
the shadow - 5 stars
absolutely menacing in the extreme. loved the class commentary and the sort of polyamorous subtext. might be wishful thinking but who knows, e. nesbit was cool! i've enjoyed every ghost story i've read of hers... maybe i should try the railway children
the kit-bag - 4 stars
this one had a slow start but holy shit does it build to a dramatic climax... i wasn't convinced by the survival of the protagonist but i'm glad he did because he seemed like a nice man. there's a fun implied legal drama in the befores and afters of this, especially the lack of chain of evidence for this big murder sack
the story of a disappearance and an appearance - 4 stars
MY GUY MONTY!!! this one is confusing so i cannot give it my guy's usual five stars but i do love the dream punch and judy show and trying to untangle exactly what did happen to the uncle between his disappearance and being found dead. punch and judy shows already inspire a great deal of dread so i will cherish any examples of Evil Punch. also i hope the toby dog got out okay
boxing night - 2 stars
think me and e.f. benson are unlikely to be bosom buddies. it's barely a ghost story and barely christmas themed, and the climax is extremely predictable. obviously the miserly uncle is going to try and steal the money! the little biography before the story mentioned that benson is generally viewed as a big misogynist and having read his portrayal of these women i have to agree
the prescription - 3.5 stars
this one has ups and downs... i think the reveal of the physical prescription isn't really needed for the story to be unnerving, especially when we have the doctor's narrative and the story of the wife's murder to draw our own conclusions from already. i've noticed in reading a lot of these anthologies that stories which insist on physical evidence of the ephemeral tend to interest me a lot less... like i'm already sold on the ghost marjorie. that's why i'm reading a ghost story
the snow - 3 stars
i love an unlikeable female protagonist as much as the next dyke but i'm not convinced by the portrayal here. i do love a revenge ghost but this one veered too close to Woman Scorned without much subversion for me to find it very interesting
smee - 4 stars
the invention of haunted sardines is incredible to me. i must play sardines with a ghost immediately. i think we would become good friends unlike these cowards who find the presence of the ghost "uncanny" and "spiritually upsetting". also the explanation of the ghost once again did not need to be repeated three or four times. i do have reading comprehension skills
the demon king - 5 stars
this one is probably not objectively a five star story but oh my god the premise. the vibes. the devil himself is like yknow what i think it's time for my PANTO DEBUT. and he just works really hard at it and tries to make it the best panto this town has ever seen! frankly i think they should book him for next year instead of kirk ireton.
lucky's grove - 4 stars
it was honestly surreal reading this story with its references to walt disney and central heating in the same volume as stories like disappearance and catafalques which feel so vastly removed from this setting despite being about as far distant from lucky's grove as lucky's grove is from me now. i enjoyed the oblivious blundering into certain doom as much as i always do but in a way i think this story over eggs the pudding a bit. like do we need menacing ornaments AND a snake apparition in the tree AND a haunted exploding cracker. i know it's christmas but sometimes more is less.
December 31, 2020
I decided to reread the collection as I didn’t really remember the stories but it remains a very mixed bag for me. My favourites were The Prescription by Marjorie Bowen, The Shadow by E. Nesbit and The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood.
December 28, 2019
Excellent collection! Many are particularly eerie; possibly my favorite is "Lucky's Grove," by H. Russell Wakefield, but Algernon Blackwood's "The Kit-Bag" was a real skin-crawler. Perfect for a snowy winter night.
December 29, 2021
Some stories are more christmas-y than others. But this was an entertaining December read. One thing I really appreciated was the extra information about the writers before each of the stories.
The Four-Fifteen Express by Amelia B. Edwards - 2 stars
Pretty predictable and not at all scary or spooky.
The Curse of the Catafalques by F. Anstey - 3,5 stars
A bit of a cop out at the end, but the vibes are there.
Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk by Frank Cowper - 3,75 stars
A bit of a disappointing ending, but this, too, had all of the vibes!
The Christmas Shadrach by Frank R. Stockton - 2 stars
Okay... That was... kind of boring.
Number Ninety by B. M. Croker - 2,75 stars
Again: vibes. Kind of. I would have preferred it had the story been told from John's perspective. But also: the ending was kind of anti climactic as well...
The Shadow by E. Nesbit - 3,5 stars
Good spooky vibes
The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood - 4 stars
Now THAT was creepy!
The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance by M. R. James - 1 stars
Nah, man. Too boring. While a lot of the stories in this collection are in the format of ghost stories being told to other people along with the reader, this story was written in the form of letters. I think that this didn't help (for me) with the level of entertainment. (Also, a boring title for a boring story, so I guess that fits.)
Boxing Night by E. F. Benson - 2,5 stars
Hmmm... okay. More thriller-y than spooky.
The Prescription by Marjorie Bowen - 2 stars
Hmmm.
The Snow by Hugh Walpole - 5 stars
Short, but spooky and sweet.
Smee by A. M. Burrage - 4,5 stars
I wanted more!
The Demon King by J. B. Priestley - 2 stars
Spooky vibes were okay. Ending was a bit of a let-down.
Lucky's Grove by H. Russell Wakefield - 2,5 stars
Finally some real Christmas vibes. Not a very fun (Christmas-y) ending. Actually, it was pretty savage. Not enough spook, unfortunately.
Adding my individual ratings up, this entire collection would be a 3 stars (2,9 rounded up) for me.
(Note after jotting this all down: I think it's funny how multiple writers that appeared in this collection, were mentioned to have looked up to or are being compared to 'the greatest master of ghost stories' M. R. James. And he's actually in here as well, but apparently his story wasn't for me.)
The Four-Fifteen Express by Amelia B. Edwards - 2 stars
Pretty predictable and not at all scary or spooky.
The Curse of the Catafalques by F. Anstey - 3,5 stars
A bit of a cop out at the end, but the vibes are there.
Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk by Frank Cowper - 3,75 stars
A bit of a disappointing ending, but this, too, had all of the vibes!
The Christmas Shadrach by Frank R. Stockton - 2 stars
Okay... That was... kind of boring.
Number Ninety by B. M. Croker - 2,75 stars
Again: vibes. Kind of. I would have preferred it had the story been told from John's perspective. But also: the ending was kind of anti climactic as well...
The Shadow by E. Nesbit - 3,5 stars
Good spooky vibes
The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood - 4 stars
Now THAT was creepy!
The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance by M. R. James - 1 stars
Nah, man. Too boring. While a lot of the stories in this collection are in the format of ghost stories being told to other people along with the reader, this story was written in the form of letters. I think that this didn't help (for me) with the level of entertainment. (Also, a boring title for a boring story, so I guess that fits.)
Boxing Night by E. F. Benson - 2,5 stars
Hmmm... okay. More thriller-y than spooky.
The Prescription by Marjorie Bowen - 2 stars
Hmmm.
The Snow by Hugh Walpole - 5 stars
Short, but spooky and sweet.
Smee by A. M. Burrage - 4,5 stars
I wanted more!
The Demon King by J. B. Priestley - 2 stars
Spooky vibes were okay. Ending was a bit of a let-down.
Lucky's Grove by H. Russell Wakefield - 2,5 stars
Finally some real Christmas vibes. Not a very fun (Christmas-y) ending. Actually, it was pretty savage. Not enough spook, unfortunately.
Adding my individual ratings up, this entire collection would be a 3 stars (2,9 rounded up) for me.
(Note after jotting this all down: I think it's funny how multiple writers that appeared in this collection, were mentioned to have looked up to or are being compared to 'the greatest master of ghost stories' M. R. James. And he's actually in here as well, but apparently his story wasn't for me.)
December 4, 2018
here is nothing like a ghost story at Christmas. A roaring fire, a glass of something reviving and being full of Christmas cheer makes you just want to put your feet up and open a good story collection.
The British Library have been raiding their archives to produce several elegant paperback collections and this is a new one just in time for the dark season. It is another good selection of lesser known tales instead of the more frequently anthologised ones – in fact there was only one story that I’ve read before and that was M R James An Appearance and a Disappearance which features a sinister Punch and Judy. He frequently told his stories at Christmas gatherings of the Kit Kat Club at Eton.
Several of the tales are actually set around Christmas tide and most are from the Victorian, Edwardian or the first quarter of the 20th century – 1860’s – 1940’s. This is considered the Golden Age of the ghost story and it produced some classics within the genre. There are 14 tales in total each with a short biography of the author
The book has a striking but simple cover and a very effective black and white front page illustration is followed by an interesting introduction by Tanya Kirk, Head Curator at the British Library. She discusses ghost stories in general and also poses the question ‘Why do we enjoy sharing ghost stories?’ and also the association of ghostly tales with Christmastime. As the back cover blurb says ‘the uninvited guests gather in the dark in this distinctive assortment of Yuletide chillers’. There are some excellent stories such as Frank Cowper’s ‘Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk.’ who was a writer unknown to me interspersed with more well-known writers such as E Nesbit, Algernon Blackwood and of course M R James.
I enjoyed A M Burrage’s ‘Smee’ in which a game of hide and seek becomes a game with 12 players and then thirteen…and also ‘Lucky’s Grove’ in which a fir tree is removed from a shady bower with a reputation amongst the locals. It exerts its own revenge at a businessman’s country retreat on Christmas Day.
So if Xmas TV isn’t up to much this year why not settle yourself down and indulge yourself in this collection of Yuletide tales.
The British Library have been raiding their archives to produce several elegant paperback collections and this is a new one just in time for the dark season. It is another good selection of lesser known tales instead of the more frequently anthologised ones – in fact there was only one story that I’ve read before and that was M R James An Appearance and a Disappearance which features a sinister Punch and Judy. He frequently told his stories at Christmas gatherings of the Kit Kat Club at Eton.
Several of the tales are actually set around Christmas tide and most are from the Victorian, Edwardian or the first quarter of the 20th century – 1860’s – 1940’s. This is considered the Golden Age of the ghost story and it produced some classics within the genre. There are 14 tales in total each with a short biography of the author
The book has a striking but simple cover and a very effective black and white front page illustration is followed by an interesting introduction by Tanya Kirk, Head Curator at the British Library. She discusses ghost stories in general and also poses the question ‘Why do we enjoy sharing ghost stories?’ and also the association of ghostly tales with Christmastime. As the back cover blurb says ‘the uninvited guests gather in the dark in this distinctive assortment of Yuletide chillers’. There are some excellent stories such as Frank Cowper’s ‘Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk.’ who was a writer unknown to me interspersed with more well-known writers such as E Nesbit, Algernon Blackwood and of course M R James.
I enjoyed A M Burrage’s ‘Smee’ in which a game of hide and seek becomes a game with 12 players and then thirteen…and also ‘Lucky’s Grove’ in which a fir tree is removed from a shady bower with a reputation amongst the locals. It exerts its own revenge at a businessman’s country retreat on Christmas Day.
So if Xmas TV isn’t up to much this year why not settle yourself down and indulge yourself in this collection of Yuletide tales.
December 28, 2021
One of the most fascinating things about this collection is that it’s set in chronological order, so you get to see the differences in style over the years and the evolving approach to horror. In truth, the earlier stories aren’t very scary, but a lot of that has to do with the way it’s written. Most Western literature from before Modernism (the literary movement) is quite detached in style and/or didn’t play with the conventions of writing like Modernism began to. Likewise, due to the influx of horror today, a lot of the twists in the stories were rather predictable.
But the stories are still very enjoyable! There was one that wasn’t scary while reading but still sticks with me.
I’ll talk about a few of my favourites:
The Shadow
1905 by E. Nesbit is one of the ones that is truly scary. It features weird ink-like ghosts that appear anytime they want, and man are they freaky.
The Kit Bag
1908 by Algernon Blackwood is a little predictable in the plot but the imagery and creepiness of the descriptions are great.
Boxing Night
1923 by E.F. Benson
Also a little predictable (not terribly so) but it's quite fun.
Snow
1929 by Hugh Walpole is fascinating in that you’re not quite sure whether what’s happened is real or not. A really great psychological horror as well as a ghost story.
The Demon King
1931 by J.B Preistly isn’t scary but if you like stories about demons or devils causing some chaos, you’ll enjoy it.
Christmas Eve on the Haunted Hulk
This is the third story, from 1889 by Frank Cowper. It follows a man who spends the night on a derelict, half-sunken boat stuck in a bog. It’s the one that sticks with me. It reminded me a little of The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher and, like that novel, it’s the setting and the eerie unexplained aspects that are the best part.
I highly highly recommend this collection for both horror fans and those who enjoy pre-Modern/Victorian stories. I’d definitely check out another collection by this publisher.
But the stories are still very enjoyable! There was one that wasn’t scary while reading but still sticks with me.
I’ll talk about a few of my favourites:
The Shadow
1905 by E. Nesbit is one of the ones that is truly scary. It features weird ink-like ghosts that appear anytime they want, and man are they freaky.
The Kit Bag
1908 by Algernon Blackwood is a little predictable in the plot but the imagery and creepiness of the descriptions are great.
Boxing Night
1923 by E.F. Benson
Also a little predictable (not terribly so) but it's quite fun.
Snow
1929 by Hugh Walpole is fascinating in that you’re not quite sure whether what’s happened is real or not. A really great psychological horror as well as a ghost story.
The Demon King
1931 by J.B Preistly isn’t scary but if you like stories about demons or devils causing some chaos, you’ll enjoy it.
Christmas Eve on the Haunted Hulk
This is the third story, from 1889 by Frank Cowper. It follows a man who spends the night on a derelict, half-sunken boat stuck in a bog. It’s the one that sticks with me. It reminded me a little of The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher and, like that novel, it’s the setting and the eerie unexplained aspects that are the best part.
I highly highly recommend this collection for both horror fans and those who enjoy pre-Modern/Victorian stories. I’d definitely check out another collection by this publisher.
Read
December 25, 2023The one of the BL's spooky Christmas collections that I don't own, because it has too much overlap with stuff I'd already read. Which said, reading it this month while I've got Kindle Unlimited free, I still reread them all as I went through, because from the sublime (Smee), through the simple and effective (A Night On A Haunted Hulk) to the entirely ridiculous (The Curse Of The Catafalques), they're all good'uns. The same doesn't necessarily go for everything else here; Frank R Stockton's The Christmas Shadrach made me feel like a GM whose player is trying to game a poorly defined magic item, and BM Croker's Number Ninety is the merest sketch of a thing. At its best, though, the book can turn up something like Edith Nesbit's The Shadow. You know when modern writers think they have some terribly clever point to make about Edwardian social structures, except they don't actually understand the environment they're depicting, such that however many plaudits they get from the easily impressed, what they've actually done is embarrassed themselves and any audience with half a clue? This is the story they think they've written. Except that, not content with catching the tiny, shifting gradations of that winding-down time after the party, Nesbit also tells a suitably sinister ghost story, and all in 15 pages. I was also very taken with JB Priestley's* The Demon King; it's entirely obvious what strange business is afoot at a Northern pantomime's opening night, but by Jove he sells it. And the closing Lucky's Grove, finished just now among the whispering of the wind in the leaves, is Succession if the family's last and biggest mistake had been the sourcing of their Christmas tree. I had planned to cut some holly in the garden once I got back, but you know what? Maybe we can manage without this year.
*A couple of months ago I saw another great weaver of the winter weird, Susan Cooper, interviewed. Turned out she had known him, and referred to him throughout as 'Old Priestley', so for the foreseeable, that's how I think of him too.
*A couple of months ago I saw another great weaver of the winter weird, Susan Cooper, interviewed. Turned out she had known him, and referred to him throughout as 'Old Priestley', so for the foreseeable, that's how I think of him too.
December 24, 2023
A beautifully arranged and packaged selection of festive creepers - the overall quality is high, but the variety and chronological presentation pushes the book up another notch: you're getting a whistle-stop haunted house tour of the Christmas ghost story as it copes with changes in lifestyles, literary styles and self-consciously comes to terms with its own status as a traditional pursuit. Even my least favourite story here - Hugh Walpole's "The Snow" from 1929 - is interesting as an example of the form trying to come to terms with modernism and interior monologues.
Everything else was at least enjoyable, and often terrific. From the opening story, Amelia B Edwards' "The Four-Fifteen Express", whose denoument takes place amongst the board of a limited stock railway company, to the final apocalyptic "Lucky's Grove" with its story of a newly wealthy landowner making a dreadful error with regards to some old trees, there's a sense of the Christmas ghost story as a place where tradition gets a chance to take a measure of revenge on modernity, and particularly where the high spirits of the young can encounter older spirits to dampen them. The hauntings here range from utterly malicious, to simply inexplicable, to righteously wronged, with at least one positively jovial lord of misrule thrown in (JB Priestley's "Demon King", one of several real high points).
Other strongly recommended stories here include "Christmas Eve On A Haunted Hulk" by Frank Cowper, for its masterful evocation of cold, misery and the grey English landscape; E Nesbit's skilfully plotted and psychologically acute "The Shadow"; and, yes, MR James' "The Story Of A Disappearance And An Appearance". Putting an MR James story in your Christmas ghost collection almost feels like a cheat, but he remains the best there is at what he does, and what he does best is wonderfully not nice - a frisson of genuine, corner-of-your-eye ambiguous horror in the midst of the Christmas cosiness.
Everything else was at least enjoyable, and often terrific. From the opening story, Amelia B Edwards' "The Four-Fifteen Express", whose denoument takes place amongst the board of a limited stock railway company, to the final apocalyptic "Lucky's Grove" with its story of a newly wealthy landowner making a dreadful error with regards to some old trees, there's a sense of the Christmas ghost story as a place where tradition gets a chance to take a measure of revenge on modernity, and particularly where the high spirits of the young can encounter older spirits to dampen them. The hauntings here range from utterly malicious, to simply inexplicable, to righteously wronged, with at least one positively jovial lord of misrule thrown in (JB Priestley's "Demon King", one of several real high points).
Other strongly recommended stories here include "Christmas Eve On A Haunted Hulk" by Frank Cowper, for its masterful evocation of cold, misery and the grey English landscape; E Nesbit's skilfully plotted and psychologically acute "The Shadow"; and, yes, MR James' "The Story Of A Disappearance And An Appearance". Putting an MR James story in your Christmas ghost collection almost feels like a cheat, but he remains the best there is at what he does, and what he does best is wonderfully not nice - a frisson of genuine, corner-of-your-eye ambiguous horror in the midst of the Christmas cosiness.
January 27, 2023
I have been exploring the realms of the supernatural alot in recent years, and by the fiction route; this is a range of books that I would like to dive heavily into.
Of the three that I have read so far ("Glimpses of the Unknown" and "Weird Woods" being the other two), this is perhaps the best but pretty equal at times to the first of those others.
"The Four-Fifteen Express" by Amelia B. Edwards opens the volume and is perhaps the best of the collection. A fantastic story about an encounter at a train station that isn't all that it seems. A great ghost mystery type story.
Frank Cowper's; "Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk" shortly followed the above, and is a unique one in that the writer wasn't known for ghost stories but one for books about/involving boats. This made for a uniquely detailed and interesting read that I liked a lot. Liked the atmosphere to this one.
"The Kit-Bag" by Algernon Blackwood was another that is pretty incredible, involving a trial and a certain piece of evidence.
Also fell in love with "Smee". A tale that puts a unique spin on hide and seek and is a great ghost story.
There are other tales here that I could highlight as well such as "The Christmas Shadrach" (one that added some nice diversity of stories to the mix), "Boxing Night", and "Lucky's Grove".
There perhaps 1 or two that didn't strike a cord with me, but I'd still be pretty comfortable giving this a 9/10.
An early highlight from "British Library; Tales of the Weird" for me.
Of the three that I have read so far ("Glimpses of the Unknown" and "Weird Woods" being the other two), this is perhaps the best but pretty equal at times to the first of those others.
"The Four-Fifteen Express" by Amelia B. Edwards opens the volume and is perhaps the best of the collection. A fantastic story about an encounter at a train station that isn't all that it seems. A great ghost mystery type story.
Frank Cowper's; "Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk" shortly followed the above, and is a unique one in that the writer wasn't known for ghost stories but one for books about/involving boats. This made for a uniquely detailed and interesting read that I liked a lot. Liked the atmosphere to this one.
"The Kit-Bag" by Algernon Blackwood was another that is pretty incredible, involving a trial and a certain piece of evidence.
Also fell in love with "Smee". A tale that puts a unique spin on hide and seek and is a great ghost story.
There are other tales here that I could highlight as well such as "The Christmas Shadrach" (one that added some nice diversity of stories to the mix), "Boxing Night", and "Lucky's Grove".
There perhaps 1 or two that didn't strike a cord with me, but I'd still be pretty comfortable giving this a 9/10.
An early highlight from "British Library; Tales of the Weird" for me.
December 27, 2025
A lovely collection of Yuletide chillers, featuring stories from the 1860s to the 1940s. Most of the stories were first published in the magazine industry. The stories display an excellent range: some are haunting and eerie, others witty, and one even downright farcical (The Christmas Shadrach by Frank R. Stockton).
A selection of the finest stories:
Curse of the Catafalques by F. Anstey: a witty story, in which a man decides to impersonate an unfortunate bridegroom, unaware of a horrible procedure that awaits him. He decides to run away on Christmas Eve, so the family curse of his bride to be remains a secret;
Christmas Eve on a haunted hulk by Frank Cowper, in which a duck shooter finds himself stranded in a gloomy hulk on an abandoned island. In the night, he is the oral witness of a ghastly crime committed there once. The tale is atmospheric and uncanny;
The shadow by Edith Nesbit, in which the horror of a house comes out of a cupboard, forms a black pool that sighs and sinks into a shadow. It ends up killing an entire family;
The prescription by Marjorie Bowen, in which the phantom of a guilt-ridden murderer implores a visiting doctor to aid his wife, the murder victim;
Lucky's Grove by H. Russell Wakefield, in which an ill-omened Christmas tree, taken from a sacred copse, unleashes its terror on a rich family.
A selection of the finest stories:
Curse of the Catafalques by F. Anstey: a witty story, in which a man decides to impersonate an unfortunate bridegroom, unaware of a horrible procedure that awaits him. He decides to run away on Christmas Eve, so the family curse of his bride to be remains a secret;
Christmas Eve on a haunted hulk by Frank Cowper, in which a duck shooter finds himself stranded in a gloomy hulk on an abandoned island. In the night, he is the oral witness of a ghastly crime committed there once. The tale is atmospheric and uncanny;
The shadow by Edith Nesbit, in which the horror of a house comes out of a cupboard, forms a black pool that sighs and sinks into a shadow. It ends up killing an entire family;
The prescription by Marjorie Bowen, in which the phantom of a guilt-ridden murderer implores a visiting doctor to aid his wife, the murder victim;
Lucky's Grove by H. Russell Wakefield, in which an ill-omened Christmas tree, taken from a sacred copse, unleashes its terror on a rich family.
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