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Ghostly Winter Tales: A Fourth Collection of Classic Ghost Stories for Christmas
In these twenty-three stories from the Victorian and Edwardian period, strange things lurk in the Winter night. So gather round the Christmas hearth and revel in these classic tales of macabre mischief and sinister supernatural encounters, some of which are reprinted here for the first time since their original publication.
- GenresHorror
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2018
About the author
B.M. Croker
189 books12 followersBithia Mary (or May) Croker (née Sheppard, c. 1848-1920) was an Irish novelist, most of whose work concerns life and society in British India. Her 1917 novel The Road to Mandalay, set in Burma, was the uncredited basis for a 1926 American silent film, of which only excerpts survive. She was also a notable writer of ghost stories.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 18, 2021
“It was about a fortnight before Christmas, when the days were at their shortest and darkest.” (Quotation page 129, from “Christmas Eve at Beach House” by Eliza Lynn Linton)
Theme and genre
This fourth collection of Classic Ghost Stories contains twenty-three stories by different authors, written in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. All stories take place during foggy winter days and dark winter nights around Christmas, where guests are invited to celebrate happy, festive Christmas days and New Years Eve in the beautiful manors and old country houses of their hosts. At this time of the year everything can happen, ghosts are to be seen, mostly unfriendly, and some of the invited guests might listen amused to the stories about haunted houses and rooms, definitely not believing in such supernatural things, and then may awake or not awake one morning, just having experienced otherwise, without any logical and possible explanation. “Much still remains obscure and cannot now be cleared up; for the only man who could perhaps throw further light on it is no longer with us.” (Quotation page 215, from “The Black Cat” by W. J. Wintle). Very interesting for me was the story “The Christmas Eve Vigil” by James Bowker, as I know the theme of the ghostly procession of figures towards a church, revealing the faces of the persons going to die during the following year, from a famous theatre play, “Der Müller und sein Kind”, written 1830 by the German writer Ernst Raupach.
Conclusion
A perfect collection for gripping, enjoyable reading hours during dark winter evenings.
Theme and genre
This fourth collection of Classic Ghost Stories contains twenty-three stories by different authors, written in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. All stories take place during foggy winter days and dark winter nights around Christmas, where guests are invited to celebrate happy, festive Christmas days and New Years Eve in the beautiful manors and old country houses of their hosts. At this time of the year everything can happen, ghosts are to be seen, mostly unfriendly, and some of the invited guests might listen amused to the stories about haunted houses and rooms, definitely not believing in such supernatural things, and then may awake or not awake one morning, just having experienced otherwise, without any logical and possible explanation. “Much still remains obscure and cannot now be cleared up; for the only man who could perhaps throw further light on it is no longer with us.” (Quotation page 215, from “The Black Cat” by W. J. Wintle). Very interesting for me was the story “The Christmas Eve Vigil” by James Bowker, as I know the theme of the ghostly procession of figures towards a church, revealing the faces of the persons going to die during the following year, from a famous theatre play, “Der Müller und sein Kind”, written 1830 by the German writer Ernst Raupach.
Conclusion
A perfect collection for gripping, enjoyable reading hours during dark winter evenings.
January 8, 2024
I get it, it's cheap publishing because the material is in the public domain. I think I used my digital credits on Amazon to get it free for the Kindle app. I don't care that it's cheap. These stories were great. They were just what I wanted for some winter reading.
One of the things I like about these older short stories that were published in magazines is that because they were written for their contemporary audiences, there are little clues to every day life. I get completely immersed in a setting lit by candles, lamps, or fireplaces. It's a lot easier for authors to build tension when neither the travel or communication has any way of going faster, even when something terrible is about to happen or everyone is waiting on important news. This book had a lot of international flare, as well. Narrators told stories of places they had been all over the world.
I love the language and the atmosphere. No, these stories are not modern, terrifying horror, but most of them were pretty creepy. My favorite was called "A Ghost's Revenge" by Lettice Galbraith. Even though it took place in a time with trains and telegraphs, a snow storm could prevent both those things from getting through and there was a really tense march through a storm (hey, snow storms are scary, too) to get from the train station to the manor. I was holding my breath. It was like the scene from an action movie.
One of the things I like about these older short stories that were published in magazines is that because they were written for their contemporary audiences, there are little clues to every day life. I get completely immersed in a setting lit by candles, lamps, or fireplaces. It's a lot easier for authors to build tension when neither the travel or communication has any way of going faster, even when something terrible is about to happen or everyone is waiting on important news. This book had a lot of international flare, as well. Narrators told stories of places they had been all over the world.
I love the language and the atmosphere. No, these stories are not modern, terrifying horror, but most of them were pretty creepy. My favorite was called "A Ghost's Revenge" by Lettice Galbraith. Even though it took place in a time with trains and telegraphs, a snow storm could prevent both those things from getting through and there was a really tense march through a storm (hey, snow storms are scary, too) to get from the train station to the manor. I was holding my breath. It was like the scene from an action movie.
March 16, 2020
A wonderful collection of the true classic ghost stories set around Christmas. Like any collection some are incredible, others are merely okay.
But overall a hefty but well-worth tome to pick up. The list of authors is long with a number of familiar names (such as James Bowker, Mark Lemon B M Croker), as well as quite a few I've never heard of before, but would like to see if I can find more of their work.
A wonderful collection of tales to read during the winter months, or any other time you're in the mood for a few good chills.
But overall a hefty but well-worth tome to pick up. The list of authors is long with a number of familiar names (such as James Bowker, Mark Lemon B M Croker), as well as quite a few I've never heard of before, but would like to see if I can find more of their work.
A wonderful collection of tales to read during the winter months, or any other time you're in the mood for a few good chills.
December 28, 2023
RA
Some good, if fairly ancient stories; some overwritten, as was the style of the period. I enjoyed A Ghost in the Pampas and Under the Sheer-Legs: they were not only ghost stories, but told of strong friendship and loyalty. The gem for me was A Christmas Mummy by Richard Marsh: reminiscent of Richmal Crompton; I will on its strength be reading more of his considerable output. These cheap books are a marvelous introduction to some authors who have themselves become rather obscure and ghostly.
Some good, if fairly ancient stories; some overwritten, as was the style of the period. I enjoyed A Ghost in the Pampas and Under the Sheer-Legs: they were not only ghost stories, but told of strong friendship and loyalty. The gem for me was A Christmas Mummy by Richard Marsh: reminiscent of Richmal Crompton; I will on its strength be reading more of his considerable output. These cheap books are a marvelous introduction to some authors who have themselves become rather obscure and ghostly.
February 18, 2020
Much of its day.
These stories are very much of its day; comfy chairs in front of a fire, gentlemen telling stories. With the exception of Yuki Onna, which suffers in the translation, they are timid and bland. It's as if the authors didn't want to frighten the horses or give the ladies the vapours. Stephen King they aren't, but suitable for a person with Victorian interests.
These stories are very much of its day; comfy chairs in front of a fire, gentlemen telling stories. With the exception of Yuki Onna, which suffers in the translation, they are timid and bland. It's as if the authors didn't want to frighten the horses or give the ladies the vapours. Stephen King they aren't, but suitable for a person with Victorian interests.
January 30, 2021
Tales that exercise the mind and heart.
I began this book of short stories at the beginning of December 2020 and have just finished the very last, almost at the end of January 2021! I had to reread some passages to make sense of them and abandoned one or two, because I could not find any pleasure in them. On the whole I feel a sense of achievement that I reached the end!
I began this book of short stories at the beginning of December 2020 and have just finished the very last, almost at the end of January 2021! I had to reread some passages to make sense of them and abandoned one or two, because I could not find any pleasure in them. On the whole I feel a sense of achievement that I reached the end!
February 13, 2022
There are some wonderful stories in this collection. The exception for me, was the story, "The Brown Lady, by Frances Cashel Hoey, wherein the author was perversely showing off their French. I can't be bothered to stop every or every other page even to have Kindle translate for me.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews