What do you think?
Rate this book
Penguin Book of Indian Ghost Stories
From Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling to Satyajit Ray and R. K. Narayan, this text is a collection of spine-chilling tales of the supernatural from India.
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
41 people are currently reading
618 people want to read
About the author
Ruskin Bond
680 books3,563 followersRuskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 22, 2017
Ruskin Bond, who is famous for his unique literary work including ghost stories, has compiled many stories in this book.
You may read full review here http://www.haloofbooks.com/the-pengui...
This book has 21 short stories written by many authors ranging from Rudyard Kipling to Arthur Conon Doyle to Satyajit Ray. The introduction is very interesting to read where the editor has elaborated how he became fond of ghost stories. There is also an instance in the book wherein Ruskin Bond mentions seeing the apparition of Rudyard Kipling during Penguin’s Puffin launching party.
The first half of the book is dedicated to a foreign author who has set his ghost stories in British India. ‘The Brown Hand’ by Arthur Conan Doyle is a story where a deceased Indian person comes in search of his amputated hand in the lab of a surgeon. The best stories of Rudyard Kipling ‘The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes’ & ‘The Mark of the Beast’ are slow in pace but interestingly written. ‘The Werewolf” by C. A. Kincaid introduce you to the concept of the werewolf which is very famous since ages. ‘The Tail light’ by F. R. Corson is something beyond belief where a ghost signals a motorman to stop the train as the track is totally damaged by heavy rain.
My favorites are the stories of Satyajit Ray ‘Fritz’ and ‘Ananth Babu’s Terror’. These stories are scary and I have never read any stories like these before. Other stories like ‘A Shade to Soon’, ‘The Red Hydrangea’, ‘The yellow-legged man’ ‘Ghost of Korya Khar’ are simply scary.
The story ‘Topaz’ by Ruskin Bond is amazingly written with an unpredictable turn.
You may read full review here http://www.haloofbooks.com/the-pengui...
This book has 21 short stories written by many authors ranging from Rudyard Kipling to Arthur Conon Doyle to Satyajit Ray. The introduction is very interesting to read where the editor has elaborated how he became fond of ghost stories. There is also an instance in the book wherein Ruskin Bond mentions seeing the apparition of Rudyard Kipling during Penguin’s Puffin launching party.
The first half of the book is dedicated to a foreign author who has set his ghost stories in British India. ‘The Brown Hand’ by Arthur Conan Doyle is a story where a deceased Indian person comes in search of his amputated hand in the lab of a surgeon. The best stories of Rudyard Kipling ‘The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes’ & ‘The Mark of the Beast’ are slow in pace but interestingly written. ‘The Werewolf” by C. A. Kincaid introduce you to the concept of the werewolf which is very famous since ages. ‘The Tail light’ by F. R. Corson is something beyond belief where a ghost signals a motorman to stop the train as the track is totally damaged by heavy rain.
My favorites are the stories of Satyajit Ray ‘Fritz’ and ‘Ananth Babu’s Terror’. These stories are scary and I have never read any stories like these before. Other stories like ‘A Shade to Soon’, ‘The Red Hydrangea’, ‘The yellow-legged man’ ‘Ghost of Korya Khar’ are simply scary.
The story ‘Topaz’ by Ruskin Bond is amazingly written with an unpredictable turn.
August 21, 2024
This is an anthology of stories of the supernatural set in India or built around characters and contexts of India. About half of the stories are by writers of non-Indian ancestry, though some were born or lived extensively in India (e.g. Rudyard Kipling and C.A. Kincaid.) Not all of the pieces are "ghost stories" in a technical sense, but they all revolve around the supernatural or surreal experience.
I enjoyed all the stories in this collection, but among my favorites were: "The Brown Hand" by Arthur Conan Doyle; "The Strange Ride of the Morrowbie Jukes" by Rudyard Kipling; "The Fire-Jogi" by A.C. Renny; "Fritz" by Satyajit Ray; "Anath Babu's Terror" by Satyajit Ray; "The Yellow-Legged Man" by Sudhir Thapliyal, and "Topaz" by Ruskin Bond.
If you enjoy scary stories, I'd highly recommend this book.
I enjoyed all the stories in this collection, but among my favorites were: "The Brown Hand" by Arthur Conan Doyle; "The Strange Ride of the Morrowbie Jukes" by Rudyard Kipling; "The Fire-Jogi" by A.C. Renny; "Fritz" by Satyajit Ray; "Anath Babu's Terror" by Satyajit Ray; "The Yellow-Legged Man" by Sudhir Thapliyal, and "Topaz" by Ruskin Bond.
If you enjoy scary stories, I'd highly recommend this book.
October 30, 2024
Read "Topaz" by Ruskin Bond himself. Simple but a bit chilling story - 4*
And "Around the Temple" by R.K. Narayan - 3*
Also finished the below (but marked separately in GR);
1. Underdone, Overdone, Undone.
2. A Ghost.
3. The Brown Hand.
4. Ghost of Korya Khar.
5. The Little Ones.
And "Around the Temple" by R.K. Narayan - 3*
Also finished the below (but marked separately in GR);
1. Underdone, Overdone, Undone.
2. A Ghost.
3. The Brown Hand.
4. Ghost of Korya Khar.
5. The Little Ones.
January 25, 2016
utter timewaste...i was tempted to skip many pages in this book it was so boring...also hindu religion is highly misunderstood by the author.
March 9, 2024
All throughout my childhood, I would eagerly look forward to our yearly train travel journey to my parents' native during the school summer vacations.
Not because I enjoy being cooped up in a shaking tin room for two straight days, no.
Those train journeys meant my 'studies-are-priority' parents would let me buy a book, ANY book, to keep me company during the travel - an indulgence that I so adored, and looked forward to, for the whole year. I was an avid reader then, slurping up stories like a desert-parched-madman.
I remember coming across (and picking up) this book during one such journey. My mum was in a surprisingly good mood that day, and that's probably why I got away with buying a book on ghost stories!
I fell in love with this book that time, and stayed up all night, devouring the stories under the night light 😊
Reading this book 10 years later still feels nostalgic and magical to me. Although, maybe some stories are better than the others.
Here's my recommended list of MUST READ stories from this wonderful collection.
1. Topaz
2. Anant Babu's Terror
3. Fritz
PS- it's edited by Ruskin Bond, the nephew of James Bond, who was not a spy *wink wink* - he only caught bad teeth, coz he was a dentist. Get it? Get it?
Not because I enjoy being cooped up in a shaking tin room for two straight days, no.
Those train journeys meant my 'studies-are-priority' parents would let me buy a book, ANY book, to keep me company during the travel - an indulgence that I so adored, and looked forward to, for the whole year. I was an avid reader then, slurping up stories like a desert-parched-madman.
I remember coming across (and picking up) this book during one such journey. My mum was in a surprisingly good mood that day, and that's probably why I got away with buying a book on ghost stories!
I fell in love with this book that time, and stayed up all night, devouring the stories under the night light 😊
Reading this book 10 years later still feels nostalgic and magical to me. Although, maybe some stories are better than the others.
Here's my recommended list of MUST READ stories from this wonderful collection.
1. Topaz
2. Anant Babu's Terror
3. Fritz
PS- it's edited by Ruskin Bond, the nephew of James Bond, who was not a spy *wink wink* - he only caught bad teeth, coz he was a dentist. Get it? Get it?
July 9, 2014
Worth for the range it covers. Apart from the much anthologized Kingling tales (Mark of the Beast et al), it contains some pleasant surprises. Especially enjoyed the ones by Satyajit Ray (Fritz), a tale by Ruskin Bond, and some by obscure writers who used the British India as a setting, its sahibs and their obedient servants, engineers during the early Railway days, old crumbing temples, ravines filled with lepers, and the usual symbolism to good effect.
Tales set in British India have to be about ghosts, ain't it? Like the appearance of a ghost or a witch is nothing unusual in a Shakespearean tale, a story set in the India at the dawn of the 20th century has its own share of ghosts lurking around or underneath the surface. They don't have to be explicit but even in the description of the most commonest things they manifest themselves. Maybe it has something to do with that bygone time. Its a genera in itself, and a dying one. While reading this book I felt that Ruskin Bond may just be the last of the Mohicans.
Also, the cover art is pathetic :)
Tales set in British India have to be about ghosts, ain't it? Like the appearance of a ghost or a witch is nothing unusual in a Shakespearean tale, a story set in the India at the dawn of the 20th century has its own share of ghosts lurking around or underneath the surface. They don't have to be explicit but even in the description of the most commonest things they manifest themselves. Maybe it has something to do with that bygone time. Its a genera in itself, and a dying one. While reading this book I felt that Ruskin Bond may just be the last of the Mohicans.
Also, the cover art is pathetic :)
April 12, 2020
I'm a hopeless fan of Ruskin Bond's writings. The stories in this book gives his perspective about the supernatural. In effortless manner, the storytelling haunts and floats, creating an open-endedness in scenes of a long forgotten version of India. The key lesson to take away is that not all ghosts are frightening!
February 7, 2025
### **Book Review: *Ghost Stories of India* by Ruskin Bond**
#### **Introduction**
Ruskin Bond, one of India’s most beloved writers, is known for his evocative storytelling that captures the essence of nature, nostalgia, and the supernatural. *Ghost Stories of India* is a collection of eerie tales that explore the spectral world lurking in the shadows of old bungalows, railway stations, forests, and lonely hill roads. Blending folklore, personal experiences, and classic ghostly tropes, Bond creates an atmospheric read that both chills and fascinates.
#### **Summary and Themes**
The book is a compilation of ghost stories, some inspired by Bond’s own experiences and others drawn from Indian folklore and legends. The narratives range from haunted houses and restless spirits to eerie premonitions and encounters with the unknown. What sets this collection apart is its quiet, unsettling horror—there are no dramatic exorcisms or gruesome apparitions. Instead, Bond masterfully builds suspense through subtle details, creating a lingering sense of unease.
One of the recurring themes in the book is the connection between the supernatural and nature. Many of the ghosts in these stories are tied to their surroundings—ancient trees, mist-covered valleys, and abandoned colonial-era buildings. Another theme is nostalgia, as Bond often reflects on his childhood experiences and the stories he heard growing up in the hills of Mussoorie.
#### **Writing Style and Impact**
Ruskin Bond’s signature writing style—simple yet deeply atmospheric—adds to the charm of this book. He does not rely on excessive horror elements but instead uses gentle, creeping dread to leave an impact on the reader. His use of descriptive imagery transports the reader to foggy mountain paths, dimly lit rooms, and silent graveyards, making the supernatural feel eerily real.
Unlike conventional horror stories filled with jump scares, Bond’s ghosts are often melancholic rather than malevolent. They linger due to unfinished business or tragic pasts, evoking sympathy rather than fear. This humanization of spirits makes the stories even more poignant and memorable.
#### **Who Should Read It?**
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy subtle, atmospheric horror rather than graphic scares. Fans of Ruskin Bond’s writing will appreciate his storytelling finesse, while those interested in Indian folklore and ghost stories will find it an engaging read. It is also an excellent book for those new to supernatural fiction, as the stories are short, immersive, and not overly terrifying.
#### **Final Verdict**
*Ghost Stories of India* is a delightful collection of eerie tales that showcase Ruskin Bond’s ability to blend the supernatural with nostalgia, nature, and human emotions. It is not a book that will keep you awake at night in fear, but it will leave a lingering, ghostly presence in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the last page. If you love slow-burning, atmospheric ghost stories with a touch of Indian culture and history, this book is a must-read.
**Rating: 4.5
#### **Introduction**
Ruskin Bond, one of India’s most beloved writers, is known for his evocative storytelling that captures the essence of nature, nostalgia, and the supernatural. *Ghost Stories of India* is a collection of eerie tales that explore the spectral world lurking in the shadows of old bungalows, railway stations, forests, and lonely hill roads. Blending folklore, personal experiences, and classic ghostly tropes, Bond creates an atmospheric read that both chills and fascinates.
#### **Summary and Themes**
The book is a compilation of ghost stories, some inspired by Bond’s own experiences and others drawn from Indian folklore and legends. The narratives range from haunted houses and restless spirits to eerie premonitions and encounters with the unknown. What sets this collection apart is its quiet, unsettling horror—there are no dramatic exorcisms or gruesome apparitions. Instead, Bond masterfully builds suspense through subtle details, creating a lingering sense of unease.
One of the recurring themes in the book is the connection between the supernatural and nature. Many of the ghosts in these stories are tied to their surroundings—ancient trees, mist-covered valleys, and abandoned colonial-era buildings. Another theme is nostalgia, as Bond often reflects on his childhood experiences and the stories he heard growing up in the hills of Mussoorie.
#### **Writing Style and Impact**
Ruskin Bond’s signature writing style—simple yet deeply atmospheric—adds to the charm of this book. He does not rely on excessive horror elements but instead uses gentle, creeping dread to leave an impact on the reader. His use of descriptive imagery transports the reader to foggy mountain paths, dimly lit rooms, and silent graveyards, making the supernatural feel eerily real.
Unlike conventional horror stories filled with jump scares, Bond’s ghosts are often melancholic rather than malevolent. They linger due to unfinished business or tragic pasts, evoking sympathy rather than fear. This humanization of spirits makes the stories even more poignant and memorable.
#### **Who Should Read It?**
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy subtle, atmospheric horror rather than graphic scares. Fans of Ruskin Bond’s writing will appreciate his storytelling finesse, while those interested in Indian folklore and ghost stories will find it an engaging read. It is also an excellent book for those new to supernatural fiction, as the stories are short, immersive, and not overly terrifying.
#### **Final Verdict**
*Ghost Stories of India* is a delightful collection of eerie tales that showcase Ruskin Bond’s ability to blend the supernatural with nostalgia, nature, and human emotions. It is not a book that will keep you awake at night in fear, but it will leave a lingering, ghostly presence in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the last page. If you love slow-burning, atmospheric ghost stories with a touch of Indian culture and history, this book is a must-read.
**Rating: 4.5
August 23, 2018
From some rather boring, tedious-to-read stories to ones that literally made me look under my bed for any lurking horrors, this book has it all! This collection of horror stories, of that magician of words, Ruskin Bond, is a short and thrilling read. Save for the stories of folks like Kipling, Lafcadio Hearn, and Victor Banerjee, whose stories are really difficult to understand (or my vocabulary is bad?!), the others were wonderful.
Set in the colonial era, and mostly in hilly regions of North India, they serve as a good way to kill time. The good thing is, most of them are not 'traditional' horror. In fact, excepting one or two stories, there isn't much to fear about in this book. There won't be many hair-rising, goosebumps-inducing, spine-chilling tales here. Some stories were downright ludicrous, like 'The Fire-Jogi'. All the stories carry the colonial flare, mostly involving European colonists trying to survive in our seemingly mystic country.
All in all, its a good reading. Not really Ruskin Bond-esque, but nevertheless, it will take you back in time to the times of the Raj where seemingly every train route, dak bungalow and village in the periphery of a forest, haunted by ghosts. A tip.. the reading experience might be enhanced when you do it while doing a night journey on an train through the vastness of India or you go to your grandparents' in a village for vacation.
Oh also, like one other reviewer here pointed out, Penguin did a terrible work job with the cover art. In fact the only thing about this book that will haunt me for a long time, is the shitty image of that ghost on the book cover!
Set in the colonial era, and mostly in hilly regions of North India, they serve as a good way to kill time. The good thing is, most of them are not 'traditional' horror. In fact, excepting one or two stories, there isn't much to fear about in this book. There won't be many hair-rising, goosebumps-inducing, spine-chilling tales here. Some stories were downright ludicrous, like 'The Fire-Jogi'. All the stories carry the colonial flare, mostly involving European colonists trying to survive in our seemingly mystic country.
All in all, its a good reading. Not really Ruskin Bond-esque, but nevertheless, it will take you back in time to the times of the Raj where seemingly every train route, dak bungalow and village in the periphery of a forest, haunted by ghosts. A tip.. the reading experience might be enhanced when you do it while doing a night journey on an train through the vastness of India or you go to your grandparents' in a village for vacation.
Oh also, like one other reviewer here pointed out, Penguin did a terrible work job with the cover art. In fact the only thing about this book that will haunt me for a long time, is the shitty image of that ghost on the book cover!
January 31, 2018
A collection of short-stories set in the British-Indian era, the book has been compiled/edited by Ruskin Bond, with various authors, famous as well as little known. Bought it for children and ended up giving it a light read- the stories are nowhere near scary in the day, so much so that I had to make time for them in the night just to feel spooked a little; I, who stays far away from anything horror or paranormal.
I guess that was the standard in the times of Rudyard Kipling? Says something when the kids of 2017 can't wait for the snorefest to end, but oh well, a couple of these here or there, I really enjoyed.
It was also funny to see Ruskin Bond being referred to as his own self in one of these stories! What will it be called, breaking the third wall?
I guess that was the standard in the times of Rudyard Kipling? Says something when the kids of 2017 can't wait for the snorefest to end, but oh well, a couple of these here or there, I really enjoyed.
It was also funny to see Ruskin Bond being referred to as his own self in one of these stories! What will it be called, breaking the third wall?
December 7, 2023
Een interessante verzameling verhalen van de hand van zowel Britse als Indiase schrijvers. Doorheen de beschrijving van bovennatuurlijke fenomenen en gebeurtenissen krijgen we boeiende inzichten in de Indiase cultuur en samenleving.
Het weinig respectvolle gedrag van de Britse kolonialisten wordt soms goed in de verf gezet.
Het weinig respectvolle gedrag van de Britse kolonialisten wordt soms goed in de verf gezet.
June 1, 2021
Not expected this from Ruskin, he is known for his realness but this collection of ghost stories wasn’t much enticing. Few stories were quite thrilling, but around 70% was filled with mundane story line.
September 23, 2017
3.5 stars
November 22, 2018
Mellow and takes you to a different time and pace!
June 28, 2021
A brilliant collection of likeable writers. What to say of Ruskin Bond ? I am his die hard fan.
May 27, 2023
Selected picks .. interesting stories
April 11, 2013
The title was which attracted me towards the book, and after finishing it, I say I am a little underwhelmed by the entirety of the collection. It's certainly not bad, and some stories genuinely give you the spooks (Like Rudyard Kipling's brilliant 'The Mark of the Beast'), but some of them are a bit bland and predictable. Nevertheless, these stories, most of them unheard of previously, now unearthed and neatly arranged in the form of a book by Ruskin Bond, are a joy to read. If not anything, they give you a glimpse of India's colonial past, peeking into the minds of then-Sahibs.
So all in all, a good read, and a must for any ghost stories fan.
So all in all, a good read, and a must for any ghost stories fan.
October 11, 2012
In this book there are ghost stories edited by Ruskin Bond and few stories which he wrote. Its a nice collection. His style of writing will take you in the book and make you the centre of the story.
Well Ruskin is all time favourite...
Well Ruskin is all time favourite...
Read
May 24, 2009really scary stories tho its hard to understand...
October 5, 2011
There are very few compilations of 'Indian' ghost stories - so this is a find and has a selection from Indian and expat writer's stories written over a century.
May 12, 2012
Gripping :)
May 25, 2012
Stories particularly by Ruskin Bond, Satyajit Ray, O.V Vijayan are a must read!
December 6, 2012
good stories ...bad stories ...
February 8, 2013
some of the stories were really good..
April 17, 2013
Terrifying!
February 16, 2015
A good collection!
July 19, 2007
there is a world within our world...
May 31, 2012
Its a pleasure to read Ruskin Bond & thoroughly enjoyed short ghost stories !
July 14, 2012
Awsome....
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews