What do you think?
Rate this book
Gespensterbuch
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
- GenresGothic
302 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1811
2 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 18, 2021
Various authors, a collection of German ghost stories which was read by Lord Byron, John William Polidori and Mary Shelley and inspired them to write the first modern vampire story, The Vampyre and Frankenstein respectively), with an additional story written by the translator.
Contents:
• The Family Portraits
• The Fated Hour
• The Death's Head
• The Death-Bride
• The Storm
• The Spectre-Barber or, Dumb Love
Intro: "It is generally believed that at this time of day no one puts any faith in ghosts and apparitions. Yet, on reflection, this opinion does not appear to me quite correct: for, without alluding to workmen in mines, and the inhabitants of mountainous countries,—the former of whom believe in spectres and hobgoblins presiding over concealed treasures, and the latter in apparitions and phantoms announcing either agreeable or unfortunate tidings,—may we not ask why amongst ourselves there are certain individuals who have a dread of passing through a church-yard after night-fall? Why others experience an involuntary shuddering at entering a church, or any other large uninhabited edifice, in the dark? And, in fine, why persons who are deservedly considered as possessing courage and good sense, dare not visit at night even places where they are certain of meeting with nothing they need dread from living beings? They are ever repeating, that the living are only to be dreaded; and yet fear night, because they believe, by tradition, that it is the time which phantoms choose for appearing to the inhabitants of the earth…"
….
“The Family Portraits”, also known as Gruselkabinett 23 - Die Bilder der Ahnen, by Johann August Apel
Wonderfully creepy tale of a forefather who is cursed and consequently so too are following generations.
Surprisingly redemptive conclusion.
I loved this story. *****
.
“The Fated Hour”, also known as Gespensterbuch: [Bdch. 7], by Friedrich Laun
Genuinely creepy! Spirit projection! Fantastic original gothic spook story *****
“Prepare yourselves for the strangest and most surprising events. … that the chill which my recital may produce be not increased by any exterior cause.”
“… these phaenomena, which appear complaisantly renewed every day…”
• Complaisantly = willingness to please
“.. I continued walking in the garden, as if intoxicated with the delicious vapours emitted from the flowers…”
…
“The Death's Head” by Friedrich Laun
When a young ventriloquist uses the ‘skull’ (death’s head) of his father to perform a trick, well it all becomes just a little overwhelming for him and the pastor!
Another redemptive ending by the blessing of the proposed marriage. ****
…
THE STORM by SARAH UTTERSON (from “Tales from the Dead”)
This pioneering tale is wonderfully creepy.
”It is well for the human frame, that when assailed by circumstances too powerful to support, it seeks shelter in oblivion. The mind recoils from the horrors which it cannot meet, and is driven into insensibility.”
“The very remembrance of what she had witnessed on that fatal night, hurried her into delirium, and she fell a victim to the force of recollection.” - 4 stars
….
THE DEATH-BRIDE by Friedrich August Schulze
When a supposed Italian marquis arrives to tell of the Death Bride at a party he stays with a Count who had twin daughters, Ida and Hildegarde (Hildegarde, only different from her sister by a strawberry birthmark, had died).
This is a fantastic story about Hildegarde the Death-Bride! A must read for gothic-horror fans. Pivotal in the life of Mary Shelley. 5/5 stars
The provenance path from the German source to the French and English translations is as follows:
‘Die Todtenbraut’ (1811) by Friedrich Schulze in Gespensterbuch →
‘La Morte Fiancée’ (1812) by Eyriès in Fantasmagoriana →
‘The Death-Bride’ (1813) by Utterson in Tales of the Dead
Mary Shelley recalls the reading of ‘La Morte Fiancée’ / ‘The Death-Bride,’ as an influence on her composition of Frankenstein.
"'O!' said the count to him, 'I beg, in future you will be a little more circumspect in your fancies, and leave my daughter to rest quietly in the tomb——'Tis well—'
Concludes with:
"We have seen no one."
"He has then disappeared," replied the officer, smiling: he searched every corner for the marquis, but in vain. The house was thoroughly examined, but without success; and the following day the officer quitted the baths with his soldiers, without his prisoner, and very much dissatisfied.
…
The Spectre Barber, by Johann Karl August Musäus
One of the best, if not THE best gothic story from the era of 1790s-1810s.
This is one of the blueprint tales that established the genre.
Initially suggests a proto-Dracula horror, before shifting to a Poe-like ghost visitation, to a delightful "good luck" Good Samaritan romance-love story.
Full, complex and satisfying. *****
………
Contents:
• The Family Portraits
• The Fated Hour
• The Death's Head
• The Death-Bride
• The Storm
• The Spectre-Barber or, Dumb Love
Intro: "It is generally believed that at this time of day no one puts any faith in ghosts and apparitions. Yet, on reflection, this opinion does not appear to me quite correct: for, without alluding to workmen in mines, and the inhabitants of mountainous countries,—the former of whom believe in spectres and hobgoblins presiding over concealed treasures, and the latter in apparitions and phantoms announcing either agreeable or unfortunate tidings,—may we not ask why amongst ourselves there are certain individuals who have a dread of passing through a church-yard after night-fall? Why others experience an involuntary shuddering at entering a church, or any other large uninhabited edifice, in the dark? And, in fine, why persons who are deservedly considered as possessing courage and good sense, dare not visit at night even places where they are certain of meeting with nothing they need dread from living beings? They are ever repeating, that the living are only to be dreaded; and yet fear night, because they believe, by tradition, that it is the time which phantoms choose for appearing to the inhabitants of the earth…"
….
“The Family Portraits”, also known as Gruselkabinett 23 - Die Bilder der Ahnen, by Johann August Apel
Wonderfully creepy tale of a forefather who is cursed and consequently so too are following generations.
Surprisingly redemptive conclusion.
I loved this story. *****
.
“The Fated Hour”, also known as Gespensterbuch: [Bdch. 7], by Friedrich Laun
Genuinely creepy! Spirit projection! Fantastic original gothic spook story *****
“Prepare yourselves for the strangest and most surprising events. … that the chill which my recital may produce be not increased by any exterior cause.”
“… these phaenomena, which appear complaisantly renewed every day…”
• Complaisantly = willingness to please
“.. I continued walking in the garden, as if intoxicated with the delicious vapours emitted from the flowers…”
…
“The Death's Head” by Friedrich Laun
When a young ventriloquist uses the ‘skull’ (death’s head) of his father to perform a trick, well it all becomes just a little overwhelming for him and the pastor!
Another redemptive ending by the blessing of the proposed marriage. ****
…
THE STORM by SARAH UTTERSON (from “Tales from the Dead”)
This pioneering tale is wonderfully creepy.
”It is well for the human frame, that when assailed by circumstances too powerful to support, it seeks shelter in oblivion. The mind recoils from the horrors which it cannot meet, and is driven into insensibility.”
“The very remembrance of what she had witnessed on that fatal night, hurried her into delirium, and she fell a victim to the force of recollection.” - 4 stars
….
THE DEATH-BRIDE by Friedrich August Schulze
When a supposed Italian marquis arrives to tell of the Death Bride at a party he stays with a Count who had twin daughters, Ida and Hildegarde (Hildegarde, only different from her sister by a strawberry birthmark, had died).
This is a fantastic story about Hildegarde the Death-Bride! A must read for gothic-horror fans. Pivotal in the life of Mary Shelley. 5/5 stars
The provenance path from the German source to the French and English translations is as follows:
‘Die Todtenbraut’ (1811) by Friedrich Schulze in Gespensterbuch →
‘La Morte Fiancée’ (1812) by Eyriès in Fantasmagoriana →
‘The Death-Bride’ (1813) by Utterson in Tales of the Dead
Mary Shelley recalls the reading of ‘La Morte Fiancée’ / ‘The Death-Bride,’ as an influence on her composition of Frankenstein.
"'O!' said the count to him, 'I beg, in future you will be a little more circumspect in your fancies, and leave my daughter to rest quietly in the tomb——'Tis well—'
Concludes with:
"We have seen no one."
"He has then disappeared," replied the officer, smiling: he searched every corner for the marquis, but in vain. The house was thoroughly examined, but without success; and the following day the officer quitted the baths with his soldiers, without his prisoner, and very much dissatisfied.
…
The Spectre Barber, by Johann Karl August Musäus
One of the best, if not THE best gothic story from the era of 1790s-1810s.
This is one of the blueprint tales that established the genre.
Initially suggests a proto-Dracula horror, before shifting to a Poe-like ghost visitation, to a delightful "good luck" Good Samaritan romance-love story.
Full, complex and satisfying. *****
………
Displaying 1 of 1 review