The World's Greatest Ghost Stories

by Richard Dalby (Editor), Algernon Blackwood, Ramsey Campbell

Over 40 spine-tingling ghost stories.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Anthologies, Paranormal, Fantasy

528 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1990

About the author

Richard Dalby (1949-2017) was an editor and literary researcher.

Reviews

[Mafalda Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*
Uma antologia de contos muito interessante, uma seleção diversa que me deu vontade de procurar mais histórias de vários autores.

- The Unsettled Dust - Robert Aickman - 3*
- How He Left the Hotel - Louisa Baldwin - 4*
- Whessoe - Nugent Barker - 4*
- The Shuttered Room - E. F. Benson - 5*
- An Inhabitant of Carcosa - Ambrose Bierce - 4,5*
- Is There Anybody There? - Charles Birkin - 5*
- The Whisperers - Algernon Blackwood - 5*
- In Kropfsberg Keep de Ralph A. Cram - 5*
- The Ghost in all the Rooms de Daniel Defoe - 4,5*
- The Bagman's Uncle de Charles Dickens - 4*"
- Curfew de L. M. Boston - 4*
- I'm Sure it was No.31 de A. M. Burrage - 4*
- The Guide de Ramsey Campbell - 4*
- The Limping Ghost de R. Chetwynd-Hayes - 5*
- Mrs. Zant and the Ghost de Wilkie Collins - 3.5*
- The House by the Tarn de Basil Copper - 3*
- The Bully of Brocas Court de Arthur Conan Doyle - 4*
- In the Confessional de Amelia B. Edwards - 5*
- The Tune in Dan's Café de Shamus Frazer - 4,5*
- Beyond the Bourne de John S. Glasby - 5*
- The Valley of Lost Children de William Hope Hodgson - 4*
- The Sand-Walker de Fergus Home - 5*
- The Real Right Thing de Henry James - 3*
- The Haunted Doll's House de M. R. James - 4.5*
- The Wall-Painting de Roger Johnson - 5*
- "They" de Rudyard Kipling -4*
- The Last Laugh de D. H. Lawrence - 4*
- Robin's Path de Margery Lawrence - 4.5*
- The Dream de J. Sheridan Le Fanu - 4*
- The Sundial - R. H. Malden 3.5*
- The Fifteenth Man - Richard Marsh 4*
- Brenner's Boy - John MetCalfe 4.5*
- Uncle Abreaham's Romance - Edith Nesbit 5*
- What Was it? - Fitz-James O'Brien 5*
- The Next Room - Vincent O'Sullivan 4*
- The Footstep of the Aventine - Roger Pater 4*
- William Wilson - Edgar Alan Poe 3.5*
- Courage de Forrest Reid 4.5* (re-leitura)
- The Last Squire Ennismore - MRS J. H. Riddell 3.5* (re-leitura)
- The Garside Fell Disaster - L. T. C. Rolt 4*
- The Tears of Saint Agathé - David G. Rowlands 4*
- The Soul of Laploshka - Saki 4.5*

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unsettled Dust • (1968) by Robert Aickman 3.5⭐
How He Left the Hotel • (1894) by Louisa Baldwin 3.5⭐
Whessoe • (1928) by Nugent Barker 3.5⭐
The Shuttered Room • (1929) by E. F. Benson 3.5⭐
An Inhabitant of Carcosa • (1886) by Ambrose Bierce 4.5⭐
"Is There Anybody There?" • (1964) by Charles Birkin 3.5⭐
The Whisperers • (1912) by Algernon Blackwood 4⭐
Curfew • (1967) by L. M. Boston 5⭐
"I'm Sure It Was No. 31" • (1955) by A. M. Burrage 3⭐
The Guide • (1989) by Ramsey Campbell 4.25⭐

The Limping Ghost • (1975) by R. Chetwynd-Hayes (variant of The Ghost Who Limped) 5⭐

Mrs. Zant and the Ghost • (1885) by Wilkie Collins 3⭐
The House by the Tarn • (1971) by Basil Copper 3.5⭐
In Kropfsberg Keep • (1895) by Ralph Adams Cram 5⭐
The Ghost in All the Rooms • (1727) by Daniel Defoe 3.25⭐
The Bagman's Uncle • (1837) by Charles Dickens 4⭐
The Bully of Brocas Court • (1921) by Arthur Conan Doyle 3⭐
In the Confessional • (1871) by Amelia B. Edwards 3.5⭐
The Tune in Dan's Café • (1967) by Shamus Frazer 3⭐
Beyond the Bourne • (1990) by John S. Glasby 3.25⭐
The Valley of Lost Children • (1906) by William Hope Hodgson 3⭐
The Sand-Walker • (1906) by Fergus Hume 3.5⭐
The Real Right Thing • (1892) by Henry James 3⭐
The Haunted Dolls' House • (1923) by M. R. James 3⭐
The Wall-Painting • (1983) by Roger Johnson 4.5⭐
"They" • (1904) by Rudyard Kipling 4⭐
The Last Laugh • (1925) by D. H. Lawrence 4⭐

Robin's Rath • (1923) by Margery Lawrence (variant of February: The Poet's Story: Robin's Rath) 3.5⭐

The Dream (1894) by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (variant of The Drunkard's Dream 1838) 3⭐

The Sundial • (1943) by R. H. Malden 4⭐

The Fifteenth Man • (1900) by Richard Marsh (variant of The Fifteenth Man: The Story of a Rugby Match) 4⭐

Brenner's Boy • (1932) by John Metcalfe 3.5⭐
Uncle Abraham's Romance • (1893) by Edith Nesbit 4.25⭐
What Was It? • (1859) by Fitz-James O'Brien 4⭐
The Next Room • (1928) by Vincent O'Sullivan 4⭐
The Footstep of the Aventine • (1923) by Roger Pater 4.25⭐
William Wilson • (1850) by Edgar Allan Poe 5⭐
Courage • (1918) by Forrest Reid 5⭐
The Last of Squire Ennismore • (1888) by Mrs. J. H. Riddell 3.5⭐
The Garside Fell Disaster • (1948) by L. T. C. Rolt 3⭐
The Tears of St. Agathé • [Father O'Connor] • (1983) by David G. Rowlands 3.5⭐
The Soul of Laploshka • (1910) by Saki 3⭐

[Andrew ✝️ · Rating 1 out of 5]

For a Hallowe'en challenge, me and my fiancé decided to read two ghost story compilations. It unfortunately took us till a little after the holiday to finish just one of them, which is only because of unexpected disruptions. What follows are reviews within this review of select stories in this compilation. Most, if not all, but not in correct order because of listing those which were favorites.

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"The unsettled dust" by Robert Aikman. I really was liking this story, and still like parts of it, but the ending left me feeling flat. It didn't really have much of an ending; or it didn't have an ending at all. Either of those work. 2/5

"Whessoe" by Nugent Barker. In some ways, better than the previous, but I still find myself thinking that the previous story was better. 2/5

"An Inhabitant Of Carcosa." By Ambrose Bierse. Hmm. Short and sweet, and a trifle similar to 'Scrooge' by Charles Dickens in one part, but I don't quite understand why his ghost would've gone that far in time. 1/5.

"The Guide" by Ramsey Campbell. "The used bookshops seemed to be just as useless." ....Just as useless as WHAT???? It also eventually ends on a cliff hanger, and besides, there was virtually no character development save for the main character. The cliff hanger is not even a good one. 1/5

'The House By the Tarn' by Basil Topper. Way too much description (about 3x more than necessary), a moldy house, a man who preferred to walk, and a story about a telescope. You've got the jist. 1/5.

"In Kropsferg Keep" by Ralph A. Cram. Did not find myself even liking the main characters after they harassed an old man to help them. I also didn't feel bad for what happened at the end of the story. 2/5.

'The Valley of Lost Children.' Didn't really get this one. Not sure why some authors refuse to give clothes to child characters. 1/5.

"The Real Right Thing" by Henry James. Again, the cardinal sin of way too much description. 1/5.

"The Haunted Doll House" By M. R. James. This story had promise, but didn't deliver, sadly. 1/5.

"They" by Rudyard Kipling. After roughly twenty pages, I am left confused. I only, in a way, see how this is a ghost story. For the most part, this is a story set in a bygone era, rife with stresses, questionable description, and a disappointing reveal. After roughly twenty pages, I question if this was worth reading. 2/5.

"The Last Laugh" by D. H. Lawrence. I find myself thinking the same thing I thought about 'Fancy That' by J. N. Williamson (from another compilation). WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST READ????????????? It didn't come off as recollections of an acid trip, but it didn't make any sense. The laughter is never truly identified. Something unannounced happens to a cop's foot, and there's borderline anti-Semitism regarding a 'Jewish-looking lady.' Smh. 1/5.

"Robin's Rath" by Margery Lawrence. Eh. Another story, roughly twenty pages long, falls flat. The man in the rath, on the whole, is never properly explained, and numerous adjectives were overused. Honestly, this is another one that did not come off as a ghost story. It really feels like the main character just cracked and began having hallucinations. 1/5.

"Brenner's Boy" by John Metcalfe. This story had a certain allure to it, but that only begins once you get past the introduction, and only lasted maybe a page or two. The first eye-raising text within, thereby ending the promise of this story, was about making a young boy 'undress like a Christian.' What!? (I deadpanned). Also, 'Winter', as the main character is called, spanked and slapped the child of one of his former shipmates on two separate occasions; a child that isn't his. Spanking, perhaps, is one thing, but slapping a child across the face is another, and pretty much assault. You also shouldn't spank a child that isn't your offspring. And then, (SPOILERS) Winter also despises his wife for being barren, and eventually kills her. Randomlg, i might add. It's impossible for me to feel for this character. Since the child projected himself to Winter's home somehow, and wasn't really there, assault charges could not be brought, but murdering his wife because she was barren is something I cannot praise the character for. 1/5

"What Was It?" by Fitz-James O'Brien. 'What Was It?' is an appropriate question for this story. Sadly, I wrote this story off as merely being a hallucination. You see, Harry and Hammond had been smoking opium before the incident occurred, so I got the impression that everything that followed was merely the result of using mind-enhancing drugs. Nothing paranormal, contrary to what the author obviously intended. 1/5.

"William Wilson" by Edgar Allen Poe. While he is a well-respected poet and author, this does not mean that reading everything he wrote can be described like a golddigger finding the gold, or like a person who is pining for another finally getting their elusive kiss of life. Frankly, I thought this story had far too much description that just comes across as 'too wordy'. Yes, this was written over a century ago, but even though picturing what is happening is possible, the overall result does not seem to warrant this overuse of a dictionary.

"The Garside Fell Disaster" by L. T. C. Rolt. Eh. Something happened, but I'm not 100% sure what happened. I'm somewhat sure what happened, but I'm not entirely sure that noises and engine smoke warrant the paranormal title. 1/5.

"The Tears of Saint Agathé" by David G. Rowlands. I suppose this could be considered a ghost story, but it is a little insulting to Catholics to call it such. Plus, it could be deemed that since the priest hit his head after falling off his bike that he'd hallucinated. *shrugs* 2/5.

"The Soul of Laposhka" by "Saki." A story of reverse Robin Hood Economics. Making the rich richer. Dislike. 1/5.

Favourites:
"The Shuttered Room," by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson. 4/5 stars.

"Is There Anybody There?" by Charles Birken. Different and completely original imho. 5/5.

"The Whisperers" by Algernon Blackwood. Amazing, yet is a perfect metaphor for trying to write. I read this two ways; from the mind of an author, and as the ghost story it is. 5/5.

"Curfew" by L.M. Boston. 4/5.

"I'm Sure It Was No.31." 5/5.

"The Limping Ghost" by R. Chetwynd-Hayes. 5/5.

"Mrs. Zant And The Ghost" by Wilkie Collins. 4/5.

"The Bagman's Uncle" by Charles Dickens. 5/5.

"In The Confessional" by Amelia B. Edwards. A bit predictable, but still good. 3/5.

"Beyond The Bourne" by John S. Glasby. 4/5.

"The Sand-Walker" by Fergus Hume 5/5. 'And I dated myself roundly for being such an impressionable booby.' Now this was one of the best in this book.

"The Wall Painting" by Roger Johnson. The ending was not completely satisfying, nor was the beginning. I would've given this a full five star rating had the randomness of this being a story told not been included. 4/5.

"The Fifteenth Man" by Richard Marsh. 3/5. 3 because the ending was a bit predictable, but still somewhat good.

"Uncle Abraham's Romance" by Edith Nesbit. 3/5. Short and sweet, I suppose.

"The Next Room" by Vincent O'Sullivan. 4/5.

"The Footsteps of the Aventine" by Roger Pater. 3/5.

"William Wilson" by Edgar Allen Poe. What I said above does still stand, but at the end, it was a decent story. 3/5.

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What's ironic is that this compilation is called 'The World's Greatest Ghost Stories,' and a good chunk of them aren't that great. Put that with the fact that there's a story in here about a naked child, I give this 1 star, and recommend it for starting a fire.

EDIT 4-19-2022: I have since reduced my rating to only 1 star, but forgot to edit my review to reflect that.

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read one book while on vacation, but it was a big one. I've had this one my shelf for a while, and was happy to finally read it. These aren't the greatest ghost stories, sad to say. These are also-ran supernatural stories by the authors of the greatest ghost stories. the only outstanding one to me was by D.H. Lawrence, and that because it was just awful. Horribly overwritten, no one ever just "said", instead they're grimacing or snarling or mocking sardonically. I realize that he was trying to get at a way of conveying the subconscious of his characters, that he was trying to reveal their internal state, but, ugh, the result is painful to read.

[Jan Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining book to dip into when you fancy a spooky read. Having said which, I've read about six stories, none of them terribly scary!

[[on hiatus, probably forever] The rockabilly werewolf from Mars · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, I would have to agree that these are definitely among the best ghost stories that I have read. The Haunted Doll House is a classic, as are The Unsettled Dust, The Garside Fell Disaster, and The Guide; but there are also two obscure stories here that deserve more attention: Curfew and The Wall Painting. Add to that an obscure E. F. Benson story, and any fan of Jamesian horror should probably already be interested. Notes on the stories to come.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful stories from many different authors and eras, each with it's own great style and narrative. I loved it!

[Judy Nappa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up on the bargain table and it sure was! Some great stories by great authors - well worth reading if you like this genre.

[Polina · Rating 4 out of 5]

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