Tales of the Undead

by Elinore Blaisdell (Editor), H.P. Lovecraft, J. Sheridan Le Fanu

This is a book for anyone who likes the supernatural. But it is a find for the connoisseur, because it comprises a special brand of high-voltage horror story: the story of the vampire and of the undead--the unearthly being which is neither ghost nor living.

There are twenty short stories, two long stories, and one novelette. There are classic writers: Gautier, Washington Irving, and Lafcadio Hearn. There are well-known modern authors such as Vincent Starrett, Helen R. Hull, August W. Derleth, and Edith Wharton. Others, like H. P. Lovecraft, are specialists in this particular type of horror story.

Carmilla by J. Sheridan LeFanu is the classic vampire story. Shorter, but hardly less blood chilling, is Doom of the House of Duryea. Uncanonized is a werewolf story. The Feast in the Abbey and School for the Unspeakables contain the sinister elements of the Black Mass. The Tomb, one of Lovecraft's most famous, has a note of decadence and madness. Miss Mary Pask, by Edith Wharton, is a classic.

Miss Blaisdell, the anthologist, has read several thousand stories in all and selected each in this collection for its particular appeal and excellence. For every selection there is an illustration by Miss Blaisdell.

Genres: Horror

372 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1947

Reviews

[Ashley Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved these old supernatural stories, mostly vampires and ghosts. Most were written around the 20's to early 40's and I really enjoyed being exposed to them. I am glad I found this book as I see it as a treasure in my library.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, and some few exceptional stories.