It's not often that I post a review of one of my books in its entirety. In fact, I never do. Nicola Manning, however, has recently published one of the most well thought out reviews of the best ghost stories anthology that I edited. I agree with her on most points (Washington Irving excepted). You can follow all her reviews on GoodReads . They are worth your time. "Reason for Reading: I have a particular interest in the Gothic story and my favoured literature time period is

The Best Ghost Short Stories 1800-1849 anthology delivers the greatest ghost stories for the first half of the nineteenth century. Andrew Barger, the editor and award-winning author of COFFEE WITH POE: A NOVEL OF EDGAR ALLAN POE'S LIFE and BEST GHOST SHORT STORIES 1850-1899: A PHANTASMAL GHOST ANTHOLOGY, compiled the very scariest ghost stories of them all. As he has done with a number of other books, Andrew added his scholarly touch by including story backgrounds, annotatio

Joseph Sheridan le Fanu, an Irish author born in 1814, is widely recognized as a pillar of Gothic literature. Unlike many writers of his time, who avoided the eerie aspects of storytelling, le Fanu embraced the supernatural. His ghost stories not only entertained readers but also pushed the boundaries of society’s norms. His work, especially "A Chapter in the History of a Tyrone Family," exemplifies the power of Gothic storytelling. It is included in The Best Ghost Stories 18

In the world of ghost stories, few tales grip the imagination like "A Night in a Church." This eerie narrative, published anonymously in 1831, weaves a haunting tale that echoes through time. The author behind this chilling story, Cornelius Conway Felton, led a fascinating life that intersects with the themes of fear and the supernatural. Let's explore the origins of this ghost story, its influence on literature, and why it continues to send shivers down readers' spines today

Ghost stories have long captivated readers, especially during the chilly months of autumn and winter. One such tale that stands out from the early 19th century is "The Haunted Manor-House of Paddington" by Charles Ollier. Published in 1841 in Bentley's Miscellany , this story not only reflects the e erie atmosphere of its time but also hints at deeper connections to one of the most famous ghost stories of all time: Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol." The Setting of the Hau

One of the Top 40 ghost stories for the first half of the nineteenth century is Horace Smith's Sir Guy Eveling's Dream . This eerie tale first appeared in The New Monthly Magazine of 1823. It was later included in Smith's compilation of short stories and essays titled Gaieties and Gravities in 1826. Nine years later, Washington Irving would release his well-known story, Adventure of the German Student , which shares a similar structure with Sir Guy Eveling's Dream . Without