Andrew Barger's Blog

Vampires have long fascinated readers and viewers, but not all vampires are created equal. After years of sparkling, brooding, and friendly vampires dominating pop culture, a shift is underway. The old-school vampires of Victorian literature, the ones who embody darkness and menace, are making a comeback. This change reflects a growing weariness with the modern vampire archetypes and a renewed appreciation for the classic, evil creatures of the night. The Rise and Fall of Vam

" Charlotte Sometimes ", the YA book by Penelope Farmer, is well known in England more than the US. It has time travel and ghosts and seances. What's not to like?  I’ve recently read “Charlotte Sometimes” if for no other reason than to compare The Cure lyrics of their classic song Charlotte Sometimes to parts of the children’s fantasy. This is what I learned and it’s very interesting. ***Spoiler Alter*** Cure Lyrics All the faces, All the voices blur Change to one face, Chan

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

Nathaniel Hawthorne remains a pivotal figure in American literature, renowned for his captivating supernatural tales. In particular, "The Old Maid in the Winding Sheet," published in 1837, stands out as a haunting ghost story that demands recognition. This tale is frequently celebrated as one of the best ghost stories from 1800 to 1849 and is featured in The Best Ghost Stories 1800-1849: A Classic Ghost Anthology . In this blog post, we will explore the eerie realm of Hawthor

From time to time I post reviews of my books. One has been posted on Barnes & Noble about Coffee with Poe: A Novel of Edgar Allan Poe's life . In it I tried to bring Poe to life with actual letters from his foster father, three fiancees and wife. It is available in both print and ebook formats. Here is the 5 star review: ***** Really Good In-Depth Look at the Life of Edgar Allan Poe: This book is really well written and always held my interest . . . Prepare yourself because y

I started a discussion on Kindle forums and asked for people's favorite horror short stories. Here is the consolidated list. Read some of these scary stories in Crypt Classics: The Best 19th Horror Stories Anthology I edited. It was a finalist in the anthology category of the Indie Book Awards.   Edgar Allan Poe : The Black Cat (2), The Cask of Amontillado (4), The Fall of the House of Usher, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, The Pit and the Pendulum

Literature has long had a fascination with the eerie and unexplained. Among the most captivating chapters in this domain is the rise of "penny dreadfuls" in the early 19th century. One story that stands out for its chilling narrative and haunting themes is The Ghostly Visiter; or, The Mysterious Invalid . This tale was published anonymously on February 27, 1833, in The Penny Story-Teller . Its unsettling essence captures the heart of horror fiction from that era. This explora

Ghost stories in the early nineteenth century captured the imagination, tapping into deep fears and uncharted territories of the human mind. Among the authors of this spooky era, Samuel Warren is notable for skillfully blending his legal knowledge with the eerie. His short story The Spectre-Smitten , published in 1831, intricately explores the themes of insanity and the supernatural. Ancient library The Context of Ghost Stories in the 19th Century The fascination with the sup

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

The early nineteenth century was a time ripe with literary exploration, especially in ghost stories and supernatural tales. One of the most chilling narratives to emerge during this period is Peter Rugg: The Missing Man written by William Austin. This haunting tale captivated readers of its time and continues to leave an imprint on American literature. Austin, a Harvard-educated attorney from Massachusetts, crafted a story filled with themes of eternal wandering and unfulfil

The Collier's Family by Baron Friedrich Heinrich Karl de la Motte Fouque (1777-1843), who just happens to have the scariest name in my countdown, is a shining example of a good ghost story. This horror gem was first published in English in "Popular Tales and Romances of the Northern Nations," which was published in 1823. This three volume collection of tales by mostly German authors also contained "Wake Not the Dead." This is the third vampire short story we have on record a

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was no stranger to telling a scary ghost story. His "Legends of the Province House" was mentioned as being exemplary by H.P. Lovecraft and his 1835 story titled "Graves and Goblins" is quite good. But this post is about Lady Eleanor's Mantle , which floats in at the 16th spot in my countdown of the scary ghost stories for the first half of the nineteenth century. "Lady Eleanor's Mantle" is a ghostly tale of pestilence and because of that it dra

German, Ernst T.A. Hoffmann (1776-1822), was one of the earliest progenitors of supernatural stories. The Mines of Falun is one of the greatest ghost stories for the first half of the nineteenth century. It was first published in 1819 and is set in the storied mines of Falun, Sweden. Many scary stories linked the mines to the supernatural and a rumored tunnel to the center of the earth. While in my estimation this is Hoffmann's greatest ghost tale, it is not his most origina

Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873) is known in supernatural circles for penning one of the greatest ghost stories of the nineteenth century: " The Haunted and Haunters ." This scary story is not in consideration for this countdown of the best ghost short stories from 1800-1849, however, as it was published in 1857. H.P. Lovecraft called it "one of the best short haunted house tales ever." But enough about "The Haunted and Haunters." Bulwer-Lytton's second best ghost story is Mo

Allan Cunningham might not be a familiar name today, but he was a bright star in early nineteenth-century literature. Known for his engaging poetry and storytelling, Cunningham stood shoulder to shoulder with literary giants like Sir Walter Scott and James Hogg, both renowned for their supernatural tales. Among his works, "The Ghost with the Golden Casket" gleams as one of the most remarkable ghost stories of its time, beautifully weaving together themes of love, loss, and t

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

Caroline Norton may not be a household name, but she holds a special place in the history of literature as one of the earliest female authors to explore ghost stories. Her 1833 tale, "Allan M'Tavish," set against the haunting backdrop of the Irish sea, features a waith, or warning ghost. This captivating narrative not only highlights Norton's literary talent but also signifies a turning point in the evolution of ghost stories written by women. A misty Irish coastline that evo

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