Great Ghost Stories by: Various Authors

The House and the Brain, by Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton
This gothic horror tale follows the narrator's investigation of a haunted house in London. Strange supernatural occurrences and eerie phenomena suggest a connection between the house and dark powers of the mind. Bulwer-Lytton explores themes of mesmerism, telepathy, and the occult in a story that delves into the tension between science and the supernatural.

The Roll-Call of the Reef, by A.T. Quiller-Couch
Set in Cornwall, this eerie ghost story centers on the legend of a shipwreck that occurred many years ago. The haunting tale is triggered by the discovery of a wrecked ship’s boat during a winter storm, and it culminates in the ghostly roll-call of the crew members who perished. The story reflects themes of maritime tragedy and the inescapable grip of fate.

The Open Door, by Margaret Oliphant
This Victorian ghost story involves a young boy who becomes ill after hearing mysterious cries near a seemingly abandoned door in the ruins of a Scottish house. His father embarks on a quest to uncover the source of these cries, leading to the discovery of a tragic past tied to the door. Oliphant mixes supernatural elements with deep emotional and psychological undercurrents in this haunting tale.

The Deserted House, by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann
In this eerie story, a group of friends encounter a strange, abandoned house that holds an inexplicable power over those who come near it. Hoffmann combines the supernatural with psychological horror as the protagonist is drawn deeper into the mystery of the house, exploring themes of obsession, madness, and the unseen forces that influence human behavior.

The Mysterious Sketch, by Erckmann-Chatrian
This tale involves an artist who becomes obsessed with a sketch of a beautiful but enigmatic woman. As the artist works on the sketch, strange and inexplicable events occur, blurring the line between art and reality. The authors explore themes of artistic creation, obsession, and the supernatural, weaving a mysterious and unsettling atmosphere throughout the story.

Green Branches, by Fiona Macleod
Set in the mystical and atmospheric Scottish Highlands, this story reflects Fiona Macleod’s deep connection to Celtic folklore. The narrative is imbued with a sense of loss, magic, and the spiritual presence of nature. In the story, a tragic love is entwined with the ancient, sacred connection to the natural world, leading to a haunting and lyrical exploration of love and death.

The Four-Fifteen Express, by Amelia B. Edwards
A psychological ghost story, The Four-Fifteen Express tells the story of a man haunted by a mysterious event during a train ride. Edwards skillfully uses the then-new technology of railways to create a suspenseful and eerie atmosphere. The supernatural and the mundane collide as the story builds to a chilling revelation, exploring themes of guilt, death, and fate.

The Were-Wolf, by H. B. Marryatt
A chilling early take on the werewolf myth, this story centers on a noblewoman cursed to transform into a wolf during the full moon. Marryatt explores the duality of human nature, with the protagonist struggling between her refined, civilized self and the primal beast within. This gothic horror tale delves into themes of transformation, identity, and inner conflict.

The Withered Arm, by Thomas Hardy
In this tale, Hardy intertwines the supernatural with the stark realism of rural life. A milkmaid named Rhoda Brooks experiences an eerie connection with the new wife of her former lover. Rhoda's jealousy manifests as a physical affliction on the woman, leading to a tragic series of events. Hardy explores themes of guilt, jealousy, and the mysterious forces that shape human destiny.

Clarimonde, by Theophile Gautier
A decadent and sensual tale of love and the supernatural, Clarimonde tells the story of a priest who becomes enchanted by the beautiful and mysterious Clarimonde, a woman who seems to defy death. Torn between his religious vows and his passion for Clarimonde, the priest experiences a surreal journey into a world of pleasure and sin. Gautier’s tale explores themes of desire, temptation, and the blurring of life and death.

The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral, by Montague Rhodes James
This ghost story revolves around an antiquarian who uncovers a dark secret hidden within the records of Barchester Cathedral. As he investigates the strange events surrounding the death of an archdeacon, he comes to realize that the cathedral’s stalls are haunted by malevolent forces. James masterfully blends scholarly intrigue with the supernatural, creating an unsettling atmosphere of creeping dread.

What Was It?, by Fitz-James O'Brien
Set in a boarding house in New York, this story tells of a strange and invisible creature that attacks the protagonist during the night. O'Brien uses a mix of gothic horror and early science fiction to explore the limits of perception and the unknown. The story raises questions about the nature of reality and the boundaries between the seen and the unseen.