With their evocative settings amid mists and shadows, in ruinous houses, on lonely roads and wild moorlands, in abandoned churches and overgrown gardens, ghost stories have long exercised a universal fascination. Browse the independents complete collection of articles and commentary on the oxford book of ghost stories. I know nothing about the history of this genre, and i bought the book simply seeking to read a good yarn. I had read the monkeys paw, oh, whistle, and ill come to you, my lad. Ballard, angela carter, ian mcewan, and many others, the oxford book of english short stories encompasses comedy and tragedy, farce and delicacy, elegance and the grotesque. The macabre beneath the landscape is not dispelled by nearness to the sea. The oxford book of english ghost stories oxford books of prose. The oxford book of victorian ghost stories selected and introduced by michael cox and r.
Get english language teaching and learning resources for teaching english to young learners, teenagers, and adults. The oxford book of english ghost stories by michael cox goodreads. On june 19, 1966, a canadian couple photographed the staircase and managed to snap an image of a faint figure leaning on the rail. Oct 30, 2016 spookiest ghost stories from around the uk which left people terrified. An oxford anthology has some of the best constructed and most chilling stories i have ever laid my eyes on. Some of the best ghost stories are classics, and many are old. Recent titles have included the times atlas of london and a new edition of the dictionary of political. The oxford book of victorian ghost stories michael cox, r.
The 37 short stories featured range from dickens, trollope, and hardy to j. An informal portrait, and edited two selections of m. The oxford book of english ghost stories michael cox and r. In particular, pubs and inns are a rich source of ghost stories and oxford has its fair share of hostelries at one time there were well over 400 in the city and perhaps the most famous of these still stands today in the form of the eagle and child. If you have any questions, feel free to include them here also. Burrage retold by rosemary border 1 no, said jackson with a shy little smile. Cox was an authority on the victorian ghost story who, five years ago, spurred by the. Le fanu, and stories by authors whom i was unfamiliar with. There are stories by wellknown authors such as charles dickens, sir arthur conan doyle, r. In an age of rapid scientific progress, the idea of a vindictive past able to reach out and violate the present. The oxford book of english ghost stories michael cox. World stories are the latest addition to the bookworms library.
Michael cox, an authority on the victorian ghost story who, five years ago, spurred by the threat of blindness, sat down and wrote the vast gothic novel that had been haunting him for three. Oct 30, 2010 the content of solo traveler and any resources published by solo traveler are meant for entertainment and inspiration only. Dictionary of writers and their works oxford reference. The characters, the settings, the plots and the dialogue from each of the stories all seem well thought out and written. Michael cox, editor and author of the meaning of night. As it is a compilation of short stories, i thought id just skip around reading whichever title interested me at the moment. The thrill and chill of the ghost story is displayed in all its variety and vitality through this marvelous anthology.
The oxford book of english ghost stories contains a collection of 42 short ghost stories, written between the years 1829 to 1981, and arranged in chronological order. Michael cox is senior commissioning editor, reference books, at oup and is currently compiling the oxford chronology of english literature on a freelance basis. The oxford book of english ghost stories 1986 anthology by michael cox and r. His particular expertise is in reference publishing. Your first opportunity to play mortals as characters with the storytelling system the mystery of the world of darkness grows with five ghost stories to play around your gaming table a great prequel to vampire, werewolf and mage chronicles for use with the world of darkness rulebook game studio ghost stories. It was christmas eve, and there were fourteen of us in the house. Eight ghosts english heritage book of new ghost stories. Ghost stories content smee the judges house the stranger in the mist the confession of charles linkworth the ghost coach fullcircle smee by a. Nesbit rooum l9il oliver onions the shadowy third 1916 ellen glasgow the diary of mr poynter 1919 m. The oxford book of english ghost stories internet archive. Paperback classics, modern fiction, nonfiction and more. The implicit consensus amongst ghost story writers, with which most of their. Michael cox, editor and author of the meaning of night, is dead at. The oxford book of victorian ghost stories by michael cox.
The oxford book of english ghost stories michael cox, r. A wealthy plague sufferer or their family would be able to book a funeral with this coffin. Featuring fortyfive stories, four more than in the first edition, and including new stories by eighteen of the writer featured in the original, the new oxford book of canadian short stories offers an engaging survey of canadas leading writers and finest short stories. The oxford book of english ghost stories blogging for a. The oxford book of twentiethcentury ghost stories by. Ballard, angela carter, and ian mcewan, though many. From anthony trollope, charles dickens, and thomas hardy, through rudyard kipling, h. Convinced theyd caught a ghost on camera, the two sent the picture off to a london ghost club, who decided the only way to verify the encounter would be to hold a seance on the staircase. This awardwinning collection of adapted classic literature and original stories develops reading skills for lowbeginning through advanced students. The oxford book of english ghost stories oxford books of. Le fanu, an account of some strange disturbances in aungier street dublin university magazine, december 1853. Here at last is an anthology of some of the very best english ghost stories which combines a serious literary purpose with the plain intention of arousing a pleasurable fear at the. Cyclopaedia of ghost story writers the cyclopaedia of ghost story writers is an everexpanding database of information bibliographic and biographic of authors who have written at least one published short story generally less than 30,000 words with the theme of haunting or another related aspect of the supernatural during the georgian, victorian or edwardian period.
Below is a list of some of our favorite spooky stories in the english language. The oxford book of english ghost stories by michael cox, 9780192826664, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The oxford book of english ghost stories 1986 hcdj ebay. Following in the tracks of the bestselling the young oxford book of ghost stories and the young oxford book of nasty endings, this is another thrilling collection of stories guaranteed to enthrall both children and adults. New oxford book of canadian short stories in english. This collection of ghost stories is the first to present the full range of classic english ghost fiction, including some of the very best and most frightening ghost. Some of the online copies of the stories weve linked to arent the easiest to read, but thankfully many of these classic victorian ghost stories are included in the oxford book of victorian ghost stories, a great compendium of ghoulish fun which wed recommend to the. The same afternoon, a dining guest of the bishop of ripon was said to. When i think about telling ghost stories, i think about sitting around a campfire, roasting marshmallows, telling spooky tales with a torch under my chin before retiring to my tent for the night. Byatt, herself the author of several collections of short stories, is the first anthology to specifically take the english short story as its theme.
The english really do excel at writing ghost stories. Christopher riches is a reference book author and editor. Something haunts the work and the reader turns the pages to find out what it is. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The oxford book of english short stories oxford books of. Pdf the oxford book of english ghost stories semantic. Zipes and the oxford book of modern fairy tales anth 1993 ed alison lurie. Read a ghost story download these bookworms stories and activities to use with your class.
Secondly, wed like to hear about the story or stories youre thinking of submitting. Finally, they offer an informative introduction, detailed source notes, and an extensive survey of ghost story collections from 1850 to 1910. Ghost stories oxford bookworms by border, rosemary and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I was given the oxford book of victorian ghost stories as s christmas present. The oxford book of victorian ghost stories, compiled by michael cox the meaning of night and r. Having owned this book for many years, it is a treasured part of my library, and is worth at least one rereading a year. I actually read it in a very short amount of time, which is impressive for an anthology that is sizable. The oxford book of english verse 12501900 chosen and edited by a. In 1878, the hms eurydice sank in a blizzard off the coast of the isle of wight, in england. Ballard, angela carter, ian mcewan, and many others, the oxford book of english short stories exhibits the capacious and often capricious nature of the english literary sensibility. James praised burrages book some ghost stories, saying that the book keeps on the right side of the line and, if about half his ghosts are amiable, the rest have their terrors, and no mean ones. Christopher riches, author michael cox, author michael cox edited the highly successful oxford book of english ghost stories, was the author of m. Traditional in its forms, but energetically inventive and infused with a relish of the supernatural, these classic ghost stories still retain their original power to. Pdf the oxford book of english ghost stories semantic scholar.
Take eight contemporary novelists and allow them afterhours access to the english heritage location of their choice as inspiration for a chilling ghost story. The oxford book of english ghost stories by michael cox. Skip to content home elt catalog oxford bookworms library level 5. Apr 23, 2012 10 english authors that helped shape horror fiction today is both st georges day and world book night. I can honestly say that i didnt regret reading one of these stories in this book. His previous books include a dictionary of writers and their works, the oxford book of english ghost stories, and the oxford book of twentiethcentury ghost stories. Byatt, the oxford book of english short stories is the first anthology to specifically take the english short story as its theme. Oct 19, 2009 a collection of ghost stories is an excellent place to begin, and the oxford book of english ghost stories collects tales of the eerie from some of the masters of the genre. Michael cox is editor of a dictionary of writers and their works, and the oxford book of twentiethcentury ghost stories. Top 10 unconventional ghosts in literature books the.
The oxford book of victorian ghost stories michael cox. The other man still lives, and can speak to the truth of the least credible part of my story. Responding to peoples overwhelming attraction to anything frightening, this marvelous anthology of some of the very best english ghost stories combines a serious literary purpose. The new young oxford book of ghost stories vol 2 by dennis. The oxford book of canadian ghost stories by alberto manguel. We dont want a full summary, just a brief, descriptive introduction to the story or stories. Anthologies at this time consisted almost wholly of horror and ghost stories, and.
Please use this display as a guideline and modify as needed. Editions of the oxford book of english ghost stories by. Pages in category ghost story writers the following 79 pages are in this category, out of 79 total. The site includes ghost stories from two particularly haunted areas, whitby on englands north sea coast and the teeming metropolis of london. The oxford book of english short stories, edited by a. All the latest breaking news on the oxford book of ghost stories. Gilbert contents view concise listing ix introduction the oxford book of english ghost stories 1986 essay by michael cox and r. May 16, 2015 top 10 unconventional ghosts in literature. Oxford book of twentiethcentury ghost stories edited by cmichael cox oxford new york oxford university press 1996. Written for secondary and adult students the oxford bookworms library has seven reading levels. With their evocative settings amid mists and shadows, in ruinous houses, on lonely roads and wild moorlands, in abandoned churches and overgrown gardens.
What is compelling about these sorts of stories is that, as the introduction to the collection notes, they are just, just out of the true. Jamess ghost stories christopher riches has worked in publishing for over 30 years. A pair of ghostly hands john charringtons wedding story a pair of ghostly hands john charringtons wedding while reading activity a pair of ghostly hands john charringtons wedding after reading activity ghost stories the ghost coach. During the burial the deceased would have a rope placed into their hands and then threaded through the coffin and up through the soil attaching to the bell. What henry james knew, and described in english hours 1905 the strangeness present on a flattened seashore m r james no blood relation, although the two were acquainted expressed in two of his bestknown ghost stories. Editions for the oxford book of english ghost stories. This is an anthology of thirty stories by many bestloved writers, such as charles dickens, laurie lee, sue townsend, jacqueline wilson, and geraldine mccaughrean. With that in mind, it seemed highly appropriate that we bring you this list of ten horror authors that have helped shape horror fiction into the joyous creation that we know and love today. It was a terrible tragedy, and it set the stage for one of englands most enduring hauntings. Lawrence, and virginia woolf, right up to graham greene, j. James later included burrage among a list of contemporary writers who had best realized the possibilities of the ghost story. New contemporary look for a bestselling collection of ghost stories.
The oxford book of english ghost stories by michael cox and r a. From charles dickens and elizabeth gaskell, to sir arthur conan doyle and henry james, this book brings together the best of victorian ghost stories. Not surprisingly, these volumes display a similar philosophy, and high standard, of selection, and a certain overlap of literary. Please note that while we have advertising clients promoting destinations, products, services, trips and tours on solo traveler and that we endeavour to only work with companies in which we have confidence, we are not responsible for the delivery or quality of their. Responding to peoples overwhelming attraction to anything frightening, this marvelous anthology of some of the very best english ghost stories combines a serious literary purpose with the simple intention of arousing a pleasurable fear of the doings of the dead. Feb 18, 2003 the oxford book of victorian ghost stories, compiled by michael cox the meaning of night and r. Scare yourself on halloween with mirror readers chilling tales of mysterious figures and haunted houses. Michael cox, author christopher riches, author michael cox edited the highly successful oxford book of english ghost stories, is the author of m. Quillercouch from arthur quillercouchs 1919 introduction to this extensive collection. The haunted history of cambridge, england solo traveler.
Im certain i read one or two twice as i changed to. From anthony trollope, charles dickens, and thomas hardy through rudyard kipling, h. If you are a new author, we would love to hear from you in our general submissions. Buy a cheap copy of the oxford book of victorian ghost. Oct 31, 2017 4 spooky new england ghost stories youve probably never heard. This category groups authors past and present who made significant in quality andor quantity contributions to the ghost story. A fantastic collection of english prose, with the emphasis of stories in the 1880s, which marked the highlight of ghostly literature, in my opinion.
The oxford book of victorian ghost stories, edited by michael cox and r. The 37 stories featured here are selected from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries,ranging from dickens, trollope, and hardy to j. A very wellchosen selection of ghost stories, most of them written between 1890 and 1940, the golden era of english ghost stories. These citations may not conform precisely to your selected citation style. Some of the older stories might be a challenge, but since many are available to read for free, you can at least give them a try. Oxford american english dictionaries for learners of english. An enjoyable and wideranging anthology including some of the most frightening ghost stories ever written. Gilbert, is a fantastic collection of mostly 19th century ghost stories. Responding to peoples overwhelming attraction to anything frightening, this marvelous anthology of some of the very best english ghost stories combines a serious literary. Edited by the prizewinning writer and broadcaster a. But perhaps the most exciting feature is the presence of many new writers. Dec 15, 2008 the oxford book of english ghost stories contains a collection of 42 short ghost stories, written between the years 1829 to 1981, and arranged in chronological order. It is reprinted in many modern anthologies, including the 2nd fontana book of great ghost stories, the penguin book of horror stories and the dark horse book of hauntings. Oxford bookworms library they are collections of adapted short stories by writers from around the world, wherever english is used as a first language, for example, in australia, new zealand, or a second language, for example, in countries in asia and africa.
For this anthology i have tried to range over the whole field of english verse. The coffin was like another but with a bell attached to an overhanging section above the ground. The 26 tales are drawn primarily from the early twentieth century, when. The oxford book of english ghost stories 1986 hcdj this book is in very good condition.