Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories

Book Overview

Who better to investigate the literary spirit world than that supreme connoisseur of the unexpected? From the author of such beloved books as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Witches comes a collection of spooky tales carefully curated by the author himself, Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories.

Of the many permutations of the macabre or bizarre, Dahl was always especially fascinated by the classic ghost story. As he relates in the erudite introduction to this volume, he read some 749 supernatural tales at the British Museum Library before selecting the 14 that comprise this anthology. "Spookiness is, after all, the real purpose of the ghost story," Dahl writes. "It should give you the creeps and disturb your thoughts."

For this superbly disquieting collection, Dahl offers favorite tales by such masterful storytellers as E. F. Benson, J. Sheridan Le Fanu, Rosemary Timperley, and Edith Wharton.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B000BPI8IK
• ISBN13: 9780374518684
• Release Date: October 1984
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 12 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 7 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Very Good Collection!

Contents: ***Introduction by Roald Dahl......11 ***W.S by L.P. Hartley......21 ***Harry by Rosemary Timperley......33 ***The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith......47 ***In the Tube by E.F. Benson......63 ***Christmas Meeting by Rosemary Timperley......78 ***Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie......81 ***Playmates by A.M. Burrage......90 ***Ringing the Changes by Robert Aickman......115 ***The Telephone by Mary Treadgold......146 ***The Ghost of a Hand by J. Sheridan Le Fanu......154 ***The Sweeper by A.M. Burrage (Ex-Private X)......162 ***Afterward by Edith Wharton......179 ***On the Brighton Road by Richard Middleton......210 ***The Upper Birth by F. Marion Crawford......214 __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _________ A great collection of very interesting ghost stories to be read and then re-read again and again! It seems to me a better recommended reading age would be something like 13 yrs and above. Originally, I thought that this was a book of stories all written by Roald Dahl himself... that was the impression I got from the title. Anyway, I recommend this to you!

Eerie and Mysterious

A novelist receives strange and disturbing post cards from an unknown fan ; lonely children speak to and about what their parents or guardians dismiss as imaginary friends until contrary evidence materializes ; an impoverished writer visits an antique shop finding different surroundings and tenants at night to those during the daytime ; a strange hand haunts a mansion and it's inhabitants ; strange telephone calls from the dead ; a mystery figure sweeps up leaves at night ; all who sleep on cabin 105 on the ship Kamschatka go mad and throw themselves overboard. All of these happenings have only the explanation of the supernatural: Strange encounters with phantoms, ghosts , ghouls and the undead. Roald Dahl puts together a charming anthology of eerie old-fashioned ghost stories from various different authors, with all the right touches, where the twists in the tale all have a supernatural flavour. These stories will chill your spine and stay in your mind long after you have read them. My personal favourites are Harry, Playmates, Ringing the Changes, The Ghost of a Hand, The Sweeper and On the Brighton Road.

A Great And Little Known Horror Gem

A ghost story should first and foremost be about atmosphere, and this collection of subtle, beautifully written ghost stories is a must-have. The stories range from the classic Victorian style to more bizarre stories such as the brilliant "Ringing the Changes." In addition, Dahl has selected works that are not usually included in the horror cannon. There is no Poe, no "Monkey's Paw." Instead, Dahl chose to emphasize more subtle and lesser-known works. And his introduction about the importance of women writers is also not to be missed. This is a brilliant anthology.