Itemize About Books The Collected Ghost Stories of E.F. Benson
Title | : | The Collected Ghost Stories of E.F. Benson |
Author | : | E.F. Benson |
Book Format | : | Paperback |
Book Edition | : | First Edition |
Pages | : | Pages: 672 pages |
Published | : | December 18th 2001 by Carroll & Graf (first published January 1st 1992) |
Categories | : | Horror. Short Stories. Ghost Stories. Fiction. Paranormal. Ghosts. Gothic. Classics |
E.F. Benson
Paperback | Pages: 672 pages Rating: 4.2 | 1268 Users | 79 Reviews
Relation Toward Books The Collected Ghost Stories of E.F. Benson
United by a perfect chilling atmosphere and graceful literary style, these ghostly stories range from the horror of vampires, homicidal ghosts and monstrous spectral worms and slugs (appearing in the classic "Negotium Perambulans" and "And No Bird Sings") to the satire of humorous tales that poke fun at charlatan mediums and fake seances ("Spinach" and "Mr Tilly's Seance"). This new edition brings together E.F. Benson's greatest stories, making this the one book that no fan of Benson's or of things spectral can afford to miss.List Books Supposing The Collected Ghost Stories of E.F. Benson
Original Title: | The Collected Ghost Stories of E.F. Benson |
ISBN: | 0786709804 (ISBN13: 9780786709809) |
Edition Language: | English |
Rating About Books The Collected Ghost Stories of E.F. Benson
Ratings: 4.2 From 1268 Users | 79 ReviewsAppraise About Books The Collected Ghost Stories of E.F. Benson
A delightful collection of Victorian (?) ghost stories although they're all of the formula:Spooky Guy: Do you believe in ghosts?Skeptic guy: Fuck off mate no such thing just fuck off fuck RIGHT offSpooky Guy: *tells ghost story*Skeptic: Think you might have a point there actually fuck me! SHIT! did you see that?As a chronic insomniac, much of my reading takes place through the night. In some ways, perhaps that is why I completely fell in love with this collection of stories - many of them told in the first person - it began to feel like I was the 'friend' who had happened to call round one evening, on seeing a lamp still lit at my writer friend's window, and we were settling down by the fireside to discuss the strange and the supernatural he so wonderfully describes in his writing. It soon became an
This collection is brilliant, and apart from MR James there is no teller of ghost stories who can make my hair stand on end and give me deliciously disturbed dreams like Benson. It's a book to read together, shortly before Christmas, by candlelight, snuggled up on a couch, with giggles and shivers and looking over the shoulder occasionally into the shadows, then running upstairs in the dark and laughing at such things. In my dreams...
E.F. Benson, one of the most accomplished practitioners of the classic English ghost story, usually begins his tale in a tranquil upper class British setting--perhaps a country house party or a fishing lodge or a newly acquired apartment--in which the horror gradually unfolds. His stories are invariably well-written, but there are two drawbacks to his work. First of all, he often sets his stories in a milieu where people openly proclaim their belief in ghosts and their own psychic abilities,
Hugo said it for me. Wordsworth have really excelled with these Tales of Mystery and The Supernatural. Without their efforts I would never have realized that Benson is a premier league horror writer - he has his faults - at times in his 'middle period a little too predictive, at times not perhaps horrible enough but there are some utter gems in this collection - 'Steps' being one. He's a four and a half star writer in a five star edition here.
Such wonderful variety, from the almost campy creeps of 'Spinach' and 'Mrs Ampworth' to the grimmer 'The Room in the Tower' and 'Negotium Perambulans'. Benson is widely acknowledged as one of the masters of the ghost story, but I feel he has become somewhat underrated in current 'weird fiction' circles.
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