The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories

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The Empty House, and Other Ghost Stories

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The Tale of an Empty House and Other Ghost Stories

Published May 29th by BiblioLife first published To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Lists with This Book. A genre that does not nearly get all the credit that it deserves. A genre dominated by Stephen King and Dean Koontz. A genre that has so much to offer but much of it is marginalized by these two famous authors. Granted, King and Koontz have written some pretty frightening and powerful stories that are beloved by millions of readers.

But outside of the works of these two bestselling authors, not much is known to mainstream readers. There was, in fact, a time w Horror fiction. What spine chilling stories did readers devour before they read about haunted hotels and child killing clowns? Even Stephen King would admit that his stories probably would not exist if it were not for horror fiction pioneers such as this man, Algernon Blackwood. This book, The Empty House and other stories, is a collection of 10 ghost stories that was first published in the early s and is now in the public domain.

Out of the 10 I would say that at least 7 are very good stories. One of the interesting characteristics is that a particular character, a man by the name of Shorthouse, is featured as the main character but in vastly different settings. Whether the story unfolds in a remote cottage in the wilderness of Quebec, or a haunted house in Long Island, Algernon Blackwood, like Lovecraft, is a master of descriptive writing conveying moods of dread and suspense. It is unfortunate that this collection is not more well-known. It is absent here but I believe that the 10 stories featured in the collection are equally worth reading.

Give this book a shot. After the second story, The Haunted Island, I just could not put it down. Maybe you will too. View all 5 comments. Mar 18, Maciek rated it really liked it Shelves: Certain houses, like certain persons, manage somehow to proclaim at once their character for evil. In the case of the latter, no particular feature need betray them; they may boast an open countenance and an ingenuous smile; and yet a little of their company leaves the unalterable conviction that there is something radically amiss with their being: First published in , this is Algernon Blackwood's first collection of short stories, and it takes on what is probably the olde Certain houses, like certain persons, manage somehow to proclaim at once their character for evil.

First published in , this is Algernon Blackwood's first collection of short stories, and it takes on what is probably the oldest theme in horror fiction: The Empty House contains 10 stories, all of which feature mysterious, brooding locales: Blackwood has led an interesting life, and it is reflected in his stories - which feature a student receiving a strange visit from a friend in his Edinburgh flat; a man seeking solitude cottage on a remote Canadian island gets more than he bargained for; a lodger is growing increasingly more disturbed by what he overhears of his neighbors' conversation.

Several of these stories are connected by the character of Jim Shorthouse - a man with a deep interest in the supernatural, possibly the author's fictional portrayal of himself - but all can be read independently. In the story Shorthouse is working as a secretaty for a Mr. Sidebotham, who orders him to deliver some papers to a Mr. Garvey, his former business partner. The implication is strong that Sidebotham wants to blackmail Garvey, who has became a recluse - an unpleasant affair which Shorthouse intends to finish as quickly as possible.

But it won't be this easy - Garvey lives in a secluded, spooky mansion with an equally spooky servant, and all is not quite right with him. Despite the official matter with which he came he's overjoyed to have Shorthouse's company, and insists that he stays the night - which Shorthouse realize he will have to do, as he misses his last train.

What follows is a really suspenseful and engaging romp, reminiscent of Jonathan Harker's stay at Dracula's Castle and his experiences there. The end is quite sudden, and one would wish to spend more time with these characters and this spooky mansion - though maybe it is also a good thing, as th story never overstays its welcome and grows to bore the reader. It's also an interesting entry from a historical perspective - Garvey's servant is Jewish, and is clearly meant to be an example of the Other - with constant mentions of his devilish and odious Jewish nature reflecting the ferocious antisemitism of the early 20th century.

Like virtually all of Blackwood's work this collection is also in public domain, and can be legally downloaded from the internet - like his other two famous stories which I read and reviewed, The Wendigo and The Willows. Grab a copy here: Jun 24, C. Yes, and what an extraordinary gift for the Kindle it is. Many of Algernon's works are Free for the Kindle, and aren't we blessed and ecstatic about that?

I am - because Algernon Blackwood is the master of the ghost story and of things that go bump in the stormy night. Back in the day when these stories were written, you know, around the time of the Saber Tooth Tiger and T Rex, horror wasn't about blood, gore and shock value, the modern day ghost story, written then, was about nuance. A strange creak in the floor board, a cold wind sending chills down your spine, voices coming from an empty room.

These stories are made of events that spawn imagination, and everyone knows imagination is more powerful than gore and violence and shock treatment. That's what makes these stories so delightfully good to read. And again, we are so lucky to have them, Free for the Kindle!

The original works of Algernon Blackwood in book form are very expensive. Take this morsel from The Empty House, where Jim Shorthouse and his elderly auntie plan to spend the night in a known haunted house - "for there is nothing more desolate in all the abodes of men than an unfurnished house dimly lit, silent, and forsaken, and yet tenanted by rumour with the memories of evil and violent histories. Yes, these are much more than mere campfire stories.

These are stories to be read at night under the light of the candle, late, while the winds howl at the window. Who needs blood and guts when we have great subleties from brilliant writers such as Algernon Blackwood who spent his life writing spine tingling tales to scare and amuse. This book is filled with wonderful tales of hauntings, bizarre occurrences and the accounts of vagabond travelers taking refuge in strange boarding houses, farms and quaint out of the way villages.

If one enjoys ghost stories, look no further. This book isn't about in your face violence and over the top gore, it's about fright like that creepy feeling you get when something crawls down your arm and sets your neck hairs on end. There are great stories in this collection the first story collection published by Algernon: Let me put this in Algernon's own words: I didn't intend to read this book properly; I just wanted to sample a few stories to get a feel for the author's style, in preparation for a blog post about ghost stories I'm in the process of writing.

I did, however, end up reading all ten stories, although I skimmed over a few of them a little more quickly than I usually would. The edition I read, one of many available on Kindle this is a public domain work, which you can download for free at Project Gutenberg has the provocative and rather I didn't intend to read this book properly; I just wanted to sample a few stories to get a feel for the author's style, in preparation for a blog post about ghost stories I'm in the process of writing.

The edition I read, one of many available on Kindle this is a public domain work, which you can download for free at Project Gutenberg has the provocative and rather daft subtitle '10 extreme ghost stories for hardcore horror fans only'. Despite the fact that this was one of the first things I bought when I got a Kindle, that subtitle actually put me off trying it for a long time - not because I thought I was going to be terrified, but because I expected high melodrama and gore, neither of which are things I particularly value in ghost stories.

As it turns out, however, Blackwood's stories have much in common with other, similar tales from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Some feature descriptions of hauntings that might have been perceived as 'extreme' at the time, but are hardly traumatic by modern standards, while just as many are relatively subtle. Another one of the best is 'A Suspicious Gift', which is not about anything supernatural at all, but a neatly duplicitous crime story in which a man's acceptance of an unexpected windfall leads to unfortunate and gruesome consequences.

The most problematic, and least successful, stories are those featuring the recurring character Jim Shorthouse. Why Shorthouse reappears is unclear, as there is little to no continuity in his characterisation; his behaviour, reactions to the strange things he experiences, and even the timeline of his life don't appear to match up across the four stories he features in.

This makes it annoying when a story features Shorthouse, because the continuity problems hold it back even if the story itself is good, like 'A Case of Eavesdropping', in which he overhears what seem to be terrifying events in the room next door. This, though, is an early collection of stories from Blackwood - I believe it was the first thing he ever published - so it's not surprising that it sometimes feels amateurish.

Perhaps I should have started with some of his later stories. I've just been looking at Blackwood's Wikipedia page , and some of them sound amazing, eg: The tale is based on both Blackwood's own experiments with drugs and his occult learning whilst in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. This collection was simply too uneven to be anything more than an average read overall. The Empty House 2. A Haunted Island 3.

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A Case of Eavesdropping 4. Keeping His Promise 5. With Intent to Steal 6.

The Tale of an Empty House and Other Ghost Stories by E.F. Benson

The Wood of the Dead 7. An Episode in a Lodging-House 8. A Suspicious Gift 9. An Episode in Camp I am usually not a big fan of ghost stories but Blackwood is an exception, not to say that only ghosts were involved in these tales. Blackwood is the epitome of fear, a true master at making hearts beat faster with deceptively simple ease.

Most people tend to compare Blackwood to Poe but I never felt the same intense reactions to Poe's work as I do Blackwood's. Maybe this partially has to do with reading all of Poe's works at a much younger age.

Algernon Blackwood

The only other writer I can think of who creates t I am usually not a big fan of ghost stories but Blackwood is an exception, not to say that only ghosts were involved in these tales. The only other writer I can think of who creates the same unease, curiosity, and fear as Blackwood does is Bradbury, someone who may not initailly come to mind but if you can get past the settings and purpose behind each author's writing, to simply look at the words and emotions involved, then both are very similar.

Like all of Blackwood's works, I finish wishing more people would read his stories, and with many eerie pictures in my head, from ghosts dragging a scalped body behind them, to the eyes behind the picture, and the possessed climbing over rafters, this is the best kind of horror. View all 8 comments. May 26, Shaun rated it it was amazing Shelves: Though slightly dated, this collection still warrants 5 stars if only because of its role in the history of the horror genre.

Along with Poe, Machen, and Lovecraft, Blackwood's significance can not be minimized and neither can his style of storytelling. I doubt this will appeal as much to the modern reader unless, like me, you happen to appreciate the subtle side of horror which ultimately derives its power from fear of the unknown,a fear whose limits exist only within the confines of our imagina Though slightly dated, this collection still warrants 5 stars if only because of its role in the history of the horror genre.


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I doubt this will appeal as much to the modern reader unless, like me, you happen to appreciate the subtle side of horror which ultimately derives its power from fear of the unknown,a fear whose limits exist only within the confines of our imagination. Blackwood's stories aren't so much scary as they invite us to explore that which scares us. After all, the ghosts and demons and evils that we fear the most are those manufactured and nurtured in the psyche. In fact, most of the stories presented in this book tend to be classical ghost stories, telling us of haunted houses, spectres that are made to haunt the places of their sufferings or crimes, or others that return to keep a promise made in a more light-hearted vein.

The stories fitting into this category are the following: But only for a minute. With the worst of the night still to come it was essential to turn from nothing. Aunt Julia stumbled at the top step of the dark descent, ill lit by the flickering candle, and even Shorthouse felt at least half the decision go out of his legs. They went a little unsteadily down the stone steps, a cold, damp air meeting them in the face, close and mal-odorous.

The kitchen, into whic.

The empty house audiobook - True scary stories for Halloween night

I am a big fan of Algernon Blackwood especially after being so moved by his short story, The Willows which I consider one of the best horror tales ever written. This collection was published in , not when the author was 37 years old. Though lacking some of the finesse he developed later in his career and suffering from very abrupt endings, the collection is more than just ghost stories tackling themes such as a murder mystery, demonic possession, and an intriguing take on lycanthropy.

The stories in order are: An Episode In Camp All in all, the collection is an enjoyable romp through another time and culture with some genuine chills thrown in for good measure. A great read for any horror story fan. Joshi has stated that "his work is more consistently meritorious than any weird writer's except Dunsany's" and that his short story collection Incredible Adventures "may be the premier weird collection of this or any other century.

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Offer valid only once per customer including mobile recharges and bill payments. Here's how terms and conditions apply. Customers who bought this item also bought. Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1. Best Ghost Stories of Algernon Blackwood. The Willows, the Wendigo, and Other Horrors: Volume 2 Oldstyle Tales Omnibuses.

A Vintage from Atlantis: The Collected Fantasies, Vol. The Door to Saturn: About the Author Algernon Henry Blackwood - was an English short story writer and novelist, one of the most prolific writers of ghost stories in the history of the genre. To get the free app, enter mobile phone number. See all free Kindle reading apps. Don't have a Kindle? Alan Rodgers Books 1 June Language: Be the first to review this item Would you like to tell us about a lower price?

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