Christmas Gothic Short Stories

Last year I learned about the history of ghost stories for Christmas and I read the ghost stories of M. R. James. I enjoyed them so much that this year I’m reading Christmas Gothic Short Stories from Flame Tree Publications. The anthology includes over 400 pages of classic and new stories. Here are my favorites of the classic stories. 

“Thurlow’s Christmas Story” (1894) by John Kendrick Bangs 

This author has three stories in this anthology, and they are all of a humorous type. I thought the humor worked best in this story. The first part of the story is a letter from a writer to his editor explaining why his story is late. His explanation involves a ghost and a mysterious benefactor who appears at the last minute. As humorous as the events are, the second part of the story which is the editor’s response had me laughing out loud. A fun story. 

“The Horror-Horn” by E. F. Benson 

A man on winter holiday in the Swiss Alps hears stories about dwarfish creatures covered in long hair. They supposedly live in the mountain caves of the Ungeheuerhorn, the Horror-Horn. Later the man gets lost in a snowstorm and learns the truth about the legends. The H. P. Lovecraft Wiki page states that Lovecraft spoke highly of the story. This one reminded me a little of Robert E. Howard. Fast paced and hair-raising.

“Christmas Re-union” (1947) by Sir Andrew Caldecott

This story takes place during a Christmas party. A couple have a guest staying with them, a man who has become rich after going to Australia with his uncle, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. After receiving a letter from Australia, the guest becomes nervous and says he needs to leave. A department store Santa who the couple have hired for the children arrives and the guest becomes even more nervous. Secrets from the past and a mysterious Santa make for an eerie story. 

“Where the Christmas Tree Grew” (1888) by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman 

On the last day of school before winter break, a young boy and some other children tease Jenny Brown, a shy eight-year-old from a poor family. She’s told that Christmas trees grow wild in the forest with presents on them and that she had better go to the mountain and find one before they are all gone. This one had me reading frantically to find how it was going to end. 

“Bring Me A Light!” (1960-61) by Jane Margaret Hooper 

Thomas Winmore inherits a small estate with a mysterious past. The locals believe it’s haunted and stay away. Winemore spends the night alone in the estate. What he encounters there leads him to learning about a terrible event from the past.

“Told After Supper” (1891) by Jerome K. Jerome 

A group of people tell ghost stories while drinking whiskey punch on Christmas Eve. The humor is well done. Between some of the names (Teddy Biffle, Dr. Scrubbles) and the witty humor, it was like reading a ghost story by P. G. Wodehouse. 

“The Great Staircase at Landover Hall” (1900) by Frank Stockton 

A man visiting a village learns that a mansion is being put up for auction. The husband and wife who lived there passed away and the heirs do not wish to keep the old building. After being shown around he decides to buy the place. He spends Christmas Eve alone in the mansion. At midnight the ghost of a beautiful woman appears. What happens when you fall in love with a ghost that only appears for an hour, once a year? A touching story. 

My top four favorites:

“Wolverden Tower” (1896) by Grant Allen 

Maisie Llewelyn is invited to Wolverden Hall for Christmas and befriends two mysterious young girls. What’s the secret of the recently rebuilt church tower? This story started out like an episode of Downton Abbey and then quickly turned into a ghost story with ancient rituals. I loved the writing, the suspense, and the ethereal atmosphere throughout.

“The Kit-Bag” (1908) by Algeron Blackwood 

Just before Christmas a man borrows a kit-bag (duffel bag) from his boss, a lawyer who just represented a murderer. While packing for a trip he hears strange things and then starts seeing movement in his supposedly empty building. Then it appears that his bag has been moved. Atmospheric and very, very creepy. Fantastic story.

“The Old Nurse’s Story” (1852) by Elizabeth Gaskell 

An old nurse tells her charges a spooky story about their mother. This is a classic gothic ghost story: An isolated manor, organ music at night, winter storms, ghostly apparitions, and secrets from the past. Outstanding.

“Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad” by M. R. James 

A professor goes on a golfing holiday on the coast of England. While he’s there he investigates the ruins of a Templar preceptory and finds an ancient bronze whistle. Strange things begin to happen which leads to a final confrontation at night. I read this for the first-time last year, and it was a pleasure reading it again. One of my favorite M. R. James stories and one of my favorite ghost stories. 

Now that I’ve read all the classic stories in the anthology, I’m working my way through the new ones.