Collected Ghost Stories

Starred review from September 5, 2011
James (1862–1936), a Cambridge don, laid the foundations of the modern ghost story with the 33 well-wrought antiquarian tales collected here. In “ ‘Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad,’ ” a note blown on an ancient instrument accidentally summons a horrifying entity from the primitive past. “Canon Alberic’s Scrap-book” and “The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral” both concern demonic beings aroused through scholarly researches into church history. “The Mezzotint” tells of a supernaturally animated print whose imagery replays a horrifying tragedy from the past. James emphasized atmosphere and mood over shock tactics, but he always insisted that ghosts be malevolent and found very disquieting forms for them to take. Many of these stories are time-tested classics, and this volume, which also includes an informative introduction and notes by Darryl Jones, is indispensable for any fan of supernatural fiction.