The Scary Short Stories Blog by award-winning author Andrew Barger where I discuss the scariest stories in the various supernatural genres. I emphasize classic scary short stories and provide insight into the origins of the stories and the authors behind them. Visit AndrewBarger.com to check out my books and to be scared.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Best Ghost Story 19 from 1800-1849 is Albert Werdendorff; or, The Midnight Embrace by Sarah Wilkinson
Friday, September 2, 2011
Best Ghost Stories Anthology for $.99
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Best Ghost Story 21 from 1800-1849 is The Haunted Manor-House of Paddington by Charles Ollier
Monday, August 8, 2011
Best Ghost Story 23 from 1800-1849
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Best Ghost Story 24 from 1800-1849 is "The Water Spirit"
Friday, July 22, 2011
Best Ghost Stories 1800-1849: A Classic Ghost Anthology Published!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Best Ghost Story 26 from 1800-1849: "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton" by Charles Dickens
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Best Ghost Story 27 from 1800-1849: The Chase
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Best Ghost Stories 1800-1849: Story 28 is Solange by Alexander Dumas
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Best Ghost Stories 1800-1849; Mary Burnet by James Hogg
Monday, May 23, 2011
Best Ghost Stories 1800-1849 Scary Story 30 is All Souls Eve by Joseph Stowe
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Best Ghost Stories 1800-1849 - Scary Story 31 is An Adventure Near Granville
Friday, May 6, 2011
Best Scary Ghost Story 33 from 1800-1849 Posted
The next tale in my countdown of the Top 40 ghost stories for the first half of the nineteenth century is an anonymous story titled The Legend of Marseilles. This scary ghost story was first published in 1826 and was subsequently reprinted in a number of ghost anthologies. Without giving away too much, let's suffice it say that it proves not knowing when you are going to die is best.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Best Ghost Stories 1800-1849, 33rd Best Scary Story
I place The Death's Head in spot 33 of my countdown of the Top 40 ghost stories for the first half of the nineteenth century. Published anonymously in 1827, "The Death's Head"--this particular "species of phantasmagoria"--is perhaps the first short story that contains a talking skull. It also the only scary story in this countdown that involves ventriloquy. The scene where spirits are conjured is heart pounding horrific. I hope you enjoy it.
Best Ghost Stories 1800-1849 Countdown - Scary Story 35 Link
As the author of the fictional Edgar Allan Poe biography Coffee with Poe and editor of Edgar Allan Poe Annotated Short Stories and Poems, I am sometimes asked if Poe had a favorite ghost story. Truth be told, Poe was quiet clear on his favorite ghost story--or at least his favorite by an American, which I believe is a dig at Charles Dickens and his bias toward British literature. It is by William Gilmore Simms and is titled: Murder Will Out. I don't, however, agree with Poe since I have placed it in spot 35 in my Top 40 countdown of the scariest ghost stories from 1800-1849. This is what Poe had to say about it in his review (published posthumously in 1850) of Simm's collection of short stories: "The Wigwam and the Cabin."
The 36th Best Ghost Story 1800-1849 Posted
Some of the scariest ghost stories are found at sea and the 36th best ghost story of 1800-1849 is no different. The Strange Sail is its title and it is very strange indeed. In the first paragraph readers are greeted with a wave crashing over the deck of the ship and it only gets scarier from there. When a white sail is seen during the storm, the sailors witness something supernatural that they will never forget. "The Strange Sail" was published anonymously in Atkinson's Casket of1839. It is one of best ghost stories of the sea during the first half of the nineteenth century. I hope you enjoy it along with the rest of my countdown of the Top 40 ghost stories from 1800-1849.
Author of the 37th Best Ghost Story 1800-1849
Just like a number of early stories in my countdown of the Top 40 ghost stories from 1800-1849, the 37th best ghost story in the list was published anonymously. To whet your appetite, here is the illustration that was included with the story. It is one of the oldest pickax murder stories I have found in my research. Tomorrow I will provide a free link to it.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The 39th Best Ghost Story 1800-1849
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Author of the 39th Best Ghost Story 1800-1849
Just like the like the author for the 40th best ghost story of 1800-1849, the next author is anonymous. I found a number of these stories in various magazines and periodicals of the day. This one comes from the Literary Magnet and I will post a free link to it in my next post. For now, enjoy the creepy illustration I found from the same time period.
Monday, February 21, 2011
First Post in My Countdown of the Best Ghost Stories 1800-1849
In 2010 I counted down the Top 40 horror stories from 1800-1849 and published The Best Horror Short Stories 1800-1849: A Classic Horror Anthology. A lot of people were interested in the countdown so I've decided to countdown the best ghost stories for this time period in 2011. There will be a few surprises along the way, too. So sit back, relax, and get ready to experience some scary ghost stories.
Posted via email from Best Classic Horror Short Stories Blog