The Books I Should Have Read in School Group

'Tis the season:
This new collection of ghost stories and gothic tales transports readers into the realm of the supernatural and mysteries of the afterlife.

The book includes twelve illustrated stories dating from 1893 to 1926,
In these haunting stories, unwitting characters encounter restless spirits, eerie visions, and otherworldly phenomena that defy rational explanation. Wharton's ghosts lurk in decaying New England mansions, mist-shrouded English estates, sun-drenched Italian villas, and the remote Moroccan desert, terrifying the living with their unfinished business.

From menacing revenants like the tormented spirit in "The Lady's Maid's Bell" to enigmatic hauntings like the disquieting presence in "The Eyes," Wharton combines the ghostly and the psychological in tales that transcend the traditional gothic ghost story. With her subtle prose and complex character studies, she peels back layers of ambiguity to reveal the nightmares that can lurk within the human heart and mind.

Stories in this

"The Fullness of Life" (1893)
While not strictly a ghost story, this early work deals with the afterlife and features a conversation between a recently deceased woman and the Spirit of Life, touching on supernatural themes.

"A Journey" (1899)
This short story explores the experiences of a woman traveling alone on a train. The story delves into themes of isolation, introspection, and the challenges of navigating social expectations as a woman in the late 19th century.

"The Duchess at Prayer" (1900)
This gothic tale is set in an Italian palazzo and involves a centuries-old story of jealousy, cruelty, and a horrific punishment, embodying many classic gothic tropes.

"The Lady's Maid's Bell" (1902)
This ghost story follows a new maid in a gloomy country house who encounters the ghost of her predecessor. It features classic gothic elements like a haunted house, mysterious occurrences, and an atmosphere of dread.

"The Eyes" (1910)
A tale of psychological horror where a man is haunted by a pair of disembodied eyes. It blends supernatural elements with psychological tension, creating a deeply unsettling atmosphere.

"Afterward" (1910)
Set in an old English country house, this ghost story involves a couple who unknowingly buy a haunted property. The slow-building tension and the delayed realization of the ghostly presence make this a classic of the genre.

"The Triumph of Night" (1914)
This story features a doppelganger theme, with a guest at a winter house party seeing a sinister double of his host. It explores themes of premonition and fate within a gothic framework.

"Kerfol" (1916)
Set in an ancient Breton château, this story involves ghostly dogs and a centuries-old tale of murder. It combines historical elements with supernatural occurrences in a classic gothic style.

"Miss Mary Pask" (1925)
A psychological ghost story that blurs the line between life and death. The ambiguity about whether the titular character is alive or dead creates a haunting atmosphere.

"A Bottle of Perrier" (1926)
While not supernatural, this story has strong gothic elements. Set in a remote desert location, it builds tension through isolation and the gradual uncovering of a dark secret.
368 pages,
(goodreads)
Published October 21, 2024

This new collection of ghost stories and gothic tales transports readers into the realm of the supernatural and mysteries of the afterlife.

In these haunting stories, unwitting characters encounter restless spirits, eerie visions, and otherworldly phenomena that defy rational explanation. Wharton's ghosts lurk in decaying New England mansions, mist-shrouded English estates, sun-drenched Italian villas, and the remote Moroccan desert, terrifying the living with their unfinished business.

From menacing revenants like the tormented spirit in "The Lady's Maid's Bell" to enigmatic hauntings like the disquieting presence in "The Eyes," Wharton combines the ghostly and the psychological in tales that transcend the traditional gothic ghost story. With her subtle prose and complex character studies, she peels back layers of ambiguity to reveal the nightmares that can lurk within the human heart and mind.

Stories in this

"The Fullness of Life" (1893)
While not strictly a ghost story, this early work deals with the afterlife and features a conversation between a recently deceased woman and the Spirit of Life, touching on supernatural themes.

"A Journey" (1899)
This short story explores the experiences of a woman traveling alone on a train. The story delves into themes of isolation, introspection, and the challenges of navigating social expectations as a woman in the late 19th century.

"The Duchess at Prayer" (1900)
This gothic tale is set in an Italian palazzo and involves a centuries-old story of jealousy, cruelty, and a horrific punishment, embodying many classic gothic tropes.

"The Lady's Maid's Bell" (1902)
This ghost story follows a new maid in a gloomy country house who encounters the ghost of her predecessor. It features classic gothic elements like a haunted house, mysterious occurrences, and an atmosphere of dread.

"The Eyes" (1910)
A tale of psychological horror where a man is haunted by a pair of disembodied eyes. It blends supernatural elements with psychological tension, creating a deeply unsettling atmosphere.

"Afterward" (1910)
Set in an old English country house, this ghost story involves a couple who unknowingly buy a haunted property. The slow-building tension and the delayed realization of the ghostly presence make this a classic of the genre.

"The Triumph of Night" (1914)
This story features a doppelganger theme, with a guest at a winter house party seeing a sinister double of his host. It explores themes of premonition and fate within a gothic framework.

"Kerfol" (1916)
Set in an ancient Breton château, this story involves ghostly dogs and a centuries-old tale of murder. It combines historical elements with supernatural occurrences in a classic gothic style.

"Miss Mary Pask" (1925)
A psychological ghost story that blurs the line between life and death. The ambiguity about whether the titular character is alive or dead creates a haunting atmosphere.

"A Bottle of Perrier" (1926)
While not supernatural, this story has strong gothic elements. Set in a remote desert location, it builds tension through isolation and the gradual uncovering of a dark secret.

This new collection of ghost stories and gothic tales transports readers into the realm of the supernatural and mysteries of the afterlife.

In these haunting stories, unwitting characters encounter restless spirits, eerie visions, and otherworldly phenomena that defy rational explanation. Wharton's ghosts lurk in decaying New England mansions, mist-shrouded English estates, sun-drenched Italian villas, and the remote Moroccan desert, terrifying the living with their unfinished business.

From menacing revenants like the tormented spirit in "The Lady's Maid's Bell" to enigmatic hauntings like the disquieting presence in "The Eyes," Wharton combines the ghostly and the psychological in tales that transcend the traditional gothic ghost story. With her subtle prose and complex character studies, she peels back layers of ambiguity to reveal the nightmares that can lurk within the human heart and mind.

Stories in this

"The Fullness of Life" (1893)
While not strictly a ghost story, this early work deals with the afterlife and features a conversation between a recently deceased woman and the Spirit of Life, touching on supernatural themes.

"A Journey" (1899)
This short story explores the experiences of a woman traveling alone on a train. The story delves into themes of isolation, introspection, and the challenges of navigating social expectations as a woman in the late 19th century.

"The Duchess at Prayer" (1900)
This gothic tale is set in an Italian palazzo and involves a centuries-old story of jealousy, cruelty, and a horrific punishment, embodying many classic gothic tropes.

"The Lady's Maid's Bell" (1902)
This ghost story follows a new maid in a gloomy country house who encounters the ghost of her predecessor. It features classic gothic elements like a haunted house, mysterious occurrences, and an atmosphere of dread.

"The Eyes" (1910)
A tale of psychological horror where a man is haunted by a pair of disembodied eyes. It blends supernatural elements with psychological tension, creating a deeply unsettling atmosphere.

"Afterward" (1910)
Set in an old English country house, this ghost story involves a couple who unknowingly buy a haunted property. The slow-building tension and the delayed realization of the ghostly presence make this a classic of the genre.

"The Triumph of Night" (1914)
This story features a doppelganger theme, with a guest at a winter house party seeing a sinister double of his host. It explores themes of premonition and fate within a gothic framework.

"Kerfol" (1916)
Set in an ancient Breton château, this story involves ghostly dogs and a centuries-old tale of murder. It combines historical elements with supernatural occurrences in a classic gothic style.

"Miss Mary Pask" (1925)
A psychological ghost story that blurs the line between life and death. The ambiguity about whether the titular character is alive or dead creates a haunting atmosphere.

"A Bottle of Perrier" (1926)
While not supernatural, this story has strong gothic elements. Set in a remote desert location, it builds tension through isolation and the gradual uncovering of a dark secret.

This new collection of ghost stories and gothic tales transports readers into the realm of the supernatural and mysteries of the afterlife.

In these haunting stories, unwitting characters encounter restless spirits, eerie visions, and otherworldly phenomena that defy rational explanation. Wharton's ghosts lurk in decaying New England mansions, mist-shrouded English estates, sun-drenched Italian villas, and the remote Moroccan desert, terrifying the living with their unfinished business.

From menacing revenants like the tormented spirit in "The Lady's Maid's Bell" to enigmatic hauntings like the disquieting presence in "The Eyes," Wharton combines the ghostly and the psychological in tales that transcend the traditional gothic ghost story. With her subtle prose and complex character studies, she peels back layers of ambiguity to reveal the nightmares that can lurk within the human heart and mind.

Stories in this

"The Fullness of Life" (1893)
While not strictly a ghost story, this early work deals with the afterlife and features a conversation between a recently deceased woman and the Spirit of Life, touching on supernatural themes.

"A Journey" (1899)
This short story explores the experiences of a woman traveling alone on a train. The story delves into themes of isolation, introspection, and the challenges of navigating social expectations as a woman in the late 19th century.

"The Duchess at Prayer" (1900)
This gothic tale is set in an Italian palazzo and involves a centuries-old story of jealousy, cruelty, and a horrific punishment, embodying many classic gothic tropes.

"The Lady's Maid's Bell" (1902)
This ghost story follows a new maid in a gloomy country house who encounters the ghost of her predecessor. It features classic gothic elements like a haunted house, mysterious occurrences, and an atmosphere of dread.

"The Eyes" (1910)
A tale of psychological horror where a man is haunted by a pair of disembodied eyes. It blends supernatural elements with psychological tension, creating a deeply unsettling atmosphere.

"Afterward" (1910)
Set in an old English country house, this ghost story involves a couple who unknowingly buy a haunted property. The slow-building tension and the delayed realization of the ghostly presence make this a classic of the genre.

"The Triumph of Night" (1914)
This story features a doppelganger theme, with a guest at a winter house party seeing a sinister double of his host. It explores themes of premonition and fate within a gothic framework.

"Kerfol" (1916)
Set in an ancient Breton château, this story involves ghostly dogs and a centuries-old tale of murder. It combines historical elements with supernatural occurrences in a classic gothic style.

"Miss Mary Pask" (1925)
A psychological ghost story that blurs the line between life and death. The ambiguity about whether the titular character is alive or dead creates a haunting atmosphere.

"A Bottle of Perrier" (1926)
While not supernatural, this story has strong gothic elements. Set in a remote desert location, it builds tension through isolation and the gradual uncovering of a dark secret.