-29% 🔥 Bestseller 1922 — Ghost Stories

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👻 Ghost Stories −29%

1922

Name: 1922
Price: 16.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781982136079

✍️ Stephen King

Reader Score

4.7

(8 reviews)

$16.99 ~~$24.00~~ Save $7.01 (29%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A confession of murder driven by greed over inherited land in rural Nebraska.

Wilfred James admits to killing his wife Arlette after moving to her father’s Nebraska estate. The story examines how property disputes can corrupt relationships and lead to horrific acts. King uses the novella format to explore the psychological weight of such a crime. The narrative does not shy away from the grim realities of their marriage or the subsequent supernatural fallout. It is a study in moral decay rather than a simple thriller. The work remains relevant for its sharp critique of marital dynamics and the destructive power of land ownership.

Key Themes

husband and wife murder inherited land

Literary Context

This novella appears in the collection Full Dark, No Stars and was previously published there. It is set in Hemingford, Nebraska, reflecting early twentieth-century rural American life. The story draws on gothic traditions of haunted houses and psychological horror prevalent in King’s broader bibliography.

Stephen King

📚 all books by this author (530) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Shirley Jackson · Thomas Ligotti · Flannery O'Connor

👻

Ghost Stories

🏛 Scribner Book Company 📅 2019 📖 195 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781982136079

📝 Description: 1922

Stephen King delivers a chilling tale of domestic betrayal in this novella. The narrative centers on Wilfred James, who confesses to murdering his wife, Arlette, after they relocate to Hemingford, Nebraska. This move places them on land willed to Arlette by her father, creating a tense dynamic between husband and wife over the property. King structures the story as a first-person confession, drawing readers into the psychological unraveling of a man consumed by greed and resentment. The text explores the dark undercurrents of marriage and the supernatural consequences of violence. It is part of the collection Full Dark, No Stars, originally published in that volume before this standalone edition appeared. The story relies on the tension between rural isolation and familial duty. Readers who enjoy psychological horror and gothic fiction will find much to appreciate here. Those seeking lighthearted entertainment or traditional ghost stories with clear resolutions may wish to look elsewhere. King’s reputation for crafting unsettling narratives is evident in this concise work. The novella format allows for a focused exploration of guilt and retribution. The setting in Nebraska adds a layer of stark realism to the supernatural elements. This edition, published by Scribner Book Company, offers a compact yet intense reading experience for fans of the genre.

💎 Our verdict on 1922

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🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

King delivers a chilling tale where rural isolation fuels familial duty and resentment. The novella format allows for a focused, intense examination of guilt without the bloat of a full novel. However, this is not for those seeking easy comfort or clear moral resolutions. It demands engagement with uncomfortable truths about greed and corruption. The stark realism of Nebraska grounds the supernatural elements, creating an unsettling atmosphere rather than mere scares. While concise, the narrative does not shy away from grim realities. Readers expecting traditional horror tropes may find the psychological weight heavy, but fans of gothic fiction will appreciate its critique of ownership and relationship dynamics.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers drawn to the intersection of domestic betrayal and supernatural consequence will find this novella deeply compelling. It offers a concentrated study in moral decay, driven by greed over inherited land rather than simple thriller mechanics. The first-person confession format pulls audiences into the psychological unraveling of Wilfred James, making it ideal for those who appreciate sharp critiques of marital dynamics and the destructive power of land ownership. Those seeking lighthearted entertainment or traditional ghost stories with clear resolutions may wish to look elsewhere. This work rewards patience with its intense exploration of guilt, retribution, and the grim realities of a marriage corrupted by property disputes.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you crave dense psychological dread rooted in rural isolation and the corrosive nature of marital resentment, this novella is your next read. However, readers seeking lighthearted escapism or traditional supernatural tales with neat, comforting resolutions should look elsewhere, as this…

Reader rating

4.7

Based on 8 reviews

Emily L.

July 24, 2026

Dread done right

Added this to the shelf next to the ones I reread. The ending is bleak and honest, not a twist for the sake of one. The monster is scarier for how little you see of it. Definitely recommend.

David K.

June 22, 2026

Excellent find

First order from this shop. Genuinely unsettling in places, and it earns it without cheap tricks. My only regret is not ordering it sooner.

John S.

February 21, 2026

Mixed feelings

Wanted something for October and it delivered. The monster is scarier for how little you see of it. It leans on old gothic bones and makes them creak convincingly. Good, with the caveats above.

Elena G.

July 17, 2025

Finally got around to ordering this. Not a jump-scare book; it gets under the skin and stays there. Five stars from me.

Ruth P.

May 25, 2025

This has been on my wishlist for months. Good introduction if you have not read this author before. Genuinely unsettling in places, and it earns it without cheap tricks. Glad I finally picked this up.

Ivy D.

March 9, 2025

First order from this shop. Good introduction if you have not read this author before. The ending is bleak and honest, not a twist for the sake of one.

Noah E.

March 1, 2025

Kept me up

Been meaning to get this one for a while. The atmosphere builds slowly and then does not let go. If you like this kind of cooking, don't hesitate.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Although it debuted in the Full Dark, No Stars collection, this novella functions perfectly as a standalone piece. You do not need prior knowledge of other stories to understand Wilfred’s descent into madness and the supernatural consequences that follow his violent actions.

The terror stems primarily from psychological realism and moral decay rather than jump scares. King focuses on the erosion of a marriage driven by greed and resentment, using the supernatural as a manifestation of guilt. The horror lies in the slow, inevitable unraveling of a man’s psyche under pressure.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

This work sits firmly within the American Gothic tradition, blending domestic noir with rural horror to explore how land ownership fuels familial decay. As a centerpiece of King’s Full Dark, No Stars collection, it exemplifies the shift toward concise, character-driven terror in modern horror. It stands alongside other regionalist works that use isolated settings to amplify psychological unraveling, proving that human betrayal often outpaces supernatural dread in its lasting impact.