Famous Modern Ghost Stories: Selected, With An Introduction

Name: Famous Modern Ghost Stories: Selected, With An Introduction
Price: 18.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781544720104

✍️ Anatole France

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$18.00

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A 1920 anthology of pioneering ghost stories selected by Dorothy Scarborough.

Dorothy Scarborough compiled this work to preserve the best ghost stories of her time. She was an academic who studied at Baylor University, the University of Chicago, and Oxford University. Her expertise in folk culture and supernatural fiction informs the selection process. The book reflects her view on the genre through careful curation. It stands as a historical document of literary taste from the early twentieth century. Scarborough’s background in literature and her teaching career at Columbia University provide context for her choices. The collection highlights authors who shaped the genre before 1920. It offers a glimpse into how supernatural tales were valued during that era.

Key Themes

ghost stories folk culture supernatural fiction

Literary Context

This book reflects early twentieth-century American interest in supernatural literature. Dorothy Scarborough edited it after earning her doctorate from Columbia University. Her work connects academic study of the supernatural with popular ghost story collections. The 1920 publication date places it between the Victorian era and modern horror.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

M.R. James · Saki · Shirley Jackson · The Supernatural in Modern English

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Ghost Stories

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2017 📖 340 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781544720104

📝 Description: Famous Modern Ghost Stories: Selected, With An Introduction

This volume presents Famous Modern Ghost Stories, a collection selected by Dorothy Scarborough and originally published in 1920. The title retains the word modern to honor Scarborough’s editorial work, even though the included tales are now over a century old. The book gathers works by notable authors born in the 1800s who pioneered the ghost story genre. Dorothy Scarborough was an American writer of folk culture and cotton farming who held a doctorate of literature from Columbia University. She taught there until her death in 1935 and wrote the dissertation The Supernatural in Modern English, which remains a basic information source today. The collection is organized as a curated anthology of supernatural fiction. It draws on traditions established by writers who defined the field during their lifetimes. Readers interested in early twentieth-century editorial choices will find value here. Those seeking contemporary horror or newly written tales may find the material dated. The book suits scholars of folk culture and readers interested in the history of supernatural literature. It does not suit those looking for modern psychological thrillers or non-fiction on cotton farming, nor does it feature stories from france.

💎 Our verdict on Famous Modern Ghost Stories: Selected, With An Introduction

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Dorothy Scarborough’s anthology stands as a vital historical document of early twentieth-century literary taste. By selecting works from authors who defined the field during their lifetimes, the collection highlights the traditions established by pioneers of the genre. The volume is well-suited for scholars and enthusiasts interested in the academic perspective on supernatural fiction. It effectively demonstrates how these tales were curated to preserve the best examples of the time. While the stories are now over a century old, they remain significant for understanding the roots of ghost story literature. The book does not feature modern psychological depth but offers historical context that is invaluable for serious readers of the subgenre.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

This collection is essential for scholars of folk culture and historians of supernatural literature who wish to understand the genre's evolution during the early twentieth century. It offers a unique glimpse into Dorothy Scarborough’s academic curation, preserving tales by pioneering authors born in the 1800s. Readers interested in the history of literary taste will find value in observing how these works were valued at the time. However, those seeking contemporary horror or newly written psychological thrillers may find the material dated. It is particularly suited for those studying the foundational texts that shaped ghost stories before modern interpretations emerged.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Dorothy Scarborough’s anthology stands as a vital historical document of early twentieth-century literary taste. By selecting works from authors who defined the field during their lifetimes, the collection highlights the traditions established by pioneers of the genre. The volume is well-suited for scholars and enthusiasts interested in the academic perspective on supernatural fiction. It effectively demonstrates how these tales were curated to preserve the best examples of the time. While the stories are now over a century old, they remain significant for understanding the roots of ghost story literature. The book does not feature modern psychological depth but offers historical context that is invaluable for serious readers of the subgenre.