Classic Ghost Stories

Casting The Runes by M. R. James

19 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

M.R. James (1862-1936) was an English author, medievalist scholar, and provost of King's College, Cambridge. Best known for his ghost stories, which a...

The Smoke Ghost by Fritz Leiber

12 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fritz Leiber (1910-1992) was an influential American writer of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is best known for his sword-and-sorcery storie...

The Topley Place Sale by A. N. L. Munby

05 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Alan Noel Latimer Munby (25 December 1913 – 26 December 1974) was a distinguished English librarian, bibliographical scholar, and book collector, no...

The Cairn on The Headland by Robert E. Howard

29 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Robert E. Howard (1906–1936) was an influential American author primarily known for his contributions to the genres of fantasy, horror, and adventur...

The Judge's House by Bram Stoker

22 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Abraham "Bram" Stoker was born on November 8, 1847, in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland. He was the third of seven children born to Abraham Stoker and Charlo...

The Vampyre by John Polidori

15 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John William Polidori, an Italian-English physician and writer born in 1795, was a notable figure associated with the Romantic movement. As the eldest...

The Ghostly Rental by Henry James

08 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Henry James (1843–1916) was an American author renowned for his contributions to literature, particularly within the realm of psychological realism....

The Black Widow by John Glasby

01 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Stephen Glasby (23 September 1928 – 5 June 2011) was a British author born in East Retford, Nottinghamshire. Trained as a research chemist and ...

The Tarroo-Ushtey by Nigel Kneale

23 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nigel Kneale was a highly acclaimed British screenwriter and novelist, best known for his pioneering work in the science fiction genre, particularly t...

The Shadow on The Moor by Stuart Strauss

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Stuart Strauss remains an enigmatic figure in the world of weird fiction, with scant information available about his life. He is known for a limited b...

Wake Not The Dead by Ernst Raupach

09 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ernst Benjamin Salomo Raupach, born on May 21, 1784, in Straupitz, Silesia, was a prominent German dramatist of the 19th century. His literary career ...

The Beast In The Cave by H. P. Lovecraft

02 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This is a reading of H. P. Lovecraft's The Beast In The Cave. "The Beast in the Cave" is a short story written by H. P. Lovecraft, a famous American h...

Three Miles Up by Elizabeth Jane Howard

26 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Elizabeth Jane Howard, born on March 26, 1923, in London, England, was a distinguished English novelist known for her versatile literary contributions...

The Second Passenger by Basil Copper

19 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Basil Copper, born on February 5, 1924, in London, and passing away on April 3, 2013, was an English writer who initially pursued a career in journali...

The Premonition by Lewis Darley

12 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lewis Darley is a copywriter and illustrator living in Nottingham. He contacted me early in 2023 about an animated film he was making for his story Th...

The Red Lodge by H R Wakefield

05 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Herbert Russell Wakefield (1888 – 2 August 1964) was a distinguished English writer known for his multifaceted contributions to literature. Born in ...

The Irtonwood Ghost by Elinor Glyn

29 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elinor Glyn, born Elinor Sutherland on October 17, 1864, in Jersey, Channel Islands, was a prominent English novelist and scriptwriter during the late...

The Story Of The Goblins Who Stole A Sexton by Charles Dickens

25 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Certainly! "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton" is a short story written by Charles Dickens as part of his collection titled "The Pickwick Pa...

A Strange Christmas Game by Charlotte Riddell

22 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Charlotte Riddell, born Charlotte Cowan in 1832, was a prolific and accomplished British writer during the Victorian era. She was recognized for her c...

Bone to His Bone by E. G. Swain

15 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Edmund Gill Swain, born on the 19th of February 1861 in Stockport, Cheshire, was a respected English cleric and author known for his contributions to ...

Couching At The Door by D K Broster

08 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dorothy Kathleen Broster, known by her pen name D.K. Broster, stands as a notable but often overlooked figure in literature, recognized for her except...

The Gardener by E F Benson

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh and Margaret Grainger rent a lovely old house near a golf course. At the bottom of the garden is a mysterious, well-kept thatched cottage that ap...

The Horror Under Penmire by Adrian Cole

24 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adrian Christopher Synnot Cole, the celebrated British author, was born in Plymouth, England, on July 22, 1949. His early years were shaped by a famil...

The Haunted Haven by A. Erskine Ellis

17 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Arthur Erskine Ellis, born on October 1, 1902, in Bangalore, British India, was a distinguished British biologist and author known for his remarkable ...

The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

10 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was a renowned Irish playwright, poet, and author known for his exceptional wit, flamboyant style, and profound contributions ...

The Horror at Chilton Castle

03 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Joseph Payne Brennan (1918-1990) was an American writer renowned for his contributions to horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Born in Bridgeport, Co...

Back From The Grave by Robert Silverberg

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Silverberg, born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 15, 1935, is a highly esteemed author known for his significant contributions to the world o...

The Graveyard Rats by Henry Kuttner

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"The Graveyard Rats" stands as a testament to Henry Kuttner's exceptional storytelling prowess. This eerie tale, originally published in the March 193...

The Beast of Averoigne by Clark Ashton Smith

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Clark Ashton Smith (1893–1961) was an American writer and artist known for his unique contributions to literature and art. - Born on January 13, 189...

Good Lady Ducayne by M E Braddon

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mary Elizabeth Braddon (4 October 1835 – 4 February 1915) was a renowned English novelist of the Victorian era, celebrated for her sensational works...

The Hand of M R James by Sarah Tolmie

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a long time since I’ve read a story by a living author. This story, “The Hand of M. R. James,” was written by Canadian author Sarah To...

The Crimson Weaver by R. Murray Gilchrist

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Murray Gilchrist, born on November 29, 1867, in Sheffield, England, was a Victorian writer whose literary contributions remain an intriguing en...

The Lost Room by Fitz James O'Brien

23 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Fitz James O'Brien (1828 – April 6, 1862) was an Irish-American writer, best known for his works in the genre of science fiction and fantasy. Born i...

The Struwwelpeter by Tony Walker

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

People have been asking for more of my own stories, so here's one. However, I have to warn you that I use the f-word in it and it is rather dark. It's...

The Werewolf by Eugene Field

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Step into the mysterious realm of Eugene Field's short story "The Werewolf." 🌕 This narrative unfolds a tale of love and lycanthropy, revolving aro...

Whitewash and The Empty Berth by Rose Macauley

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Thank you to Jay Rothermel for suggesting I read these stories. You can read his take on them here:[https://jayrothermel.substack.com/p/two-stories-by...

Schalken The Painter by J Sheridan Le Fanu

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-1873) was an Irish writer and one of the leading ghost story writers of the 19th century....

The House of The Dead Hand by Edith Wharton

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Edith Wharton was born Edith Newbold Jones on January 24, 1862, into a wealthy New York family. She was a prolific writer, known for her insightful an...

The New Catacomb by Arthur Conan Doyle

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Arthur Conan Doyle's "The New Catacomb" is a chilling exploration of the themes of revenge, betrayal, and obsession, all set against the haunting back...

All Hallows by Walter de La Mare

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Walter de La Mare (1873-1956) was an English poet, novelist, and short story writer known for his imaginative and evocative works. Born on April 25, 1...

An Account of Some Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street by J S Le Fanu

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Prepare for a chilling journey as we delve into the eerie world of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's "An Account of Some Strange Disturbances in Aungier Stree...

Negotium Perambulans by E. F. Benson

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Prepare to be captivated by E.F. Benson's haunting tale, 'Negotium Perambulans.' Join us as we journey into the depths of a mysterious fishing village...

The Horror of The Heights by Arthur Conan Doyle

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a renowned British writer and physician, best known for creating the famous detective character Sherlock Holmes. He was bor...

The Room In The Tower by E F Benson (2023 Recording)

24 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I've done this terrifying story by E F Benson before, but that was in 2019 and the sound wasn't great. Thanks to my supporters, I have much better sou...

The Deadfall by Ted Hughes

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Thanks to Gavin Critchley for sponsoring this episode!Ted Hughes (1930-1998) was an English poet and writer who is widely regarded as one of the most ...

The Golden Bough by David H Keller

15 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

David H. Keller was an American author known for his contributions to science fiction and pulp magazines during the early 20th century. He was born on...

Ringing The Changes by Robert Aickman

08 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Robert AickmanRobert Aickman was a British author best known for his highly influential and distinctive contributions to the genre of supernatural fic...

The House With The Brick-Kiln by E. F. Benson

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

n this classic ghost story by E.F. Benson, two friends rent an idyllic country house for a month of fishing, only to find themselves haunted by a male...

Madam Crowl's Ghost by J S Le Fanu

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu was an Irish writer born on August 28, 1814, in Dublin, Ireland. He was the third son of a Protestant family with French origi...

The Voice In The Night by William Hope Hodgson

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode features an audiobook reading of William Hope Hodgson's classic horror story, "The Voice in the Night." The story is set on a small saili...

Honeysuckle Cottage by P. G. Wodehouse

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

P. G. Wodehouse Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, popularly known as P. G. Wodehouse, was a British humorist and author who was born on October 15, 1881...

The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford

20 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Francis Marion Crawford was an American author and journalist who lived from 1854 to 1909. He was born in Bagni di Lucca, Italy, to a family of art co...

A Terribly Strange Bed by Wilkie Collins

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Step back in time to Victorian Paris, a city of mystery and intrigue, where danger lurks around every corner and secrets are hidden behind every close...

The Repairer of Reputations by Robert W. Chambers

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we delve into the dark and unsettling world of Robert W. Chambers' short story "The Repairer of Reputations." Join us as we explore t...

The Mysterious Bride by James Hogg

24 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

ames Hogg (1770-1835) was a Scottish poet, novelist, and essayist known for his work in the Romantic literary movement. He was born in the small villa...

Our Feathered Friends by Philip MacDonald

17 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast for a thrilling reading of 'Our Feathered Friends' by renowned British author Philip MacDonald. Originally pub...

The Tractate Middoth: A Chillingly Haunting Ghost Story by M.R. James

10 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

M. R. James's The Tractate Middoth is a classic ghost story  first published in 1911. This short story takes place in a library and is about a myste...

The House and the Brain by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join Tony as we explore Edward Bulwer-Lytton's classic short story, 'The House & The Brain'. This captivating tale, first published in 1859, follows a...

The Mistress in Black by Rosemary Timperley

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rosemary Timperley was born in 1920 in North London and died in November 1988. Her father was an architect and her mother a teacher. Timperley went to...

Afterward by Edith Wharton

10 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Edith Wharton's "Afterward" is a haunting and evocative audiobook. It is about a young woman named Mary Boyne, who moves with her husband into an old ...

The Lonesome Place by August Derleth

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Thank you to Steven Shipman for recommending this story.The Lonesome Place was published by August Derleth in 1962 in a collection known as Lonesome P...

The Shadow by E. Nesbit

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Shadow by E Nesbit is a masterful story of an apparition that signifies death. It is set in a large house with servants in England at the end of t...

The Chimes by Charles Dickens

31 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dickens's second Christmas story is called "The Chimes." The main character in this story is an old messenger Toby Veck who has lost hope in people. ...

The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth

30 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frederick McCarthy Forsyth CBE is an English author and journalist. He was born on August 25, 1938. A former RAF pilot and investigative journalist, c...

The Ghosts of Christmas Past by Tony Walker

24 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of my own stories, specially written for Christmas 2022. It’s a very personal story, and you may find it a little sentimental, but it is my Chri...

Green Holly by Elizabeth Bowen

23 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Get the Book that this story comes fromhttps://amzn.to/3Uu4kGX (affiliate link)A most wonderful Christmas Ghost story. I know I tend to over-enthuse, ...

The Ghost of Jerry Bundler by W W Jacobs

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Ghost of Jerry Bundler by W. W. Jacobs is Jacob's second most famous supernatural fiction short story after The Monkey's Paw. It's a Christmas Gho...

A Fall of Snow by James Turner

09 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A Fall of Snow by James Turner is a beautifully written and poignant story about a childhood visit to his uncle and a mysterious happening that stayed...

The Magic Shop by H G Wells

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Magic Shop by H G Wells was published in 1903. "The Magic Shop" is a fantasy short story about a little English boy named Gip who wanted his fathe...

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

25 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving is the classic Halloween story. It appears to be a ghost story, but is it? It was published in 1819 a...

The Dead by James Joyce

18 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Dead is is the last story, and the longest from James Joyce's 1914 short stories collection: Dubliners. It is longer than the rest, being more lik...

The Company Of Wolves by Angela Carter

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Company of Wolves by Angela Carter is a work of genius. There, I've said it.The Company of Wolves by Angela Carter is a short story from her colle...

The Witch Door by Ray Bradbury

04 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

 Ray Bradbury wrote "The Witch Door" in 1995.The main characters live in a dilapidated New England farmhouse. They've come to escape from the totalit...

The Stalls Of Barchester Cathedral by M R James

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral by M R James was published in 1910. It is one of Montague Rhodes James's most famous and best loved, or most feared...

The Whitehaven Bodysnatcher by Tony Walker

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Halloween! A disturbing and scary tale that will be performed live in Whitehaven this Halloween as part of our Eerie Cumbria programme.I hope yo...

Sardonicus By Ray Russell

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sardonicus by Ray Russell is possibly the best Gothic horror story written in the 20th century.  Ray Russell's mastery of language elevates this piec...

Basil Netherby By A C Benson

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Basil Netherby is a masterpiece of brooding supernatural fiction. This unabridged audio book style story narrates a ghost story or a story of possessi...

Brickett Bottom by Amyas Northcote

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Brickett Bottom by Amyas Northcote is about a mysterious house deep in the woods that no one but lonely young girls can see. There is a dark secret to...

One, Two Buckle my Shoe by Nugent Barker

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This story by Nugent Barker comes from his anthology Written By My Left Hand, which I guess is a pointer to the fact that they deal with things that e...

The Birds By Daphne Du Maurier Audiobook

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Birds by Daphne du Maurier was adapted into the 1963 horror thriller movie The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock. Daphne du Maurier wrote horror and myste...

The Outcast by E F Benson

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Outcast by E F Benson First we are introduced to Mrs Bertha Acres through the eyes of Tony and his wife Madge. The initial incident is her husband...

Pallinghurst Barrow by Grant Allen

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pallinghurst Barrow by Grant Allen A horror story about spirits who linger in old places in the English countryisde. Published 1892. Suggested by Susa...

The Doll by Daphne du Maurier

02 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Doll by Daphne du Maurier Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning was born in 1907 in London in 1931 and died in 1989 in Cornwall. She is a famous n...

A Pair of Muddy Shoes by Lennox Robinson

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A Pair of Muddy Shoes by Lennox Robinson Lennox Robinson was an Irish author, poet, dramatist and theatre produce who was born in Westgrove, County Co...

The Ghost Ship by Richard Middleton

19 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Ghost Ship by Richard Barham Middleton Richard Barham Middleton was born in 1882 in Staines then in Middlesex, but since 1965 part of Surrey. It c...

The Milk White Child of Ravenglass by Tony Walker

05 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Milk-White Child of Ravenglass by Tony Walker, is one of mine. As I explain in the notes, this is one of my More Cumbrian Ghost Stories book. You ...

The Entrance by Gerald Durrell

29 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Entrance by Gerald DurrellGerald Durrell was born in Jamshedpur which was then part of British India, in 1925 and died in St Hellier, Jersey in 19...

The Nameless Offspring by Clark Ashton Smith

22 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Clark Ashton SmithClark Ashton Smith was an American writer born in Long Valley, California in 1893 who died in Pacific Grove, California in 1961, age...

The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan PoeThe Masque of the Red Death was published in 1842 by Edgar Allan Poe in Graham’s Magazine.  He was pa...

The Eye of The Cat by Ruskin Bond

08 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ruskin BondRuskin Bond was born in 1934 in Kasauli in Punjab, India. His first novel was published when he was 22, A Room on the Roof and it won the J...

A Night on the Borders of the Black Forest by Amelia B Edwards

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Amelia B EdwardsBorn in 1831 in London and died in 1892 aged 60 in Weston Supermare at the seaside near Bristol. She was a novelist, traveller and ent...

The Catacomb by Peter Shilston

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Catacomb by Peter Shilston was recommended by one of my Patreons but it was hard to get hold of. It was published in the early 1980s in a fanzine ...

The Middle Toe of the Right Foot by Ambrose Bierce

17 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Middle Toe of the Right Foot by Ambrose Bierce is a ghost story set in the late 19th Century in the American south-west. A tightly crafted tale wi...

Mean Mr Mullins by Cathu Sahu

10 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mean Mr Mullins by Cathu Sahu is an original story by a living author: Cathy Sahu. A tale of a nasty man set in small-town America (at least I think i...

The Secret of the Vault by J Wesley Rosenquest

03 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Secret Of The Vault by J Wesley RosenquestRecommended by Mary Ware in August 2021. Published in Weird Tales, May 1938J WESLEY ROSENQUEST or Rosen...

The Call of Cthulhu by H P Lovecraft

27 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Call of Cthulhu by H P Lovecraft was commissioned by Gavin Critchley for me to read for all of you. Thanks to Gavin!The foundation story of Cosmic...

They Bite by Anthony Boucher

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anthony BoucherAnthony Boucher known as was the pen name of William Anthony Parker White and he was known at Tony. He was born in 1911 in Oakland Cali...

The Crown Derby Plate by Marjorie Bowen

13 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Crown Derby Plate by Marjorie Bowen is a classic ghost story and much requested. It has a ghost, a remote haunted house, windswept Essex marshes, ...

How Fear Departed The Long Gallery by E F Benson

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

E F BensonEdward Frederic Benson was born in 1867 at Wellington College, where his father was headmaster,  in Berkshire just outside London and died ...

The Hounds of Tindalos by Frank Belknap Long

29 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Hounds of Tindalos by Frank Belknap LongFrank Belknap  Long was born in 1901 in Harlem, New York (not the Netherlands) and died in 1992 aged 92 i...