The "Ghost Book" Series

A Bibliography

by Rick Kennett

• This article first appeared in All Hallows #20, February 1999
• See also Rick's Bibliography of Fontana's "Great Ghost Stories".

In its day The Ghost Book was a landmark anthology in the field of supernatural literature. Published by Hutchinson & Co in 1926, this all-original hardback counted some heavyweight names in its contents page: L.P. Hartly, Algernon Blackwood, Hugh Walpole, Walter de la Mare, Oliver Onions, Arthur Machen, and D.H. Lawrence. Not the least of these was its editor, Lady Cynthia Asquith, who would be rightly remembered many years later in the inaugural volume of The Fontana Great Ghost Story anthology series as: "Friend and Patron of Ghosts and of their Creators".

The Ghost Book was most likely intended as a one-off because The Second Ghost Book, also edited by Asquith, did not appear until twenty-six years later, in 1952 under the imprint of James Barrie. This publisher and its successors, Barrie Books and then Barrie & Jenkins, continued the series as before with all original stories. Initially published at long intervals with volume three appearing in 1955, volume four in 1965, and volume five in 1969, it then settled into an annual schedule until its conclusion at volume thirteen in 1977. By then it had published 224 stories (and one poem) by 122 authors, all contemporary.

Its editors were as varied as its publishing schedule. The first three volumes were edited by Cynthia Asquith, volume four by James Turner, five to nine by Rosemary Timperley, ten and eleven by Aidan Chambers, twelve by Polly Parkins (anonymously) and thirteen by James Hale.

After the star-studded first volume, later editions contained a great many more new and lesser-known writers represented either with one or two appearances or numbered among a small stable of regulars. Exceptions to this were stories by Robert Aickman (including one of his earliest), Kit Pedler (better known for his SF), Ronald Chetwynd-Hayes, James Turner, Rosemary Timperley, and L.P. Hartly who contributed new tales right up to the time of his death in 1972.

Like a ghost itself, the series continued to appear even after its demise. Since the fifties Pan Books had been reprinting the various volumes of The Ghost Book in paperback, bringing out the later editions usually two years after their hardback appearance. Volume six was split into two parts. Volumes ten and eleven were published together in a single thick paperback as The Bumper Book of Ghost Stories; likewise volumes twelve and thirteen were published together as The Second Bumper Book of Ghost Stories. Pan went on to produce two more large volumes in the Bumper Book series in 1980 and 1981, and though they were not incarnations of The Ghost Book — sourced instead from The Midnight Ghost Book (Barrie & Jenkins, 1978) and The After Midnight Ghost Book (Hutchinson & Co, 1980) — they were in a very real sense descendants of that prestigious anthology published fifty-five years earlier by that "Friend and Patron of Ghosts and of their Creators", Lady Cynthia Asquith.

Aickman, Robert

"Ringing the Changes" Volume 3, 1955
"Just a Song at Twilight" Volume 4, 1965

Aiken, Joan

"The Cold Flame" Volume 5, 1969
"The Sale of Midsummer" Volume 6, 1970
"Furry Night" Volume 10, 1974

Asquith, Cynthia

"One Grave Too Few" Volume 2, 1952
"Who is Sylvia?" Volume 3, 1955

Asquith, Michael

"The Uninvited Face" Volume 3, 1955

Bagnold, Enid

"The Amorous Ghost" Volume 1, 1926

Baker, Denys Val

"The Face in the Mirror" Volume 4, 1965
"The Girl on the Beach" Volume 5, 1969
"The Homecoming" Volume 8, 1972

Barber, Dulan

"Cuckoo" Volume 13, 1977

Barlay, Kate

"The Expert" Volume 4, 1965

Batchelor, Kay

"The Spirit is Willing" Volume 9, 1973

Bigland, Eileen

"The Lass with the Delicate Air" Volume 2, 1952

Blackwood, Algernon

"Chemical" Volume 1, 1926

Blyth, Ronald

"Take Your Partners" Volume 3, 1955
"A Bit Simple" Volume 4, 1965
"The Shadows of the Living" Volume 6, 1970

Bowen, Elizabeth

"Hand in Glove" Volume 2, 1952
"The Claimant" Volume 3, 1955

Bradnum, Fredrick

"The Questionable Child" Volume 7, 1971
"The Feet of Clay" Volume 8, 1972
"The Lady of Long Lawns" Volume 10, 1974
"Folly" Volume 11, 1975

Breinburg, Petronella

"Na Jorka fo Bekoisi" Volume 11, 1975

Brooke-Rose, Christine

"On Terms" Volume 4, 1965

Brooks, Collin

"Possession on Completion" Volume 2, 1952
"Mrs Smiff" Volume 3, 1955

Brown, George Mackay

"Mister Scarecrow" Volume 5, 1969
"The Drowned Rose" Volume 6, 1970
"Sara" Volume 7, 1971
"The Interrogator" Volume 8, 1972
"Brig-O-Dread" Volume 9, 1973
"Soldier from the Wars Returning" Volume 10, 1974
"The Pirate's Ghost" Volume 11, 1975

Burke, John

"Casualty" Volume 6, 1970
"Flitting Tenant" Volume 7, 1971
"The Loiterers" Volume 8, 1972
"False Harmonic" Volume 9, 1973
"Leave of Absence" Volume 10, 1974
"The Custodian" Volume 11, 1975

Butler, Michael

"Qwert" Volume 7, 1971

Caslon, Tom

"Gravedigger" Volume 13, ,1977

Causley, Charles

"A Local Haunting" (poem) Volume 4, 1965

Chetwynd-Hayes, R.

"The Coloured Transmission" Volume 10, 1974
"Calvunder" Volume 12, 1976

Codrington, Ursula

"The Shades of Sleepe" Volume 3, 1955

Compton, D.G.

"Sarah" Volume 4, 1965

Connell, John

"Back to the Beginning" Volume 2, 1952
"The House in the Glen" Volume 3, 1955

Corbyn, Ernest

"The Tip Off" Volume 5, 1969
"Girl Who Looked Like Barby" Volume 6, 1970
"Alfredo, Maria and Me" Volume 7, 1971

Curling, Jonathan

"The Restless Rest House" Volume 2, 1952
"I Became Bulwinkle" Volume 3, 1955

Dane, Clemence

"Spinster's Rest" Volume 1, 1926

Danielou, Alain

"The Game of Dice" Volume 4, 1965

Davies, L.P.

"End Game" Volume 10, 1974

Davis, Richard

"A Day Out" Volume 5, 1969
"Elsie and Agnes" Volume 6, 1970

de la Mare, Walter

"A Recluse" Volume 1, 1926
"The Guardian" Volume 2, 1952

Delving, Michael

"Recoil" Volume 10, 1974

de Selby, Maria

"Robe's Mother" Volume 13, 1

Dickinson, Peter

"Mystery Man"

Duncan, Ronald

"Consanguinity"

Dunsany, Lord

"Autumn Cricket" Volume 2, 1
"The Ghost of the Valley"

Eden, Dorothy

"Madonna Lilies" Volume 7, 1

Elliot, John

"The Blood Goes Round"
"Locked On" Volume 7, 1971
"The Family" Volume 8, 1972

Fabyan, Evelyn

"Bombers' Night" Volume 2, 1952
"Napoleon's Hat" Volume 3, 1955
"The Lorraine Cross" Volume 4, 1965

Fancett, Elizabeth

"When Morning Comes" Volume 5, 1969
"The Judas Joke" Volume 6, 1970
"The Balance of Power" Volume 7, 1971

Farjeon, Eleanor

"Spooner" Volume 2, 1952

Fitt, Mary

"The Amethyst Cross" Volume 2, 1952
"The Doctor" Volume 3, 1955

Ford, Peter

"The Home Stretch" Volume 4, 1965

George, Daniel

"The Woman in Black" Volume 3, 1955

Ginger, John

"Fences" Volume 7, 1971

Gordon, Giles

"Crampton Manor" Volume 9, 1973
"Peake" Volume 11, 1975
"In Spite of Himself" Volume 12, 1976
"Horses of Venice" Volume 13, 1977

Hanagan, Eva

"The Uninvited" Volume 13, 1977

Harker, Kenneth

"Sport of the Oak" Volume 13, 1977

Hart, R.B.

"Moving On" Volume 13, 1977

Hartfield, Rachel

"The Bull" Volume 3, 1955

Hartley, L.P.

"A Visitor from Down Under" Volume 1, 1926
"W.S." Volume 2, 1952
"Someone in the Lift" Volume 3, 1955
"The Shadow on the Wall" Volume 5, 1969
"Fall in at the Double" Volume 6, 1970
"The Sound of Voices" Volume 7, 1971
"Mrs G.G." Volume 8, 1972
"The Stain on the Chair" Volume 9, 1973

Haynes, Dorothy K.

"The Derelict Track" Volume 7, 1971
"The Man Who Went Too Far" Volume 8, 1972
"The Fort" Volume 10, 1974
"Kiss of Life" Volume 11, 1975
"Matthew Lurk, Tractorman" Volume 12, 1976

Hood, Christopher

"The White Citroen" Volume 9, 1973

Hughes, Fielden

"Dear Ghost ..." Volume 4, 1965

Hynam, John

"Exorcizing Baldassare" Volume 4, 1965
"Four and One More" Volume 5, 1969
"Restless Lady" Volume 6, 1970
"The White Eyes of the Little Grey God" Volume 7, 1971
"A Legion Marching By" Volume 8, 1972
"One for My Baby" Volume 9, 1973

Ibbotson, Peter

"On a Hallowe'en in Suffolk" Volume 5, 1969

Jenkins, Elizabeth

"On No Account, My Love" Volume 3, 1955

Keating, H.R.F.

"Mr Saul" Volume 13, 1977

Kitchin, C.H.B.

"The Chelsea Cat" Volume 2, 1952

Lane, Margaret

"The Day of the Funeral" Volume 3, 1955

Laski, Marghanita

"The Tower" Volume 3, 1955

Laver, James

"Somebody Calls" Volume 3, 1955

Lawrence, D.H.

"The Rocking-Horse Winner" Volume 1, 1926

Leach, Christopher

"Private Meadows" Volume 10, 1974
"The Trouble With Nathan" Volume 11, 1975

Leslie, Shane

"A Laugh on the Professor" Volume 3, 1955

Lord, Graham

"The Poltergeist" Volume 13, 1977

Lowndes, Mrs Belloc

"The Duenna" Volume 1, 1926

Macaulay, Rose

"Whitewash" Volume 2, 1952

MacCarthy, Desmond

"Pargiton and Harby" Volume 1, 1926

Machen, Arthur

"Munitions of War" Volume 1, 1926

Mackail, Denis

"The Lost Tragedy" Volume 1, 1926

Moat, John

"Chope's Retreat" Volume 9, 1973

Morse, Brian

"A Jealous Ghost" Volume 10, 1974
"Hope Cottages" Volume 11, 1975

Murray, Angus Wolfe

"The Visitation" Volume 8, 1972

Onions, Oliver

"Two Trifles: 1. The Ether Hogs, 2. The Mortal" Volume 1, 1926

Parkhill-Rathbone, James

"A Shade Byronic" Volume 12, 1976

Pedler, Kit

"Image in Capsule" Volume 6, 1970
"The Long Term Residents" Volume 7, 1971
"Terence and the Unholy Father" Volume 8, 1972
"White Caucasian Male" Volume 9, 1973

Phelps, Gilbert

"Who Were You with Last Night?" Volume 9, 1973
"Call a Spade a Spade" Volume 12, 1976

Phillips, Jennifer

"Dog in a Chip Shop" Volume 5, 1969

Potter, Margaret

"The Boy on the Bus" Volume 12, 1976

Pritchett, V.S.

"A Story of Don Juan" Volume 2, 1952

Pudney, John

"Ivory Joe" Volume 4, 1965

Ray, C.L.

"The Corner Shop" Volume 1, 1926

Ross, Maggie

"The Man Across the River" Volume 5, 1969
"The Soldier" Volume 6, 1970
"Knight of the Papal Order of the Golden Spur" Volume 7, 1971
"The Search for Carloff" Volume 8, 1972
"When the Music's Over, Turn on the Lights" Volume 9, 1973

Rowe, Albert

"The Case of Dr A.D. Hunter" Volume 10, 1974
"The Question" Volume 12, 1976

Rye, Anthony

"Hapladies" Volume 4, 1965

Salway, Lance

"Undesirable Residence" Volume 12, 1976

Sansom, William

"A Saving Grace" Volume 4, 1965
"Preview" Volume 12, 1976

Selmer, Richard

"The Terrible Stone of Chalcombe Manor" Volume 8, 1972
"The Violet Lady" Volume 9, 1973

Sherry, Sylvia

"Footsteps" Volume 12, 1976

Sinclair, May

"The Villa Desiree" Volume 1, 1926

Spain, Nancy

"The Bewilderment of Snake McKoy" Volume 2, 1952
"The King of Spades" Volume 3, 1955

Smith, Shelley

"The Follower" Volume 5, 1969
"I'll Wait for You" Volume 6, 1970
"A Thing Possessed" Volume 7, 1971

Stonier, G.W.

"The Memoirs of a Ghost" Volume 2, 1952

Strong, L.A.G.

"Danse Macabre" Volume 2, 1952
"The House that Wouldn't Keep Still" Volume 3, 1955

Stubbs, Jean

"The Unquiet Spirit" Volume 4, 1965
"The Walking Shadow" Volume 6, 1970
"A Difficult Man" Volume 7, 1971
"Someone Dear to Me" Volume 8, 1972
"Jarvey's Kingdoms" Volume 9, 1973
"An Evening at the Cromers" Volume 10, 1974
"The Band in the Park" Volume 11, 1975

Sutton, Barry

"The Tale of Caseley Halt" Volume 10, 1974

Tabori, Paul

"Fear" Volume 4, 1965
"The Congregation of Rabbi Nachman" Volume 5, 1969
"The Swinging Ghost" Volume 6, 1970

Taylor, Avery

"Remember the Roses" Volume 5, 1969
"Death of a Ghost" Volume 6, 1970

Taylor, Elizabeth

"Poor Girl" Volume 3, 1955

Thompson, R.W.

"The House by the Water" Volume 4, 1965

Timperley, Rosemary

"Christmas Meeting" Volume 2, 1952
"Harry" Volume 3, 1955
"The Private Torture Chamber" Volume 4, 1965
"The Mistress in Black" Volume 5, 1969
"Rachel and Simon" Volume 6, 1970
"Walk on the Water" Volume 8, 1972
"Sister Varden" Volume 9, 1973
"Little Girl lost" Volume 10, 1974
"Out of Sight, Out of Life" Volume 12, 1976

Tinniswood, Peter

"The Top Coat" Volume 13, 1977

Townsend, John Rowe

"Trying to Connect You" Volume 11, 1975

Treadgold, Mary

"The Telephone" Volume 3, 1955

Trevor, William

"The Only Story" Volume 7, 1971
"The Love of a Good Woman" Volume 8, 1972
"George and Alice and Isabel" Volume 9, 1973
"The Death of Peggy Morrissey" Volume 11, 1975

Turner, James

"The Guardian" Volume 4, 1965
"Double Take" Volume 5, 1969
"No One Ever Comes Here in Winter" Volume 6, 1970
"Fly Away Home" Volume 7, 1971
"An Ordered Sequence of Events" Volume 8, 1972
"Love Me, Love My Car" Volume 9, 1973

Urquhart, Fred

"Water Water Wallflower" Volume 4, 1965

Wade, Rosalind

"Averil at Endercombe" Volume 4, 1965

Walpole, Hugh

"Mrs Lunt" Volume 1, 1926

Webb, Mary

"Mr Tallent's Ghost" Volume 1, 1926

Weldon, Fay

"Angel, All Innocence" Volume 13, 1977

Westlake, Donald E.

"In at the Death" Volume 13, 1977

Whibley, Charles

"Twelve O'Clock Volume 1, 1926

Whistler, Laurence

"Captain Dalgety Returns" Volume 2, 1952

Wilkinson, Winifred

"Nothing" Volume 5, 1969
"The Singer" Volume 6, 1970
"The Aunts" Volume 7, 1971

Williams, Victoria

"Rest in Peace" Volume 10, 1974
"Refuge for the Heart" Volume 11, 1975

Wilson, Angus

"Animals or Human Beings" Volume 3, 1955

Wilson, Steve

"Ghosts There Must Be With Me in This Old House" Volume 12, 1976

Wyman, Lawrie

"Phantom of the Screen" Volume 5, 1969