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Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror (Tales of Terror)

by Chris Priestley, David Roberts (Illustrator)

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 · rating details · 1,017 ratings · 182 reviews

This spine-tingling, thrill-packed novel has more than enough fear-factor for the most ardent fan of scary stories. Uncle Montague lives alone in a big house, but regular visits from his nephew, Edgar, give him the opportunity to recount some of the most frightening stories he knows. As each tale unfolds, it becomes clear that something sinister is in the air. From the ac

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Paperback, 240 pages

Published 2008 by Bloomsbury Children's Books (first published 2007)

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Aug 19, 2012 Raquel Leite rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: segredo-dos-livros

ste livro conta-nos a história de um rapaz chamado Edgar, que durante as férias escolares, ficava em casa dos seus pais que lhe ficavam indiferentes, por isso vai muitas vezes a casa do seu tio Montague.
O Tio Montague é um mistério, toda a sua casa é um mistério, e Edgar não sabe muito acerca dele, só que conta histórias assustadoras que inventa ou que lhe são contadas dos objectos da sua casa, da sua sala e que Edgar vê por todo o lado, embora só conheça um quarto da casa escura.
As histórias sã...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Hilary rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, juvenile, dark, fantasy

imagine a cross between M R James and Edward Gorey, in particular 'The Gashlycrumb Tinies', and you pretty much have this book spread out in a nutshell. Solitary Edgar is in the habit, during the school holidays, of visiting his Uncle Montague, an equally solitary soul whose house (or at any rate the study, the only room Edgar has ever been in, save the lavatory) is filled with curios, each of which has a story behind it. A ghastly, creepy story which inevitably ends in the grisly death of its j...more

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May 17, 2013 Verity Brown rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of Lemony Snickett/Series of Unfortunate Events

I really wanted to give this five stars, but.... What is it sometimes about an otherwise really AWESOME book that makes the flaws stand out so much more starkly?

The good:
The stories told by Edgar's uncle are delightfully creepy, in the vein of Edward Gory and Lemony Snickett. Imagine The Gashlycrumb Tinies expanded to novel length. Imagine the more obscure stories of the Brothers Grimm, but set in the 19th and 20th centuries. This is good stuff, if you like that kind of thing. And I do.

The bad:...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Heartykiss rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Beschreibung:
Edgar ist gern bei seinem Onkel Montague. Wenn er bei ihm zu Besuch ist, erzählt ihn jener immer Geschichten. Edgars Elten jedoch finden, dass er ein komischer Kauz ist. Das Haus des Onkels befindet sich auf einem kleinen Hügel und einem von Mauern umgebenen Garten. Edgar kostete es jedes mal eine gewisse Überwindung zum Haus seines Onkels zu gelangen. Für ihn ist es so, als gäbe es hier nicht eine lebende Seele. Höchstens ein paar Kinder, die ab und an auftauchen. Als Edgar eines A...more Beschreibung:
Edgar ist gern bei seinem Onkel Montague. Wenn er bei ihm zu Besuch ist, erzählt ihn jener immer Geschichten. Edgars Elten jedoch finden, dass er ein komischer Kauz ist. Das Haus des Onkels befindet sich auf einem kleinen Hügel und einem von Mauern umgebenen Garten. Edgar kostete es jedes mal eine gewisse Überwindung zum Haus seines Onkels zu gelangen. Für ihn ist es so, als gäbe es hier nicht eine lebende Seele. Höchstens ein paar Kinder, die ab und an auftauchen. Als Edgar eines Abends wieder bei seinem Onkel zu Besuch ist, fragt jener ihn, wie so oft, ob er etwas merkwürdiges gesehen habe? Und wie jedes mal antwortet Edgar mit einem Nein. An diesem Abend erzählt sein Onkel ihm mehrere kleine Schauergeschichten, die alle mit Gegenständen zu tun haben, die sich in seinem Haus befinden...

Edgar weiß nicht recht, was er anfangs davon halten soll, doch je mehr ihm sein Onkel erzählt, desto mehr weiß er nicht ob sein Onkel sich das alles nur ausgedacht hat oder ob sie tatsächlich wahr sind..

Eigene Meinung:
Das Buch hat mir ausgesprochen gut gefallen. Mit seinen 224 Seiten ist es zwar kein dickes Buch, aber es hat mich von der Ersten bis zur letzten Seite gefesselt. Ich musste mich gestern Abend wirklich zwingen, aufhören zu lesen, sonst hätte ich wohlmöglich doch ein wenig schlecht geträumt ;) Ich konnte mir die Geschichten, die sein Onkel Edgar erzählt, nahezu bildlich vorstellen. Ich musste sooft an die Serie X-Faktor denken, bei der Geschichten erzählt werden, die manchmal der Wahrheit entsprechen und manchmal auch nicht. Ich persönlich habe das Buch "nur" ausgeliehen, da mich der hohe Preis für solch ein relativ dünnes Buch doch sehr abschreckt. Sollte ich es mal günstig irgendwo sehen, werde ich es aufjedenfall kaufen.

Was ich ebenfalls anmerken muss, ist die tolle Gestaltung der Innenseite. Zu jeder Schauergeschichte gibt es eine Illustration, die wie ich finde, wie die Faust aufs Auge passt. Genauso habe ich mir die Dinge oft vorgestellt. Auch das Cover gefällt mir sehr gut, was sehr dazu beigetragen hat, dass ich mich für dieses Buch entschieden habe. Ich habe bereits gesehen, dass es ein weiteres Buch mit neuen Kurzgeschichten gibt. Freue mich daher schon sehr, auf neue gruselige Schauergeschichten des Autors.

Fazit:
Ein Buch, was mich sowohl durch sein Äußeres als auch durch sein Inneres restlos überzeugen konnte! (less)

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Jun 11, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: scary story lovers, people who like The Series of Unfortunate Events, older YA audience

I picked this book up from the library on an excursion to find something different. And I definitely found it in this book. I have always been a fan of things that touch on the darker side of things, but not going too far into it. I like my horror, don't get me wrong, but I also like the books that give you that little knot in your stomach without making you freak out every time the house settles or your dog barks.

That being said, I am an adult... the stories in here were written to frighten chi...more

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Feb 12, 2012 Emilie Rosson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: all-time-favourites

When I was a little girl, I was always entranced by scary stories. I was a solitary & bookish sort and something about dark & disturbing tales intrigued what I think I began to see as a kind of melancholy streak in myself. It wasn't until I got older and I used to babysit other children that I began to realise that not all kids love scary stories quite as much - at least not to the extent that I did when I was little. Because whilst scary stories can genuinely petrify some kids, I always...more When I was a little girl, I was always entranced by scary stories. I was a solitary & bookish sort and something about dark & disturbing tales intrigued what I think I began to see as a kind of melancholy streak in myself. It wasn't until I got older and I used to babysit other children that I began to realise that not all kids love scary stories quite as much - at least not to the extent that I did when I was little. Because whilst scary stories can genuinely petrify some kids, I always discovered in them a kind of delighted glee at the horrors and spectres. My cousins and I used to watch horror films and tell ghostly stories in the dark with only an old torch for light. Those kinds of nights are some of the best that most of us remember about being children and it seems to me that Chris Priestley's Tales of Terror series captures that feeling perfectly.

The book follows a young boy named Edgar who, whilst being stuck at home during the school holidays with his indifferent parents, takes a trip to his Uncle Montague's house. Uncle Montague is a bit of an enigma. Edgar doesn't know much about him and has only ever seen one room of his dark & forbidding home. When he gets there, Uncle Montague entertains him by telling Edgar haunting tales about children from years gone by. But could there be something all the more sinister behind these disturbing tales?

The stories are all short, but perfectly paced and fit within the larger narrative in a way that both envelopes the reader in the shorter story and acts as an impetus to find out what tale comes next and where it is all leading. The varied settings & time periods are evocative and the characters are interesting & distinct. The scares are well-paced and the author employs suspense as well as genuine horror to make each one memorable & effective. This is the kind of book that begs to be read during childhood, when it's effect is most enthralling and most visceral. It's gothic atmosphere lends it a kind of creeping feeling of dread and a darkness that makes the trustworthiness of the main characters suspect from the outset. Playing on this ambiguity, the author ensures that the reader is unsettled to the core.

If you like scary tales, regardless of your age, this is a must-read. Short, well-written, enveloping and genuinely disturbing in parts; this book is a gem for anyone who likes to curl up when the evening rolls in and let a book stiffen their spine and raise the hairs on their neck.(less)

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Jan 27, 2012 logankstewart rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-read, ebook, horror, own, short-stories

Christopher Priestley's Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror is the kind of book that begs to be read aloud, with a British accent, and in the dark of night sitting next to a roaring fire while an unnatural storm brews outside. This book is an anthology of ghost stories and cautionary tales, all told by the mysterious Uncle Montague to a rather dimwitted nephew, Edgar. Most leave you with a crooked smile after finishing.

Uncle Montague's home is filled with odd collectibles. An old brass telescope. A...more Christopher Priestley's Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror is the kind of book that begs to be read aloud, with a British accent, and in the dark of night sitting next to a roaring fire while an unnatural storm brews outside. This book is an anthology of ghost stories and cautionary tales, all told by the mysterious Uncle Montague to a rather dimwitted nephew, Edgar. Most leave you with a crooked smile after finishing.

Uncle Montague's home is filled with odd collectibles. An old brass telescope. A gilt frame. A small Indian ink drawing that may or may not move. These and more all have a story to tell, and not a one of them is happy. In fact, the words "ghastly" and "terrible" came to mind more than once.

Uncle Montague tells Edward ten tales over the course of the evening. All take place within the frame of Edward and Montague reclining near a fire place in Montague's moody home. Noises break into the frame, setting the stage for something else that may exist outside of the stories. Most of the tales feature young children as their protagonists, and because of this, the horrifying aspects of Montague's tales is multiplied.

Enhancing the book and each story is illustrations in the style of Edward Gorey's Gashlycrumb Tinies. In fact, the stories read as if they were directly inspired and lifted from one of Gorey's panels. David Roberts, however, is the illustrator for the book, and his work is so memorable that I can scarcely think about Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror without thinking of the delightful illustrations.

It's hard to pick a favorite story here, as all were great for one reason or another. I particularly enjoyed the ones below.

"The Demon Bench End" is truly horrible. Young Thomas Haynes is not really a very good boy. For all appearances he is, but truthfully, he's just as bad as anyone else. After a fateful street side encounter with a tinker, Thomas's life forever changes. Largely neglected by his father, Thomas stands idly by while his father and the tinker haggle. Eventually the family parts from the riffraff, but Thomas does not forget what he saw. For the tinker had something Thomas wants terribly bad, and he'll stop at nothing to get it.

"Winter Pruning" is one of the more twisted tales of Uncle Montague's. It's a very traditional child's story. There is an old blind witch that lives miserly at the top of a hill. All day long Old Mother Tallow stands out in her yard pruning her trees, mending the apples. Simon Hawkins, another young rapscallion if ever there was one, decides to sneak into Old Mother Tallow's house one day while she's outside. The witch is supposed to be rich, after all, and he was sick of stealing pennies from his mother's purse. One big score would be all he'd need.

"A Ghost Story" was probably the most lighthearted of the tales, and that could be partially why I liked it so much. Little Victoria Harcourt begrudgingly attends a family wedding, a horrible affair where rain and wind ruins the day. Victoria is mostly scorned by the other girls, and when her most loathsome of cousins Emily begins telling a ghost story, Victoria is almost ready to abandon all pretense of wanting to fit in. I don't want to say much about this story, but I did enjoy it immensely. I smiled like a baboon at the end.

In the end, every story in Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror was exactly what I was looking for. While some are better than others, all are perversely wicked. One can't help but feel a trifle ashamed at the outcomes of these tales, for smiling at the often demise of children. Priestley's stories fit into the vein of the Brothers Grimm, though not as fantastical or folky. There are lessons to be learned beneath these stories, making it a perfect book for adolescents and teens. Even so, Priestley offered a memorable book that's quick to read and perfect for when the Halloween mood strikes. I'll be adding the other installments, Tales of Terror from the Black Ship and Tales of Terror from the Tunnel's Mouth, to my TBR now.(less)

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Nov 03, 2011 Jane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed, i-need-my-own-copy

I forget where I first spotted Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror, but I do remember that I was completely captivated by the cover.

And I was delighted to discover that it was a gothic and a portmanteau book – two things I can never resist.

Edgar is a solitary child – his parents are distant and, because he has been sent away to school, he is not close to the neighbourhood children. As the story opens with young Edgar walking through the woods to visit his Uncle Montague. The author takes you along...more I forget where I first spotted Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror, but I do remember that I was completely captivated by the cover.

And I was delighted to discover that it was a gothic and a portmanteau book – two things I can never resist.

Edgar is a solitary child – his parents are distant and, because he has been sent away to school, he is not close to the neighbourhood children. As the story opens with young Edgar walking through the woods to visit his Uncle Montague. The author takes you along on that walk, and you never leave Edgar’s side, through everything that is to come.

Menace is so cleverly hinted at with very small details – a slow-moving kissing-gate, silent children lurking in overgrown woods, a cold and heavy garden gate …

Finally Edgar and Uncle Montague settle down for tea, cake and stories in Uncle Montague’s wonderfully gothic house. And what stories! Each one is simple, clear, and perfectly-formed. And they are strange tales, each with a child protagonist, and each escalating to a striking twist.

A boy enters the house of a woman he believes to be a witch and meets a most unexpected fate; a girl opens a forbidden door and is trapped in a dolls’ house; a boy chased off a cliff by a demonic version of himself; a girl granted three wishes who finds that those wishes have dark consequences…. It would be unfair to say too much.

Some of the stories are stronger than others but they all work. And, while each is distinctive, they come together well as a set.

But that’s not all. Edgar and Uncle Montague talk between stories, and their own story develops. Edgar begins to wonder. Is there is truth in the stories? Where have the artefacts that Uncle Montague shows him come from? And who are the strange children trying to gain access to the house?

All becomes clear in the astonishing final story – Uncle Montague’s own.

Everything comes together just perfectly.

Tribute is paid to many great writers of ghost stories and the volume itself is a lovely little hardback, beautifully illustrated by David Roberts.

Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror is a chilren’s book but it makes wonderful reading for adults too – and it would be lovely for parents or grandparents to read to children with a love of scary things.
(less)

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May 21, 2011 shadesofmaybe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-this-one, favorites

couldn't stop reading, thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Aug 21, 2011 Birgit rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Edgar loves listening to good stories and his uncle Montague loves to tell stories. So the boy will visit him in his old mansion to learn more about all the knickknacks his uncle has accumulated over the years.
Being the first part of a series of books by Chris Priestley, this is actually intended for young readers, but I enjoyed the stories regardless the fact that I'm by no means young anymore. The narrative is both captivating and intricately written, and the authors love for storytelling def...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Patrícia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

(3,5 estrelas)

Bem por baixo, no fundo, do véu espesso, opaco, que caracteriza a mundanidade que julgamos como certa, como verdadeira, existe uma realidade adversa, espectral, repleta de emoções. E essas emoções, originárias da mais delicada e terrorífica profundidade do ser, são as sinceras raízes que, entretecendo-se e recriando passados assolados pela dor e pelo medo, provocam o real e levam-no a perder-se nas suas teias por toda uma eternidade fantasiosa.

«As Histórias de Terror do Tio Montagu...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Sarah Tran rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Always one of my scary stories favorites, Uncle Montague's Tale of Terror is a collection that not blatantly frightens you for a temporary rush of fear, but rather sets in an oh-so-tantalizing feeling of unease. It is the wonderful type of creeped-out that you cannot dislike, but rather find so geniusly executed that you're genuinely excited to find that books like these exist.
It's a book that creates a sort of atmosphere around the tales, putting the collection of stories into a story itself,...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Viktoria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, children, favorites

Edgar besucht regelmäßig seinen etwas merkwürdigen Onkel, der in einem großen dunklen Haus hinter einem Wald mit seinem Diener Franz wohnt. Onkel Montague erzählt nämlich wunderbar Schauergeschichten. An diesem Abend erzählt Onkel Montague Geschichten anhand von alten Gegenständen, bis es schon fast dunkel draußen ist und Edgar nach Hause muss...
Super!!! Eigentlich ist dieses Buch eine Anthologie von Gruselgeschichten, die durch eine kleine Rahmenhandlung zusammengehalten werden. Die Geschichten...more

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Jun 03, 2010 Courtney Johnston rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Gothic tales about naughty kids, with a little twist in the tale, probably perfect for 8-12 year-old readers.

As a kid - and yes, still, more recently - I loved Rudyard Kipling's* 'Puck of Pook's Hill' and 'Rewards and Fairies'. Both are collections of stories about English (and pre-English) history - ranging from folk to historical tales - connected together through the figures of Dan and Una, who one day accidentally summon Puck (yep, Shakespeare's one) who becomes their guide through these tim...more

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Apr 11, 2013 ~ Siℓℓenyα rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: raccolte-di-racconti, mystery, horror

Carino, un'antologia di racconti per ragazzi sulla scia delle macabre storie di Edgar Allan Poe.
Da vari commenti che ho letto sinceramente mi aspettavo qualcosina in più: credo sia un'opera specificamente per ragazzi; su un adulto simili storie sono di leggero impatto, non tanto per il loro contenuto (che è comunque piacevolmente inquietante xD), ma piuttosto per il modo in cui vengono narrate: avrei preferito l'autore avesse inserito maggiori dettagli e si fosse soffermato con più cura nella d...more

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Jun 09, 2010 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: courier, 2010, anthology, fiction, horror, paranormal, kid, teen

Throughout this book, I kept trying to decide whether or not I would have liked it when I was a kid. Like most kids I liked spooky stories. I always had a Goosebumps stuck in my backpack. I would sit in my best friend's room and we'd dare each other to open Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark to a random page and see how long we could last before being too freaked out by the illustrations to continue. (Seriously, just looking through Google Images for pictures like this one and this one is kind of...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Verity rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was goodish although there is no real story line of the main characters other than a bit of chat in between stories.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

Uncle montague has his nephew visit. He tells him stories of cursed objects and artefacts that got the owners killed. The nephew enjoys these stories but wonders why he has all the items in the house. These mini stories go on throughout with our mich thought to the plot and description. When his nephew goes to leave one night the ghost of these chil...more

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May 26, 2011 Elena rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In den Sommerferien besucht Edgar gern seinen Onkel Montague, welcher in einen großen Haus alleine mit seinen Diener Franz lebt. Denn Onkel Montague versteht sich darauf, aus einen unendlichen Fundus an Schauergeschichten zu schöpfen und so Edgars Zeit zu vertreiben. Doch nach und nach wird es Edgar unheimlicher: Nebel zieht auf, es gibt merkwürdige Geräusche im Haus – und wieso besitzt Onkel Montague Gegenstände aus all seinen Erzählungen?

Es ist eine Sammlung von neun kurzen Gruselgeschichten,...more In den Sommerferien besucht Edgar gern seinen Onkel Montague, welcher in einen großen Haus alleine mit seinen Diener Franz lebt. Denn Onkel Montague versteht sich darauf, aus einen unendlichen Fundus an Schauergeschichten zu schöpfen und so Edgars Zeit zu vertreiben. Doch nach und nach wird es Edgar unheimlicher: Nebel zieht auf, es gibt merkwürdige Geräusche im Haus – und wieso besitzt Onkel Montague Gegenstände aus all seinen Erzählungen?

Es ist eine Sammlung von neun kurzen Gruselgeschichten, die in die Rahmenhandlung um Onkel Montague eingebettet sind. Fast alle basieren darauf, dass die Kinder nicht auf Warnungen hören wollen und dadurch Bekanntschaft mit dem Grauen schließen. Manche Geschichten sind recht harmlos, doch die meisten enden mit dem Tod des Protagonisten. Dabei wird es aber nicht blutrünstig, vieles bleibt der Fantasie des Lesers überlassen.

Insgesamt ein nettes Buch für den kleinen Gruselschauer bei Jüngeren. Das Buch kann kapitelweise gelesen werden, aber auch am Stück, was sich insbesondere beim Vorlesen anbietet. Für den älteren Leser bietet das Buch durchaus Potenzial, welches es aber konsequent dadurch verschenkt, dass die Geschichten gern mitten im spannesten Moment abbrechen bzw. viel zu schnell beendet werden – so kann sich dann der Horror nicht wirklich einstellen. Ein wenig mehr Ausführlichkeit hätte die Schaurigkeit der Geschichten stark erhöht und die Fantasie angekurbelt. Altersmäßig würde ich daher die Geschichten eher für jüngere Kinder als die empfohlenen 12-13 Jährige ansiedeln, denn für Teenager sind die Geschichten wahrscheinlich schon wieder zu harmlos. David Roberts hat das Buch fabelhaft illustriert, die Zeichnungen sind sehr schön anzusehen und passen gut zum Buch. Nur schade, dass es insgesamt doch recht wenige sind, ich hatte mir mehr als zwei pro Kapitel – eine am Kapitelbeginn und eine ganzseitige dazwischen – erwartet.

Für Erwachsene nicht wirklich gruselig, aber für Kinder sicherlich ein schönes Buch.

4 Sterne(less)

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Nov 27, 2010 Phil Mc rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A superb piece of portmanteau horror for younger readers.

Across several short and terrifying tales Priestley explores the gruesome consequences of ignoring restrictions and ultimately drives the moral message home with a predictable but chilling ending. Although, I am well aware of how churlish it is to criticise children's literature using adult standards there are times when this novel is well-written enough to stand the comparison.

Many of the tales are simply re-tellings of well worn horror...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Lesley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This novel has more than enough fear-factor for most fans of scary stories. Uncle Montague lives alone in a big house, but regular visits from his nephew, Edward, give him the opportunity to recount some of his most frightening stories. As each tale unfolds, it becomes clear that something sinister is in the air, from strange sounds, a creepy butler that Edward rarely sees. And the wide range of stories, from the account of a curious boy that intrudes on Old Mother Tallow's garden; to a shy girl...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Keisya Prasetyawan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is actually for kids..but i read it anyway. I haven't read a kids book for ages. But, in my opinion the story is too scary for kids.

In the first chapter, we are introduced to Edgar who has weird parents (not capable of taking care their child) so, he goes to uncle montague's house to listen some stories.Uncle Montague's house is described as creepy and mysterious. He tells stories about objects from his house and sometimes the story can be terrifying, mysterious and even involved with...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Lady Draculia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I riferimenti a Edgar Allan Poe sono tanti, a cominciare dal nome del protagonista, un chiaro omaggio all'autore di racconti horror per eccellenza. Tuttavia lo stile di Priestley è ben lontano da quello del maestro, al quale è stato superficialmente paragonato, come avviene spesso.
I racconti sono belli, un pò prevedibili per una mente già allenata e matura, ma intrisi di quella malinconia e quell'oscurità che spaventano ma al contempo affascinano i ragazzini.
Non è chiaro, invece, se Edgar sia da...more

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Oct 21, 2009 Nely rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

Young Edgar loves visiting his eccentric, Great-Great Uncle Montague even if it means going though the spooky woods to get there. For Uncle Montague is a very talented storyteller and has a story to tell about all the creepy odds and ends he has lying around his study.

I loved the goosebumpy feeling I had the whole time I read this book. The fact that each tale’s main character was a child made it even more spooky for me. I loved the gothicy feel each tale had and although the stories were short...more

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Sep 28, 2009 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reading-challenge-2009

There is always a danger going into a book with very high expectations; I did, and they weren't met, and thus I was disappointed with Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror. I kept waiting for it to grab me, but it never happened. The premise of the book is simple: A young boy visits an older relative, who tells him a series of scary stories. The cover informs us that “Uncle Montague’s creepy stories have something - or someone – in common.” Well, okay, but if it hadn’t said so on the cover, I wouldn’...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Annelien rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s-books, forests, horror, supernatural, 2013, youth

Amazing tales of terror!

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Jan 09, 2012 C_ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: deutsch, lies, gruselig, kindisch

Edgar verbringt seine Zeit gerne mit Onkel Montague, einem ziemlich alten Verwandten, der gar kein richtiger Onkel ist und auf einem riesigen, gruseligen Anwesen lebt. Außer ihm gibt es da noch seinen seltsamen Diener Franz, den Edgar noch nie zu Gesicht bekommen hat, und eine schweigende Gruppe von Dorfkindern, die sich im Wald verstecken und Edgar ärgern wollen...doch ist alles so, wie es scheint?
Onkel Montague erzählt die besten Gruselgeschichten...ist der arme Mann krank oder gibt es da wir...more

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Oct 21, 2009 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of creepy stories

Shelves: young-adult, horror, owned-copy, story-within-a-story

Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror turned out to be a good choice to read for my 2nd Annual October Scare Fest. It's a creepy and unsettling book that features a story within a story narrative.

Uncle Montague tells his young nephew (more like great, great nephew) chilling tales based on knick-knacks and artwork the old gentleman has in his creepy house. These stories are short and edgy, with endings that are quite disturbing (for a children's book). In short, horrible things happen to some of these...more Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror turned out to be a good choice to read for my 2nd Annual October Scare Fest. It's a creepy and unsettling book that features a story within a story narrative.

Uncle Montague tells his young nephew (more like great, great nephew) chilling tales based on knick-knacks and artwork the old gentleman has in his creepy house. These stories are short and edgy, with endings that are quite disturbing (for a children's book). In short, horrible things happen to some of these kids in these stories, or they do horrible things. For that reason, I wouldn't suggest this for a child under ten (hopefully a mature ten). These stories that Uncle Montague tells are very much morality tales, in which bad children get punished and people pay for their sins. A couple don't fall into this framework, but all have pretty unsettling endings. There is one story that I found very dark indeed, and I don't think I read anything that dark when I was a kid. I don't want to spoil anyone, but let's just say that paying attention to these stories is important, because it ties into the main frame story with Uncle Montague and his young nephew.

I thought Mr. Priestley did a very good job with his descriptions of the settings in which this story takes place. They add to the eerie feel of the narrative.

Enthusiasts of Victorian/Edwardian periods will enjoy this book, because it definitely has that gothic, 19th to early 20th century appeal. The supernatural elements are prominent in these stories, making it an ideal read for this time of year, and for fans of supernatural fiction who want a shorter book to enjoy.

One detracting element for me was how abrupt most of the stories ended. Perhaps this was the writer's way of lessening the brutality and disturbing aspects of the story. However, I wish that there were smoother transitions at the ends of each story.

Because this story succeeded in providing a few hours of chills and thrills, and had very good ambience, with lots of creepy moments, shadows, and menacing elements make this a successfully atmospheric read, I give it four stars. I should warn an older reader who is very seasoned in horror that he or she might not find these stories very scary. They would classify more as a lighter read for a person who has cut his/her teeth on dark fare. However, this book strikes me as a very effective scary book for younger or light horror readers. This might even be a good book for a Halloween party for older kids, reading by flashlight, candlelight, or the fireside. And the boys and girls with a tendency to be 'bad' should pay very close attention to avoid the mistakes of the unfortunate children in these stories!(less)

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Feb 25, 2013 Michele rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-books

Now I have to confess that I’m a bit of a wussy, when it comes to scary book, so it took a lot of courage to just get past the front cover. And once you’ve read the book the cover is just that little bit scarier because you know!

Despite all this terror, the beginning of the book is actually quite funny.

“Good Lord,” said my father. “Stories eh? I heard a story once.”

In a few lines, Priestley has painted an image of the parents, so that the reader can fully understand Edgar’s life view. Edgar then...more Now I have to confess that I’m a bit of a wussy, when it comes to scary book, so it took a lot of courage to just get past the front cover. And once you’ve read the book the cover is just that little bit scarier because you know!

Despite all this terror, the beginning of the book is actually quite funny.

“Good Lord,” said my father. “Stories eh? I heard a story once.”

In a few lines, Priestley has painted an image of the parents, so that the reader can fully understand Edgar’s life view. Edgar then innocently goes off to his Uncle’s house and I felt my spine go a little cold, that could have been a draft as I was reading it on the metro or it could have been the creepy wood and house he’s just described. Once Priestley has set the tone the stories begin. Edgar finds an object in the drawing-room and Uncle Montague tells a story. Throughout the afternoon Uncle Montague does a good job of convincing Edgar the stories are true and Edgar tries to convince himself they aren’t. I loved the way I found myself so engrossed in the book that I swung back and forth with Edgar. Priestley does a fantastic job of putting the heebie jeebies up you by tapping into things that children really are terrified of. Edgar’s trip to the toilet is priceless. There’s also this kind of old world feel to the book. It could be 1950′s it could be earlier, I was never quite sure of when the book was set, but this just added to the feeling of terror.

The final chapter is the climax of creepiness and I won’t tell you too much about it because I hate giving away endings, but really it was so satisfying.

Basically, I’ve come to the conclusion that kids love scaring the bejesus out of themselves and this book can definitely do the trick. And what I really liked about it, is that there’s no blood and gore, it’s just plain, good old, terrifying. Priestley builds up suspense, let’s us off the hook for a bit and then WHAM! And he does it well.

So for those of you who have been singing Priestley’s praises, it was well-merited. Thank you for introducing me to a great author and I look forward to reading more.(less)

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Sep 28, 2012 Susä rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: gelesen-2012

Das Buch ist wirklich süß. Die Geschichten sind schaurig. Und gerade der Wechsel zwischen den Gesprächen von Edgar und seinem Onkel Montague (Anspielung auf Edgar A. Poe und seiner Geschichte in der Rue Montague? ;)) und den Gruselgeschichten ist wirklich gelungen. Die Illustrationen passen super zu den Geschichten und runden das Ganze ab. Man muss auch bedenken, dass es ein Kinderbuch ist und sich der Gruselfaktor in Grenzen hält, aber mir hat das an Grusel gereicht ;)
Und auch mich erinnert es...more

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Dec 09, 2011 Rajiv rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great stories for children. I know it's watered-down for more sensitive minds, but they were told in such brilliant ways that I got the chills. "The Path" was especially scary with the graphic details; the other stories brought out the scary factor in more subtle, nuanced ways that I liked.

The illustrations were superb as well. All of the images contributed to the story in meaningful ways, adding atmosphere and style. The artist's style increased the creepy factor with bulging eyes, skeletal bod...more

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About Chris Priestley

His father was in the army and so he moved around a lot as a child and lived in Wales. He was an avid reader of American comics as a child, and when he was eight or nine, and living in Gibraltar, he won a prize in a newspaper story-writing competition. He decided then “that my ambition was to write and illustrate my own book”.
He spent his teens in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, before moving to Manchester,...more

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“From the plough to paper, from the wheel to house, from tool handles to sailing ships. Man would have been nothing without trees.” — 6 people liked it

“Give me a funeral over a wedding any day,.' said Uncle Montague with a sigh. 'The conversation is almost always superior.” — 4 people liked it

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