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Illusions of Presence: Lost Christmas Ghost Stories
As clanging bells pierce the Winter calm, a bustling throng of spectral visitants is making its approach. The eminent anthologist and seeker of forgotten tales, Johnny Mains, has been scouring the archives of newspapers and periodicals once more to bring you the gift of ‘new’ supernatural fiction from the Victorian and Edwardian era – the heyday of the classic ghost tale. Packed with ethereal messengers, chain-clanking ghouls, the odd cheery phantom and bundles of suspense, this collection is a welcome offering for any reader of the ghostly and Gothic.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published October 16, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 22, 2025
Synapses are spoiler-free.
A collection of stories from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, which feature Christmas and ghosts. The main feature is the ghost. The story can take place around Christmas to being a full-fledged Christmas story. These are stories the editor has found and haven't been published since their original publication, usually in a magazine, so some of these are upwards of 100 years old. Since qualification to get in the anthology is first that it must be "lost" then be a good read quality is not as great as other BL books, but pretty close. I enjoyed most of these, as you'll see.
1. In Deadly Peril by John Pendleton (1887) - A playwright, seeking inspiration for a new scene, decides to tour a coal mine guided on Christmas Eve. Underground, the supervisor shares a chilling story of a curse that haunts the mine. The plot is straightforward and direct, but filled with excitement. It’s an adventure-packed narrative with a tense atmosphere, depicting the mine’s haunting darkness and claustrophobic environment. (4/5)
2. The Ghost at the Red Barn by Mabel Collins (1892) - Lucy, a shy and timid young woman who knows few people, is visited by a handsome older man who stays for many nights. He silently angers her father but dazzles Lucy, leading her to fall in love with him. He promises to marry her, but her father retorts, "Over my dead body." Although predictable, the story ends in a violent manner. It’s an engaging and pleasant read. (3/5)
3. The Child Who Had Everything, by John Kendrick Bangs (1911) - This charming and predictable tale features a man writing on Christmas Eve, when a ghost appears. Though accustomed to spirits, this ghost seeks his help in an affluent neighbourhood. The story unfolds as expected, offering a warm and family-friendly narrative. (3/5)
4. The Haunted Vicarage by Emeric Hulme Beaman (1903) - A newly appointed vicar invites his friend over, who then experiences eerie sounds and chilling apparitions haunting the vicar. It’s the best story so far, crafted smoothly and engagingly. The haunting is compelling, with a satisfying ending. (4/5)
5. Nights of Terror by EJ Thomas (1913) - The house is haunted with unsettling noises—screams, footsteps, creaking doors—and a phantom resembling a bear often appears. While rich in spectral encounters, the story feels dull like a news report, lacking vividness. (2/5)
6. The Ghost of Moor Hall by ME Murray (1925) - A cunning landlord, distantly related to the Moores, seeks family jewels to gain wealth and control of the Hall. A female ghost torments a guest engaged to the family's young woman, whom the landlord also desires. Nothing extraordinary occurs. (2/5)
7. The Malignant Thing by Vincent Cornier (1928) - On Christmas Eve, three men share drinks late at night. The host discusses a sealed room that has been haunted for forty years, with a lingering presence in his home dating back two centuries. One man dismisses the story and dares to spend a night in the haunted chamber, leading to the inevitable dismantling of the wall. It’s a brief, familiar story perfect for reading aloud on Christmas Eve. (3/5)
8. The Spectre Bridegroom by Mrs Gordon Smythies (1884) - A classic ghost story that established a timeless trope. A bride-to-be is left at the altar on Christmas Eve, then shown a note from her groom professing love for another and saying farewell. But the truth is different, and a haunting follows. My favourite so far, written with style and atmosphere, this is a timeless tale. (5/5)
9. A Christmas Ghost Story by Bessie May Tobin-Montague (1901) - John inherits an old Gothic house with grotesque gargoyles. He hosts a Christmas party, and terror ensues as John's wife is haunted. The story follows a typical pattern, with everyone fearing she's losing her mind. It’s just okay. (3/5)
10. The Ghost of Appledore Pool or The Iron Chest at The Barnstaple Bar by JYT (1893) - Children gather around the fire, asking Grandma for a ghost story. She tells of a treasure chest buried near the lighthouse and provides the keys and pattern to open it. It's somewhat predictable, with a not-so-surprising ending.
11. The Lady of the Mistletoe by Mary Hall (1902) - Tom Derston buys an old house and finds out it used to belong to a line of Derstons. It's already called Derston Hall. As he's giving a Christmas party, though, he finds out it's cursed with mistletoe, and they've hung a truckload of the stuff. A truly spooky story with a lot of atmosphere. (4/5)
12. The Ghost of Cheldon Court by May Wynne (1924) - A man heads out for a gambling night out at another man's house with his wife as hostess. John has an addiction, though, and he's promised Mollie he will be back not too late, and he agrees. In his head, he sets 11 o'clock as his leaving time. He breaks the promise to his wife and takes a dare for money to spend the night in the haunted house. Well-written with a great pace right up to the end. (3/5)
13. The Terrible Dentist by Anonymous (1880) - A man breaks a molar that's long been bothering him on a piece of meat at lunch. Being the day before Christmas, he asks around for anyone who might be home and gets a name and address. He finds a dentist close to leaving for his holidays. The man works on his teeth, and a terrible, mortifying tragedy happens. This is the best story in the book. I'm reasonably sure that Anonymous is hiding a famous name, as this is a well-polished piece. No novice wrote twice. I'm thinking this horror tale was written by someone famous for a different type of novel or story — say, romance or children's literature — and they hid their true identity while writing a horror. The psychological terror terrified me. (5/5)
14. Claus & Defect by William J. Koen (1927) - An author has been promised a spot in the Christmas issue, but can't come up with a story, and the due date is coming soon. Then one night, the ghost of Santa comes to visit him and offers to help him with the troublesome story. (3/5)
15. Shadows of Evil (or The Fatal Dream) by Anonymous (1871) - A diary entry tells a woman's story of her daughter's disturbing dream, which runs consecutively six nights in a row, ending in violence. The story starts with a frame inside a frame inside a frame, which then loops back on itself, each iteration relevant to the story. Fantastic writing and impeccable pacing make this story just as good as the previous anonymous story. Why are the anonymous stories so good? Are they really famous writers hiding their identities? Or is the world really peppered with so many unknown excellent authors? (5/5)
A collection of stories from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, which feature Christmas and ghosts. The main feature is the ghost. The story can take place around Christmas to being a full-fledged Christmas story. These are stories the editor has found and haven't been published since their original publication, usually in a magazine, so some of these are upwards of 100 years old. Since qualification to get in the anthology is first that it must be "lost" then be a good read quality is not as great as other BL books, but pretty close. I enjoyed most of these, as you'll see.
1. In Deadly Peril by John Pendleton (1887) - A playwright, seeking inspiration for a new scene, decides to tour a coal mine guided on Christmas Eve. Underground, the supervisor shares a chilling story of a curse that haunts the mine. The plot is straightforward and direct, but filled with excitement. It’s an adventure-packed narrative with a tense atmosphere, depicting the mine’s haunting darkness and claustrophobic environment. (4/5)
2. The Ghost at the Red Barn by Mabel Collins (1892) - Lucy, a shy and timid young woman who knows few people, is visited by a handsome older man who stays for many nights. He silently angers her father but dazzles Lucy, leading her to fall in love with him. He promises to marry her, but her father retorts, "Over my dead body." Although predictable, the story ends in a violent manner. It’s an engaging and pleasant read. (3/5)
3. The Child Who Had Everything, by John Kendrick Bangs (1911) - This charming and predictable tale features a man writing on Christmas Eve, when a ghost appears. Though accustomed to spirits, this ghost seeks his help in an affluent neighbourhood. The story unfolds as expected, offering a warm and family-friendly narrative. (3/5)
4. The Haunted Vicarage by Emeric Hulme Beaman (1903) - A newly appointed vicar invites his friend over, who then experiences eerie sounds and chilling apparitions haunting the vicar. It’s the best story so far, crafted smoothly and engagingly. The haunting is compelling, with a satisfying ending. (4/5)
5. Nights of Terror by EJ Thomas (1913) - The house is haunted with unsettling noises—screams, footsteps, creaking doors—and a phantom resembling a bear often appears. While rich in spectral encounters, the story feels dull like a news report, lacking vividness. (2/5)
6. The Ghost of Moor Hall by ME Murray (1925) - A cunning landlord, distantly related to the Moores, seeks family jewels to gain wealth and control of the Hall. A female ghost torments a guest engaged to the family's young woman, whom the landlord also desires. Nothing extraordinary occurs. (2/5)
7. The Malignant Thing by Vincent Cornier (1928) - On Christmas Eve, three men share drinks late at night. The host discusses a sealed room that has been haunted for forty years, with a lingering presence in his home dating back two centuries. One man dismisses the story and dares to spend a night in the haunted chamber, leading to the inevitable dismantling of the wall. It’s a brief, familiar story perfect for reading aloud on Christmas Eve. (3/5)
8. The Spectre Bridegroom by Mrs Gordon Smythies (1884) - A classic ghost story that established a timeless trope. A bride-to-be is left at the altar on Christmas Eve, then shown a note from her groom professing love for another and saying farewell. But the truth is different, and a haunting follows. My favourite so far, written with style and atmosphere, this is a timeless tale. (5/5)
9. A Christmas Ghost Story by Bessie May Tobin-Montague (1901) - John inherits an old Gothic house with grotesque gargoyles. He hosts a Christmas party, and terror ensues as John's wife is haunted. The story follows a typical pattern, with everyone fearing she's losing her mind. It’s just okay. (3/5)
10. The Ghost of Appledore Pool or The Iron Chest at The Barnstaple Bar by JYT (1893) - Children gather around the fire, asking Grandma for a ghost story. She tells of a treasure chest buried near the lighthouse and provides the keys and pattern to open it. It's somewhat predictable, with a not-so-surprising ending.
11. The Lady of the Mistletoe by Mary Hall (1902) - Tom Derston buys an old house and finds out it used to belong to a line of Derstons. It's already called Derston Hall. As he's giving a Christmas party, though, he finds out it's cursed with mistletoe, and they've hung a truckload of the stuff. A truly spooky story with a lot of atmosphere. (4/5)
12. The Ghost of Cheldon Court by May Wynne (1924) - A man heads out for a gambling night out at another man's house with his wife as hostess. John has an addiction, though, and he's promised Mollie he will be back not too late, and he agrees. In his head, he sets 11 o'clock as his leaving time. He breaks the promise to his wife and takes a dare for money to spend the night in the haunted house. Well-written with a great pace right up to the end. (3/5)
13. The Terrible Dentist by Anonymous (1880) - A man breaks a molar that's long been bothering him on a piece of meat at lunch. Being the day before Christmas, he asks around for anyone who might be home and gets a name and address. He finds a dentist close to leaving for his holidays. The man works on his teeth, and a terrible, mortifying tragedy happens. This is the best story in the book. I'm reasonably sure that Anonymous is hiding a famous name, as this is a well-polished piece. No novice wrote twice. I'm thinking this horror tale was written by someone famous for a different type of novel or story — say, romance or children's literature — and they hid their true identity while writing a horror. The psychological terror terrified me. (5/5)
14. Claus & Defect by William J. Koen (1927) - An author has been promised a spot in the Christmas issue, but can't come up with a story, and the due date is coming soon. Then one night, the ghost of Santa comes to visit him and offers to help him with the troublesome story. (3/5)
15. Shadows of Evil (or The Fatal Dream) by Anonymous (1871) - A diary entry tells a woman's story of her daughter's disturbing dream, which runs consecutively six nights in a row, ending in violence. The story starts with a frame inside a frame inside a frame, which then loops back on itself, each iteration relevant to the story. Fantastic writing and impeccable pacing make this story just as good as the previous anonymous story. Why are the anonymous stories so good? Are they really famous writers hiding their identities? Or is the world really peppered with so many unknown excellent authors? (5/5)
December 30, 2025
This was such a fun book to read, especially during the early morning hours when the house was quiet. I didn’t find the stories to be terrifying, which is great for someone like me who’s basically a chicken 🐔. But there were a few in here that gave me goosebumps.
January 9, 2026
A brilliant anthology. Hats off to Johnny Mains for uncovering these wonderful stories for us all.
December 22, 2025
A lovely book, some very rare and unusual stories, I love the variety of sources and subjects. A must for any ghost story lover.
December 13, 2025
A great selection of eerie tales and ghost stories centered around the festive season. Apart from one exception, the stories have not been anthlogised or available to the general public since they were first published. There are some real gems in this beautifully produced little book.
November 20, 2025
I really like this Gilded Nightmares series - the books are so stunning! I also love Christmas ghost stories and was really excited about this collection, but unfortunately to me most of them were just fine. Yes, most were reprinted for the first time in a hundred of years (which editor kept banging on about), but there was nothing unique about them. They didn’t make me feel particularly christmassy either. The two stand outs that I thoroughly enjoyed were ‘The Spectre Bridegroom’ by Mrs. Gordon Smythies and ‘The Lady of the Mistletoe’ by Mary Hall.
December 11, 2025
Most of the time, short story collections end up being quite a mixed bag of stories with some good ones and some that make you scratch your head why they were included in the first place. Luckily, I didn't have that experience with this collection. I enjoyed almost every story. This collection features fifteen Christmas ghost stories were originally published from 1871 to 1928. Now, I'm a fan of Victorian ghost stories, especially, and have read quite a few different collections. I was a tad worried that this collection wouldn't measure up since there were quite a few stories published in the early 20th century. However, this ended up being a fantastic collection. Even the stories I didn't absolutely love were still solid, enjoyable stories.
The collection includes the following stories (along with my star ratings). I have put an asterisk after of my favorites.
In Deadly Peril - John Pendleton - 1887 - 4 stars
The Ghost at the Red Farm - Mabel Collins - 1892 - 5 stars *
The Child Who Had Everything - John Kendrick Bangs - 1911 - 5 stars
The Haunted Vicarage - Emeric Hulme-Beaman - 1903 - 5 stars *
Nights of Terror - E. J. Thomas - 1913 -5 stars *
The Ghost of Moor Hall - M. E. Murray - 1925 - 5 stars
The Malignant Thing - Vincent Corner - 1928 - 5 stars
The Spectre Bridegroom - Mrs. Gordon Smythies - 1884 -5 stars
A Christmas Ghost Story - Bessie May Tobin - 1901 - 4 stars
The Ghost of Appledore Pool or the Iron Chest at the Barnstaple Bar - J. Y. T. - 1893 - 5 stars *
The Lady of the Mistletoe - Mary Hall - 1902 -4 stars
The Ghost of Cheldon Court - May Wynne - 1924 - 4 stars
That Terrible Dentist - Anonymous - 1880 - 4 stars
Claus and Defect - William J. Koen - 1927 - 3 stars
Shadows of Evil or, The Fatal Dream - Anonymous - 1871 - 5 stars *
The collection includes the following stories (along with my star ratings). I have put an asterisk after of my favorites.
In Deadly Peril - John Pendleton - 1887 - 4 stars
The Ghost at the Red Farm - Mabel Collins - 1892 - 5 stars *
The Child Who Had Everything - John Kendrick Bangs - 1911 - 5 stars
The Haunted Vicarage - Emeric Hulme-Beaman - 1903 - 5 stars *
Nights of Terror - E. J. Thomas - 1913 -5 stars *
The Ghost of Moor Hall - M. E. Murray - 1925 - 5 stars
The Malignant Thing - Vincent Corner - 1928 - 5 stars
The Spectre Bridegroom - Mrs. Gordon Smythies - 1884 -5 stars
A Christmas Ghost Story - Bessie May Tobin - 1901 - 4 stars
The Ghost of Appledore Pool or the Iron Chest at the Barnstaple Bar - J. Y. T. - 1893 - 5 stars *
The Lady of the Mistletoe - Mary Hall - 1902 -4 stars
The Ghost of Cheldon Court - May Wynne - 1924 - 4 stars
That Terrible Dentist - Anonymous - 1880 - 4 stars
Claus and Defect - William J. Koen - 1927 - 3 stars
Shadows of Evil or, The Fatal Dream - Anonymous - 1871 - 5 stars *
December 25, 2025
full post is here:
https://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/202...
I loved this one!
Ever since Valancourt Books put out its first book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories, reading ghostly tales for the holidays has become a personal tradition. Now, just in the nick of timefor this 2025 Christmas season, I dove into the latest entry in the British Library’s Gilded Nightmares series, Illusions of Presence: Lost Christmas Ghost Stories, edited by Johnny Mains. Known for his knack for unearthing wonderfully obscure tales, Mains pulls from a wide range of old, forgotten sources here, and the result is pure reading pleasure. Rather than sticking to the familiar seasonal standbys (near and dear to my heart though they may be), this collection offers stories reprinted here for the first time, steeped in that irresistible combination of Christmas warmth and the quiet, uncanny sense of dread that I so enjoy.
While not everyone will love every story, for me the editor's selection of stories for this Christmas ghost-story volume is spot on, and I can only begin to imagine the time and care that went into tracking them down. While they are perfectly suited to the season, they are also first-rate ghost stories that would feel entirely at home in any anthology of ghostly tales from yesteryear. So, if you didn't manage to read this one over the holidays, don't fret-- these stories will rattle your nerves and raise your hackles at any time of year. Very, very highly recommended, especially for those readers who delight in older, darker pleasures.
https://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/202...
I loved this one!
Ever since Valancourt Books put out its first book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories, reading ghostly tales for the holidays has become a personal tradition. Now, just in the nick of timefor this 2025 Christmas season, I dove into the latest entry in the British Library’s Gilded Nightmares series, Illusions of Presence: Lost Christmas Ghost Stories, edited by Johnny Mains. Known for his knack for unearthing wonderfully obscure tales, Mains pulls from a wide range of old, forgotten sources here, and the result is pure reading pleasure. Rather than sticking to the familiar seasonal standbys (near and dear to my heart though they may be), this collection offers stories reprinted here for the first time, steeped in that irresistible combination of Christmas warmth and the quiet, uncanny sense of dread that I so enjoy.
While not everyone will love every story, for me the editor's selection of stories for this Christmas ghost-story volume is spot on, and I can only begin to imagine the time and care that went into tracking them down. While they are perfectly suited to the season, they are also first-rate ghost stories that would feel entirely at home in any anthology of ghostly tales from yesteryear. So, if you didn't manage to read this one over the holidays, don't fret-- these stories will rattle your nerves and raise your hackles at any time of year. Very, very highly recommended, especially for those readers who delight in older, darker pleasures.
January 15, 2026
Finished this over the Christmas break. Some of the earlier stories didn't quite land, but there's enough festive fun in here. Johnny Mains purposefully selects lost stories (certainly by authors largely unknown, if the authorship is known at all). This is good in one sense in terms of knowing these will all be new, but...the quality control isn't always there. With ghost stories, a poor tale often feels like a shaggy dog story when you finish, so I probably prefer the other Christmas ghost anthologies the BL has done (Smee!).
Still, I hope Johnny Mains continues. These are definitely worth reading.
Still, I hope Johnny Mains continues. These are definitely worth reading.
December 23, 2025
Johnny Mains offers us a wonderful Christmas gift with this set of beautiful, ghostly short stories. A wonderfully researched and well put together volume. There is a story for everyone in this from the classic ghost story to heart warming tales such as the Boy who had everything…but.
If you’re a fan of classic literature, Victorian ghost stories and gothic intonations then this is for you.
So grab your mulled wine, light your candles and sit by your Christmas tree for a literary treat!
If you’re a fan of classic literature, Victorian ghost stories and gothic intonations then this is for you.
So grab your mulled wine, light your candles and sit by your Christmas tree for a literary treat!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews