What do you think?
Rate this book
Alfred Hitchcock's Ghostly Gallery
"Good evening, and welcome to Alfred Hitchock's Ghostly Gallery..." So begins the introduction to this marvelous book for young readers presented by none other than the master of the macabre himself, Alfred Hitchcock. Following his invitation to "browse through my gallery", readers will find ghoulish ghost stories "designed to frighten and instruct" -- instruct, that is, about the strange existence ghosts must endure! Stories include Miss Emmeline Takes Off by Walter Brooks; The Valley of the Beasts by Algernon Blackwood; The Haunted Trailer by Robert Arthur; The Truth About Pyecraft by H.G. Wells; The Isle of Voices by Robert Louis Stevenson; and more. Parents and kids can't help but chuckle at Hitchcock's comment, "I don't want to appear disloyal to television, but I think reading will be good for you." Contains some very spooky two-color illustrations by Fred Banbery.
261 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 1962
24 people are currently reading
823 people want to read
About the author
Alfred Hitchcock
1,145 books774 followersSir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock KBE (1899-1980) was an iconic and highly influential film director and producer, who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres.
Following a very substantial career in his native Britain in both silent films and talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood and became an American citizen with dual nationality in 1956, thus he also remained a British subject.
Hitchcock directed more than fifty feature films in a career which spanned six decades, from the silent film era, through the invention of sound films, and far into the era of colour films. For a complete list of his films, see Alfred Hitchcock filmography.
Hitchcock was among the most consistently recognizable directors to the general public, and was one of the most successful film directors during his lifetime. He continues to be one of the best known and most popular filmmakers of all time.
Following a very substantial career in his native Britain in both silent films and talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood and became an American citizen with dual nationality in 1956, thus he also remained a British subject.
Hitchcock directed more than fifty feature films in a career which spanned six decades, from the silent film era, through the invention of sound films, and far into the era of colour films. For a complete list of his films, see Alfred Hitchcock filmography.
Hitchcock was among the most consistently recognizable directors to the general public, and was one of the most successful film directors during his lifetime. He continues to be one of the best known and most popular filmmakers of all time.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
October 22, 2015
"I don't want to appear disloyal to television, but I think reading will be good for you. After all, your television tube may burn out some day. Furthermore, you need practice for reading the subtitles in those foreign movies. But don't be discouraged. You'll get used to reading. Turning all the pages may be difficult, but the exercise will do you good." ~ Alfred Hitchcock, from his introduction
Here is another book that I begged and pestered my mother to buy me and then waited over forty years to read.
It was worth the wait.
This is a fantastic collection!
Many of the tales have a humorous slant, particularly the three by Robert Arthur - The Haunted Trailer - in which a man's honeymoon is ruined by the ghost of an obnoxious hobo, The Wonderful Day - when a "little pitcher" who has "big ears" makes a wish, it turns the whole town topsy-turvy, and Obstinate Uncle Otis - another "wishes may come true" story involving a cranky old fart who gets struck by lightning. Another funny story is Henry Kuttner's Housing Problem where a couple can't stand not knowing what resides under their tenant's birdcage cover.
There are creepy stories, as well, including The Waxwork by A.M. Burrage - about a cynical reporter who spends the night in a wax museum's "Murderer's Den," and this tale of horror at sea - The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford:
I remember that sensation as I put my hands forward was as though I were plunging them into the air of a damp cellar, and from behind the curtain came a gust of wind that smelled horribly of stagnant sea water. I laid hold of something that had the shape of a man's arm, but was smooth, and wet, and icy cold. But suddenly, as I pulled, the creature sprang violently forward against me, a clammy, oozy mass, as it seemed to me, heavy and wet, yet endowed with a sort of supernatural strength. I reeled across the stateroom, and in an instant the door opened and the thing rushed out.
These were truly some of the best short stories I've read this Halloween season.
Here is another book that I begged and pestered my mother to buy me and then waited over forty years to read.
It was worth the wait.
This is a fantastic collection!
Many of the tales have a humorous slant, particularly the three by Robert Arthur - The Haunted Trailer - in which a man's honeymoon is ruined by the ghost of an obnoxious hobo, The Wonderful Day - when a "little pitcher" who has "big ears" makes a wish, it turns the whole town topsy-turvy, and Obstinate Uncle Otis - another "wishes may come true" story involving a cranky old fart who gets struck by lightning. Another funny story is Henry Kuttner's Housing Problem where a couple can't stand not knowing what resides under their tenant's birdcage cover.
There are creepy stories, as well, including The Waxwork by A.M. Burrage - about a cynical reporter who spends the night in a wax museum's "Murderer's Den," and this tale of horror at sea - The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford:
I remember that sensation as I put my hands forward was as though I were plunging them into the air of a damp cellar, and from behind the curtain came a gust of wind that smelled horribly of stagnant sea water. I laid hold of something that had the shape of a man's arm, but was smooth, and wet, and icy cold. But suddenly, as I pulled, the creature sprang violently forward against me, a clammy, oozy mass, as it seemed to me, heavy and wet, yet endowed with a sort of supernatural strength. I reeled across the stateroom, and in an instant the door opened and the thing rushed out.
These were truly some of the best short stories I've read this Halloween season.
August 28, 2025
The one flaw in this book is how some stories use old fashioned idioms I found puzzling like "What the Duece" The stories Waxwork and Lower Berth were the most frightening but the rest were in a humorous vein. I loved to read stories like this in another Hitchcock anthology Haunted Houseful and many stand the test of time except for a few. The best part of reading this book was that you can share them with the kids today since they don't contain excessive violence or racist ideas considered acceptable in the past.
May 23, 2022
Even though I know not to judge a book by its cover, that is exactly what attracted me to this anthology. I should not have judged it by the title either since I expected ghost stories and the majority of these tales are absent of spirits.
There were a few stories that I enjoyed, even though there were no scares to be found. Most of the stories were just not to my liking. Even "The Waxwork" which was made into one of my favorite episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents was kind of dull and flat here. Whoever they hired to turn it into a tv script is the one who added all the flavor and flair that is missing in this book.
The few stories that I liked were more whimsical than scary
I did enjoy The Wonderful Day in which a young boy drifts off to sleep after listening to his family gossip about the residents of their town. He thinks to himself that adults are confusing since they often say things they don't mean. He makes a wish as he falls asleep and soon the figurative becomes literal which is wonderful for some people but less so for others.
I also enjoyed Miss Emmeline Takes off, about a woman who sneaks into the home she lost after a financial difficulty to retrieve an important item that the new owner refused to let her take.
The Truth About Pyecraft was a fun story about a prescription for weight loss that works far too well.
The illustrations by Fred Banbery are amazing
I'm not sure that 3 stories out of 11 make a convincing argument in favor of this book but you may enjoy the rest more than I did. If you are interested there are plenty of used copies in decent condition floating around out there.
There were a few stories that I enjoyed, even though there were no scares to be found. Most of the stories were just not to my liking. Even "The Waxwork" which was made into one of my favorite episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents was kind of dull and flat here. Whoever they hired to turn it into a tv script is the one who added all the flavor and flair that is missing in this book.
The few stories that I liked were more whimsical than scary
I did enjoy The Wonderful Day in which a young boy drifts off to sleep after listening to his family gossip about the residents of their town. He thinks to himself that adults are confusing since they often say things they don't mean. He makes a wish as he falls asleep and soon the figurative becomes literal which is wonderful for some people but less so for others.
I also enjoyed Miss Emmeline Takes off, about a woman who sneaks into the home she lost after a financial difficulty to retrieve an important item that the new owner refused to let her take.
The Truth About Pyecraft was a fun story about a prescription for weight loss that works far too well.
The illustrations by Fred Banbery are amazing
I'm not sure that 3 stories out of 11 make a convincing argument in favor of this book but you may enjoy the rest more than I did. If you are interested there are plenty of used copies in decent condition floating around out there.
July 24, 2017
I first discovered this volume in my elementary school library, and later acquired my own copy, but I don't think that I had actually read any of it until now. The cover terrified me as a child, kept me awake at night much like the boy on the cover, imagining faces watching me from every corner of my bedroom (you have to see the back cover as well for the full effect.) It's stuck with me in all these years and when I found it again in a public library, I decided to finally fill in the gap.
Alfred Hitchcock's Ghostly Gallery (which I often confused with Alfred Hitchcock's Haunted Houseful) is a collection of classic weird tales packaged for young readers, including work by H.G. Wells, Robert Louis Stevenson, Algernon Blackwood, F. Marion Crawford, Lord Dunsany and others. Some have a serious tone while others, particularly those by ghost-editor Robert Arthur, are more whimsical. Despite the title, only a few are ghost stories. Some of them may seem predictable to seasoned adult readers, but I have no doubt that children will be carried right along. Still, I had a lot of fun with this and was glad to put this "ghost" to rest at last!
Alfred Hitchcock's Ghostly Gallery (which I often confused with Alfred Hitchcock's Haunted Houseful) is a collection of classic weird tales packaged for young readers, including work by H.G. Wells, Robert Louis Stevenson, Algernon Blackwood, F. Marion Crawford, Lord Dunsany and others. Some have a serious tone while others, particularly those by ghost-editor Robert Arthur, are more whimsical. Despite the title, only a few are ghost stories. Some of them may seem predictable to seasoned adult readers, but I have no doubt that children will be carried right along. Still, I had a lot of fun with this and was glad to put this "ghost" to rest at last!
October 13, 2008
Unlike the two Hitchcock anthologies I reviewed earlier, this one was tailored for younger readers, so has a number of tales that are whimsical and humorous rather than grim and scary. The latter type are certainly represented, though --the two classic stories that appear here are Crawford's "The Upper Berth" and A. M. Burrage's "The Waxwork." Many of the ones in the former group are absolutely delightful; there isn't a story in the book that isn't worth a read. All but a few are of the supernatural type (one of the exceptions is a tongue- in-cheek look at the potential telekinetic/psi effects of sufficiently strong-willed, stubborn disbelief in reality; in Robert Arthur's literary vision, those can be pretty extreme).
Most of the supernatural stories actually don't feature ghosts as such; but other forms of paranormal goings-on depicted involve the Little People, witchcraft --if you have an ancestress hanged as a witch in 17th-century Salem, it may be a good idea to stay out of her old trunk :-)-- Asian Indian folk magic, a Chinese wish-granting talisman (Robert Arthur's take on that motif is a lot more positive than W. W. Jacob's, which is often anthologized elsewhere), and both Polynesian and American Indian mythology, in the selections by, respectively, Stevenson and Blackwood. ("The Valley of the Beasts," IMO, is one of the latter's better efforts, and free of the obvious racism that mars his treatments of non-white peoples in some of his fiction.) My two favorite stories here are Wells' "The Truth About Pyecraft" and Walter Brooks' "Miss Emmeline Takes Off." But if you read the book, you'll doubtless pick your own favorites!
Most of the supernatural stories actually don't feature ghosts as such; but other forms of paranormal goings-on depicted involve the Little People, witchcraft --if you have an ancestress hanged as a witch in 17th-century Salem, it may be a good idea to stay out of her old trunk :-)-- Asian Indian folk magic, a Chinese wish-granting talisman (Robert Arthur's take on that motif is a lot more positive than W. W. Jacob's, which is often anthologized elsewhere), and both Polynesian and American Indian mythology, in the selections by, respectively, Stevenson and Blackwood. ("The Valley of the Beasts," IMO, is one of the latter's better efforts, and free of the obvious racism that mars his treatments of non-white peoples in some of his fiction.) My two favorite stories here are Wells' "The Truth About Pyecraft" and Walter Brooks' "Miss Emmeline Takes Off." But if you read the book, you'll doubtless pick your own favorites!
February 27, 2019
This is a collection of 11 short stories for young readers, but can be enjoyed by adults too. I am listing the stories in order from best to ugh based on my opinion.
1. Housing Problem
2. The Haunted Trailer
3. The Upper Berth
4. The Waxwork
5. In a Dim Room
6. The Wonderful Day
7. Miss Emmeline Takes Off
8. Obstinate Uncle Otis
9. The Truth About Pyecraft
10. The Valley of the Beasts
11. The Isle of Voices
The first 3 were very unique and totally deserving of the top spots.
1. Housing Problem
2. The Haunted Trailer
3. The Upper Berth
4. The Waxwork
5. In a Dim Room
6. The Wonderful Day
7. Miss Emmeline Takes Off
8. Obstinate Uncle Otis
9. The Truth About Pyecraft
10. The Valley of the Beasts
11. The Isle of Voices
The first 3 were very unique and totally deserving of the top spots.
June 19, 2017
I read this book when I was ten. I should reread it.
March 19, 2019
Lovely, goose-pimply stories to read on a Saturday with a box of theater candy.
February 16, 2019
This was fun to read. I enjoyed the story by HG Wells, The Truth about Pyecroft. I had read The Wonderful Day by Robert Arthur many years ago as a child and remembered it as the first paragraph unfolded. It felt like saying hello to a old friend.
November 29, 2016
I read this book when I was in elementary school -- most significantly I remember "The Upper Berth" by Francis Marion Crawford scaring the bejaysus out of me. I don't think I slept for a week.
I just took a break from writing this to buy a copy online for nostalgia's sake. Can't wait to revisit my childhood!
I just took a break from writing this to buy a copy online for nostalgia's sake. Can't wait to revisit my childhood!
December 31, 2017
This book is great for younger readers.
There's a variety of paranormal experiences waiting to be read in these pages.
Vivid narration and engaging story telling keeps the readers stuck in the worlds created by the authors. Each story is different from the other and has something new to offer to its readers.
My favourite story in the book is Miss Emmeline Takes Off.
There's a variety of paranormal experiences waiting to be read in these pages.
Vivid narration and engaging story telling keeps the readers stuck in the worlds created by the authors. Each story is different from the other and has something new to offer to its readers.
My favourite story in the book is Miss Emmeline Takes Off.
October 16, 2023
Our elementary school library had several of these collections which were ostensibly edited by Alfred Hitchcock. I loved them. They were just spooky enough to delight without being too gruesome. [I still worried my mom a bit by being so fixated on them, though.... 😉] So, when I saw this at my hometown used bookstore, nostalgia kicked in and I just had to bring it home with me. I definitely remember some of these from that initial read over 40 years ago ("The Haunted Trailer," the Truth About Pyecraft," and "The Waxwork"), some I've rad in other collections since ("The Upper Berth" and "The Waxwork"), while others I don't remember at all. I enjoyed my journey back to elementary school me--enjoying the shivers from the scary stories and the fun of those that are just a little weird and unusual. ★★★★
"Miss Emmeline Takes Off" by Walter Brooks: When Miss Emmeline is forced to sell her family home, she leaves behind a family heirloom. She has to sneak in to retrieve it and discovers that her heirloom is more valuable than she thought.
"The Valley of the Beasts" by Algernon Blackwood: A cruel hunter and his native American guide set out to track an enormous moose. The tracks lead to a place the guide calls the Valley of the Beasts and he refuses to go further. The hunter is goes on alone. When he is surrounded by the beasts of the valley and finds himself in danger, help arrives in an unexpected form and he returns to civilization a changed man.
"The Haunted Trailer" by Robert Arthur: A man buys a trailer in which to spend his honeymoon little knowing that it comes equipped with a ghostly hobo.
"The Upper Berth" by F. Marion Crawford: Brisbane, a young man is crossing the Atlantic on his favorite ship, the Kamtschatka. He stays in Cabin 105 but all is not as it seems and soon Brisbane will have to fight for his life as the secret of the upper berth is revealed.
"The Wonderful Day" by Robert Arthur: When Danny overhears the grown-ups talking about the folks in town (using idioms and metaphors), he makes a wish on his grandfather's lucky piece (apparently a unicorn horn) that his family's descriptions would be true for a just a day. His wish comes true--causing confusion, but ultimately doing good as folks see what they're really like and changing their behavior accordingly.
"The Truth About Pyecraft" by H. G. Wells: Pyecraft wishes to lose weight and pesters his fellow clubman until our narrator finally shares his grandmother's potion with him. However, the potion doesn't work on weightloss in quite the way Pyecraft expects. [Another story that turns on the meaning of words.]
"Housing Problem" by Henry Kuttner: Eddie and Jackie rent their extra room to Mr. Henchard, a curmudgeonly gentleman who pays his rent promptly and has just one rule: "Don't look under the cover on my birdcage." But, when Henchard goes on vacation, you just know they can't resist....
"In a Dim Room by Lord Dunsany: A lesson in "be careful what you ask for": when a friend's children ask for thrilling tales (and his own don't do the trick), our narrator brings along his friend Jorkens who tells a thrilling tale about a tiger
"Obstinate Uncle Otis" by Robert Arthur: Uncle Otis refuses to believe in things he just doesn't like. Which is his right and hurts no one...until his disbelief causes things to disappear.
"The Waxwork" by A. M. Burrage: A freelance journalist asks to spend the night in Mariner's Waxworks' Murderers' Den--a roomful of the effigies of the nastiest murderers in history. Hewson thinks he'll be just fine--he's not superstitious and he's not a fraidy-cat. But maybe he should have thought twice...
"The Isle of Voices" by Robert Louis Stevenson: Keola learns that his father-in-law is a wizard who can coin money out of seashells. But he also learns that Kalamake is a man that you shouldn't anger...after it's too late.
First posted on my blog
"Miss Emmeline Takes Off" by Walter Brooks: When Miss Emmeline is forced to sell her family home, she leaves behind a family heirloom. She has to sneak in to retrieve it and discovers that her heirloom is more valuable than she thought.
"The Valley of the Beasts" by Algernon Blackwood: A cruel hunter and his native American guide set out to track an enormous moose. The tracks lead to a place the guide calls the Valley of the Beasts and he refuses to go further. The hunter is goes on alone. When he is surrounded by the beasts of the valley and finds himself in danger, help arrives in an unexpected form and he returns to civilization a changed man.
"The Haunted Trailer" by Robert Arthur: A man buys a trailer in which to spend his honeymoon little knowing that it comes equipped with a ghostly hobo.
"The Upper Berth" by F. Marion Crawford: Brisbane, a young man is crossing the Atlantic on his favorite ship, the Kamtschatka. He stays in Cabin 105 but all is not as it seems and soon Brisbane will have to fight for his life as the secret of the upper berth is revealed.
"The Wonderful Day" by Robert Arthur: When Danny overhears the grown-ups talking about the folks in town (using idioms and metaphors), he makes a wish on his grandfather's lucky piece (apparently a unicorn horn) that his family's descriptions would be true for a just a day. His wish comes true--causing confusion, but ultimately doing good as folks see what they're really like and changing their behavior accordingly.
"The Truth About Pyecraft" by H. G. Wells: Pyecraft wishes to lose weight and pesters his fellow clubman until our narrator finally shares his grandmother's potion with him. However, the potion doesn't work on weightloss in quite the way Pyecraft expects. [Another story that turns on the meaning of words.]
"Housing Problem" by Henry Kuttner: Eddie and Jackie rent their extra room to Mr. Henchard, a curmudgeonly gentleman who pays his rent promptly and has just one rule: "Don't look under the cover on my birdcage." But, when Henchard goes on vacation, you just know they can't resist....
"In a Dim Room by Lord Dunsany: A lesson in "be careful what you ask for": when a friend's children ask for thrilling tales (and his own don't do the trick), our narrator brings along his friend Jorkens who tells a thrilling tale about a tiger
"Obstinate Uncle Otis" by Robert Arthur: Uncle Otis refuses to believe in things he just doesn't like. Which is his right and hurts no one...until his disbelief causes things to disappear.
"The Waxwork" by A. M. Burrage: A freelance journalist asks to spend the night in Mariner's Waxworks' Murderers' Den--a roomful of the effigies of the nastiest murderers in history. Hewson thinks he'll be just fine--he's not superstitious and he's not a fraidy-cat. But maybe he should have thought twice...
"The Isle of Voices" by Robert Louis Stevenson: Keola learns that his father-in-law is a wizard who can coin money out of seashells. But he also learns that Kalamake is a man that you shouldn't anger...after it's too late.
First posted on my blog
Want to read
May 9, 2020PLACEHOLDER REVIEW: "Housing Problem" by Henry Kuttner & C.L. Moore - Renters disobey a charming (if cantankerous) old man that rents from them and, while he's away, find out just what he has in that mysterious birdcage - it turns out to be... A sharp, fun little story all about violation of rules and the vagaries of luck.
May 27, 2023
[Penguin Books] (1972). SB. Reprint. 223 Pages. Purchased from Richard Dalby’s Library.
Very well illustrated by Barry Wilkinson.
Introduced by Alfred Hitchcock. 11 stories, mostly mediocre at best. The 3 by Robert Arthur are poor. Too much humour (that is, more than none).
Marketed, under the Puffin Books imprint, “For fearless readers of ten upwards” - an odd pitch, with the opening yarn featuring a throat slashing serial killer.
Very well illustrated by Barry Wilkinson.
Introduced by Alfred Hitchcock. 11 stories, mostly mediocre at best. The 3 by Robert Arthur are poor. Too much humour (that is, more than none).
Marketed, under the Puffin Books imprint, “For fearless readers of ten upwards” - an odd pitch, with the opening yarn featuring a throat slashing serial killer.
May 18, 2018
Pretty good selection of stories. I read most, but not all as they didn't either hold my interest or I just wasn't interested. Still, the Alfred Hitchcock collections are usually entertaining but not terribly scary.
October 12, 2021
This is a collection of ghostly short stories collected by Alfred Hitchcock by different authors including H.G. Wells and Robert Louis Stevenson. I especially enjoyed the one of the family living in a bird cage in a landlord’s renters’ room.
April 26, 2019
4.73 stars
May 1, 2021
Miss Emmeline Takes Off is my favorite short story of all time.
October 3, 2017
A compilation of ghost and horror stories. The tales include "Miss Emmeline Takes Off" by Walter Brooks, "The Valley of the Beasts" by Algernon Blackwood, "The Haunted Trailer" by Robert Arthur, "The Upper Berth" by F. Marion Crawford, "The Wonderful Day" by Robert Arthur, "The Truth About Pyecraft" by H. G. Wells, "Housing Problem" by Henry Kuttner, "In a Dim Room" by Lord Dunsany, "Obstinate Uncle Otis" by Robert Arthur, "The Waxwork" by A. M. Burrage, and "The Isle of Voices" by Robert Louis Stevenson.
As many of you know I have an 11 year old reading buddy...Brian. This was his choice for Halloween and since I needed some Halloween material I decided to read with him...something he needing me less and less for now:(. My favorite of these tales was The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford. It is now one of my favorite short stories of all time. It was creepy without being
too graphic for my reading companion. Brian says "It's just spooky and I liked it." It very much reminded me of the work of Shirley Jackson, and Susan Hill, two of my favorite 'ghostly witters.
As many of you know I have an 11 year old reading buddy...Brian. This was his choice for Halloween and since I needed some Halloween material I decided to read with him...something he needing me less and less for now:(. My favorite of these tales was The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford. It is now one of my favorite short stories of all time. It was creepy without being
too graphic for my reading companion. Brian says "It's just spooky and I liked it." It very much reminded me of the work of Shirley Jackson, and Susan Hill, two of my favorite 'ghostly witters.
August 2, 2014
This is really just a book-version of Rod Serling's 'Night Gallery'. It contains quite a few stories - only some of them actually about ghosts - and perhaps half of them are decent. The other half are either lame or boring or simply too childish. Even the good stories aren't the slightest bit scary. It evokes in you more than anything, that annoying feeling you get when your grandfather tells you a story about monsters in the closet and you think to yourself, "Well, I would be frightened if I was still a fucking five-year-old. Get with the times and accept that the boogeyman no longer becomes scary when you witness scarier shit everyday in High School"...
December 30, 2011
I remember reading this book with my dad when I was a little girl. I would stare at the illustrations for hours.....this was the man that got me interested in reading to the point that I'm a full blown book fiend now. Eventually this book was lost (how, I'll never know :( ) but I will always remember this as my graduation book from puppy love with childhood, age appropriate literature, to something a bit more Ma Ture ;) Thank you Alfred H. !!!!
September 16, 2009
I was lucky enough in my youth to own three of Alfred Hitchcock's creepy tales - all three of the books were excellent and had frightening illustrations as well. This volume contains the great stories "The Upper Berth" by F. Marion Crawford, "In a Dim Room" by Lord Dunsany (what an ending!) and "The Waxwork" by A.M. Burrage.
December 30, 2009
Pulpy, quick reading ghost stories. I found this collection at a used bookstore recently. Includes much anathologized "In a Dim Room" as well as some other gems like "The Upper Berth". It's geared for what we would call "tweens" nowadays. But good enough to pass the time for adults, too.
March 3, 2023
Too much silly, not enough scary. Bah.
October 22, 2019
Adquirí este libro hace ya un tiempo, porque incluía 3 historias de Robert Arthur, y siempre he disfrutado mucho de las antologías que editaba bajo la linea editorial de Alfred Hitchcock (que actuaba mas como marca, que como editor).
La cosa es que lo he leído algo tarde y ahora 2 de las historias de Arthur ya las había leído en "Ghosts and more ghosts", y algún relato suelto de otros autores también. Pero es una buena selección enfocada a un público joven:
- The Waxwork (1931, A. M. Burrage) : Una historia corta clásica que nunca había leido, una de las mas famosa de Burrage. La sola idea de pasar la noche en la sección de terror de un museo de cera, es suficiente como para que la tensión se pueda cortar con un cuchillo. Muy bien narrado. 4/5
- The Valley of the Beasts (1921, Algernon Blackwood y Wilfred Wilson): El libro solo lo atribuye a Blackwood, pero en todas partes dicen que es de los que co-escribió con Wilfred Wilson. Es uno de los relatos tipo "hombre vs naturaleza" típicos del autor, en este caso un cazador de duro carácter que desprecia las advertencias de su guía indio. Tiene algo de esa idealización romántica de los nativos americanos de la época, con castigo al cazador incluido. Pero como siempre, tiene algunas secuencias fascinantes. 3.5/5
- The Haunted Trailer (1942, Robert Arthur): Uno que no había leído de Arthur... un relato muy divertido sobre lo que pasa cuando a un pobre hombre, un fantasma se le mete en su caravana. Tiene algunos diálogos excelentes. 4/5
- The Upper Berth (1885, F. Marion Crawford): Clasicazo y uno de los mejores relatos marítimos de la historia. Siempre es un placer volver a leerlo en estas fechas. 5/5
- The Wonderful Day (1940, Robert Arthur): Lo lei el año pasado. Relato largo sobre como se hacen realidad los deseos de la gente, tras desearlo un niño. Bastante entretenido. 3,5/5
- The Truth About Pyecraft (1903, H. G. Wells): Me lo he saltado, básicamente porque lo leí hace solo un par de semanas en otro libro. Es bastante divertido. 3,5/5
- Housing Problem (1944, Henry Kuttner y C. L. Moore): Otro relato humorístico, con bastante mala leche, sobre el alquiler y el valor (o devaluación) de las propiedades según los vecinos que uno tiene. 4/5
- In a Dim Room (1945, Lord Dunsany): Uno de los relatos de Jorkens, contándole a un grupo de niños sus experiencias como cazador, cuando fue perseguido por un terrible león. Una vez mas, bastante divertido en su conclusión. 3.5/5
- Obstinate Uncle Otis (1941, Robert Arthur): Simpático relato sobre que pasaría si un tipo muy obstinado en negar la realidad, de repente pudiese tener el poder de cambiar esa realidad. 3/5
- The Isle of Voices (1893, Robert Louis Stevenson): Siempre es un placer leer otro relato de Stevenson. Este forma parte de sus relatos isleños, cuando vivía en el caribe. Es un relato sobre la avaricia y sobre la magia. Bastante imaginativo. 4/5
El orden de esta edición que tengo está alterado respecto a la edición primera, y falta un relato "Miss Emmeline Takes Off" de Walter Brooks.
La cosa es que lo he leído algo tarde y ahora 2 de las historias de Arthur ya las había leído en "Ghosts and more ghosts", y algún relato suelto de otros autores también. Pero es una buena selección enfocada a un público joven:
- The Waxwork (1931, A. M. Burrage) : Una historia corta clásica que nunca había leido, una de las mas famosa de Burrage. La sola idea de pasar la noche en la sección de terror de un museo de cera, es suficiente como para que la tensión se pueda cortar con un cuchillo. Muy bien narrado. 4/5
- The Valley of the Beasts (1921, Algernon Blackwood y Wilfred Wilson): El libro solo lo atribuye a Blackwood, pero en todas partes dicen que es de los que co-escribió con Wilfred Wilson. Es uno de los relatos tipo "hombre vs naturaleza" típicos del autor, en este caso un cazador de duro carácter que desprecia las advertencias de su guía indio. Tiene algo de esa idealización romántica de los nativos americanos de la época, con castigo al cazador incluido. Pero como siempre, tiene algunas secuencias fascinantes. 3.5/5
- The Haunted Trailer (1942, Robert Arthur): Uno que no había leído de Arthur... un relato muy divertido sobre lo que pasa cuando a un pobre hombre, un fantasma se le mete en su caravana. Tiene algunos diálogos excelentes. 4/5
- The Upper Berth (1885, F. Marion Crawford): Clasicazo y uno de los mejores relatos marítimos de la historia. Siempre es un placer volver a leerlo en estas fechas. 5/5
- The Wonderful Day (1940, Robert Arthur): Lo lei el año pasado. Relato largo sobre como se hacen realidad los deseos de la gente, tras desearlo un niño. Bastante entretenido. 3,5/5
- The Truth About Pyecraft (1903, H. G. Wells): Me lo he saltado, básicamente porque lo leí hace solo un par de semanas en otro libro. Es bastante divertido. 3,5/5
- Housing Problem (1944, Henry Kuttner y C. L. Moore): Otro relato humorístico, con bastante mala leche, sobre el alquiler y el valor (o devaluación) de las propiedades según los vecinos que uno tiene. 4/5
- In a Dim Room (1945, Lord Dunsany): Uno de los relatos de Jorkens, contándole a un grupo de niños sus experiencias como cazador, cuando fue perseguido por un terrible león. Una vez mas, bastante divertido en su conclusión. 3.5/5
- Obstinate Uncle Otis (1941, Robert Arthur): Simpático relato sobre que pasaría si un tipo muy obstinado en negar la realidad, de repente pudiese tener el poder de cambiar esa realidad. 3/5
- The Isle of Voices (1893, Robert Louis Stevenson): Siempre es un placer leer otro relato de Stevenson. Este forma parte de sus relatos isleños, cuando vivía en el caribe. Es un relato sobre la avaricia y sobre la magia. Bastante imaginativo. 4/5
El orden de esta edición que tengo está alterado respecto a la edición primera, y falta un relato "Miss Emmeline Takes Off" de Walter Brooks.
January 29, 2024
I loved books even as a kid. And I loved scary books, too. I loved scary TV programs and movies-and I remember giving a presentation on Alfred Hitchcock in school. I found this book in my parent’s library and although I’m sure I read it back then, I didn’t remember it and decided to give it go.
I admit I expected more actual horror. (The tag line is “Creepy tales of spooks, specters, and other lost souls!” after all.) The stories seemed not so much creepy, but more like you’d expect in the original Twilight Zone. Sometimes scary or creepy, but more often strange, weird or unexplainable-or even just an explored what if or random thought.
Once I figured out more of the collection, I settled in and simply enjoyed the stories. There were simple and classic ghost stories. There were clever and thought-provoking stories. There were some fantasy elements. There was some whimsy. There were some gotchas.
There were some really great throw away lines and phrases, like “His clothes, which had been good when new and which were still carefully brushed and pressed, were beginning to show signs of their owner’s losing battle with the world.” So much in a single sentence. I love when horror can be well written!
You can tell most were written in a time when there was a different set of commonly held beliefs and values. They didn’t always feel dated overall, but some aspects were. And that might impact the enjoyment of the stories.
Although they all had something to offer, and I can appreciate the significance or underlying messages and tactics of others, my personal favorites were likely:
The Valley of the Beasts by Algernon Blackwood
The Wonderful Day by Robert Arthur
Obstinate Uncle Otis by Robert Arthur
The Waxwork by AM Barrage
The Valley of the Beasts because it feels smart-diving into thoughts about survival of the fittest, nature, humanity, and the frailty of life.
The Wonderful Day because I really liked the idea. And although I wish I was better at mercy than justice, I liked the justice in this one.
Obstinate Uncle Otis because Vermont, the dialogue, the thought-provoking idea of not belonging in something, and the ending.
The Waxwork because it really did creep me out in the middle. I felt the rush of fear and adrenaline. And I loved the ambiguous ending.
I will say that honorable mentions would go to The Upper Berth by F Marion Crawford for being more of a classic ghost story, The Truth About Pyecraft by HG Wells for its play on words, In a Dim Room by Lord Dunsany for the gotcha and cleverness of the ending.
This collection of short stories would not be to everyone’s taste, although I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
I admit I expected more actual horror. (The tag line is “Creepy tales of spooks, specters, and other lost souls!” after all.) The stories seemed not so much creepy, but more like you’d expect in the original Twilight Zone. Sometimes scary or creepy, but more often strange, weird or unexplainable-or even just an explored what if or random thought.
Once I figured out more of the collection, I settled in and simply enjoyed the stories. There were simple and classic ghost stories. There were clever and thought-provoking stories. There were some fantasy elements. There was some whimsy. There were some gotchas.
There were some really great throw away lines and phrases, like “His clothes, which had been good when new and which were still carefully brushed and pressed, were beginning to show signs of their owner’s losing battle with the world.” So much in a single sentence. I love when horror can be well written!
You can tell most were written in a time when there was a different set of commonly held beliefs and values. They didn’t always feel dated overall, but some aspects were. And that might impact the enjoyment of the stories.
Although they all had something to offer, and I can appreciate the significance or underlying messages and tactics of others, my personal favorites were likely:
The Valley of the Beasts by Algernon Blackwood
The Wonderful Day by Robert Arthur
Obstinate Uncle Otis by Robert Arthur
The Waxwork by AM Barrage
The Valley of the Beasts because it feels smart-diving into thoughts about survival of the fittest, nature, humanity, and the frailty of life.
The Wonderful Day because I really liked the idea. And although I wish I was better at mercy than justice, I liked the justice in this one.
Obstinate Uncle Otis because Vermont, the dialogue, the thought-provoking idea of not belonging in something, and the ending.
The Waxwork because it really did creep me out in the middle. I felt the rush of fear and adrenaline. And I loved the ambiguous ending.
I will say that honorable mentions would go to The Upper Berth by F Marion Crawford for being more of a classic ghost story, The Truth About Pyecraft by HG Wells for its play on words, In a Dim Room by Lord Dunsany for the gotcha and cleverness of the ending.
This collection of short stories would not be to everyone’s taste, although I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
August 16, 2019
Excellent selection of supernatural stories, with lots of witty humor sprinkled in.
Walter Brooks “Miss Emmeline Takes Off” **** Whimsical tale of good old-fashioned witchcraft brought to modern times, including broom-flying!
Algernon Blackwood “The Valley of the Beasts” ** A hunter tracks a moose into a magical land and has a change of heart.
Robert Arthur “The Haunted Trailer” **** A man inadvertently picks up some hobo hitchhikers in his new travel-trailer.
F. Marion Crawford “The Upper Berth” *** A man recounts a tale of a time when he had been traveling on a ship and his stateroom was haunted by something undead.
Robert Arthur “The Wonderful Day” *** A boy wishes true the figurative descriptions of some people in his town, havoc ensues, lives transform.
H. G. Wells “The Truth About Pyecraft” *** Pycraft falls victim to the “careful what you wish for” curse when he convinces his friend to give him an ancient recipe for weight loss.
Henry Kuttner “Housing Problem” **** A couple’s tenant hides a mystery in a birdcage and their curiosity gives them a turn of luck.
Lord Dunsany “In a Dim Room” ***** A guest tells a suspenseful tale of being pursued by a tiger, successfully frightening the children with the unexpected ending.
Robert Arthur “Obstinate Uncle Otis” **** A man gets struck by lightning and gains the power to disbelieve things out of existence.
A. M. Burrage “The Waxwork” ***** A reporter spends the night in a waxworks museum and it’s as scary as expected.
Robert Louis Stevenson “The Isle of Voices” *** Evil king, slacker son-in-law, magic beach, abusive ship’s mate, deceptive cannibals, lucky rescue, charitable redemption.
Walter Brooks “Miss Emmeline Takes Off” **** Whimsical tale of good old-fashioned witchcraft brought to modern times, including broom-flying!
Algernon Blackwood “The Valley of the Beasts” ** A hunter tracks a moose into a magical land and has a change of heart.
Robert Arthur “The Haunted Trailer” **** A man inadvertently picks up some hobo hitchhikers in his new travel-trailer.
F. Marion Crawford “The Upper Berth” *** A man recounts a tale of a time when he had been traveling on a ship and his stateroom was haunted by something undead.
Robert Arthur “The Wonderful Day” *** A boy wishes true the figurative descriptions of some people in his town, havoc ensues, lives transform.
H. G. Wells “The Truth About Pyecraft” *** Pycraft falls victim to the “careful what you wish for” curse when he convinces his friend to give him an ancient recipe for weight loss.
Henry Kuttner “Housing Problem” **** A couple’s tenant hides a mystery in a birdcage and their curiosity gives them a turn of luck.
Lord Dunsany “In a Dim Room” ***** A guest tells a suspenseful tale of being pursued by a tiger, successfully frightening the children with the unexpected ending.
Robert Arthur “Obstinate Uncle Otis” **** A man gets struck by lightning and gains the power to disbelieve things out of existence.
A. M. Burrage “The Waxwork” ***** A reporter spends the night in a waxworks museum and it’s as scary as expected.
Robert Louis Stevenson “The Isle of Voices” *** Evil king, slacker son-in-law, magic beach, abusive ship’s mate, deceptive cannibals, lucky rescue, charitable redemption.
May 30, 2020
“Good evening, and welcome to Alfred Hitchock's Ghostly Gallery..." So begins the introduction to this marvellous book for young readers presented by none other than the master of the macabre himself, Alfred Hitchcock. It was a staple of public library’s in the seventies and eighties , and I am glad to have a copy for my own bookshelves complete with it’s lurid cover art and accompanying illustrations to dip in and out of.
Follwing his invitation to "browse through my gallery", readers will find ghoulish ghost stories "designed to frighten and instruct" about the strange existence ghosts must endure! As is the case with most collections like this,the stories are a mixed bunch, some are forgettable whilst others as is the case with The Valley of the Beasts by Algernon Blackwood are stone wall classics. The tone of the whole thing though is generally good fun, and I particularly enjoyed The Truth About Pyecraft by H.G. Wells and Robert Arthur's 'The Wonderful Day' which is a good natured fantasy tale about a mysterious Chinese lantern that grants a young boy his wishes. With it’s small town America setting it is not unlike something Stephen King could have written.
For me the book was a reasonably entertaining way to pass a couple of afternoons, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at Hitchcock's comment, "I don't want to appear disloyal to television, but I think reading will be good for you." Couldn’t agree more.
Follwing his invitation to "browse through my gallery", readers will find ghoulish ghost stories "designed to frighten and instruct" about the strange existence ghosts must endure! As is the case with most collections like this,the stories are a mixed bunch, some are forgettable whilst others as is the case with The Valley of the Beasts by Algernon Blackwood are stone wall classics. The tone of the whole thing though is generally good fun, and I particularly enjoyed The Truth About Pyecraft by H.G. Wells and Robert Arthur's 'The Wonderful Day' which is a good natured fantasy tale about a mysterious Chinese lantern that grants a young boy his wishes. With it’s small town America setting it is not unlike something Stephen King could have written.
For me the book was a reasonably entertaining way to pass a couple of afternoons, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at Hitchcock's comment, "I don't want to appear disloyal to television, but I think reading will be good for you." Couldn’t agree more.
January 16, 2020
Alfred Hitchcock’s Ghostly Gallery is a collection of horror and supernatural stories marketed (though not necessarily written) for young readers, ghost edited (pun intended) by Robert Arthur, who included three of his own stories (!); though I’d add that they are fun and worthy of inclusion. Other contributors include H.G. Wells, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Algernon Blackwood. Most of the stories are fairly light-hearted; “Miss Emmeline Takes Off,” is about a woman from a family in financial decline who discovers a witch’s broom among her ancestor’s personal effects. “The Valley of the Beasts” is about a hunt for a giant moose in a vast territory where men fear to tread. “The Waxworks,” features a newspaper reporter who spends the night in a wax museum’s murderer’s row. “The Truth About Pyecraft” May be a precursor to Stephen Kong’s Elevation; the story of an obese man who becomes weightless.
October 29, 2024
Great compilation of short spooky tales for Halloween season, easily suited as well for young readers as for us who watched Alfred Hitchcock Presents about one lifetime ago and miss ghost stories like those. These stories are timeless fun even though there's certain parts showing some huge differences especially in equality compared to the world we live in nowadays. On the other hand, the oldest one was written in 1893, so it's no surprise things have changed 'a bit' in over one hundred years.
None of these stories weren't really THAT scary in the context of year 2024, but they had this lovely old school mood and most of them also made me laugh, because heavy amount of humor was involved. Either you like it of don't, but for me it was overall enjoyable. My favorite ones were The Cabin 105, The Wonderful Day, The Truth About Pyecraft and Obstinate Uncle Otis.
None of these stories weren't really THAT scary in the context of year 2024, but they had this lovely old school mood and most of them also made me laugh, because heavy amount of humor was involved. Either you like it of don't, but for me it was overall enjoyable. My favorite ones were The Cabin 105, The Wonderful Day, The Truth About Pyecraft and Obstinate Uncle Otis.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews