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The nightmare reader,
A superb classic horror anthology, edited by Peter Haining, in two volumes containing 13 and 12 stories. This Volume One, with an Introduction ("What Hath Light Wrought?") by Isaac Asimov, contains stories by Matthew Lewis, Mary Shelley, Washington Irving, Thomas De Quincey, Lord Lytton, Edgar Allan Poe, Sheridan Le Fanu, C.F. Hoffman, Lafcadio Hearn, Madame Blavatsky, Ambrose Bierce, Arthur Machen, and Lord Dunsany. 192 pages.
355 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
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About the author
Peter Haining
331 books99 followersPeter Alexander Haining was an English journalist, author and anthologist who lived and worked in Suffolk. Born in Enfield, Middlesex, he began his career as a reporter in Essex and then moved to London where he worked on a trade magazine before joining the publishing house of New English Library.
Haining achieved the position of Editorial Director before becoming a full time writer in the early Seventies. He edited a large number of anthologies, predominantly of horror and fantasy short stories, wrote non-fiction books on a variety of topics from the Channel Tunnel to Sweeney Todd and also used the pen names "Ric Alexander" and "Richard Peyton" on a number of crime story anthologies. In the Seventies he wrote three novels, including The Hero (1973), which was optioned for filming.
In two controversial books, Haining argued that Sweeney Todd was a real historical figure who committed his crimes around 1800, was tried in December 1801, and was hanged in January 1802. However, other researchers who have tried to verify his citations find nothing in these sources to back Haining's claims. A check of the website Old Bailey at for "Associated Records 1674-1834" for an alleged trial in December 1801 and hanging of Sweeney Todd for January 1802 show no reference; in fact the only murder trial for this period is that of a Governor/Lt Col. Joseph Wall who was hanged 28 January 1802 for killing a Benjamin Armstrong 10 July 1782 in "Goree" Africa and the discharge of a Humphrey White in January 1802. Strong reservations have also been expressed regarding the reliability of another of Haining's influential non-fiction works, The Legend and Bizarre Crimes of Spring Heeled Jack.
He wrote several reference books on Doctor Who, including the 20th anniversary special Doctor Who: A Celebration Two Decades Through Time and Space (1983), and also wrote the definitive study of Sherlock Holmes on the screen, The Television Sherlock Holmes (1991) and several other television tie-ins featuring famous literary characters, including Maigret, Poirot and James Bond. Peter Haining's most recent project was a series of World War Two stories based on extensive research and personal interviews: The Jail That Went To Sea (2003), The Mystery of Rommel's Gold (2004), Where The Eagle Landed (2004), The Chianti Raiders (2005) and The Banzai Hunters (2007).
He won the British Fantasy Awards Karl Edward Wagner Award in 2001.
Haining achieved the position of Editorial Director before becoming a full time writer in the early Seventies. He edited a large number of anthologies, predominantly of horror and fantasy short stories, wrote non-fiction books on a variety of topics from the Channel Tunnel to Sweeney Todd and also used the pen names "Ric Alexander" and "Richard Peyton" on a number of crime story anthologies. In the Seventies he wrote three novels, including The Hero (1973), which was optioned for filming.
In two controversial books, Haining argued that Sweeney Todd was a real historical figure who committed his crimes around 1800, was tried in December 1801, and was hanged in January 1802. However, other researchers who have tried to verify his citations find nothing in these sources to back Haining's claims. A check of the website Old Bailey at for "Associated Records 1674-1834" for an alleged trial in December 1801 and hanging of Sweeney Todd for January 1802 show no reference; in fact the only murder trial for this period is that of a Governor/Lt Col. Joseph Wall who was hanged 28 January 1802 for killing a Benjamin Armstrong 10 July 1782 in "Goree" Africa and the discharge of a Humphrey White in January 1802. Strong reservations have also been expressed regarding the reliability of another of Haining's influential non-fiction works, The Legend and Bizarre Crimes of Spring Heeled Jack.
He wrote several reference books on Doctor Who, including the 20th anniversary special Doctor Who: A Celebration Two Decades Through Time and Space (1983), and also wrote the definitive study of Sherlock Holmes on the screen, The Television Sherlock Holmes (1991) and several other television tie-ins featuring famous literary characters, including Maigret, Poirot and James Bond. Peter Haining's most recent project was a series of World War Two stories based on extensive research and personal interviews: The Jail That Went To Sea (2003), The Mystery of Rommel's Gold (2004), Where The Eagle Landed (2004), The Chianti Raiders (2005) and The Banzai Hunters (2007).
He won the British Fantasy Awards Karl Edward Wagner Award in 2001.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 21, 2011
Another collection of stories put together by Peter Haining of variable quality. This time each of the stories are supposed to be inspired by nightmares experienced by the authors themselves. The nightmares might have been drug induced, arising from psychological disorders or even supernatural encounters. The stories were all written during the 19th or early 20th centuries.
Interestingly there is an introduction by Isaac Asimov (interesting because he's not normally associated with supernatural fiction). Some of the stories I have read before ("Berenice" by Edgar Allan Poe, "A Soldier's Rest" by Arthur Machen, "The Bureau d'Echange de Maux" by Lord Dunsany) and of those I haven't, some fell a bit flat ("The Bold Dragoon" by Washington Irving, "Levana and Our Ladies of Sorrow" by Thomas de Quincey) while others had the desired chilling effect ("The Man in the Reservoir" by C.F. Hoffman, "Haceldama" by Lafcadio Hearn and "The Ensouled Violin" by Madame Blavatsky).
I see there is a second volume of the "Nightmare Reader" and I am curious to see what it's like, maybe I'll track it down.
Interestingly there is an introduction by Isaac Asimov (interesting because he's not normally associated with supernatural fiction). Some of the stories I have read before ("Berenice" by Edgar Allan Poe, "A Soldier's Rest" by Arthur Machen, "The Bureau d'Echange de Maux" by Lord Dunsany) and of those I haven't, some fell a bit flat ("The Bold Dragoon" by Washington Irving, "Levana and Our Ladies of Sorrow" by Thomas de Quincey) while others had the desired chilling effect ("The Man in the Reservoir" by C.F. Hoffman, "Haceldama" by Lafcadio Hearn and "The Ensouled Violin" by Madame Blavatsky).
I see there is a second volume of the "Nightmare Reader" and I am curious to see what it's like, maybe I'll track it down.
June 8, 2024
There are some great additions to this collection but I was certainly disappointed with the Lovecraft selection; minus one on that. However, this introduced me to several writers I could follow-up with other works including Montague Summers and Madame Blavatsky.
August 3, 2025
Each one is a rather drawn out and I have to say quite boring tale, while most focus on keeping alive the feel of a gothic horror story
February 29, 2012
What one can glean from this anthology is that the worst nightmare that can possibly exist is to have a keen, perceptive mind that is actually;to be able to think. A simpleton is better off. The two stories that struck me the most were "The magician" by Lord Lytton and "The Bureau d'Échange de Maux" by Lord Dunsany. To corroborate my point of view is the instance in the latter story where a man exchanges wisdom for folly. The former though, has a glimpse of Hope at the end. So I think.
The worst stories to me were "The bold dragoon" by Washington Irving, which is a very naive and simple writing not worthy of appearing in the anthology and "The ensouled violin" by Madame Blavatsky. The latter beginning with what it seemed a very thrilling horror story ending in the last five or so pages in a mere bungled, farfetched utter failure, just like the writer herself.
What I recommend if you are one of those deep thinkers, is to take some clonazepam pill and ease yourself smoothly to nicer realms, just as I'm going to do right now.
The worst stories to me were "The bold dragoon" by Washington Irving, which is a very naive and simple writing not worthy of appearing in the anthology and "The ensouled violin" by Madame Blavatsky. The latter beginning with what it seemed a very thrilling horror story ending in the last five or so pages in a mere bungled, farfetched utter failure, just like the writer herself.
What I recommend if you are one of those deep thinkers, is to take some clonazepam pill and ease yourself smoothly to nicer realms, just as I'm going to do right now.
March 31, 2017
Peter Haining tends to put together interesting and varied anthologies -- except for The Nightmare Reader. Even in his introductions to a few selections, Haining admits "this is not the best work of [author's name]." If they're not the best, why include them?
Haining's goal was to put together an anthology of stuff vaguely connected to dreams and/or nightmares that had been out of print for ages or were unpublished. Well, he accomplished that, at least. All of these selections were new to me but mostly were forgettable, making for a very uninspired anthology.
Haining's goal was to put together an anthology of stuff vaguely connected to dreams and/or nightmares that had been out of print for ages or were unpublished. Well, he accomplished that, at least. All of these selections were new to me but mostly were forgettable, making for a very uninspired anthology.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews