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Ghosts in the House
A collection of rare ghosts and horror stories by the brothers of one of the finest writers of the genre, E. F. Benson.
The Benson brothers – Arthur Christopher, Edward Frederic and Robert Hugh – were one of the most extraordinary and prolific literary families, between them writing more than 150 books. Arthur alone left four million words of diary, although his most lasting legacy is the words to Elgar’s Land of Hope and Glory , while Fred is acknowledged as one of the finest writers of Edwardian supernatural the name E. F. Benson is mentioned in the same breath as other greats such as M. R. James and H. R. Wakefield.<
In fact, all three brothers wrote ghost stories, although the work of Arthur and Hugh in this field has long been overshadowed by their brother’s success. Now the best supernatural tales of A. C. and R. H. Benson have been gathered into one volume by anthologist Hugh Lamb, whose introduction examines the lives and writings of these two complex and fascinating men. Originally published between 1903 and 1927, the stories include A. C. Benson’s masterful ‘Basil Netherby’ and ‘The Uttermost Farthing’, and an intriguing article by R. H. Benson about real-life haunted houses.
The Benson brothers – Arthur Christopher, Edward Frederic and Robert Hugh – were one of the most extraordinary and prolific literary families, between them writing more than 150 books. Arthur alone left four million words of diary, although his most lasting legacy is the words to Elgar’s Land of Hope and Glory , while Fred is acknowledged as one of the finest writers of Edwardian supernatural the name E. F. Benson is mentioned in the same breath as other greats such as M. R. James and H. R. Wakefield.<
In fact, all three brothers wrote ghost stories, although the work of Arthur and Hugh in this field has long been overshadowed by their brother’s success. Now the best supernatural tales of A. C. and R. H. Benson have been gathered into one volume by anthologist Hugh Lamb, whose introduction examines the lives and writings of these two complex and fascinating men. Originally published between 1903 and 1927, the stories include A. C. Benson’s masterful ‘Basil Netherby’ and ‘The Uttermost Farthing’, and an intriguing article by R. H. Benson about real-life haunted houses.
251 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 15, 2019
Oh, brother...
This is a collection of nineteen stories, nine by AC Benson and ten from his brother RH Benson, plus a short essay on haunted houses by RH. These two are also brothers of the more famous EF Benson, and all three dabbled in ghost story writing to a greater or lesser degree. There’s an informative introduction by Hugh Lamb giving some biographical detail of each of the brothers and discussing the background to the stories.
I seem to be overusing the term “mixed bag” recently, but this is another one for me. Mostly I enjoyed AC’s stories and loved a few of them. RH, on the other hand, did nothing for me, so I’ll get him out of the way first.
On the basis of the stories collected here, many of which come from a series of tales about priests telling of supernatural occurrences they have experienced, RH seems to be firstly, obsessed by religion, specifically Catholicism; and secondly, intent on examining the question of whether hauntings are actually spirits returned from the dead, or psychological, produced by the expectations of the observer, or physical manifestations of echoes of tragic events. Almost every one of his stories includes these two aspects, so that they are repetitive and, to me, entirely uninteresting. They feel like fragments, and I hoped that they might eventually pull together into some climax, but they certainly didn’t in the ones selected here. I fear RH never achieved more than a three star rating from me and often dipped to two, or even one more than once.
AC, on the other hand, consistently achieved four stars and several fives. His stories also have strong religious themes and I admit this did begin to bore me by the end. But he uses much more imaginative ways to examine the themes than his brother. Some of his stories are standard hauntings but with original twists, such as Basil Netherby, where the haunting comes out through the music composed by the haunted man. Other of his stories read like fables, with adventuring protagonists participating in what are fundamentally battles between good and evil, but which are done so well they don’t feel stale and repetitive like poor old RH’s. Both brothers write well technically, but AC lifts his tales with the use of some great imagery. His stories also feel complete in themselves, whether a few pages or close to novella length.
Overall, for me it would have been a stronger collection had RH been left out of it altogether. But full marks to AC, whose fable-like stories in particular stand out for their imaginativeness and imagery, and the quality of his stories in general makes me very glad to have read the collection.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Collins Chillers.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
This is a collection of nineteen stories, nine by AC Benson and ten from his brother RH Benson, plus a short essay on haunted houses by RH. These two are also brothers of the more famous EF Benson, and all three dabbled in ghost story writing to a greater or lesser degree. There’s an informative introduction by Hugh Lamb giving some biographical detail of each of the brothers and discussing the background to the stories.
I seem to be overusing the term “mixed bag” recently, but this is another one for me. Mostly I enjoyed AC’s stories and loved a few of them. RH, on the other hand, did nothing for me, so I’ll get him out of the way first.
On the basis of the stories collected here, many of which come from a series of tales about priests telling of supernatural occurrences they have experienced, RH seems to be firstly, obsessed by religion, specifically Catholicism; and secondly, intent on examining the question of whether hauntings are actually spirits returned from the dead, or psychological, produced by the expectations of the observer, or physical manifestations of echoes of tragic events. Almost every one of his stories includes these two aspects, so that they are repetitive and, to me, entirely uninteresting. They feel like fragments, and I hoped that they might eventually pull together into some climax, but they certainly didn’t in the ones selected here. I fear RH never achieved more than a three star rating from me and often dipped to two, or even one more than once.
AC, on the other hand, consistently achieved four stars and several fives. His stories also have strong religious themes and I admit this did begin to bore me by the end. But he uses much more imaginative ways to examine the themes than his brother. Some of his stories are standard hauntings but with original twists, such as Basil Netherby, where the haunting comes out through the music composed by the haunted man. Other of his stories read like fables, with adventuring protagonists participating in what are fundamentally battles between good and evil, but which are done so well they don’t feel stale and repetitive like poor old RH’s. Both brothers write well technically, but AC lifts his tales with the use of some great imagery. His stories also feel complete in themselves, whether a few pages or close to novella length.
Overall, for me it would have been a stronger collection had RH been left out of it altogether. But full marks to AC, whose fable-like stories in particular stand out for their imaginativeness and imagery, and the quality of his stories in general makes me very glad to have read the collection.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Collins Chillers.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
January 22, 2018
Basil Netherby in particular was outstanding.
September 26, 2019
Superb collection. "Basil Netherby" and "The Uttermost Farthing" are unforgettable.
January 19, 2023
Introduction (Ghosts in the House) • essay by Hugh Lamb - very informative 4⭐
Out of the Sea • (1904) • short story by A. C. Benson 3⭐
Mr. Percival's Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 2⭐
The Traveller • (1903) • short story by R. H. Benson 3.5⭐
Basil Netherby • (1926) • novelette by A. C. Benson 3.5⭐
Father Brent's Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 3⭐
The Snake, the Leper and the Grey Frost • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson 3.25⭐
Father Bianchi's Story • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 3.25⭐
The Gray Cat • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson 3⭐
Father Maddox's Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 3.25⭐
The Watcher • (1903) • short story by R. H. Benson 3⭐
The Hill of Trouble • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson 3⭐
Haunted Houses • (1913) • short story by R. H. Benson 3.5⭐
The Uttermost Farthing • (1926) • novelette by A. C. Benson 3.25⭐
Father Macclesfield's Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 4⭐
The Red Camp • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson 3⭐
My Own Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 2.5⭐
The Closed Window • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson 3⭐
The Blood-Eagle • (1903) • short story by R. H. Benson 3⭐
The Slype House • (1904) • short story by A. C. Benson 3.25⭐
Father Meuron's Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 2⭐
Epilogue (Ghosts in the House) • essay by Hugh Lamb 3.25⭐
Out of the Sea • (1904) • short story by A. C. Benson 3⭐
Mr. Percival's Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 2⭐
The Traveller • (1903) • short story by R. H. Benson 3.5⭐
Basil Netherby • (1926) • novelette by A. C. Benson 3.5⭐
Father Brent's Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 3⭐
The Snake, the Leper and the Grey Frost • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson 3.25⭐
Father Bianchi's Story • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 3.25⭐
The Gray Cat • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson 3⭐
Father Maddox's Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 3.25⭐
The Watcher • (1903) • short story by R. H. Benson 3⭐
The Hill of Trouble • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson 3⭐
Haunted Houses • (1913) • short story by R. H. Benson 3.5⭐
The Uttermost Farthing • (1926) • novelette by A. C. Benson 3.25⭐
Father Macclesfield's Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 4⭐
The Red Camp • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson 3⭐
My Own Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 2.5⭐
The Closed Window • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson 3⭐
The Blood-Eagle • (1903) • short story by R. H. Benson 3⭐
The Slype House • (1904) • short story by A. C. Benson 3.25⭐
Father Meuron's Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson 2⭐
Epilogue (Ghosts in the House) • essay by Hugh Lamb 3.25⭐
March 30, 2021
This was my first time reading stories from the acclaimed Benson family. This collection of stories draws together tales from both Arthur Christopher Benson and Robert Hugh Benson that were published between 1903 and 1927.
It was clear from reading all of the tales, that, to me, A.C. was perhaps the more compelling storyteller of the two brothers in this collection; for 'Basil Netherby' is clearly one spectacular piece of a Gothic supernatural story. Perhaps my most favorite tale in this book was the creepy and ghoulish 'The Gray Cat'.
R.H. is perhaps, to me, one of the more drier storytellers of the two brothers. For his tales have a somewhat overwhelming religious overtone to them; and leave you kind of wanting more once the story is finished. Perhaps it is better that he didn't draw too long on telling his tales, since he also has a rather over-analyzing nature that seems to take away some of the magic and intrigue of his story. To give R.H. some credit, his tale, 'The Watcher' did feel me with an impending dread and, in my opinion, is clearly his best tale in this collection.
If you are looking for a great introduction to some Victorian horror and supernatural stories, this is a great collection to dive into.
It was clear from reading all of the tales, that, to me, A.C. was perhaps the more compelling storyteller of the two brothers in this collection; for 'Basil Netherby' is clearly one spectacular piece of a Gothic supernatural story. Perhaps my most favorite tale in this book was the creepy and ghoulish 'The Gray Cat'.
R.H. is perhaps, to me, one of the more drier storytellers of the two brothers. For his tales have a somewhat overwhelming religious overtone to them; and leave you kind of wanting more once the story is finished. Perhaps it is better that he didn't draw too long on telling his tales, since he also has a rather over-analyzing nature that seems to take away some of the magic and intrigue of his story. To give R.H. some credit, his tale, 'The Watcher' did feel me with an impending dread and, in my opinion, is clearly his best tale in this collection.
If you are looking for a great introduction to some Victorian horror and supernatural stories, this is a great collection to dive into.
February 7, 2019
A.C. writes the scariest stuff between the two. While both have Catholic undertones in their works which could get old fast, I read on. Some of the old fashioned attitude towards women is old fashioned, but then one has to take the time of the writings in consideration. While it's not totally misogynistic, there were a couple of small places in the two tales that can make a woman growl. Still, knowing the era it was written in one overlooks that. I did enjoy A.C better than his brothers stories. Robert seeming more like a priest who was afraid of his own shadow or mind. Or at times the very God he served. I am keeping this book to read again some lonely Halloween because who knows It is so thick, I might actually find an overlooked gem next time.
September 25, 2023
Read this one to fulfill a reading challenge prompt, it wasn't my favorite. Was really hoping to get some good English horror stories, but it was too wordy to be scary. I'd say 80% of each story was mundane details in huge paragraphs, and then 20% was actually dialogue.
I do recognize that this was probably the writing style for this time in history, so it probably was awesomely scary when it was originally published.
I do recognize that this was probably the writing style for this time in history, so it probably was awesomely scary when it was originally published.
July 21, 2022
Can be long winded and had to go back to it 1once or twice I think it's what kind of mind your in some of the story's were really good ,,
July 25, 2023
Very slow and not at all exciting. Collection of boring stories.
April 25, 2024
Really talented author. Would deidnely read more by Benson. Really like the style of the writing to
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November 16, 2019
While E. F. Benson is second only to M. R. James as far as pre-1950's horror fiction goes, his siblings remain rather obscure. There is a reason for this. While E. F. Benson wrote genuinely fascinating stories with memorable imagery, A. C. wrote trite, dated, and obnoxiously moralistic stories that get
repetitive very quickly (I can't stand morals, and uplifting endings get old fast); while R. H. wrote rather odd pieces that read like the sort of anticlimactic "true" ghost stories that supposedly happen to people (or more often, their friends or relatives) and tend to get told incessantly to everyone that the teller meets, thus making R. H's stories more literary curiosities than works one reads for pleasure. Also, many of the stories assume that the reader has some familiarity with christian theology, making it somewhat difficult for me to understand what's happening in some of them without making repeated dictionary checks. There are a few good stories here (namely The Closed Window, Basil Netherby, and The Uttermost Farthing) but they are few and far between. Not recommended.
repetitive very quickly (I can't stand morals, and uplifting endings get old fast); while R. H. wrote rather odd pieces that read like the sort of anticlimactic "true" ghost stories that supposedly happen to people (or more often, their friends or relatives) and tend to get told incessantly to everyone that the teller meets, thus making R. H's stories more literary curiosities than works one reads for pleasure. Also, many of the stories assume that the reader has some familiarity with christian theology, making it somewhat difficult for me to understand what's happening in some of them without making repeated dictionary checks. There are a few good stories here (namely The Closed Window, Basil Netherby, and The Uttermost Farthing) but they are few and far between. Not recommended.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews