Reviews

Tales from a Gas-Lit Graveyard by Hugh Lamb, Wilhelmina Fitzclarence, Emilia Francis Strong Dilke, Robert Barr, Kate Prichard, H. Heron, J.H. Pearce, Hume Nesbit, Richard Marsh, E. Heron, R. Murray Gilchrist, Ambrose Bierce, W.C. Morrow, Guy Newell Boothby, Charlotte Riddell, Bernard Capes, Hesketh Hesketh-Prichard

otterno11's review

3.0

These anthologies of obscure vintage thrillers are always interesting grab bags of fiction. "Tales from a Gas-lit Graveyard" sheds light on some quirky (and spooky) short stories from the English-speaking world (and two from the Spanish) gleaned from various Victorian magazines. Some involve ghosts and others simply describe typically macabre or Gothic themes. However, none include a gas-lit graveyard, which was a bit of a disappointment for me! My favorite story was probably "The Haunted Station" by Hume Nisbet which paints a very atmospheric picture of the Australian outback. I also thought that "The Tyburn Ghost" by the Countess of Munster was a really creepy story. A few others definitely show their age, however and are a bit dry and keep to well worn Victorian themes, in particular Marsh's "The Houseboat." Still this collection is worth a read for a bit of eerie Autumn atmosphere.