A review by annebrooke
The Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories by Michael Cox

5.0

This is a fabulous collection of excellent ghost stories. Most of them were rereads for me - but definitely always worth it - and only a few of them were new. They are all beautifully written with some stand-out lines, such as "Mrs Clemm the housekeeper smiled a sharp little smile, like the scratch of a pin." (Mr Jones by Edith Wharton), and "I believe my late uncle Giles' monograph on the fossils of the Middle Chalk was a standard textbook in its day." (An Encounter in the Mist by A N L Munby) or (of two sisters who enjoy dancing with soldiers) "Ethel's and Elsie's names, it could be presumed, were murmured wherever the Union Jack flew." (Hand in Glove by Elizabeth Bowen). All gorgeously put!

Amongst the collection, my standout favourites were (of course) Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad, The Monkey's Paw (just perfect in its sudden surges of horror), The Upper Berth, and Man-Size in Marble. But, as I say, they are all very good indeed and this is an excellent collection.