The Belgravia Magazine was also among those Victorian magazines that had ghost stories. It offered a platform for different writers to share their spooky creations. The magazine was part of the Victorian literary landscape that was rich in diverse forms of storytelling, and ghost stories were a significant part of its offerings. These stories not only entertained readers but also reflected the cultural fascination with the supernatural during that time.
They were usually set in gloomy and atmospheric locations like old mansions or desolate graveyards. This added to the spooky feeling. The characters in these stories were often ordinary people who got caught up in the supernatural. For instance, in many stories from magazines like 'All the Year Round', a simple country dweller might encounter a ghostly apparition in an old, abandoned church. These stories were also written with a certain Victorian propriety, so the horror was not overly gory but more about the psychological aspect of fear.
One famous Victorian ghost story is 'The Woman in Black'. It is about a mysterious woman in black who haunts a small English town, bringing death and misfortune to those who see her. Another is 'The Turn of the Screw' by Henry James, which tells a disturbing tale of a governess who believes the children she is looking after are being haunted by the ghosts of their former servants.
Common features included a sense of mystery and the unknown. There was usually a build - up of suspense throughout the story. For instance, a character might notice small, unexplained things at first, like objects moving on their own. And then, as the story progresses, the full - blown apparition would be revealed. Another feature was the idea of a curse or a dark secret from the past that was tied to the haunting. The stories often played on the Victorian sense of propriety and the fear of breaking social norms, with the hauntings sometimes being a result of some past misdeed related to social behavior.
The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain is another Dickens' work. It features a man haunted by a ghost and how it impacts his life during the Christmas season. There are also some less well - known but still interesting ones like The Trial for Murder by Charles Dickens as well. This story has elements of the supernatural and mystery set around Christmas time.
M. R. James is quite famous for his Victorian - era ghost stories. His works are known for their slow - building horror and the use of academic settings. Another well - known author is Sheridan Le Fanu. His stories often have a sense of mystery and the supernatural, like 'Carmilla' which features a female vampire - like figure that has elements of a ghost story as well.
One of the most well - known is 'Heart of Darkness' by Joseph Conrad. It delved into the darkness of the imperial project in Africa. Another is 'Kim' by Rudyard Kipling, which was set in India and showed the relationship between the British and the Indian people during the imperial era. 'Jude the Obscure' by Thomas Hardy also had elements related to the social and cultural changes brought about by imperialism, though in a more domestic British context.
M. R. James is quite well - known. His stories are filled with creepy, ancient curses and malevolent spirits. Another is Sheridan Le Fanu. His works often have a gothic atmosphere and deal with themes of the supernatural in a very engaging way.
M. R. James was a very famous one. His ghost stories were known for their atmosphere and the way he created a sense of dread. Another was Sheridan Le Fanu. His works often had complex characters and a touch of the macabre in the ghostly elements.
Sheridan Le Fanu is another well - known author. His ghost stories often had a psychological depth to them. He was able to create a sense of unease and dread in the reader through his vivid descriptions and intricate plots. For example, his story 'Carmilla' is a classic in the genre. It features a female vampire, which was quite unique at the time.
There are quite a few. 'A Christmas Carol' is renowned worldwide. It shows Scrooge being visited by three ghosts. 'The Cold Embrace' by Mary Elizabeth Braddon is also a great one. It has a very haunting feel to it. 'The Phantom Coach' by Amelia B. Edwards is another story that captures the essence of Victorian Christmas ghost stories with its ghostly apparitions and spooky settings.