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.
Well, you could start by checking out some of the well - known bookstores in your area. They might have anthologies that specifically feature Victorian Christmas ghost stories. Additionally, some universities with large libraries may allow the public to access their collections, and there could be some great finds there. If you're part of a book club or literary group, asking around among the members might also lead you to a good source.
They often had a moral undertone. For example, in 'A Christmas Carol', the ghosts are there to teach Scrooge a lesson about kindness and generosity. The settings were typically Victorian - era locations like old mansions or gloomy streets. The language used was elaborate and descriptive, creating a spooky atmosphere.
The stories in 'Valancourt Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories' are rich in atmosphere. They use vivid language to create a sense of dread and anticipation. The ghosts themselves can be quite diverse, from the traditional white - sheeted specters to more complex, almost human - like apparitions with their own motives and backstories. They also often play on Victorian superstitions, like the fear of being visited by the ghosts of the dead at Christmas time, which was considered a time when the veil between the living and the dead was thin.
During Victorian Christmas, telling ghost stories was a popular tradition. It was often done in the evenings, especially around the Christmas fire. Families and friends would gather together, and the spooky tales added an element of mystery and excitement to the festive season. The Victorians were fascinated by the supernatural, and Christmas provided a perfect time to share these hair - raising stories.
There's 'The Haunted House' which was a collection of short stories by various authors. These stories were often shared during the Victorian Christmas period. They typically had an eerie feel, with ghosts haunting old houses or having some sort of unfinished business. The Victorians liked these stories during Christmas as they added a sense of mystery and a bit of a chill to the festive season.
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.
The Victorian Christmas ghost stories have had a notable impact on modern Christmas. Firstly, they have influenced the creation of various forms of Christmas - themed entertainment. We often see elements of the supernatural in modern Christmas stories, like a ghostly apparition in a Christmas - set novel or a spooky Christmas - themed TV special. This connection to the Victorians also helps to keep the idea alive that Christmas has a deeper, more mysterious layer. Moreover, it has affected how we view the holiday season in terms of cultural heritage. It reminds us that Christmas has a long and complex history, with the Victorians' love for ghost stories being just one part of it. This can be seen in how some modern Christmas markets or events might incorporate a spooky or historical element related to those old ghost stories.
I'm not sure exactly which authors are included in this collection. It could potentially include well - known Victorian authors who were fond of writing ghost stories, like M. R. James or Sheridan Le Fanu.