best english ghost stories

I would recommend 'The Monkey's Paw'. It's a relatively short and straightforward story, yet it's full of suspense and horror. The basic concept of a magical paw that grants wishes but with a terrible price is easy to understand, making it a great choice for those new to English ghost stories.

Sure here's a ghost story for you: Once upon a time in a small village in China there lived a family with a young son named Li Li was a curious and intelligent child who loved to explore the surrounding areas and try new things One day while he was playing in the fields he came across a strange noise coming from a nearby tree He walked closer and saw that it was a white-haired old cat meowing there. Li was fascinated by the old cat and wanted to know what it was doing there So he picked it up and brought it home with him He put it in a comfortable room and started to play with it But soon Li realized that the old cat was not like any cat he had ever seen before It had white hair a green cloak and a face that was twisted looking like it was in a state of pain Li was terrified he could not believe what he was seeing As night falls Li decided to keep the old cat as a pet and he would play with it in the morning But as the days went by Li started to see things that he never had before He saw a face in the clouds a voice speaking to him from the sky and even saw a light shining outside his window that he had never seen before Li was afraid of the old cat and he would always try to get away from it But one day the old cat suddenly disappeared. Li looked around but could not find it again. As night falls Li realized that the old cat had been gone for a long time and he was alone in the village He decided to search for it again but this time he was careful He did not want to find out that it was just a matter of time before it returned The next day Li found the old cat's cloak and the green cloak and he found a note that said: If you want to find my family you must follow these four directions One two three four Li followed the directions and he found the old family that he had always dreamed of He was afraid to approach them but he was also excited to see them Li found the old mother and father and they were in a state of shock when they saw Li They were afraid of him but also excited to see him Li said goodbye to them and he left the village Years went by and Li returned to the village but he did not see the old family He was searching for them but he never found them Li realized that the old cat had been a guide and it had shown him the way to the old family but it had also shown him the way to the truth The end

Some excellent English ghost stories include 'The Signal - Man' by Charles Dickens. Dickens was a master of creating atmosphere, and this story is no exception. It has a sense of impending doom. 'The Great God Pan' by Arthur Machen is another. It delves into the darker aspects of the supernatural and the unknown. 'Thrawn Janet' by Robert Louis Stevenson is also worth mentioning. It combines elements of Scottish folklore with a spooky narrative that keeps readers on edge.

One classic is 'The Turn of the Screw' by Henry James. It's a very eerie story about a governess who believes the children she's taking care of are being haunted by the ghosts of their former servants. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs. A family comes into possession of a magical monkey's paw that can grant wishes, but with terrifying consequences. And 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker, which features the iconic vampire Count Dracula who is often associated with the undead and ghost - like qualities.

One characteristic is the use of spooky settings like old mansions, graveyards, or abandoned places. For example, in 'The Woman in Black', the old Eel Marsh House adds to the overall sense of dread. Another is the presence of mysterious or unexplained phenomena. In 'The Turn of the Screw', the strange behavior of the children is left somewhat ambiguous. Also, they often play on human fears such as the fear of the unknown, death, and the afterlife.

Victorian ghost stories often had a moral undertone. They were influenced by the Victorian society's strict moral code. For example, a ghost might appear to punish someone for immoral behavior. English ghost stories, on the other hand, are more general and can cover a wider range of themes and time periods. They may not always have that moral lesson. Some English ghost stories are just about spooky encounters without a deeper meaning related to morality.

Then there's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll. This is a very imaginative and surreal story. It takes the reader on a journey through a strange world with all kinds of odd characters and situations, which has made it a favorite among both children and adults for its unique charm.

There are several English ghost story books that are recommended based on the search results. Some of these include "Dracula" by Bram Stoker, "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman, "A Harvest of Horrors" edited by Eric Protter, and "Gothic Toy Room" by William Faulkner. These books offer a variety of supernatural and horror elements that are commonly found in Western ghost stories. However, it is important to note that the search results do not provide a comprehensive list of English ghost story books, so there may be other recommended books that are not mentioned here.

Often, they are set in old, spooky locations like castles or old manors. For example, in 'The Canterville Ghost', the setting of the old castle adds to the overall eerie atmosphere. They also tend to have elements of the supernatural that defy explanation. In 'Dracula', the vampire's abilities are beyond normal human understanding.

One common theme is revenge. Ghosts often come back to seek revenge for some wrong that was done to them in life. Another theme is the idea of unfinished business. They might have some task or relationship that was left unresolved when they died.