The Haunted Looking Glass

The Haunted Looking Glass is a collection of ghost stories selected and illustrated by Edward Gorey. Each tale comes from Victorian and Edwardian writers, including M.R. James, Charles Dickens, and Wilkie Collins. The twelve stories feature supernatural encounters, mysterious disappearances, and inexplicable events. Gorey's black-and-white pen illustrations accompany each narrative, creating a visual complement to the written tales. The anthology preserves the original writing style and tone of the period, maintaining the formal language and gothic atmosphere of nineteenth-century ghost stories. The collection includes both well-known classics and lesser-known works from the genre. These stories explore themes of psychological terror and the supernatural's intrusion into everyday life, reflecting Victorian society's fascination with death, spiritualism, and the unknown.

Readers describe this collection as a solid introduction to classic ghost stories, with Gorey's illustrations adding a macabre charm. Many note it works well as a "sampler" of Victorian and Edwardian horror authors. Readers appreciate: - Gorey's black and white illustrations complement each tale - Mix of famous and lesser-known stories - Compact length of stories makes for quick reading - Quality of paper and binding in hardcover edition Common criticisms: - Stories feel dated or predictable to modern readers - Some translations feel stiff - Limited selection with only 12 stories - Several stories appear frequently in other collections Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,283 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (89 ratings) "The illustrations alone make it worth owning" appears in multiple reviews. One reader noted "These aren't scary by today's standards, but they set the template for ghost stories we still tell."

The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Short tales of psychological horror unfold through Victorian-era domestic settings with mounting dread and unsettling implications.

Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe Gothic stories combine macabre elements with precision of language and Victorian sensibilities to create atmospheric horror.

The Willows and Other Nightmares by Algernon Blackwood Nature-based horror stories feature meticulous black-and-white illustrations and explore the terror of isolation.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James A Gothic ghost story set in an English country house combines psychological uncertainty with Victorian repression.

The Collected Ghost Stories by M.R. James Scholar-turned-horror writer crafts tales of antiquarian terror with detailed illustrations and mounting suspense.

🎨 Edward Gorey was not only an author but also a celebrated illustrator who created distinctive pen-and-ink drawings characterized by Victorian and Edwardian settings filled with elegant, unsettling details. 📚 The Haunted Looking Glass is a collection of ghost stories Gorey personally selected from classic authors, including Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, and M.R. James. 🖋️ Each story in the collection features one of Gorey's signature black-and-white illustrations, which perfectly capture the eerie Victorian atmosphere of the tales. 🏰 The book was first published in 1959 as part of the Looking Glass Library series, which aimed to bring classic literature to young readers with sophisticated artistic presentation. 🌟 Despite being marketed for younger readers, the collection has become a cherished favorite among adult horror enthusiasts and is considered an excellent introduction to Victorian-era ghost stories.