Can you recommend some Victorian ghost short stories?

There are quite a few. 'Thrawn Janet' by Robert Louis Stevenson is a great example. It's about a minister who encounters a strange and possibly haunted woman. In addition, 'A Terribly Strange Bed' by Wilkie Collins is an exciting short Victorian ghost story. It features a man who finds himself in a very dangerous situation in a strange bed that seems to have a life of its own. And 'The Phantom Coach' by Amelia B. Edwards is also a good one, with its ghostly coach and spooky happenings in the Victorian landscape.

Well, 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad' by M.R. James is also a top pick. It involves an academic who finds a strange whistle on a beach. When he blows it, he summons a terrifying apparition. James was a master of creating a sense of unease in a Victorian context.

Another great free Victorian ghost story is 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill. It has a very spooky atmosphere. The story revolves around a young solicitor who travels to a remote village and is haunted by the figure of a woman in black. There are many websites where you can access free e - copies of this story, especially those dedicated to classic literature.

Well, 'The Monkey's Paw' is often considered among the best Victorian ghost stories. It shows how a simple wish - granting device can bring about great horror. The story is short but very impactful, with a sense of doom that pervades throughout. Also, Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' can be seen as a sort of ghost story, where the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future visit Scrooge and change his life. It has that Victorian charm and a moral lesson within the ghostly encounters.

Well, one characteristic is the spooky Victorian settings like old mansions and fog - covered graveyards. The ghosts often have a sense of melancholy and are tied to the social norms of the Victorian era, such as propriety and class. For example, a ghost might be a wronged servant or a jilted lover from that time. The stories usually have a moral undertone too, teaching lessons about the consequences of bad behavior.

Well, 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is among the best. It's a powerful story that delves into the mental state of a woman suffering from post - partum depression. Also, 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs is a classic Victorian short story. It's a horror - themed story about a cursed monkey's paw that grants wishes with dire consequences.

There's 'Uncle Silas' by Sheridan Le Fanu which has some elements of a Victorian ghost story. The story has a sense of mystery and unease throughout. In addition, 'The Phantom Ship' by Frederick Marryat is also a Victorian - era work that has elements of the supernatural. It tells the story of a cursed ship and the strange events that occur around it.

One great Christmas Victorian ghost story is 'The Signal-Man' by Charles Dickens. It has a very eerie atmosphere set around a railway signal - man who experiences some strange apparitions. Another is 'The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain', also by Dickens. It explores themes of redemption and the haunting past during the Christmas season.

Well, they often have a very gloomy and atmospheric setting. Victorian England was full of old mansions, foggy streets, and isolated locations which made perfect backdrops for ghost stories. They also usually have a moral undertone. For example, in many stories, the characters are punished for their greed or curiosity, like in 'The Monkey's Paw'.

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.