Kathryn Cramer and David G. Hartwell put together a Christmas anthology that includes not just one but TWO Charles Dickens Christmas stories. And then there’s Arthur Machen’s cunning twist on the Scrooge saga.
But my favorite story is “The Water Ghost of Harrowby Hall” by an author completely unknown to me: John Kendrick Bangs. A little research unearthed this information about Mr. Bangs: John Kendrick Bangs (May 27, 1862 – January 21, 1922) was an American author, humorist, editor and satirist. His story introduces the reader to a ghost who has shown up to haunt a family each Christmas for 203 years! The ghost was cursed by a sea nymph so when she shows up, she floods the house! Bangs presents an innovative solution to the ghost problem…one I didn’t see coming!
This anthology delivers a mix of stories. The only one I thought was jarring was “Calling Card” by Ramsey Campbell with its gruesome ending. GRADE: B
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction — xiii
Their dear little ghost / Elia Wilkinson Peattie — 1
The curse of the catafalques / F. Anstey — 7
The story of the goblins who stole a sexton / Charles Dickens — 39
Christmas night / Elizabeth Walter — 51
A new Christmas carol / Arthur Machen — 71
A Christmas game / A.N.L. Munby — 75
The great staircase at Landover Hall / Frank R. Stockton — 85
The water ghost of Harrowby Hall / John Kendrick Bangs — 99
Christmas meeting / Rosemary Timperly — 109
The ghost / William D. O’Connor — 112
Christmas reunion / Sir Andrew Caldecott — 157
The ghosts at Grantley / Leonard Kip — 168
The Christmas banquet / Nathaniel Hawthorne — 202
The Crown Derby plate / Marjorie Bowen — 221
A strange Christmas game / Mrs. J.H. Riddell — 234
Calling card / Ramsey Campbell — 245
A Christmas tree / Charles Dickens — 251
I can still remember reading “Water Ghost” in elementary school, in a book of Ghost Stories for youngsters.
Dan, I love “The Ghost of Harrowby Hall”! Very clever story!
I’m surprised you’ve never come across Bangs’s work before…he was once a very big deal indeed, and I’ve read him mostly in anthologies of humor, but I’ve never sought out one of his own books…it’s been a while since I’ve read anything new to me by, say, Twain or Benchley, either. Ramsey Campbell’s humorous work (as well as his utterly serious) I have read in good quantity…but it’s been a while since I’ve picked up a new one from him, too. Munby and Timperly are the only unfamiliar names here for me, and this book does look tempting…so many books do…is this another of the items you’ve been Meaning to Get To for some years, George? I don’t always agree, particularly with late Hartwell, with his notions of the Best examples of various sorts of fiction (or poetry), but his and Cramer’s selections of what is worthy for a theme anthology of one sort or another are usually quite good.
Todd, you’re right! I’ve had CHRISTMAS GHOSTS for a couple of decades waiting to be read. I’m also looking for a new home for CHRISTMAS GHOSTS. If you’re interested, I’ll be happy to send you a copy!
Sounds like a good one. I certainly know of Bangs, though I don’t think I’ve read anything of his that I can remember. I have read some of the others, even if not all the listed stories – Dickens, Machen, Stockton, Hawthorne, Bowen, and Campbell.
Jeff, I’ll certainly be looking for more of Bang’s work in 2023! I was very impressed with his story in CHRISTMAS GHOSTS.
(Apologie_, George, becau_e my keyboard _till refu_e_ to acknowledge certain letter_ — the one_ between “R” and “T” and the one between “W” and “Y.” I hope you can figure out what I’m writing.)
I fear a little bit of John Kendrick Bang_ goe_ a long way. A_ a writer, he’_ mainly known for _atire — and 19th century _atire doe_ not age well. (For in_tance, one of hi_ book_ wa_ a _atire on the then-current “fad” of bicycling — perfectly unreadable today.) “Water Gho_t” wa_ the title of an 1894 (fairly readable) collection. Hi_ mo_t famou_ book wa_ “Hou_eboat on the _ty_,” one of four collection_ featuring the “A__ociated _hade_,” a men’_ club in the afterlife who_e member_ included _Herlock Holme_, Adam, Baron Munchhau_en, _hake_peare, Bo_well, and other_. He wrote 6 or 7 collectio_ about “The Idiot,” an inventive “geniu_” who live_ up to the title. Another two book_ feature a ver_ion of Hornung’_ gentleman-crook Raffle_. Many of hi_ collection_ are juvenile_ of the lowe_t _ort.
Almo_t all of hi_ forty or _o book_ are available online. Check them out at your own ri_k.
Jerry, I hope Santa fixes your keyboard! I figured you knew about John Kendrick Bang…he seems to be your type of writer! I’ll be checking Bang out in 2023.
Diane and I working on Christmas cards. We don’t have your current address. Could you send it to popeviagra@aol.com so we can send you a card I think you’ll enjoy!