This carefully curated selection of supernatural literature—from traditional ghost stories and poems to contemporary tales of the weird and uncanny—represents acknowledged masters of the genre, authors nearly forgotten but worthy of resurrection, and new voices destined to haunt minds into the future.

Arranged thematically, these chilling stories showcase a range of creative approaches brought to bear on some of the most puzzling and profound of human experiences: loss and grief, haunted minds, the persistence of the past, vampiric energies, and more. The reading questions following each work provoke thought and highlight the nuances and complexities of the best works in this genre. A glossary and select bibliography of novels and critical approaches round out this foundational volume, designed for both students and general readers alike.