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Tales for Twilight: Two Hundred Years of Scottish Ghost Stories
Tales for Twilight offers a spine-tingling selection of unnerving tales by writers from James Hogg in the early eighteenth century to James Robertson, very much alive in the twenty-first. Scottish authors have proved to be exceptionally good at writing ghost stories.
Perhaps it’s because of the tradition of oral storytelling that has stretched over centuries, including poems and ballads with supernatural themes. The golden age was during the Victorian and Edwardian period, but the ghost story has continued to evolve and remains popular to this day.
Includes stories from Sir Walter Scott, George Mackay Brown, Muriel Spark, Margaret Oliphant, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Guy Boothby, Algernon Blackwood, Eileen Bigland, Ronald Duncan, James Robertson and Ian Rankin.
Perhaps it’s because of the tradition of oral storytelling that has stretched over centuries, including poems and ballads with supernatural themes. The golden age was during the Victorian and Edwardian period, but the ghost story has continued to evolve and remains popular to this day.
Includes stories from Sir Walter Scott, George Mackay Brown, Muriel Spark, Margaret Oliphant, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Guy Boothby, Algernon Blackwood, Eileen Bigland, Ronald Duncan, James Robertson and Ian Rankin.
276 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 6, 2023
I enjoyed this collection of Scottish themed or Scottish set ghost stories, with some reservations. As is usual in short story collections, some stories are a lot better than others. The authors range from the pre-Victorian period (James Hogg and Walter Scott) to the very contemporary Ian Rankin. The theme is supposed to be Scottish authors or Scottish settings and that can be sort of a stretch here. The earlier authors probably were influenced by Scottish oral traditions but their stories seem very “English” in style and could have English settings as well. They are sometimes set in Scottish country homes or typical dark castles but it can be hard to see the Scottish in them.
Some of the stories are well known such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Body-Snatcher which has a good Edinburg and countryside setting and is at least partly based on true medical school resurrectionists. I warmed more to the modern examples, especially George Mackay Brown’s The Drowned Rose which manages island lore and setting with a feeling of the beauty and the negatives of an isolated place. The book ends with favorite Scots Noir author Ian Rankin’s I Live Here Now, which brings ghosts into the present age.
Tales for Twilight might just as well be read at Christmas as for Halloween. Many of the stories are set at Christmas which is very traditional.
Some of the stories are well known such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Body-Snatcher which has a good Edinburg and countryside setting and is at least partly based on true medical school resurrectionists. I warmed more to the modern examples, especially George Mackay Brown’s The Drowned Rose which manages island lore and setting with a feeling of the beauty and the negatives of an isolated place. The book ends with favorite Scots Noir author Ian Rankin’s I Live Here Now, which brings ghosts into the present age.
Tales for Twilight might just as well be read at Christmas as for Halloween. Many of the stories are set at Christmas which is very traditional.
September 8, 2022
Tales for Twilight was a fun selection of stories spanning over a couple centuries. Some of the material is dated but still enjoyable. It was cool to see how earlier works tended to follow an almost formulaic approach to the ghost story, which then begins to broaden and shift over time. It was also great to see women represented in this collection. Several of the stories were predictable, but I do not think it took away from the experience. There are some real standouts, like the tale by Robert Louis Stevenson. And seeing Doyle in a different light than the Holmes' stories I am familiar with was neat. All in all, a solid selection accompanied by a cool sense of history behind them.
January 24, 2022
On the whole a great collection of Scottish ghost stories from the last 200 years. Well selected pieces.
Strange Letter of a Lunatic
Good opening choice. The story develops nicely and contains the usual wee twists and turns towards the end. Strong start.
The Tapestried Chamber
Having read a couple of Scott’s other works I can say this is by far my favourite. Usually I try and avoid Scott like the plague. But this had a satisfying gothic vibe to it. He created a good sense of the old worldly atmosphere.
A tale for Twilight
The horror seemed to be over before it began with this one. I wanted more. This is arguably the mark of a good short story but I would have liked this one fleshed out a bit more.
Horror - A true story
Another story with a great gothic atmosphere. Tense and real serious creepy undertones. Sinister and spooky. The environment of old castle and country balls is described brilliantly. One of my favourites from this collection.
The Open Door
Men spooked by a ghost, as perhaps you would be, try exorcising its spirit. While undeniably a good writer, the lack of threat posed by the ghost ultimately make this story for me underwhelming. The lack of sinister intent dulled this story in my eyes.
The Body Snatcher
Another favourite from this collection. Based around the Edinburgh Burke and Hare murders. Nice and short and punchy and considering the real life aspect makes this an exciting read. A must read for those with that added interest in Scottish history and folklore. A truly devious tale.
The Captain of the Pole Star
Read a few Sherlock Holmes stories and The Lost World. Loved this. While not exactly horror there is a sustained feeling of threat and a mounting tension throughout. Similar to the more recent The Terror by Dan Simmons although a million times shorter. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.
The Grey Cavalier of Penterton Hall
Okay as far as things go. Going for the traditional take on a ghost story.
Keeping his promise
The idea presented within this story is pretty neat and the writing of good quality.
The Lass with the Delicate Air
A really sad wee story of lust and rage. Very well written evocative scenes and captivating. And the places mentioned are places I am somewhat familiar with which add an extra level of enjoyment. A sad but engaging tale.
Consanguinity
I enjoyed this one well enough although the subject matter and content is a bit odd. Undertones of incest I think aim to give that shock factor. Bit weird this one.
The Drowned Rose
Some village drama plays out, nice visual descriptions of location and village busy body’s. Ghostly remnants seem to replay their final moments.
The Girl I left behind me
Rather depressing this one. Still a reasonable read.
One night in the library
Bit daft this one. However, in fairness it is part of the author’s 365 word collection. So fair play it is 365 words. Not one of my favourites from the collection.
I live here now
Having read the old school classics to now be confronted with a modern story just felt odd. While the story was perfectly fine, it lacked the feel and charm and atmosphere of some of the earlier stories featured within this collection.
A very well selected group of stories spanning 200 years of Scottish writing. Recognising place names heightened my overall liking of the book. Thoroughly enjoyed the variety and would be happy to recommend.
...
Standouts for me include;
Horror, A true Story, The Body-Snatcher, The Captain of the Pole-Star and The Lass with the Delicate Air
And the two opening stories are strong too.
Strange Letter of a Lunatic
Good opening choice. The story develops nicely and contains the usual wee twists and turns towards the end. Strong start.
The Tapestried Chamber
Having read a couple of Scott’s other works I can say this is by far my favourite. Usually I try and avoid Scott like the plague. But this had a satisfying gothic vibe to it. He created a good sense of the old worldly atmosphere.
A tale for Twilight
The horror seemed to be over before it began with this one. I wanted more. This is arguably the mark of a good short story but I would have liked this one fleshed out a bit more.
Horror - A true story
Another story with a great gothic atmosphere. Tense and real serious creepy undertones. Sinister and spooky. The environment of old castle and country balls is described brilliantly. One of my favourites from this collection.
The Open Door
Men spooked by a ghost, as perhaps you would be, try exorcising its spirit. While undeniably a good writer, the lack of threat posed by the ghost ultimately make this story for me underwhelming. The lack of sinister intent dulled this story in my eyes.
The Body Snatcher
Another favourite from this collection. Based around the Edinburgh Burke and Hare murders. Nice and short and punchy and considering the real life aspect makes this an exciting read. A must read for those with that added interest in Scottish history and folklore. A truly devious tale.
The Captain of the Pole Star
Read a few Sherlock Holmes stories and The Lost World. Loved this. While not exactly horror there is a sustained feeling of threat and a mounting tension throughout. Similar to the more recent The Terror by Dan Simmons although a million times shorter. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.
The Grey Cavalier of Penterton Hall
Okay as far as things go. Going for the traditional take on a ghost story.
Keeping his promise
The idea presented within this story is pretty neat and the writing of good quality.
The Lass with the Delicate Air
A really sad wee story of lust and rage. Very well written evocative scenes and captivating. And the places mentioned are places I am somewhat familiar with which add an extra level of enjoyment. A sad but engaging tale.
Consanguinity
I enjoyed this one well enough although the subject matter and content is a bit odd. Undertones of incest I think aim to give that shock factor. Bit weird this one.
The Drowned Rose
Some village drama plays out, nice visual descriptions of location and village busy body’s. Ghostly remnants seem to replay their final moments.
The Girl I left behind me
Rather depressing this one. Still a reasonable read.
One night in the library
Bit daft this one. However, in fairness it is part of the author’s 365 word collection. So fair play it is 365 words. Not one of my favourites from the collection.
I live here now
Having read the old school classics to now be confronted with a modern story just felt odd. While the story was perfectly fine, it lacked the feel and charm and atmosphere of some of the earlier stories featured within this collection.
A very well selected group of stories spanning 200 years of Scottish writing. Recognising place names heightened my overall liking of the book. Thoroughly enjoyed the variety and would be happy to recommend.
...
Standouts for me include;
Horror, A true Story, The Body-Snatcher, The Captain of the Pole-Star and The Lass with the Delicate Air
And the two opening stories are strong too.
February 2, 2024
3 ⭐⭐⭐
a mixed bag, some excellent stories and quite a few that are just so-so. I particularly enjoyed 'strange letter...', 'horror', 'the open door' & 'the captain of the pole star'.
a mixed bag, some excellent stories and quite a few that are just so-so. I particularly enjoyed 'strange letter...', 'horror', 'the open door' & 'the captain of the pole star'.
December 28, 2021
A fair to medium selection of Scottish ghost stories, with some crackers in between some relatively benign and pretty old school (pre MR James) stories. Standouts are the original Bodysnatcher story from RL Stevenson and The Open Door. Otherwise I would stick to some classic MR James for the festive period chills..
January 26, 2022
There wasn't a single story in this collection that I disliked at all. It does a good job of selecting stories from right across the two hundred years, with the most recent one being set during the current pandemic; there's a wide variety, showcasing just how much can be done within the genre. I honestly loved each and every one of these, and some of them were delightfully unsettling.
A special mention for some of the stories in particular: this collection features one of my favourite ghost stories, The Open Door by Margaret Oliphant. It's the longest story in this collection, but it's absolutely fantastic: unsettling, but not in the straightforward horror way. It's a very compassionate ghost story and really does well to illustrate how the horror of ghosts isn't necessarily in the fear that they make us feel, but rather in the grief and pity that we experience when we learn of their own terrible stories. Strange to say, it's a very sweet story in the end, and it's beautifully atmospheric.
The Captain of the Pole-star by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is another brilliant one, exactly the kind of ghost story I love: set out in inhospitable wilderness, where nature is just as much of a threat as anything supernatural. Another one that's particularly atmospheric, it's wonderfully unnerving and suitable tragic.
Something a little different is The Grey Cavalier of Penterton Hall by Guy Boothby. I won't spoil it, but it was absolutely delightful and unexpected, and very entertaining.
One Night in the Library by James Robertson is the shortest in the collection, at about a page and a half, but there's something very timeless about it, and as someone who both loves to read and has a passion for history, I can really feel what's being outlined here; it has the same kind of feeling as the reverence one might feel when walking into a place that's very, very old.
But by far the scariest one in here is Horror -- A True Story by Anonymous. This was genuinely unnerving and absolutely vivid in its imagery; the suspense and the despair and the terror was up there with some of the best scenes in my favourite Gothic or horror novels, and it's definitely the stand-out to me. All of the stories in this collection were brilliant, but this is the one that will stick with me.
A special mention for some of the stories in particular: this collection features one of my favourite ghost stories, The Open Door by Margaret Oliphant. It's the longest story in this collection, but it's absolutely fantastic: unsettling, but not in the straightforward horror way. It's a very compassionate ghost story and really does well to illustrate how the horror of ghosts isn't necessarily in the fear that they make us feel, but rather in the grief and pity that we experience when we learn of their own terrible stories. Strange to say, it's a very sweet story in the end, and it's beautifully atmospheric.
The Captain of the Pole-star by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is another brilliant one, exactly the kind of ghost story I love: set out in inhospitable wilderness, where nature is just as much of a threat as anything supernatural. Another one that's particularly atmospheric, it's wonderfully unnerving and suitable tragic.
Something a little different is The Grey Cavalier of Penterton Hall by Guy Boothby. I won't spoil it, but it was absolutely delightful and unexpected, and very entertaining.
One Night in the Library by James Robertson is the shortest in the collection, at about a page and a half, but there's something very timeless about it, and as someone who both loves to read and has a passion for history, I can really feel what's being outlined here; it has the same kind of feeling as the reverence one might feel when walking into a place that's very, very old.
But by far the scariest one in here is Horror -- A True Story by Anonymous. This was genuinely unnerving and absolutely vivid in its imagery; the suspense and the despair and the terror was up there with some of the best scenes in my favourite Gothic or horror novels, and it's definitely the stand-out to me. All of the stories in this collection were brilliant, but this is the one that will stick with me.
November 22, 2021
A good selection, a wee bit old fashioned.
November 22, 2021
Enjoyed it, would have liked a more varied selection as most were quite old fashioned, and I'm sure there are plenty of modern Scottish ghost stories! 3 and a half stars.
October 11, 2023
Unusually for anthologies, there is not a weak story in here at all. They are all enjoyable, with a decent mix of genuinely creepy, sad and even uplifting themes.
October 29, 2023
Interesting compilation of stories. Not the gruesome tales of recent times, but just eerie.
October 31, 2023
Excellent stories from famous Scottish authors.
November 6, 2023
A great mixture of the old and the new.
Great little snapshot reads for the dark nights,with little bumps in the night scares,
Great little snapshot reads for the dark nights,with little bumps in the night scares,
November 10, 2023
I particularly enjoyed the Muriel Sparks story, The Girl I Left Behind.
December 4, 2023
Quality collection of creepy, stylish, fun, and quick ghost stories. Def in the Halloween rotation.
December 27, 2023
A delightful collection of spooky tales.
December 28, 2023
It was fascinating to see how ghost stories have evolved over 200 years, and honestly, a couple of the older ones creeped me out more than the contemporary ones.
March 27, 2024
3.5 stars.
April 2, 2024
Quick read but since it is a compilation of short stories, it made it good for bedtime reading for me.
August 11, 2024
This is a very enjoyable and creepy anthology, with a great range of tales picked from the past 200 years. Obviously the pace and style of these tales varies enormously, but if you love ghost stories in general you'll enjoy pretty-much every single tale in here.
January 10, 2022
Very good selection with some wonderful old stories and modern twists.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews