Guy De Maupassant was one of the greatest French authors of the 19th century. Originally published in 1887, 'The Horla' is one of his best tales, and was a strong influence on H. P. Lovecraft. Many of the earliest ghost stories and tales of hauntings, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Before succumbing to the insanity that ravaged his later life, Guy de Maupassant established a reputation as France's preeminent short story writer, an artist whose cynical and macabre visions paralleled those of Hoffmann and Poe, and directly influenced those of Ambrose Bierce, Mark Twain, and H.P. Lovecraft. His stories are nightmarescapes of psychopathy, corruption, and decadence, featuring a serial-killer judge, a maddening episode of cabin fever (which influenced The Shinning), a gruesome discovery during a night on the river, the inexplicable exodus of a man's walking furniture, the famous invisible vampire, the Horla, werewolves, haunted rooms, neglected ghosts, and vivid affairs of necrophilia. This unique and unrivalled edition of de Maupassant's best weird tales, fantasies, and mysteries includes critical introductions to each story, contextual information, and chilling illustrations that breathe life into his Gothic visions and bizarre fantasias.

Guy de Maupassant's 'The Horla' is a masterpiece of horror literature, showcasing the author's ability to create a chilling atmosphere through vivid descriptions and psychological depth. Set in a time when science and superstition were at odds, the novella follows the narrator's descent into madness as he becomes convinced that an invisible entity, the Horla, is haunting him. Maupassant's use of unreliable narration adds to the suspense, leaving readers questioning the protagonist's sanity and the true nature of the supernatural force. Written in a concise and haunting style, 'The Horla' is a must-read for fans of Gothic fiction and psychological horror. This Classic English Edition offers a faithful translation of Maupassant's original work, allowing readers to experience the terror and ambiguity of the story in all its glory. Guy de Maupassant, a master of the short story form, was known for his acute psychological insight and his ability to evoke complex emotions in his readers. His own struggles with mental illness and fear of the unknown likely influenced his creation of 'The Horla,' adding a personal dimension to the narrative. Readers who enjoy thought-provoking horror tales that delve into the darkest corners of the human psyche will find 'The Horla' to be a captivating and unsettling read, offering a unique blend of supernatural elements and psychological depth.

Delve into the intellectual debates and cultural implications of language in Guy de Maupassant’s The Question of Latin, a narrative that offers a thoughtful and engaging examination of Latin’s role in education and societal values. In The Trip of Le Horla, Guy de Maupassant continues the exploration of the mysterious and supernatural, following the protagonist on a journey that intertwines with the enigmatic entity known as Le Horla. The narrative delves into themes of fear, the unknown, and the impact of supernatural forces on the human psyche. Maupassant’s atmospheric and suspenseful storytelling enhances the eerie and unsettling atmosphere of the tale.

Romantic provocateur, flamboyant bohemian, precocious novelist, perfect poet—not to mention an inexhaustible journalist, critic, and man-about-town—Théophile Gautier is one of the major figures, and great characters, of French literature. In My Fantoms Richard Holmes, the celebrated biographer of Shelley and Coleridge, has found a brilliantly effective new way to bring this great bu too-little-known writer into English. My Fantoms assembles seven stories spanning the whole of Gautier’s career into a unified work that captures the essence of his adventurous life and subtle art. From the erotic awakening of “The Adolescent” through “The Poet,” a piercing recollection of the mad genius Gérard de Nerval, the great friend of Gautier’s youth, My Fantoms celebrates the senses and illuminates the strange disguises of the spirit, while taking readers on a tour of modernity at its most mysterious. ”What ever would the Devil find to do in Paris?” Gautier wonders. “He would meet people just as diabolical as he, and find himself taken for some naïve provincial…” Tapestries, statues, and corpses come to life; young men dream their way into ruin; and Gautier keeps his faith in the power of imagination: “No one is truly dead, until they are no longer loved.”

Often hailed as the best French science fiction writer of the early 20th century, Renard s "The Blue Peril" is considered his masterpiece, with its invisible alien creatures that fish for men the way men capture fish in order to study mankind.

"This collection of chilling horror stories from the maestro of suspense contains nearly 20 of Edgar Allan Poe's best known stories"--Amazon.com

Set in the Paris of society women, prostitutes and small-minded bourgeousie, and the isolated villages of rural Normandy that de Maupassant knew as a child, the thirty-three tales in this volume are among the most darkly humorous and brilliant short stories in nineteenth-century literature. They focus on the relationships between men and women, as in the poignant fantasy of 'A Parisian Affair', between brothers and sisters, and between masters and servants. Through these relationships, Maupassant explores the dualistic nature of the human character and his stories reveal both nobility, civility and generosity, and, in stories such as 'At Sea' and 'Boule de Suif', vanity, greed and hypocrisy. Maupassant's stories repeatedly lay humanity bare with deft wit and devastating honesty.

“Wholly original . . . the work of the newest major talent in fantasy.”—The Wall Street Journal “Freakishly compelling . . . through heart-thumping acts of violence and laugh-out-loud moments, this book practically dares you to keep reading.”—Atlanta Magazine A missing God. A library with the secrets to the universe. A woman too busy to notice her heart slipping away. Carolyn's not so different from the other people around her. She likes guacamole and cigarettes and steak. She knows how to use a phone. Clothes are a bit tricky, but everyone says nice things about her outfit with the Christmas sweater over the gold bicycle shorts. After all, she was a normal American herself once. That was a long time ago, of course. Before her parents died. Before she and the others were taken in by the man they called Father. In the years since then, Carolyn hasn't had a chance to get out much. Instead, she and her adopted siblings have been raised according to Father's ancient customs. They've studied the books in his Library and learned some of the secrets of his power. And sometimes, they've wondered if their cruel tutor might secretly be God. Now, Father is missing—perhaps even dead—and the Library that holds his secrets stands unguarded. And with it, control over all of creation. As Carolyn gathers the tools she needs for the battle to come, fierce competitors for this prize align against her, all of them with powers that far exceed her own. But Carolyn has accounted for this. And Carolyn has a plan. The only trouble is that in the war to make a new God, she's forgotten to protect the things that make her human. Populated by an unforgettable cast of characters and propelled by a plot that will shock you again and again, The Library at Mount Char is at once horrifying and hilarious, mind-blowingly alien and heartbreakingly human, sweepingly visionary and nail-bitingly thrilling—and signals the arrival of a major new voice in fantasy. Praise for The Library at Mount Char An engrossing fantasy world full of supernatural beings and gruesome consequences."—Boston Globe "Vivid . . . the dialogue sings . . . you'll spend equal time shuddering and chortling."—Dallas Morning News"

DigiCat presents to you this unique collection, designed and formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. Content: H. P. Lovecraft: The Dunwich Horror The Shunned House From Beyond Théophile Gautier: Clarimonde The Mummy's Foot James Malcolm Rymer & Thomas Peckett Prest: Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street Edgar Allan Poe: The Fall of the House of Usher The Murders in the Rue Morgue Mary Shelley: Frankenstein The Evil Eye John William Polidori: The Vampyre Bram Stoker: Dracula The Squaw Washington Irving: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow The Spectre Bridegroom Henry James: The Turn of the Screw The Romance of Certain Old Clothes The Ghostly Rental M. R. James: Canon Alberic's Scrap-Book The Mezzotint Wilkie Collins: The Haunted Hotel The Devil's Spectacles E. F. Benson: The Room in the Tower The Man Who Went Too Far Nathaniel Hawthorne: Rappaccini's Daughter The Birth Mark Ambrose Bierce: The Death of Halpin Frayser The Haunted Valley Arthur Machen: The Great God Pan The Terror William Hope Hodgson: The House on the Borderland The Night Land Carnacki, the Ghost-Finder M. P. Shiel: Shapes in the Fire Arthur Conan Doyle: The Leather Funnel The Beetle Hunter Ralph Adams Cram: Black Spirits and White Grant Allen: The Reverend John Creedy The Backslider Richard Marsh: The Beetle Thomas Hardy: What the Shepherd Saw The Grave by the Handpost Charles Dickens: The Signal-Man The Hanged Man's Bride Guy de Maupassant: The Horla Ghosts Pedro De Alarçon: The Nail Walter Hubbell: The Great Amherst Mystery Francis Marion Crawford: The Dead Smile The Screaming Skull Man Overboard! For The Blood is the Life The Upper Berth By The Water of Paradise The Doll's Ghost John Buchan: No-Man's-Land The Watcher by the Threshold W. W. Jacobs: The Monkey's Paw The Severed Hand Miscellaneous Tales: The Ghost in the Cap'n Brown House The Apparition of Mrs. Veal When the World Was Young Uncle Cornelius His Story...