Can you recommend some short Victorian ghost stories?

One well - known Victorian ghost short story is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs. It's a spooky tale about a magical paw that grants wishes but with terrible consequences. Another is 'The Signal - Man' by Charles Dickens, which has a very eerie atmosphere set around a railway signal - man who experiences strange apparitions. Also, 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad' by M.R. James is a classic. It tells the story of a professor who discovers a whistle with a rather malevolent supernatural connection.

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.

Sure. 'Carmilla' by Sheridan Le Fanu is a famous old Victorian ghost story. It's about a female vampire, which was quite a unique concept at that time. It has a very gothic and spooky atmosphere. Also, there's 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill. It tells the story of a vengeful ghost that haunts a small English town and brings great horror to those who encounter 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.

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.

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.

One of the well - known Victorian short ghost stories is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs. It's a chilling tale about a magical paw that grants wishes but with horrifying consequences. Another is 'The Signal - Man' by Charles Dickens, which creates a spooky atmosphere around a railway signal - man haunted by a spectral figure. Also, 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad' by M. R. James, it has a great sense of unease as a professor encounters a strange entity after blowing an old whistle.

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.