Books in the Supernatural Fiction series

Haunted and humorous-an irresistible anthology of spooky fictionAlmost everybody loves a good ghost story. Masters (and especially mistresses) of the art of the short story have left us many finely crafted examples to enjoy around a warm, open fire as the dark and cold press in but remain excluded behind thick curtains. There is a certain pleasing thrill-a titillation of enjoyment-in the most unadulterated frightening tales. This book takes a different tack. Not content to give the reader a shudder of fear, the editor has sought out some of the finest exponents of the genre, and chosen stories that seek to bring a smile-and perhaps a chuckle-to the faces of enthusiasts of haunted tales. 'Funny Bones' contains 19 stories of the supernatural to amuse and frighten-often at the same time. Great fun!

Tales from a Mistress of the GothicMary Shelley is possibly one of the most renowned women authors of all time. She is, of course, the literary creator of the iconic Frankenstein's monster and that alone has guaranteed it and her immortality rivalled only by Bram Stoker's Dracula in the pantheon of the bizarre. Beyond her most famous literary work, 'Frankenstein,' she possessed an incredible creative talent, responsible for a dazzling collection of novels, short stories, essays, plays, biographies and travel books. Mary Shelley was an independent, free thinking woman, decades before her time, who strongly adhered the ideals of her father, the political philosopher William Godwin and her mother, the feminist and liberal Mary Wollstonecraft. She notoriously-for her time-became the mistress of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and she subsequently married him upon the suicide of his wife. Those familiar with 'Frankenstein' will not be surprised to find it within this special collection, but those for whom it will be a new experience will discover a superb work of fiction which towers above our perceptions of it from its familiarity through film and television. Fortunately, Mary Shelley did not confine her excursions into the other worldly, weird and Gothic to just this tale of the 'man-made' man. This two volume edition contains two novels and many shorter pieces in testament to Mary Shelley's talent for the literature of the macabre. In this the first volume the reader will discover the classic novel, 'Frankenstein' together with fourteen shorter pieces including, 'The Mortal Immortal,' 'Valerius: the Reanimated Roman,' 'The Mourner' and many others.Available in soft cover and hard cover with dust jacket. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket for collectors.

Tales from a Mistress of the GothicMary Shelley is possibly one of the most renowned women authors of all time. She is, of course, the literary creator of the iconic Frankenstein's monster and that alone has guaranteed it and her immortality rivalled only by Bram Stoker's Dracula in the pantheon of the bizarre. Beyond her most famous literary work, 'Frankenstein,' she possessed an incredible creative talent, responsible for a dazzling collection of novels, short stories, essays, plays, biographies and travel books. Mary Shelley was an independent, free thinking woman, decades before her time, who strongly adhered the ideals of her father, the political philosopher William Godwin and her mother, the feminist and liberal Mary Wollstonecraft. She notoriously-for her time-became the mistress of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and she subsequently married him upon the suicide of his wife. Those familiar with 'Frankenstein' will not be surprised to find it within this special collection, but those for whom it will be a new experience will discover a superb work of fiction which towers above our perceptions of it from its familiarity through film and television. Fortunately, Mary Shelley did not confine her excursions into the other worldly, weird and Gothic to just this tale of the 'man-made' man. This two volume edition contains two novels and many shorter pieces in testament to Mary Shelley's talent for the literature of the macabre.The second volume of this special collection of Mary Shelley's literary excursions into the bizarre and horrific includes the substantial novel, 'The Last Man.' This fine tale languished in obscurity until after the middle of the 20th century and is another good example of the writing and thoughts of an author far ahead of her time. It tells of a future post-apocalyptic world ravaged and massively depopulated by plague. If the theme seems a familiar one today, it should be remembered Shelley published 'The Last Man' in 1826. It is joined here by 'The Invisible Girl,' 'The Evil Eye' and 'The False Rhyme.'Available in soft cover and hard cover with dust jacket. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket for collectors.

A Victorian master of tales from beyond the veilThe works of Charles Dickens are justifiably famous and timeless classics. His most famous ghostly tale, 'A Christmas Carol' has become THE Christmas ghost story and has been filmed and dramatised for the stage and radio on numerous occasions. It is also well known that Dickens had a particular palate for the fiction of the strange, other worldly and bizarre, indeed there have been collections of his strange and weird tales published in the past. This special Leonaur collection is different containing, perhaps, an unprecedented 35 novellas, novelettes and short stories within two coordinating volumes available in soft cover and hard cover with dust jackets.Volume one contains the evergreen 'A Christmas Carol,' the novella 'A House to Let' and nineteen short stories including 'Well-Authenticated Rappings,' 'Lying Awake,' 'The Queer Chair,' 'The Black Veil,' 'The Goodwood Ghost' and the renowned 'The Signalman'-among many others. This may be the essential Dickens Ghost Story collection and will be a joy to his many enthusiastic readers.

Weird tales from a master of drama and the written wordOscar Wilde genius as a playwright, author and poet is well known and highly regarded. The quality of his work has ensured that it has often been adapted for the cinema screen and the first chilling novel in this special Leonaur collection of Wilde's immaculate forays into the bizarre, haunting and peculiar is no exception. 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' tells of a dissolute young man who is cursed as his physical self is separated from his soul with horrific consequences, creating an essential and timeless story of horror. Those who wish to enhance their enjoyment of that story will be pleased to learn that several other classic tales of earth bound spirits, hidden guilt, murder and psychic powers populate this volumes pages-each one beautifully and satisfyingly crafted by this most accomplished of writers. This collection is completed by a sequence of weird shorter pieces often described as 'fairy stories.' These tales of a decidedly adult nature are fabulous excursions into the fantastical which combine to make this book the ideal way for readers to enjoy all of Wilde's strange fiction in one collectable volume. Available in soft cover and also as a quality, cloth bound hardback.

An outstanding Four Volume collection of the unearthly from the pen of a masterHenry James was a notable American author who lived and worked in England for forty years of his life-becoming a nationalised British subject shortly before his death. He is especially remembered for his portrayal of Americans abroad and for the creativity and freedom he displayed within his diverse literary perspectives. His novels remain highly regarded and continually read. Among them are Washington Square, The Bostonians, The Ambassadors and others. In any list of James' notable achievements one title frequently appears first-just as in every list of the most highly regarded supernatural fiction a James work is also certain to appear. That story is, of course, the novella, 'The Turn of the Screw'-a tale of creeping supernatural threat, terror, polluted innocence and inevitable tragedy. It is a deserved classic of supernatural fiction and true to the nature of such things subordinates James's other work in the genre almost to obscurity. Predictably a prolific author who had both a talent for and an interest in the fiction of the bizarre and ghostly would be unlikely to venture into its shadowy realms but once. This special Leonaur collection of Henry James' supernatural fiction fills four substantial volumes for modern readers to relish. A veritable literary feast is in store for those who dare to venture within its pages.In this first volume appears the famous, 'The Turn of the Screw' and another novella, 'The Lesson of the Master,' plus two novelettes, 'The Marriages' and 'The Private Life' and seven shorter works including, 'The Romance of Certain Old Clothes,' 'Brooksmith' and others.