Twelve Tales of the Supernatural (Oxford Twelves) [Paperback]

Michael Cox (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Oxford Twelves | Publication Date: December 11, 1997

The supernatural genre has a strong appeal which shows no sign of waning. From the shadowy appearances of a preying mantis to the eerie phenomenon of disembodied footsteps, these tales of the supernatural portray ordinary men and women confronted by mysteries that are beyond both nature and reason, suggesting that the fabric of our lives is but a thin and fragile bridge across an abyss, out of which, at any moment, can come the thing we fear most.
Twelve Tales of the Supernatural features unearthly stories of the supernatural set not only in traditional mists and shadows, but also in modern bungalows, railway carriages, and well-lit city streets. Beginning with the spine-tingling work of J. S. Le Fanu, and including tales by Mrs. Riddell, W. W. Jacobs, A. N. L. Munby and several rarer pieces, this collection is designed as both an introduction for the newcomer to the genre, and a ghostly treat for the true enthusiast.
Twelve Tales of Supernatural is marvelous anthology of some of the very best supernatural stories, combining a serious literary purpose with the simple intention of arousing a pleasurable fear of the unexplained. Distinctive and gripping, these stories will linger long in the memory.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`a new series of paperbacks from OUP, each containing a dozen choice stories from the best in crime and the supernatural, and offering terrific value at L4.99 each' Oxford Times

About the Author

About the Editor:
Michael Cox is a senior commissioning editor with Oxford University Press. He has edited The Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories (1986), Victorian Ghost Stories (1991) (both with R. A. Gilbert), Victorian Detective Stories (1992), The Oxford Book of Historical Stories (with Jack Adrian, 1994), The Oxford Book of Spy Stories (1996), and The Oxford Book of Twentieth-Century Ghost Stories (1996).

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; paperback / softback edition (December 11, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192880276
• ISBN-13: 978-0192880277
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,734,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Cox is the biographer of the ghost-story writer and scholar M. R. James. His first novel, The Meaning of Night, was shortlisted for the 2007 Costa First Novel Award. He lives in rural Northamptonshire, England.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another scary collection from Oxford University Press, December 16, 2002

By 

E. A. Lovitt "starmoth" (Gladwin, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Twelve Tales of the Supernatural (Oxford Twelves) (Paperback)

Michael Cox can be counted on to collect stories with a good shiver in them. If you enjoy tales of the supernatural, be sure to check out two of his previous collections (with R.A. Gilbert): "The Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories (1986)" and "Victorian Ghost Stories (1991)." Both are exceptional.

"Twelve Tales of the Supernatural" is shorter than the two previously mentioned anthologies, and the selections range from 1864 into the middle of the twentieth century. Cox has included one of E.F. Benson's most frightening stories (which is saying a great deal), plus a couple of classical haunted house stories, plus a few seldom-collected stories from otherwise well-known authors of the supernatural:

"Wicked Captain Walshawe, of Wauling (1864)" by J.S. Le Fanu - A wicked husband steals his wife's corpse candle and is cursed by her Irish maid.

"A Terrible Vengeance (1889)" by Mrs. J.H. Riddell - tiny, wet footprints follow a man to the wedding altar and beyond. A long, seldom-collected tale of revenge from beyond the grave that is as populated with interesting (but irrelevant) minor characters as a Dickens novel.

"Number 13 (1904)" by M.R. James - A Danish hotel room vanishes in the morning and reappears at night, inhabited by one who had sold his soul to the devil.

"Railhead (1908)" by Perceval Landon - A plot to steal a construction crew's payroll is complicated by ghostly telegraph messages.

"The Toll-House (1909)" by W.W. Jacobs - Four friends on a walking-tour egg each other into spending the night in a haunted house. Short and savage. One of the best of the 'I bet you can't spend a night in there' sub-genre.

"The Face (1928)" by E.F. Benson - One of E.F. Benson's scariest, in spite of its bland title. In a recurrent nightmare, a woman sees a graveyard that is slowly eroding into the sea. Someone waits for her there.

"The Tool (1928)" by W.F. Harvey - A Methodist minister goes on a walking tour on the moors and somehow loses a day out of his life.

"'Look Up There' (1929)" by H. Russell Wakefield - A man joins a party on New Year's Eve to discover the curse that haunts his host's castle.

"The Last Bouquet (1933)" by Marjorie Bowen - Two very different twin sisters blight each other's life. One promises the other that she will know of her death. Abnormal psychology with a supernatural twist.

"In Due Course (1947)" by Sir Andrew Caldecott - Souvenirs from Java help murder a wealthy uncle, then take revenge on his heir.

"A Christmas Game (1949)" by A.N.L. Munby - You've probably played this game yourself. You and your friends sit in a circle in the dark and pass around objects purporting to be body parts. A.N.L. Munby was a student of M.R. James and wrote his stories whilst a prisoner-of-war in Germany.

"Florinda (1965)" by Shamus Frazer - A child's invisible companion wreaks demoniac revenge.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Free SF Reader, April 29, 2008

By 

Blue Tyson "- Research Finished" (Legion clubhouse) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twelve Tales of the Supernatural (Oxford Twelves) (Paperback)

An anthology of older work, with some earlier twentieth century pieces. The editor says it should be a representative sample of what supernatural fiction tries to do.

None of them seem particularly good, with Landon and Jacobs the pick.

Twelve Tales of the Supernatural : Wicked Captain Walshawe of Wauling - J. S. Le Fanu
Twelve Tales of the Supernatural : A Terrible Vengeance - Mrs J. H. Riddell
Twelve Tales of the Supernatural : Number 13 - M. R. James
Twelve Tales of the Supernatural : Railhead - Perceval Landon
Twelve Tales of the Supernatural : The Toll-House - W. W. Jacobs
Twelve Tales of the Supernatural : The Face - E. F. Benson
Twelve Tales of the Supernatural : The Tool - W. F. Harvey
Twelve Tales of the Supernatural : Look Up There! - H. R. Wakefield
Twelve Tales of the Supernatural : The Last Bouquet - Marjorie Bowen
Twelve Tales of the Supernatural : In Due Course - Andrew Caldecott
Twelve Tales of the Supernatural : A Christmas Game - A. N. L. Munby
Twelve Tales of the Supernatural : Florinda - Shamus Frazer

These evil phantoms really get old.

3 out of 5


Kiss chasey with phantoms pales.

3 out of 5


Yes, that one really is unlucky.

3.5 out of 5


Headbangers foretold.

3.5 out of 5


Haunted house bet.

3.5 out of 5


Dead pickup.

3 out of 5


Laying it on.

2 out of 5


Cloud army.

3 out of 5


Old actress double.

3.5 out of 5


Big buggy.

3 out of 5


Pass the dead bits.

3 out of 5


Cracker of an ending.

3 out of 5




2.5 out of 5