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The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories

by Algernon Blackwood (1869–1951)

  • Free to read
  • 4 hours to read
  • 4 chapters
  • Reading level: 7th grade

"The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories" by Algernon Blackwood is a collection of supernatural tales written in the early 20th century. The stories delve into eerie encounters, often exploring themes of fear, the uncanny, and the unknown, as they bring to life the unsettling experiences of characters who confront malevolent forces and haunted spaces. Each tale uniquely intertwines psychological and emotional turmoil with the spectral and strange. At the start of the titular story, the protagonist, Jim Shorthouse, is summoned by his Aunt Julia to investigate a reputedly haunted house in their town. Intrigued yet hesitant, Shorthouse discovers that his aunt has acquired the keys for a weekend visit to explore the mysteries held within the house’s walls. They soon learn of a dark history involving a murder, which adds urgency and tension to their adventure. As they delve deeper into the house, strange occurrences and mounting dread manifest, testing their resolve and revealing the house's sinister presence. The opening sets the stage for an exploration of fear and the supernatural, beckoning readers to join Shorthouse and his aunt in their unnerving quest.

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  • Ghost stories, English

Read the opening

Chapter I

It was never quite clear to me how Jim Shorthouse managed to get his private secretaryship; but, once he got it, he kept it, and for some years he led a steady life and put money in the savings bank.

One morning his employer sent for him into the study, and it was evident to the secretary's trained senses that there was something unusual in the air.

"Mr. Shorthouse," he began, somewhat nervously, "I have never yet had the opportunity of observing whether or not you are possessed of personal courage."

Shorthouse gasped, but he said nothing. He was growing accustomed to the eccentricities of his chief. Shorthouse was a Kentish man; Sidebotham was "raised" in Chicago; New York was the present place of residence.

"But," the other continued, with a puff at his very black cigar, "I must consider myself a poor judge of human nature in future, if it is not one of your strongest qualities."

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Contents

  1. Front Matter
  2. Chapter I
  3. Chapter II
  4. Chapter III

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About this edition

This free edition of The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories by Algernon Blackwood comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #14471, released 2004-12-26. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Short Stories, Crime, Thrillers and Mystery, British Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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