Humorous Ghost Stories

by

Read by LibriVox Volunteers

English · 1921 · 10h 50m · Short Stories, Horror, Humor

4.1 (38 reviews)

Humorous Ghost Stories brings together comic tales of hauntings, apparitions, and other supernatural disturbances. Across the collection, ghosts meet people who are skeptical, frightened, opportunistic—or simply difficult to scare.

The anthology ranges from Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost and Washington Irving’s The Specter Bridegroom to stories by Gelett Burgess, Frank R. Stockton, Théophile Gautier, and other writers. Its settings and situations vary, but the stories share a playful interest in what happens when the supernatural collides with everyday human habits.

With an introduction by Dorothy Scarborough, this 1921 collection offers a varied take on ghost fiction: some stories lean toward the eerie, others toward farce, and many find humor in the gap between a ghost’s intentions and the living world’s response. It suits listeners looking for short, self-contained tales rather than one continuous plot.

Chapters

Select a chapter to play

Introduction 18:23 Read by Madam Fickle
The Canterville Ghost Part 1 32:06 Read by Kevin W. Davidson
The Canterville Ghost Part 2 21:50 Read by Kevin W. Davidson
The Canterville Ghost Part 3 18:58 Read by Kevin W. Davidson
The Ghost-Extinguisher 24:11 Read by ElleyKat
“Dey Ain't No Ghosts” 24:54 Read by Barry Eads
The Transferred Ghost 30:26 Read by Ted Delorme
The Mummy's Foot 28:01 Read by Alan Winterrowd
The Rival Ghost Part 1 16:22 Read by RLC
The Rival Ghost Part 2 25:35 Read by RLC
The Water Ghost of Harrowby Hall 23:30 Read by Jackie Drown
Back from That Bourne 14:40 Read by Geoff Blanchard
The Ghost-Ship 27:44 Read by Ric F
The Transplanted Ghost 39:01 Read by Ric F
The Last Ghost in Harmony 29:36 Read by JamesMcAndrew
The Ghost of Miser Brimpson Part 1 14:01 Read by Mike Pelton
The Ghost of Miser Brimpson Part 2 21:39 Read by Mike Pelton
The Haunted Photograph 33:16 Read by Rusty Dancer
The Ghost That Got The Button 32:58 Read by Jon Smith
The Specter Bridegroom 34:22 Read by Michelle Goode
The Specter of Tappington Part 1 38:18 Read by Ric F
The Specter of Tappington Part 2 36:59 Read by Ric F
In the Barn 24:08 Read by Mike Pelton
A Shady Plot 25:33 Read by Mike Pelton
The Lady and the Ghost 13:44 Read by Chuck Williamson

Reviews

Good Listen


(5 stars)

As with many old books, there are some bigoted words commonly used over 100 years ago. But it's well read and entertaining.

manageable.


(3 stars)

fraid there are many readers who just aren't cut out to be fair narrators. some stories were read like shopping list and bus timetables. every one can read a tale but it takes a good man to tell a story.

A mixed bag with volume inconsistency


(3 stars)

some good stories, some less so, most readers okay but volume normalization seemed to have gone by the board, with some tracks booming and distorted while others were barely audible.


(3 stars)

good stories only from readers I could tolerate. I'm glad it wasn't a whole book.


(5 stars)

Such wonderful bedtime stories. Even the kids like them 🤸🤹