Some people believe that ghosts exist, but despite repeated attempts to photograph ghosts at haunted houses or find other evidence of their existence no-one has been able to authenticate claims of ghostly phenomena. Is it just all superstitious nonsense? An article in Scientific American suggests that despite what many of us may think there may be a reason for the persistent belief in ghosts. It is not uncommon for people to experience hallucinations after bereavement in which they see the loved one that they have lost. A study conducted at the University of Goteborg found that 80 percent of elderly people claimed to have experienced hallucinations in which they saw their dead partner. Of course these are not ‘ghosts’ according to the normal definition, but it may explain why some people still believe that they can be visited by the dead.

Edgar Allen Poe and a badass Raven. Don’t mess.

Whether we believe in ghosts or not there is something that attracts all of us to tales of ghosts and the supernatural, maybe we just like to be scared. People from around the world have always told tales about ghostly visitations and many modern tales are simply updates of pre-existing stories. Some are humorous and others come with a warning. Perhaps the most famous example of the latter is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

The ghost story was most popular between 1880 and 1930 when spiritualism captured the imagination of the British public. Even famous figures such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were fervent supporters of spiritualism. This was also the time when the short story reached its zenith. Ghost stories are not simply frightening, the best are more subtle and allow the reader to reflect on the predicaments of the living as much as the possibility of an after-life. Some of the classic ghost stories not only possess literary merit in their own right, but still retain the power to send shivers down the spine.

R. L. Stevenson’s The Body Snatcher is a story set in mid-19th century Scotland. A tale of greed and ambition, this atmospheric story is about grave robbers who provided the corpses for medical students. Beautifully written, it has a chilling denouement.

WW Jacobs’ The Monkey’s Paw is a tale of a magical talisman, given to a British soldier by an Indian fakir.  This tale will certainly make you think seriously about what you wish for.

Elizabeth Taylor’s Poor Girl is the story of a young governess who is intrigued by a seductive ghost who might be connected to her young charge. The story is both touching and disturbing.

Edgar Allen Poe was the master of tales of mystery and the macabre. The Tell-Tale Heart or the Premature Burial can still send shivers down the spines of modern readers.

Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is one of the earliest examples of American literature. It is still popular today and has even inspired a film. This tale of two rivals for the hand of a local girl has one of the men being pursued and carried off by a headless horseman. Or does it?

It’s all camera effects, this is actually the set of Gossip Girl.

Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw is regarded as one of the greatest ghost stories of all time. The inspiration for the tale came from a story that was told to James by the archbishop of Canterbury. The tale is ambiguous; on the one hand it can be read as a tale of two children who are haunted by their old governess and her lover, but others claim that the governess has imagined the whole episode. Either way, many readers find the story a chilling study of good and evil.

Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black is a more modern ghost story about a small town in England that is haunted by a menacing spectre. It has been successfully adapted for the stage and television.

Other ghost stories that are fun to tell whilst sat by the fireside are those associated with the local area. These days many cities or towns have tours on which visitors are guided round the city or town to visit the haunted locations. These tours can be great fun, although it must be said that some of the tales are embellished in order to take into account modern predilections. Those seeking serious historical information should look elsewhere, but for pure entertainment they are hard to beat. Edinburgh is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK and with its rich history there is no shortage of material for ghost stories.

The Death Coach is an ancient legend and it can be found in many traditions, especially in Ireland. In some stories the Death Coach collects the souls of the recently deceased whilst in others it has a more malevolent purpose, travelling at night with no driver it collects the souls of the unwary. These unfortunate people often end up in the local version of Hell. According to Edinburgh’s version of the story the Death Coach is seen on the Royal Mile and is a warning of an impending disaster. The coach is drawn by black horses with fiery eyes or fire issuing from their nostrils.

Dalry House in Orwell Place is allegedly haunted by the ghost of Johnny One Arm, who as the name suggests has one arm. Johnny One Arm is said to be John Chisely who divorced his wife in 1688. The local magistrate Sir George Lockhart angered Chisely by ordering him to pay a substantial sum of money to his ex-wife. So enraged was Chisely that he shot and killed the magistrate. As a punishment for his crime Chisely’s right arm was cut off before he was hung. An interesting addendum to this story is that in 1965 a 300-year-old one-armed skeleton was discovered beneath Dalry cottage.

On the weekends, the Reaper makes ends meet at the local caterers.

Urban legends, both new and old can provide good material for story telling by the fire. Many are based on classic legends, but have been updated for the modern era. Some versions you may have heard whilst other versions will add a new twist to an old tale.

The Amityville Horror is one of the most famous ‘true’ American ghost stories of all time and books and films have been made about the strange events that the Warrens claimed (and continue to claim) to have witnessed. There are numerous websites detailing the events that are alleged to have taken place in the house, plus almost as many describing the ‘hoax’. Whether you accept the Warrens’ claims or not the story is certainly entertaining and with its background of insane asylums and gruesome murders it has all the elements of a good ghost story.

La Llorona is a classic tale from Mexico and features a crying woman. The woman in question is allegedly the ghost of an indigenous woman who assisted Cortez Hernan in his conquest of the Aztecs. Having betrayed her people she stayed with Hernan and bore him three children. When Hernan returned to Spain he declined to take her with him, leaving her an outcast. Enraged by his actions she drowned her children in an act of spite and then killed herself. According to legend, campers in Mexico may hear her crying for her children in the night.

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