A wonderful anthology of short ghost stories from England, all allegedly true, ranging in time from the eighth century to the twentieth, with themes including animal spirits, doppelgangers, knockers, poltergeists, and much more. Some are quoted directly while others are retold by the author.

Though I am a sceptic, while reading through this lively collection I found myself mistaking ordinary objects in the dark for shadowy, otherworldly figures. I can only attribute that effect to the vivid nature of the accounts selected by Ackroyd. A perfect October read.