Tales of Men and Ghosts

Tales of Men and Ghosts is a book by Edith Wharton, first published in 1910. This classic collection of supernatural short stories and psychological ghost fiction showcases Wharton’s sharp insight into human nature, social conventions, and the unseen forces that shape individual lives. Blending literary horror with refined social commentary, these tales explore the tension between the rational world and lingering spiritual presences, making the book a standout work of early 20th-century American gothic literature.

The collection includes stories such as “The Bolted Door,” “His Father’s Son,” “The Daunt Diana,” and “Afterward,” one of Wharton’s most celebrated ghost stories. In “Afterward,” an American couple purchase an English country house with a peculiar warning about its resident ghost—an encounter that proves far more subtle and devastating than expected. Other stories examine guilt, repression, ambition, and moral consequence, often revealing that the true hauntings are psychological as much as supernatural. Wharton’s restrained style heightens the sense of unease, allowing dread to build quietly beneath polished surfaces.

Known primarily for novels such as The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth, Wharton demonstrates here her mastery of the short story form and her talent for atmospheric storytelling. Rather than relying on overt horror, she crafts elegant, intelligent ghost stories that linger in the mind. Tales of Men and Ghosts remains an essential collection for readers interested in classic ghost stories, literary supernatural fiction, and the subtle psychological terror characteristic of early modern gothic literature.