Tales Accursed

A Folk Horror Anthology

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Pub Date 12 Nov 2024 | Archive Date 5 Oct 2024

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Description

A bold follow-up to the very popular Damnable Tales: Full of thrillingly chilling tales from Shirley Jackson, M. R. James, William Croft Dickinson and many more

This anthology contains work from both the established masters of Folk Horror, and some more surprising contributors: from Shirley Jackson and M. R. James to E. F. Benson and William Croft Dickinson. Tales Accursed will raise the hairs on your neck and keep you alert to the slightest rustle in the trees: through the chill splendour of moonlit nights come apparitions through the orchard; sea-witches perch on the sharp fangs of rocks as they weave their spells; fir-woods lie unnaturally still with no birdsong, no breeze, nor any undergrowth; and hooded creatures crouch on grey secluded beaches. This book combines ancient horrors from the wilderness with sinister shadows of the landscape to remind us of the settings of our ancestors.

Tales Accursed is a gloriously creepy collection of chilling Folk Horror tales that is both thrilling and unnerving.

A bold follow-up to the very popular Damnable Tales: Full of thrillingly chilling tales from Shirley Jackson, M. R. James, William Croft Dickinson and many more

This anthology contains work from both...


Advance Praise

‘We can’t turn away, but can find a delicious crackle of fear in turning these pages, in engaging with old fears anew’
Sinéad Gleeson, author of Hagstone and Constellations

‘A new volume of delightfully unsettling tales... Richard Wells’ illustrations conjure the ancient terrors depicted in dusty seventeeth-century tomes’
Maria J. Pérez Cuervo, editor of Hellebore

‘We can’t turn away, but can find a delicious crackle of fear in turning these pages, in engaging with old fears anew’
Sinéad Gleeson, author of Hagstone and Constellations

‘A new volume of...


Marketing Plan

  • The perfect book for Halloween, in a lush, giftable package
  • Illustrated throughout with Richard’s glorious linocuts
  • Ideal for readers who loved Everything Under, Water Shall Refuse Them, Starve Acre and The Loney
  • The perfect book for Halloween, in a lush, giftable package
  • Illustrated throughout with Richard’s glorious linocuts
  • Ideal for readers who loved Everything Under, Water Shall Refuse Them...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781789651737
PRICE US$29.95 (USD)
PAGES 352

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Average rating from 145 members


Featured Reviews

As a a follow-up to Wells' previous anthology, Damnable Tales, "Tales Accursed" is an anthology of classic supernatural and folk horror stories. It features sixteen tales by renowned authors such as Shirley Jackson, M. R. James, William Croft Dickinson, E. F. Benson, and other masters of the genre. These stories range in age, with contributions from authors who wrote in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, providing a rich historical context to the collection. The stories in Tales Accursed delve into chilling and eerie themes, exploring the haunted landscapes and ancient horrors that evoke the settings of our ancestors. You'll encounter apparitions in moonlit orchards, sea-witches casting spells on rocky shores, unnaturally still fir-woods, and hooded figures on desolate beaches. Each story is accompanied by Richard Well's striking illustrations, enhancing the unsettling atmosphere of the tales.​. This anthology captures the timeless and enduring appeal of folk horror, making it a compelling read for fans of the genre

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Loved this book. 5 star read from me. Richard Wells edited this book like no other. So so good. I recommend everyone to read this book as soon as they can.

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Reading Tales Accursed feels like sitting at the knee of your oldest family member as they tell you the stories that scared them as a child. Not your typical anthology, these folk tales might keep you up at night and will definitely discourage you from any late night wandering in the woods. I enjoyed this brief escape and look forward to returning to some of these stories again.

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This is a good collection! There are some collected here I haven't read before, or even heard of, which is always fun.

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A collection of chilling stories that do not cease to thrill readers! No need for modern themes and archetypes - folk horror await!

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A fascinating and expertly selected collection of folk horror.

The cover is beautiful and I can imagine this as a prestige gift for a horror fan and a connoisseur of beautiful books.

Thrilling and I wish I had read it at Halloween.

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Was so good. Now that it's officially spooky season, I'm giving this a reread. There were stories in there I hadn't heard of before

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Folk tales told and passed down for generations. Adored and spooky. This was a phenomenal collection from a variety of authors dealing in many different sub genres and plots. A must read around the campfire or the fireplace.

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A wonderful collection of stories from a treasure trove of amazing authors. This is a must buy book for the Halloween season. I will definitely be picking up a beautiful hardcover upon release.

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An excellently curated selection of stories from some great authors. I look forward to re-reading this around Halloween. The illustrations were lovely as well, and added to the spooky ambience of the book.

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First let me say, this cover stole my heart. It has this folk, aged feeling. I can just picture it as a hardcover book with gold embellishments.
Reading this book reminds me of stories passed down from generation to generation, stories that scared you as a little kid and never quite left you. It provided stories that left goosebumps and a shiver down your spine telling you to steer clear of the deep dark woods calling to you to be explored. This book provided that fantasy folk lore escape, that we are all looking for.

As with all the 16 stories some are better then others but its the perfect gift to give someone and to recommend as at least one story is bound to connect to a person.

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Anthologies are my first recommendation to anyone looking for a new author or "something different". I gift them often. The collection of short stories by recognized authors and many that are new to me offer a sample of the author's writing skills and their ability to tell a complete story in fewer pages than most chapters. I've been surprised at many of the authors who flex their imaginations to differing genre in anthologies. As in any collection, some stories are better than others, but I've yet to find a collection that did not rate 5 easy stars.

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A really fun read with a great spooky atmosphere that lasted from the first short story to the last. I wish I would have picked up closer to fall, because this would be an amazing book to read next to a campfire on a cool autumn night. It was not only the stories that were great, the accompanying illustrations added an ambiance that in some cases left me a bit unsettled. I’m excited to pick this up again in October!

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An incredibly curated anthology sure to intrigue any horror reader. Wells thoughtfully and carefully selected thrilling tales by some of the best thriller/horror writers of our time to create a masterpiece that will be enjoyed for the readers fun and in college classrooms. The illustrations sprinkled throughout are sure to delight as well!

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Easily one of the best horror anthologies that I have ever read and amongst the top three of the past few years. Amazing collection/selection.
It is the type of book that you return to an pick a story to reread from time to time.

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This is a great collection of stories for anyone interested in supernatural tales. Readers will most likely recognize most of these authors and their stories.

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