The Yellow Wallpaper

A superstitious schoolteacher rides home on an autumn night and meets the Headless Horseman. The great American Halloween story, short enough to read aloud.

Washington Irving

A young Puritan leaves his wife for one night and follows a stranger into the forest, where his whole village gathers for a witches' sabbath. Hawthorne's darkest tale, readable in half an hour.

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Locals warn a young couple that the marble knights in the village church get up and walk on All Hallows' Eve. A classic Victorian ghost story set on the night of Halloween.

Edith Nesbit

A witch brings her pumpkin-headed scarecrow to life and sends him into town dressed as a gentleman. Half fable, half horror, and the most Halloween story Hawthorne ever wrote.

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Strange rites on the hills of a decaying New England village every May Eve and Hallowmass, and a boy who grows far too fast. One of Lovecraft's most complete tales of witchcraft and cosmic horror.

H. P. Lovecraft