All these classic stories are in the public domain,
available in their entirety online or as free ebooks
(1-31 October 2018)
A young woman is hired to be governess to two orphans at an isolated English country house. After she sees ghosts, she is determined to protect her charges. Can she save them, or has she gone mad?
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James #FreeScaryStorieshttps://t.co/txE44NQAmr pic.twitter.com/mrTFduVngT— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 1, 2018
After the birth of their child, a couple rents an old house in the country, where the wife becomes obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in the bedroom. Who, or what, is hiding behind it?
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman#FreeScaryStorieshttps://t.co/I69f7vAmYO pic.twitter.com/0JOWWIYOuf— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 2, 2018
One evening during Carnivale, Montresor decides he must take an awful revenge against his colleague Fortunato for the thousand injuries borne him. But can Montresor carry out his heinous plan?
The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe#FreeScaryStorieshttps://t.co/P0ARPIHQQF pic.twitter.com/9ElWeRk8X9— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 3, 2018
Two young men & a girl walk into an antique store to buy themselves a gift before the girl’s marriage. Despite the cost & the owner’s warning about a curse, they purchase The Monkey Spoons.
by Mary Elizabeth Counselman#FreeScaryStories @wikisource_en https://t.co/lH1Y17jGaK pic.twitter.com/YsBGqAsUWa— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 4, 2018
Giovanni loves Beatrice; she wants to marry him: what dread secret keeps her a prisoner in her father’s strange garden?
Rappaccini’s Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne#FreeScaryStories @UniofAdelaide
(Painting: Soul of the Rose by John William Waterhouse)https://t.co/Yo0DrgR8dD pic.twitter.com/7JZIuA6u0F— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 5, 2018
Late at night in a deserted wood, schoolmaster Ichabod Crane unexpectedly confronts the Headless Horseman. Someone is playing a joke on him, right?#FreeScaryStories @everywriter https://t.co/HvanomqrkU
Painting: Headless Horseman Pursuing Ichabod Crane, by John Quidor, 1858 pic.twitter.com/PpLJmZNAwf— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 6, 2018
Peyton Farquhar is about to be hanged after soldiers discover him tampering with a bridge; as the rope drops, he falls into the river below: can Farquhar escape his fate?
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce#FreeScaryStories @everywriterhttps://t.co/XxR0OL7Vjm pic.twitter.com/AaI3TFiMaT— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 7, 2018
When Keawe meets a wealthy man who claims that his fortune came from an imp in a bottle who grants wishes to its owner, Keawe is desperate to buy it: will he regret his purchase?
The Bottle Imp by Robert Louis Stevenson #Free Scary Stories @everywriter https://t.co/Q7PZQ3lAod pic.twitter.com/nwg7eD89ay— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 8, 2018
An old soldier tells a couple about a monkey’s paw which grants its owner three wishes, and they are determined to have it for themselves.
The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs#Free Scary Storieshttps://t.co/bLR76geeHH pic.twitter.com/sdjYrQ5tjJ— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 9, 2018
When Gregor Samsa wakes up, he seems to have too many arms & legs… too many legs, actually, and he seems to be some sort of insect: what will happen if his family finds out?
Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka#Free Scary Storieshttps://t.co/B9tlOODTq0 pic.twitter.com/nINIe0Szvu— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 10, 2018
Dr. Jekyll works all night in his laboratory, and the servants hear such strange cries, but when the cruel Mr. Hyde keeps showing up, they get truly scared.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson#Free Scary Storieshttps://t.co/7RJsypsDbI pic.twitter.com/4FLUjEpa6W— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 11, 2018
Dorian Gray has everything a man could desire — youth, good looks, wealth — and he never seems to get a wrinkle or a grey hair: what is his terrible secret?
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde#Free Scary Storieshttps://t.co/9qjwtddKov pic.twitter.com/I63dZWOlPU— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 12, 2018
When Captain Walton rescues Victor Frankenstein, Walton is horrified to hear the doctor’s story: has he really created a human being from corpses, and how did the Creature escape?
Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecroft Shelley#Free Scary Storieshttps://t.co/kPCNmvcKNe pic.twitter.com/BE1C7z7nSg— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 13, 2018
The Old Farmer has visions of villagers going into the Wood of the Dead before they die, so he walks with them to calm their fear: who goes in tonight?
Wood of the Dead by Algernon Blackwood#Free Scary Stories @wikisource_en
Painting: Siesta by Van Goghhttps://t.co/y0Bc12aF8b pic.twitter.com/PrtlBTLssg— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 14, 2018
Farquhar is to be hanged after soldiers discover him tampering with a bridge; as the rope drops, he falls into the river below: can he escape?
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce#Free Scary Stories @everywriterhttps://t.co/cVOFLw2wgE pic.twitter.com/Mw27vQl2nw— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 15, 2018
Boris has a liquid that turns goldfish and flowers to marble; he wants to put something larger in it for his next sculpture: why does Geneviève object?
The Mask by Robert Chambers#free scary stories @wikisource_en
(Bust: Veiled Vestal by Raffaelle Monti)https://t.co/95iBsGTmVW pic.twitter.com/aCkHRz20sz— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 16, 2018
In the midst of Plague, Prospero throws a masquerade ball for the followers who have walled themselves in his great palace, but what stranger dares dress himself all in red?
The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe#free scary stories @everywriter
https://t.co/62da526bBU pic.twitter.com/bioaNUTFlI— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) October 17, 2018
After a time machine malfunctions and disintegrates the world’s top scientists, people take their revenge and rebuild his invention, but who will triumph in the end?
The Pendulum by Ray Bradbury#free scary stories @wikisource_en
Author photo: NYTimeshttps://t.co/8AbScXWp9X pic.twitter.com/njU0UnxpCH— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 18, 2018
Archeologist Phillip is used to “robbing graves,” but when the beautiful Anthi wants him to rob a body from a grave her husband was excavating, he gets overconfident.
At the End of the Corridor by Evangeline Wilna Ensley#free scary stories @wikisource_en https://t.co/44uUPTGIYr pic.twitter.com/DCXIKiyXaf— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 19, 2018
Julia is nervous about her daughter’s imaginary friend, Tommy, who supposedly lives in their pond, but when she sees the strange boy, too, she wonders what he wants with her child.
Unhallowed Holiday by Olga Marie Cabral#free scary stories @wikisource_en https://t.co/It4cwsvSMT pic.twitter.com/opyxI3swqp— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 20, 2018
When a newlywed follows his wife into the woods, he sees a gathering of witches awaiting the Devil, or does he?
Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne#free scary stories @wikisource_en https://t.co/TXA1FbJPCq
Woodcut: The History of Witches & Wizards, 1720 (Wikimedia) pic.twitter.com/Zsh3R1LGnc— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 21, 2018
When a Transylvanian Count settles in Victorian England, the lives of Jonathan Harker and his fiancée Mina are turned upside down by the (totally non-sparkly) undead nobleman who decides he wants Mina for himself.
Dracula by Bram Stoker#free scary storieshttps://t.co/NJw0nUEKlT pic.twitter.com/9dMwuQARmw— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 22, 2018
Aylmer loves his wife but, obsessed with the birthmark on her face, he convinces her he can make a draught to remove it, but at what price?
The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne #free scary stories @wikisource_en https://t.co/iEFcHJy5eI
Jason & Medea by John William Waterhouse pic.twitter.com/ZlzKzvhVd9— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 23, 2018
After lead-singer Christine disappears in the Opera House, Raoul suspects that she has been kidnapped by the masked ghost rumored to haunt the building & vows to rescue her, but is he too late?
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux#free scary storieshttps://t.co/Ikx3u2AFQt pic.twitter.com/gRYYmwNsdr— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃👻 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 24, 2018
Aubrey meets wealthy Lord Ruthven & becomes his traveling companion; by the time Aubrey notices that Ruthven is dangerous, Ruthven wants Aubrey’s sister: can Aubrey save her?
The Vampyre by John William Polidori #free scary stories @everywriter https://t.co/hQZMFQgyUn pic.twitter.com/sCKuHJS12K— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃👻 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 25, 2018
When Laura meets the beautiful Carmilla, they have romantic feelings for each other: who will save Laura from her mysterious blood loss?
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu#free scary stories @UniofAdelaidehttps://t.co/0NLeVhjCs0
Painting: Sappho & Erinna by Simeon Solomon 1864 pic.twitter.com/vPP3xxcZCS— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃👻 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 26, 2018
Wilbur’s preternatural growth frightens the neighbors, but what is hidden upstairs in his grandfather’s house terrifies them even more.
The Dunwich Horror by H.P. Lovecraft#free scary stories @UniofAdelaidehttps://t.co/n1SaCsz8ye
Painting: Saturn Devouring his Son, by Goya 1634 pic.twitter.com/PvNN6aq1Ra— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃👻 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 27, 2018
A man murders an old man who has a spooky eye, but when he hides the body under the floorboards, the body won’t stay silent.
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe#free scary stories
story: https://t.co/mTXW7GJ8tc
The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Storieshttps://t.co/wlfcfkT0Xm pic.twitter.com/Y8XMr21kUY— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃👻 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 28, 2018
When the Parson comes to church wearing a black veil, his congregation is upset: what secret forces him to hide his face, and why does his veil clutch at their own hearts?
The Minister’s Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne #free scary stories @everywriter https://t.co/tiotipLBP8 pic.twitter.com/XWTl5UvEJT— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃👻 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 29, 2018
“If you don’t come to me, I’ll come to you,” a boy writes in Latin class without knowing its meaning: why is the Latin teacher so terrified by it?
A School Story by M.R. James#free scary storieshttps://t.co/LzEHF6Vqki pic.twitter.com/Byu7RhnQIs— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃👻 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 30, 2018
Zaroff, bored with hunting because no animal is challenging enough, decides to hunt fellow hunter Rainsford, who doesn’t believe animals feel fear: which of the two men will survive the hunt?
Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell#free scary storieshttps://t.co/oFqCazKX5K pic.twitter.com/YwW6RC6I94— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. 🎃👻 (@Alexandria_SZ) October 31, 2018