True Ghost Stories

by Hereward Carrington

"True Ghost Stories" by Hereward Carrington is a collection of allegedly real ghost stories and accounts of supernatural experiences written in the early 20th century. The work compiles authentic and well-documented instances of ghostly phenomena, aiming to present not mundane fiction but narratives grounded in investigative findings from psychical research. Carrington, an advocate for the study of psychical phenomena, uses this collection to explore various theories regarding the existence and nature of ghosts, as well as the human experiences associated with such encounters. The opening of the text delves into the concept of ghosts, discussing their historical prevalence across cultures and the instinctive human fear of the dark. The author introduces various cases that illustrate the fear and fascination associated with ghostly appearances, such as a personal account wherein an apparition snuffs out a light in the protagonist's bedroom, leaving them in total darkness and terror. Carrington also reflects on the nature of apparitions, suggesting that many ghostly experiences can be understood through recent scientific theories, including telepathy and hallucinations. Overall, the beginning serves to set the groundwork for a deeper inquiry into the mysteries of the supernatural, piquing the reader's interest in the scientifically grounded exploration that follows.