“Startlingly good” stories of Nepali society set against the backdrop of violent Maoist insurgencies (San Francisco Chronicle). From an author like “a Buddhist Chekhov,” The Royal Ghosts features characters trying to reconcile their true desires with the forces at work in Nepali society (San Francisco Chronicle). As political violence rages, these people struggle with their duties to their aging parents, an oppressive caste system, and the complexities of arranged marriage, striving to find peace and connection, and often discovering it in unexpected places. These stories, from the Whiting Award–winning author of Arresting God in Kathmandu and The Guru of Love, brilliantly examine not only Kathmandu during a time of upheaval, crisis, and cultural transformation but also the effects of the city on the individual consciousness. “Like William Trevor, Samrat Upadhyay compresses into a short story the breadth of vision and human consequence we expect from a novel, and he does so in a prose that seems as natural as breathing.” —Scott Russell Sanders, author of A Private History of Awe “Takes us straight into the heart of the troubled and enchanting kingdom of Nepal.” —The Washington Post “Upadhyay’s not-so-simple stories are lucid and often luminous.” —Publishers Weekly

Rooted in place, slipping between worlds - a rich collection of unnerving ghosts and sinister histories. 'An impressive line-up of established and emerging names.' The Sunday Times 'These eerie, unsettling stories are guaranteed to send shivers down your spine.' Daily Express Eight authors were given the freedom of their chosen English Heritage site, from medieval castles to a Cold War nuclear bunker. Immersed in the past and chilled by rumours of hauntings, they channelled their darker imaginings into a series of extraordinary new ghost stories. 'Subtly evocative of human relations loss, grief, or the fear of loneliness.' TLS 'A satisfying and spooky read.' Sun Also includes a gazetteer of English Heritage properties which are said to be haunted.

A lighthearted look at paranormal sightings and an eerie account of British history that will fascinate and inform. The titles in the Very Peculiar History series are absorbing and easy-to-read guides to a wide range of historical and biographical subjects, featuring witty anecdotes, incredible information, and timelines. Royal Ghosts mixes spooky stories with solid history. The text moves from the thirteenth century to the reign of Victoria, exploring the historical background of the various ghosts and the palaces and other buildings in which they appeared, like the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace. Stories include those of Henry VIII's unfortunate wife Anne Boleyn--often spotted carrying her own head--and John Brown, a source of comfort for Queen Victoria after the death of Albert, who is said to walk the many corridors of Balmoral wearing a kilt.

'It's enthralling stuff, mixing the scholarly with the accessible and placing storytelling right at the heart of the human experience.' - History Revealed 'A fascinating journey' - Yorkshire Post 'Marvellous...Finkel is an expert in Mesopotamian cultures at the British Museum, and is one of the most clever, and nicest, of people it has ever been my pleasure to encounter...A fascinating journey' - The Scotsman There are few things more in common across cultures than the belief in ghosts. Ghosts inhabit something of the very essence of what it is to be human. Whether we personally 'believe' or not, we are all aware of ghosts and the rich mythologies and rituals surrounding them. They have inspired, fascinated and frightened us for centuries - yet most of us are only familiar with the vengeful apparitions of Shakespeare, or the ghastly spectres haunting the pages of 19th century gothic literature. But their origins are much, much older... The First Ghosts: Most Ancient of Legacies takes us back to the very beginning. A world-renowned authority on cuneiform, the form of writing on clay tablets which dates back to 3400BC, Irving Finkel has embarked upon an ancient ghost hunt, scouring these tablets to unlock the secrets of the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians to breathe new life into the first ghost stories ever written. In The First Ghosts, he uncovers an extraordinarily rich seam of ancient spirit wisdom which has remained hidden for nearly 4000 years, covering practical details of how to live with ghosts, how to get rid of them and bring them back, and how to avoid becoming one, as well as exploring more philosophical questions: what are ghosts, why does the idea of them remain so powerful despite the lack of concrete evidence, and what do they tell us about being human?

Rain of the Ghosts is the first in Greg Weisman's series about an adventurous young girl, Rain Cacique, who discovers she has a mystery to solve, a mission to complete and, oh, yes, the ability to see ghosts. Welcome to the Prospero Keys (or as the locals call them: the Ghost Keys), a beautiful chain of tropical islands on the edge of the Bermuda Triangle. Rain Cacique is water-skiing with her two best friends Charlie and Miranda when Rain sees her father waiting for her at the dock. Sebastian Bohique, her maternal grandfather, has passed away. He was the only person who ever made Rain feel special. The only one who believed she could do something important with her life. The only thing she has left to remember him by is the armband he used to wear: two gold snakes intertwined, clasping each other's tails in their mouths. Only the armband . . . and the gift it brings: Rain can see dead people. Starting with the Dark Man: a ghost determined to reveal the Ghost Keys' hidden world of mystery and mysticism, intrigue and adventure.