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Terrific Tales (Valancourt Book) — Occult Philosophy

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Terrific Tales (Valancourt Book)

Name: Terrific Tales (Valancourt Book)
Price: 39.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780977784158

✍️ Lewis, Isabella

Reader Score

4.4

(6 reviews)

$39.99 ~~$62.00~~ Save $22.01 (35%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Isabella Lewis’s 1804 collection, Terrific Tales, offers a chilling glimpse into the supernatural fears of the Regency era. Unlike the fictional Gothic novels of her time, Lewis insists these narratives are factual accounts drawn from Roman texts, medieval manuscripts, and church archives. Readers will encounter a hanged woman’s devil-infested corpse, Hobgoblins at Lusignan Castle, and a maiden transformed into a black cat by her own curses. This rare volume serves as a historical artifact of early paranormal interest, presenting horror not as entertainment, but as documented reality. It stands as a unique bridge between folklore and legal history.

Lewis, Isabella

📚 all books by this author (4) →

🕯️

Occult Philosophy

🏛 Valancourt Books 📖 108 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9780977784158

Fun Fact

Lewis’s Terrific Tales is a fascinating, if unsettling, historical curiosity. It succeeds as a primary source for understanding Regency-era supernatural beliefs, offering a raw, unvarnished look at period fears. However, it will disappoint readers seeking polished prose or psychological depth; the narratives are blunt and didactic. In the field of occult literature, it sits as a crucial, albeit bizarre, precursor to modern paranormal non-fiction. Essential for collectors and historians, less so for those seeking literary elegance.

📚 This Book in Collections

🕯 Occultism

📝 Description: Terrific Tales (Valancourt Book)

The body of a woman who had been hanged infested by the devil -- Hobgoblins that appeared near the castle of Lusignan in 1620 -- A Young Lady murdered by an evil Spirit through her impious wishes, and afterwards transformed into a Black Cat -- The Night-mare -- A young gentleman who sold himself to the devil. These are just some of the forty-four short stories contained in this strange collection. First published in 1804 during the height of the Gothic literary phenomenon, Isabella Lewis's Terrific Tales sought to capitalize on the public's fascination with spectres, ghosts, demons, and other supernatural happenings. But the most shocking thing about these horror stories is, as Lewis claims, they are all true! Meticulously culled from accounts in ancient Roman texts, medieval monks' manuscripts, church documents, and actual legal records, and supported by factual evidence, these terrifying and bizarre tales will make even modern readers reconsider their beliefs regarding the supernatural. This curious book, which is very likely the first such collection of ghost stories published in the English language, is extremely rare today, with only four copies known to exist. The Valancourt Books edition reprints the unabridged 1804 text, together with a new preface, in a cloth-bound hardcover volume with an attractive dust jacket.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Valancourt Books presents Isabella Lewis’s 1804 collection as a serious historical document rather than a storybook. While the premise of sourcing tales from Roman texts and church archives is intriguing, the book may disappoint readers seeking narrative depth or literary flair. It does not suit those looking for engaging plots or fictional Gothic adventures; instead, it offers dry, factual accounts of hanged corpses and hobgoblins. The value lies in its candid presentation of early paranormal interest as documented reality. Readers who enjoy analyzing historical attitudes toward the supernatural will find merit here, but fans of imaginative horror fiction may find the rigid adherence to 'true' events limiting and somewhat tedious.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This rare volume is essential for readers fascinated by the intersection of history, law, and the paranormal. It offers a unique glimpse into Regency-era fears through forty-four accounts presented as factual truths rather than Gothic fiction. If you enjoy uncovering how past societies documented their supernatural anxieties via legal records and monastic archives, this book provides a compelling historical artifact. It is perfect for those who prefer horror rooted in reported reality over imaginative invention, serving as a fascinating bridge between folklore traditions and early paranormal interest.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

Readers fascinated by the history of the paranormal, Gothic literature enthusiasts, and scholars interested in how early 19th-century society documented and interpreted supernatural events as legal or religious facts.

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 6 reviews

Victor E.

June 20, 2026

My third book from this store and this one might be the best. The historical context alone makes it worth the price.

James B.

May 18, 2026

I collect works on this subject and this is a worthy addition. Some chapters demand a slow, careful read, and that's exactly the point. It connects ideas I'd only seen treated separately elsewhere. Happy enough with the purchase.

Robert V.

April 4, 2026

Added this to my reference shelf. There's real depth here that reveals itself on a second reading. The symbolism is layered and generous to patient readers. A few pages arrived with light corner wear, though nothing serious. Good, with the caveats above.

Francis N.

October 5, 2025

Worth every penny

Took a chance on this and glad I did. The language takes some getting used to, but it becomes part of the charm. Some sections stopped me cold in the best way. Shipping was quick too.

Nathan A.

November 23, 2024

Deep and rewarding

Added this to my reference shelf. The typesetting is comfortable for study, with good margins for notes. Five stars from me.

Esoterica Books editorial team

Valancourt Books presents Isabella Lewis’s 1804 collection as a serious historical document rather than a storybook. While the premise of sourcing tales from Roman texts and church archives is intriguing, the book may disappoint readers seeking narrative depth or literary flair. It does not suit those looking for engaging plots or fictional Gothic adventures; instead, it offers dry, factual accounts of hanged corpses and hobgoblins. The value lies in its candid presentation of early paranormal interest as documented reality. Readers who enjoy analyzing historical attitudes toward the supernatural will find merit here, but fans of imaginative horror fiction may find the rigid adherence to 'true' events limiting and somewhat tedious.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Lewis asserts they are factual accounts compiled from historical documents, though modern readers should view them as period-specific folklore rather than verified history.

Only four copies are known to exist today, making it an exceptionally rare artifact of early English ghost story literature.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Historical Authenticity

Regency-Era Supernaturalism

Legal and Ecclesiastical Records

📜 Historical context

Published in 1804, this work emerged during the peak of the Gothic literary movement. While contemporaries like Mary Shelley wrote fiction, Lewis claimed her tales were non-fiction. It reflects an era where the boundary between supernatural belief and legal/ecclesiastical record was porous, catering to a public hungry for 'true' horror derived from ancient texts and monastic archives.

📚 Glossary

Gothic Phenomenon
Lusignan
Hobgoblin

📔 Questions to reflect on

How does the claim of 'authenticity' change your perception of these ghost stories compared to modern fiction?
What does the reliance on 'legal records' tell us about early 19th-century attitudes toward the supernatural?
Which tale’s moral warning resonates most with contemporary fears about power and consequence?