Description
Three new Christmas Ghost Stories for 2023!
Reading a ghost story on Christmas Eve was once as much a part of traditional Christmas celebrations as turkey, eggnog, and Santa Claus. Biblioasis is thrilled to offer this series of beautifully illustrated, collectible books that share these classic Christmas ghost stories with readers across North America. Seth, our world-famous and beloved cartoonist, designs and illustrates each book in his own inimitable way. Trimmed to fit the coziest stocking, they’re perfect gifts for those who want a bit of extra Christmas chill.
To help make this holiday season the spookiest in centuries, Biblioasis is excited to present a special deal on our newest Christmas Ghost Stories. If you order all three new titles before Christmas, we’ll send them to you for $25.00, plus shipping.
These collectible books are ideal stocking stuffers, and make perfect gifts for the literary elves in your life. With three new books in the series scheduled for publication each year, the early first editions will sell out soon—so get yours today!
The Captain of the Polestar by Arthur Conan Doyle
The Pole-Star’s voyage comes to a halt after becoming trapped in the arctic ice, threatening the lives of its crew. Superstition soon takes hold as the frightened men claim to hear ghosts in the darkness, but it’s the captain’s increasingly strange behaviour that concerns the doctor most.
The House by the Poppy Field by Marjorie Bowen
Maitland returns to his ancestral estate after having lived a largely solitary life. He soon finds himself increasingly obsessed with the magnificent field of poppies surrounding his home, as well as the man harvesting them.
A Room in a Rectory by Andrew Caldecott
Reverend Nigel arrives at Tilchington Rectory expecting a comfortable living in the beautiful countryside. But when he stubbornly opens a locked chamber, it isn’t long before he is plagued with disturbingly devilish visions.
*
About Seth’s Christmas Ghost Stories
Halloween might seem like the spookiest time of year, but Shirley Jackson, Lady Cynthia Asquith, and Gertrude Atherton felt otherwise. They were among the many authors who set their scariest stories during the dark and shivering days of—yes, Christmas.
Biblioasis is thrilled to announce three new books in this series of beautifully illustrated collectibles that share these classic Christmas ghost stories with readers across North America. Seth, our world-famous and beloved cartoonist, has designed and illustrated each book in his own inimitable way. Trimmed to fit the coziest stocking, they’re specifically made for placement beside the registers of the finest bookstores.
*
Praise for Seth’s Christmas Ghost Stories
“[This] series of Christmas ghost stories, miniature books chosen and illustrated by the cartoonist Seth … [offers] chills—and charm.”
—John Williams, New York Times Book Review
“I just bought my set of these and they … are … PERFECT. I hope they do these every year.”
—Patton Oswalt
“Each of these tiny books—20 volumes now—is cleverly illustrated by the cartoonist known as Seth. Even smaller than a Christmas card, they make fun literary stocking stuffers.”
—Ron Charles, Washington Post
“Perfect books for holiday giving.”
—Toronto Star
“These annual sets of ghost stories from cartoonist Seth and publisher Biblioasis has, over the last few years, become one of my favorite holiday traditions. The 2023 set arrives bearing three creepy stories and an armload of stark, atmospheric illustrations that perfectly capture and bolster them to chilling effect … Like these stories, Seth’s illustrations suggest more than they actually show, adding to the quiet horror creeping around the edges. These are perfect for a quick read on a cold winter’s night, and are sure to warm the cockles of any jaded horror fan’s heart.”
—Blu Gilliand, Cemetery Dance
“Did you know there is an old tradition of telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve? For the past several years Canadian publisher Biblioasis has revived the tradition, one thin, tiny book at a time (illustrated by minimalistic, idiosyncratic cartoonist Seth). They’ve revived ghosts by Edith Wharton, Charles Dickens and others. The newest installment … includes ‘The Captain of the Polestar,’ a polar fright by Arthur Conan Doyle. What is, after all, ‘A Christmas Carol’ but a ghost story, handed down, every holiday?”
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune
“The Biblioasis editions are handsome objects with embossed covers, double-page spreads that act like a cinematic establishing shot, and the artist’s thematic spot illustrations … The Seth editions are harbingers of a Christmas ghost story revival.”
—Nathalie Atkinson, Zoomer
“[If] you are looking to add a little old world charm to your winter celebrations, this book series just may be for you. This year’s batch in particular offers up some fantastic reads, accompanied once again by stark and unsettling (in the best way) illustrations by accomplished illustrator Seth.”
—Lindsey Childs, Prairie Fire
“Seth’s books—petite and illustrated with gorgeous minimalist designs—feel somehow like a more mature version of my childhood traditions. In reality, Seth’s Christmas Ghost Stories are a tradition everyone, young and old, can make a part of their holidays. With these beautifully illustrated books, it seems in this case one really can judge a book by its cover.”
—The Charlatan
“These are beautiful little books … [My family’s] been reading them at home, and we’ve actually put them away so we can re-read them on Christmas Eve.”
—Matt Galloway, CBC’s Metro Morning
“Seth—illustrator, graphic novelist, and decorator (his term)—returns for another season of ghost stories for Christmas, single-handedly reviving an otherwise defunct holiday tradition among Northern Hemisphere English-speaking countries of combining eerie tales with the Yuletide (even though the tales have nothing to do with Christmas)—now with Seth’s moody black and white decorations to help the uncanny mood along.”
—Tom Bowden, Book Beat
“For Seth, this is really a labour of love.”
—Peter Robb, Ottawa Citizen
“The great thing about each passing season is the chance to discover something new that may go on to become a new favourite. That old, and largely forgotten tradition of Christmas ghost stories is fertile ground for anyone digging for a spooky festive treat from a bygone time.”
—Brian Earl, Christmas Past Podcast
“These books are just delightful … and the illustrations are just—shall I say delightful again?”
—Jack Ford, Total Christmas Podcast
“The two classic Christmas ghost stories that Seth and Biblioasis fashioned last year were a huge success for us. Nifty packaging, striking design—so Seth.”
—Ben McNally, Ben McNally Books, Toronto, ON
“Seth’s Christmas Ghost Stories series resurrects the legacy of fireside tales at Christmas with these beautifully illustrated editions.”
—John Toews, McNally Robinson Booksellers, Winnipeg, MB
