This page is a collection of literary criticism written about Russell Kirk's ghostly tales, gathered from the Web.
"To have ghosts, one must have a past for ghosts to emerge from; and one must believe in a spiritual world to recognize spirits. Otherwise, the skeleton in the closet becomes an old coat that someone knocked down. Alas for raw head and bloody bones.” –Russell Kirk, October 30, 1948.
A Cautionary Note on the Ghostly Tale
Russell Kirk wrote two essays with this title; this one was reprinted in Ancestral Shadows in 2004.
Russell Kirk wrote two essays with this title; this one was reprinted in Ancestral Shadows in 2004.
A Good Scare: The Redemptive Ghost Stories of Russell Kirk
Jason Gray writes about Kirk's subtle tales.
Jason Gray writes about Kirk's subtle tales.
A Guide to Reading Ghost Stories
Robert Woods examines Kirk's "A Cautionary Note on the Ghostly Tale."
Robert Woods examines Kirk's "A Cautionary Note on the Ghostly Tale."
A Night of Kirk Ghost Stories at the Dead Philosophers Society
James Person, Harry Veryser, and Roger Thomas speak on Russell Kirk, his ghostly tales, and the nature of evil on October 29, 2013.
James Person, Harry Veryser, and Roger Thomas speak on Russell Kirk, his ghostly tales, and the nature of evil on October 29, 2013.
A Review of Russell Kirk's Ancestral Shadows
Brad Birzer reviews the golden tome.
Brad Birzer reviews the golden tome.
Amazing Stories
A review of Ancestral Shadows by Shawn Macomber
A review of Ancestral Shadows by Shawn Macomber
An Introduction to the Short Stories of Russell Kirk: "Not Written for Children"
Alex Meregaglia examines some of Kirk's stories at The Imaginative Conservative blog.
Alex Meregaglia examines some of Kirk's stories at The Imaginative Conservative blog.
An "On Fairy Stories" for Ghost Stories and Horror? Conservative Russell Kirk and the Mythopoeia of Horror Fiction
Chris Calderon's enthusiastic introduction to Kirk and his tales
Chris Calderon's enthusiastic introduction to Kirk and his tales
Ancestral Shadows by Russell Kirk
Kevin Holtsberry praises Ancestral Shadows on Collected Miscellany.
Kevin Holtsberry praises Ancestral Shadows on Collected Miscellany.
'And Therefore as Stranger Give It Welcome': Russell Kirk’s Ghostly Fiction Invites Us to Embrace and Live the Mystery
R. Andrew Newman in The University Bookman.
R. Andrew Newman in The University Bookman.
Annette Kirk & Vigen Guorian-Ancestral Shadows: The Ghostly Gothic of Russell Kirk commentary by Annette
Description of a 2005 event
Description of a 2005 event
Avoiding Hell in Russell Kirk's Uncanny Tales
R. Andrew Newman's sound literary criticism
R. Andrew Newman's sound literary criticism
California Literary Review: The Works of Russell Kirk
Robert C. Cheeks favorably reviews Ash-Tree Press's Kirk tomes.
Robert C. Cheeks favorably reviews Ash-Tree Press's Kirk tomes.
"Ex Tenebris"
An introduction by David Schock, and his marvelous recording of this story.
An introduction by David Schock, and his marvelous recording of this story.
"Ex Tenebris"
The Trinity Forum offers a booklet, a grand recording by David Schock, and a pdf download of this excellent tale.
The Trinity Forum offers a booklet, a grand recording by David Schock, and a pdf download of this excellent tale.
Friendly Ghosts
Bill Kauffman writes in The American Conservative about his favorite spooky tales, devoting a paragraph to Kirk's stories.
Bill Kauffman writes in The American Conservative about his favorite spooky tales, devoting a paragraph to Kirk's stories.
The Ghosts of Kirk
John J. Miller discusses Kirk's ghost stories, referencing Ash-Tree Press's collections.
John J. Miller discusses Kirk's ghost stories, referencing Ash-Tree Press's collections.
The Ghosts of Russell Kirk
James Panero writes of Kirk and spirits: "Kirk did not fear ghosts. He feared the death of ghosts and their afterlife in myths and tales."
James Panero writes of Kirk and spirits: "Kirk did not fear ghosts. He feared the death of ghosts and their afterlife in myths and tales."
Ghost Stories
Washington Post book critic and ghost story expert Michael Dirda makes suggestions for Hallowe'en reading, and ends with a discussion of Kirk and his ghostly tales, writing of Kirk that "...he is the greatest American author of ghostly tales in the classic style, at least of the post-World War II era."
Washington Post book critic and ghost story expert Michael Dirda makes suggestions for Hallowe'en reading, and ends with a discussion of Kirk and his ghostly tales, writing of Kirk that "...he is the greatest American author of ghostly tales in the classic style, at least of the post-World War II era."
The Ghost Story, Conservative Style
A nice piece on conservative ghost story writers, including M.R. James and Russell Kirk.
A nice piece on conservative ghost story writers, including M.R. James and Russell Kirk.
Horror and Eternity
Scott Beauchamp's brilliant essay on nihilistic horror versus transcendent horror.
Scott Beauchamp's brilliant essay on nihilistic horror versus transcendent horror.
Horror, Sci-fi, and the "Dreary Baggage" of Naturalism
An essay by Mike Duran on supernaturalism and naturalism in horror and sci-fi fiction, with quotes from Dr. Kirk.
An essay by Mike Duran on supernaturalism and naturalism in horror and sci-fi fiction, with quotes from Dr. Kirk.
In Russell Kirk's Shadows
John Robson's stirring defense of Kirk's tales on The American Spectator website.
John Robson's stirring defense of Kirk's tales on The American Spectator website.
Kirk's Ghosts
John J. Miller on Kirk
John J. Miller on Kirk
Mecosta & The Ghost in the Machine (of Ghost Stories, Television & Brain Damage)
Stephen J. Masty reflects and philosophizes. What could be better?
Stephen J. Masty reflects and philosophizes. What could be better?
The October Country
Jeffrey Dennis Pearce discusses Kirk's stories in the context of Ray Bradbury's description of the October Country. Also available at The Imaginative Conservative blog.
Jeffrey Dennis Pearce discusses Kirk's stories in the context of Ray Bradbury's description of the October Country. Also available at The Imaginative Conservative blog.
Off the Sand Road
Item description at abebooks.com
Item description at abebooks.com
The Other Life of Russell Kirk
A brief plug for Kirk's stories from an intellectual historian who assigns Kirk's The Conservative Mind to his students.
A brief plug for Kirk's stories from an intellectual historian who assigns Kirk's The Conservative Mind to his students.
The Other Side of the Keyhole: Russell Kirk's Ghost Stories
Dr. Robert Woods writes "Kirk writes in a captivating, entertaining, and engaging prose giving incarnation to his deeply held convictions." Woods also compares Kirk's descriptive powers to those of Wendell Berry.
Dr. Robert Woods writes "Kirk writes in a captivating, entertaining, and engaging prose giving incarnation to his deeply held convictions." Woods also compares Kirk's descriptive powers to those of Wendell Berry.
Pilgrimages and Easter Destinations in the Ghostly Tales of Russell Kirk
In Modern Age, R. Andrew Newman examines the theme of Christian pilgrimage in Kirk's tales.
In Modern Age, R. Andrew Newman examines the theme of Christian pilgrimage in Kirk's tales.
Remembering the Poor Souls in Purgatory...with Ghost Stories
An account of a ghost story event at Thomas More College, involving Russell Kirk's themes and works.
An account of a ghost story event at Thomas More College, involving Russell Kirk's themes and works.
Review of Ancestral Shadows, An Anthology of Ghostly Tales by Russell Kirk
A nice review from "Weird Tales #337"
A nice review from "Weird Tales #337"
Russell Kirk and the Haunting of Piety Hill
Bradley Birzer shares this fascinating essay based on a talk prepared for the Midwestern History Association.
Bradley Birzer shares this fascinating essay based on a talk prepared for the Midwestern History Association.
Russell Kirk (1918-1994)
Entry on "Fantastic Fiction" web site.
Entry on "Fantastic Fiction" web site.
Russell Kirk b. 1918 American political theorist and author
Entry on "A Guide to Supernatural Fiction" web site by Tartarus Press.
Entry on "A Guide to Supernatural Fiction" web site by Tartarus Press.
Russell Kirk: Christian Humanism and Conservatism
Vigen Guroian includes an insightful examination of Kirk's ghostly tales
Vigen Guroian includes an insightful examination of Kirk's ghostly tales
Russell Kirk, Halloween, and the Mystery of the Macabre
Amelia Sims discovers Kirk's ghostly narratives.
Amelia Sims discovers Kirk's ghostly narratives.
Russell Kirk's Christian Ghost Stories
Hunter Baker offers a brief review. Comments follow.
Hunter Baker offers a brief review. Comments follow.
Russell Kirk's Fiction of Enchantment (I cannot find this article anymore. This is a placeholder.)
Robert Champ's article in "The Intercollegiate Review," Fall 1994
Robert Champ's article in "The Intercollegiate Review," Fall 1994
Russell Kirk's Obituary in The Independent
Dr. Kirk's obituary in this English daily references, and praises, his ghostly tales. An excerpt: "While temporarily short of funds, he contributed four ghost stories ('Behind the Stumps', 'The Surly Sullen Bell', 'Uncle Isaiah', and 'Old Place of Sorworth') to a new bimonthly, London Mystery Magazine. These tales are now recognised as modern classics."
Dr. Kirk's obituary in this English daily references, and praises, his ghostly tales. An excerpt: "While temporarily short of funds, he contributed four ghost stories ('Behind the Stumps', 'The Surly Sullen Bell', 'Uncle Isaiah', and 'Old Place of Sorworth') to a new bimonthly, London Mystery Magazine. These tales are now recognised as modern classics."
SFF Chronicles
An old interview with Russell Kirk by Dale J. Nelson (and notes from the interview) on Kirk's ghost stories
An old interview with Russell Kirk by Dale J. Nelson (and notes from the interview) on Kirk's ghost stories
Snapdragon: An Introduction to the Ghost Stories of Russell Kirk
James E. Person, Jr. writes a marvelous preamble to the tales.
James E. Person, Jr. writes a marvelous preamble to the tales.
"There's a Long, Long Trail A-Winding" and commentary
Kirk talks about the supernatural, ghostly tales, and reads his most famous ghost story, in 1976.
Kirk talks about the supernatural, ghostly tales, and reads his most famous ghost story, in 1976.
Uncanny Tales of the Moral Imagination
Jerry Pournelle reviews Dr. Kirk's collection of ghostly stories, The Princess of All Lands, in The University Bookman.
Jerry Pournelle reviews Dr. Kirk's collection of ghostly stories, The Princess of All Lands, in The University Bookman.
Virtue in Two Ghostly Tales of Russell Kirk
From a talk given at The Russell Kirk Center in April, 2017 by yours truly
From a talk given at The Russell Kirk Center in April, 2017 by yours truly
“Why did I write these sepulchral fantasies? Why, partly to remind you and myself that we are spirits in prison; and mainly in the hope of discomforting an old man on a winter’s night, or a girl in the bloom of her youth.” -Russell Kirk, Prologue to The Princess of All Lands