Originally published in 1898, The Eerie Book is an interesting artefact for aficionados of short stories in the ghost/horror genre, as it collects sixteen early 19th century gothic tales, some quite familiar and some fairly obscure. Among the familiar are Poe's "The Masque of Red Death" and "The Cask of Amontillado" and an abridged version of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein." Many of the obscure seem to fall in the category of legends and fairy tales, albeit with sinister, otherworldly themes. This 1981 facsimile edition includes the original full-page line drawings by W. B. Macdougall, which add to the gothic mood of the stories. It is far from essential, but the completists will likely want to explore these early forays in the genre. ( )