Book Review: ‘Ghosts, Supernatural and Tales of the Uncanny’ by Satyajit Ray

Book Title: Ghosts, Supernatural and Tales of the Uncanny
Author: Satyajit Ray
Publisher: Puffin India
Number of Pages: 224
ISBN: 978-0143472803
Date Published: Apr. 21, 2025
Price: INR 268

Book Review

If you’re looking for a delightfully eerie escape, Satyajit Ray’s “Ghosts, Supernatural and Tales of the Uncanny” is a ticket to the shadowy crossroads where curiosity meets the uncanny. This classic, collectable edition bundles Ray’s most memorable ghost stories, originally penned for the Bengali children’s magazine Sandesh, and brings them to a new generation—complete with the master’s own illustrations that are as evocative as the tales themselves. Ray’s ghosts aren’t just rattling chains and slamming doors; they’re phantoms of the mind, lurking in the corners of guilt, regret, and the unresolved mysteries of the human heart.

The stories are a parade of haunted houses, sinister doppelgangers, and shape-shifting spirits. In one chilling tale, a stranded writer is haunted by a scarecrow that grows disturbingly familiar, leading him to confront a wrong from his past—a ghost story that’s as much about conscience as it is about the supernatural. In “Anath Babu’s Terror” and “Mr Brown’s Cottage,” curiosity drives men to face the unknown, only to discover that some mysteries are best left undisturbed. Ray’s knack for suspense ensures that each story is a deliciously unnerving experience, with just enough ambiguity to keep you glancing over your shoulder long after you’ve turned the page.

But Ray’s genius lies in his ability to infuse the supernatural with social commentary and psychological depth. “Indigo” imagines the haunting of colonial guilt, while “The First-Class Compartment” turns a ghostly encounter into a sharp critique of postcolonial identity. Even the inanimate—dolls in “Bhuto” and “Fritz”—are given souls, becoming vessels for human arrogance and neglect. The result is a collection that is as thought-provoking as it is spine-tingling, with stories that linger like a half-remembered dream.

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What truly makes this book entertaining is its presentation: Ray’s original calligraphy and sketches add a layer of charm and nostalgia, making the book as much a visual treat as a literary one. Whether you’re a longtime Ray aficionado or a newcomer to his world of shadows, “Ghosts, Supernatural and Tales of the Uncanny” is a must-have for your shelf—a reminder that sometimes, the scariest ghosts are the ones we carry within. Not to forget the eerie font used for the contents!

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