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The Collected Works of S. Mukerji: Indian Ghost Stories and The Mysterious Traders
Active only between the years 1913-1921, the enigmatic author S. Mukerji published just two works of a serialized detective thriller The Mysterious Traders and a collection of haunting tales set in British colonial India, Indian Ghost Stories.
It is Indian Ghost Stories in particular that has kept S. Mukerji's name relevant over 100 years later for compiling spooky and weird fiction, supernatural sightings, South Asian lore, and historic accounts into a rich fusion of dark and fantastic narrative.
For as deft a hand as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Rudyard Kipling were at mystery, gothic, and tales of otherworldly phenomenon, S. Mukerji has left his own indelible mark in the pantheon of British Raj ghost tales.
Now, for the first time, both Indian Ghost Stories and The Mysterious Traders have been combined into one volume in this beautifully presented showcase by Dark Moon Books!
Also included within
� Introduction by bestselling author K. Hari Kumar
� Annotations by award-winning editor Eric J. Guignard
� Illustrations, corrected text, reading list, and more!
Open yourself to The Collected Works of S. Mukerji , and to all that is weird, ghostly, and wonderous.
It is Indian Ghost Stories in particular that has kept S. Mukerji's name relevant over 100 years later for compiling spooky and weird fiction, supernatural sightings, South Asian lore, and historic accounts into a rich fusion of dark and fantastic narrative.
For as deft a hand as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Rudyard Kipling were at mystery, gothic, and tales of otherworldly phenomenon, S. Mukerji has left his own indelible mark in the pantheon of British Raj ghost tales.
Now, for the first time, both Indian Ghost Stories and The Mysterious Traders have been combined into one volume in this beautifully presented showcase by Dark Moon Books!
Also included within
� Introduction by bestselling author K. Hari Kumar
� Annotations by award-winning editor Eric J. Guignard
� Illustrations, corrected text, reading list, and more!
Open yourself to The Collected Works of S. Mukerji , and to all that is weird, ghostly, and wonderous.
202 pages, Paperback
Published November 26, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 23, 2024
A great combination of artwork and storytelling combined with edifying footnotes, this is a wonderfully odd window to a world that is no longer. Having read it I'm inspired to run an RPG set in early 20th century India.
December 14, 2024
Little is known about S. Mukerji other than he was active as a writer only from 1913-1916. Although writing under an Indian surname, editor Eric J. Guignard speculates that Mukerji was a pen name for a writer who probably was an educated White Caucasian living in India under British rule.
Indian Ghost Stories, published in 1914, reflects the author’s familiarity with the culture and geography of India, but his language and writing style is more in line with what one would expect from an early twentieth-century British or American writer. The stories told to him by friends, taken from newspaper accounts, or based on his own experiences, contain tropes familiar to western ghost stories as well: eerie abandoned houses, doors opening and closing on their own, spirit photography, and ghostly premonitions of impending death.
K. Hari Kumar, writing in the Foreword to the book, discusses the rich ghostly tradition of India and lists a variety of spirits that inhabit that tradition. While Mukerji’s stories are a good place to start for readers interested in international ghost stories, they do leave one with the sense that a deeper understanding of Indian ghost lore is yet to be discovered.
The Mysterious Traders, published in serial form in 1913, is about a group of American swindlers, grifters, and con artists who form a “company� in England for the sole purpose of separating gullible, rich Englishmen from their wealth. Mukerji is in his element with these clever and humorous stories, reinforcing his probable identity as British or American.
Editor Guignard has produced a beautiful book here, faithful in layout and design to the originals, fully annotated and illustrated with evocative images from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He has also included a helpful list of related fiction. The Collected Works of S. Mukerji is a worthy addition to the library of any paranormal enthusiast.
Indian Ghost Stories, published in 1914, reflects the author’s familiarity with the culture and geography of India, but his language and writing style is more in line with what one would expect from an early twentieth-century British or American writer. The stories told to him by friends, taken from newspaper accounts, or based on his own experiences, contain tropes familiar to western ghost stories as well: eerie abandoned houses, doors opening and closing on their own, spirit photography, and ghostly premonitions of impending death.
K. Hari Kumar, writing in the Foreword to the book, discusses the rich ghostly tradition of India and lists a variety of spirits that inhabit that tradition. While Mukerji’s stories are a good place to start for readers interested in international ghost stories, they do leave one with the sense that a deeper understanding of Indian ghost lore is yet to be discovered.
The Mysterious Traders, published in serial form in 1913, is about a group of American swindlers, grifters, and con artists who form a “company� in England for the sole purpose of separating gullible, rich Englishmen from their wealth. Mukerji is in his element with these clever and humorous stories, reinforcing his probable identity as British or American.
Editor Guignard has produced a beautiful book here, faithful in layout and design to the originals, fully annotated and illustrated with evocative images from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He has also included a helpful list of related fiction. The Collected Works of S. Mukerji is a worthy addition to the library of any paranormal enthusiast.
April 5, 2025
This collection offers readers a rare glimpse into early 20th-century Indian literature, blending supernatural tales with detective fiction. Editor Eric J. Guignard enhances the reading experience with insightful annotations, and the volume includes an introduction by bestselling author K. Hari Kumar, illustrations, corrected text, and a curated reading list. This meticulously curated collection not only preserves Mukerji's literary contributions but also enriches them, making it a must-read for enthusiasts of classic literature and those interested in the evolution of supernatural and detective genres. 5 out of 5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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