In 'The Complete Short Stories of E. F. Benson,' readers venture into a compendium of narratives that showcase Benson's finesse in crafting atmospheric and occasionally whimsical tales that frequently flirt with the supernatural. His stories, such as 'The Room in the Tower' and 'Caterpillars,' are recognizably Bensonian in their subtle humor and deft application of Gothic elements. His mastery of character and setting adds depth to the seemingly mundane, which then spirals into the eerie and uncanny. The literary style is proficient and evocative, with Benson's pen drawing influence from the prevailing tastes of Edwardian-era readership while shaping a largely accessible prose style that holds up to contemporary scrutinies of form and function within the ghost story canon.

E. F. Benson's repertoire of skills was versatile—encompassing biography, archaeology, and fiction—and his literary journey inevitably informed his short story writing. Notably, the success of his social comedies like the Mapp and Lucia series likely influenced his keen eye for the absurd and the satirical, which bleeds into many of his spookier tales. The ghost stories contained in this volume reflect a trajectory spanning from his early successes to the nuanced, chilling narratives penned in the twilight of his career. His inherent knack for creating tension and psychological unease suggests a deep-seated fascination with the human psyche and its mysteries—a thematic thread that renders his work as much a study of the human condition as a collection of supernatural fiction.

'The Complete Short Stories of E. F. Benson' is recommended for connoisseurs of classic ghost stories as well as readers who enjoy a wisp of dry wit entwined within their eerie narratives. Benson's anthology delights in subverting the mundane, offering up a smorgasbord of the spectral wrapped in Edwardian eloquence. Whether one seeks the shudders induced by spectral haunts or the amusement of human folly against a backdrop of otherworldly happenstance, this tome serves as a testament to Benson's enduring appeal and the versatility of the short story as a literary vehicle.