The Canterville Ghost

by Oscar Wilde

Overview

Oscar Wilde's spooky tale of a genteel English ghost clashing with a brash American family is endearing, hilarious, and perfect reading for all ages

 

Canterville Chase possesses all of the trappings of a standard haunted country house—including large suits of armor and Gothic paneled library walls. However, it soon becomes difficult to ignore the spooky signs that "Sir Simon" is haunting the house—the usual Halloween fare of rattling chains and bloodstains. Surprisingly, and hilariously, the Otises, a modern American family, refuse to be scared; despite all of Sir Simon's best flamboyant efforts and costume changes: stain remover is deployed to clean bloodstains and oil is applied to clanking chains. Instead, the poor revenant is faced with practical jokes from the two young twins in the family—and seeks solace by befriending 15-year-old Virginia instead. Told from the unusual point of view of the ghost rather than the haunted party, it bears the trademark Wildean moral message but the message is carried lightly in this entertaining, amusing, and heart-warming Christmas story. Two other Wilde short stories are included: "The Sphinx Without a Secret" and "Lord Arthur Saville's Crime." 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781843915287
Publisher:	Hesperus Press
Publication date:	02/01/2015
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	361,351
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), notorious for his flamboyant and unorthodox lifestyle, is best remembered for the theatrical masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest.

Date of Birth:

October 16, 1854

Date of Death:

November 30, 1900

Place of Birth:

Dublin, Ireland

Place of Death:

Paris, France

Education:

The Royal School in Enniskillen, Dublin, 1864; Trinity College, Dublin, 1871; Magdalen College, Oxford, England, 1874

Editorial Reviews

Exciting books for holiday gift-giving or anytime . . . The Canterville Ghost provides younger readers with the opportunity to be introduced to this talented writer. Beautifully interpreted with the delicate, detailed illustrations by Lisbeth Zwerger, readers will delight in this edition of this classic story.” —Kendall Rautzhan, poconorecord.com

From the Publisher

The combination of outstanding sound effects (ghostly laughs, a fainting housekeeper, a speeding carriage) and Rupert Degas's expert performance guarantees that listeners are in for a treat. After hearing about its resident ghost, an American family nevertheless takes up residence in a haunted mansion. Degas performs American and English accents to perfection. To the ghost he says, “I must insist that you oil those chains,” and his comic delivery is hilarious. The moving conclusion completes an enjoyable listening experience. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2015 - AudioFile