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Tales of Men and Ghosts
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115 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1910
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About the author
Edith Wharton
1,459 books5,280 followersEdith Wharton emerged as one of America’s most insightful novelists, deftly exposing the tensions between societal expectation and personal desire through her vivid portrayals of upper-class life. Drawing from her deep familiarity with New York’s privileged “aristocracy,” she offered readers a keenly observed and piercingly honest vision of Gilded Age society.
Her work reached a milestone when she became the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, awarded for The Age of Innocence. This novel highlights the constraining rituals of 1870s New York society and remains a defining portrait of elegance laced with regret.
Wharton’s literary achievements span a wide canvas. The House of Mirth presents a tragic, vividly drawn character study of Lily Bart, navigating social expectations and the perils of genteel poverty in 1890s New York. In Ethan Frome, she explores rural hardship and emotional repression, contrasting sharply with her urban social dramas.
Her novella collection Old New York revisits the moral terrain of upper-class society, spanning decades and combining character studies with social commentary. Through these stories, she inevitably points back to themes and settings familiar from The Age of Innocence. Continuing her exploration of class and desire, The Glimpses of the Moon addresses marriage and social mobility in early 20th-century America. And in Summer, Wharton challenges societal norms with its rural setting and themes of sexual awakening and social inequality.
Beyond fiction, Wharton contributed compelling nonfiction and travel writing. The Decoration of Houses reflects her eye for design and architecture; Fighting France: From Dunkerque to Belfort presents a compelling account of her wartime observations. As editor of The Book of the Homeless, she curated a moving, international collaboration in support of war refugees.
Wharton’s influence extended beyond writing. She designed her own country estate, The Mount, a testament to her architectural sensibility and aesthetic vision. The Mount now stands as an educational museum celebrating her legacy.
Throughout her career, Wharton maintained friendships and artistic exchanges with luminaries such as Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, Jean Cocteau, André Gide, and Theodore Roosevelt—reflecting her status as a respected and connected cultural figure.
Her literary legacy also includes multiple Nobel Prize nominations, underscoring her international recognition. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature more than once.
In sum, Edith Wharton remains celebrated for her unflinching, elegant prose, her psychological acuity, and her capacity to illuminate the unspoken constraints of society—from the glittering ballrooms of New York to quieter, more remote settings. Her wide-ranging work—novels, novellas, short stories, poetry, travel writing, essays—offers cultural insight, enduring emotional depth, and a piercing critique of the customs she both inhabited and dissected.
Her work reached a milestone when she became the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, awarded for The Age of Innocence. This novel highlights the constraining rituals of 1870s New York society and remains a defining portrait of elegance laced with regret.
Wharton’s literary achievements span a wide canvas. The House of Mirth presents a tragic, vividly drawn character study of Lily Bart, navigating social expectations and the perils of genteel poverty in 1890s New York. In Ethan Frome, she explores rural hardship and emotional repression, contrasting sharply with her urban social dramas.
Her novella collection Old New York revisits the moral terrain of upper-class society, spanning decades and combining character studies with social commentary. Through these stories, she inevitably points back to themes and settings familiar from The Age of Innocence. Continuing her exploration of class and desire, The Glimpses of the Moon addresses marriage and social mobility in early 20th-century America. And in Summer, Wharton challenges societal norms with its rural setting and themes of sexual awakening and social inequality.
Beyond fiction, Wharton contributed compelling nonfiction and travel writing. The Decoration of Houses reflects her eye for design and architecture; Fighting France: From Dunkerque to Belfort presents a compelling account of her wartime observations. As editor of The Book of the Homeless, she curated a moving, international collaboration in support of war refugees.
Wharton’s influence extended beyond writing. She designed her own country estate, The Mount, a testament to her architectural sensibility and aesthetic vision. The Mount now stands as an educational museum celebrating her legacy.
Throughout her career, Wharton maintained friendships and artistic exchanges with luminaries such as Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, Jean Cocteau, André Gide, and Theodore Roosevelt—reflecting her status as a respected and connected cultural figure.
Her literary legacy also includes multiple Nobel Prize nominations, underscoring her international recognition. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature more than once.
In sum, Edith Wharton remains celebrated for her unflinching, elegant prose, her psychological acuity, and her capacity to illuminate the unspoken constraints of society—from the glittering ballrooms of New York to quieter, more remote settings. Her wide-ranging work—novels, novellas, short stories, poetry, travel writing, essays—offers cultural insight, enduring emotional depth, and a piercing critique of the customs she both inhabited and dissected.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 4, 2022
Edith Wharton may be always remembered for her classic novel of the changing landscape of American nobility, "The Age of Innocence," but she has rapidly developed a reputation for being one of the goddesses of the ghost story. But do her tales of the supernatural hold up to her legacy as being among the great American writers?
To answer this question, I decided to go to the source. Though "The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton" has become a popular collection, I chose to read her first published collection of fantasy to see in what context audiences at the turn of the 20th Century would have experienced Wharton's ghostly encounters.
"Tales of Men and Ghosts" is her 1910 omnibus of ten novelettes and shorts, re-released by Wildside Press in 2005. And the first thing I notice is that the stories are not necessarily about "men AND ghosts," but primarily just about men... with a few stories that happen to have ghosts in them.
The premier tale is "The Bolted Door." Wow, sounds like a title straight out of Poe or Hawthorne, doesn't it? Well, in a way, it is, but not the way you might think. This is Edith Wharton turning the gothic romance on its head for the 20th Century. There's nothing supernatural or horrific about this story. Instead, what we have here is a self-preoccupied playwright who is disillusioned by his lack of fame and success, so he wants to kill himself. However, he can't override his survival instinct by pulling the trigger against his own temple. So he goes about trying to confess to an old murder in order to be convicted and executed. But this is modern America, and his belated confession just seems too romantic and improbable, so no matter what he says, he is not believed. Is he really a murderer, or has it merely become an obsession to convince people that he is? A brilliant and multi-layered dark comedy with lots to say about psychiatry, the complacency and naivety of the upper middle class, selfishness, and many other themes.
This story is followed by two more non-paranormal studies of human psychology. "His Father's Son" is one I should mention in more detail. This entry almost brought a tear to my eye, and has an absolutely delightful twist that reverses gender roles in a hilarious but touching way. If you want to hear more, message me, or read the tale for yourself. These are the kinds of surprises I look forward to when reading Edith Wharton.
Of the actual ghost stories, only two of these appear in "The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton." First we have "The Eyes," followed by "Afterward."
"The Eyes" is not exceptional as ghost stories go, but those of you who are fans of Henry James will instantly recognize the themes of surfacing conscience and repression. It is a kind warning to everyone to not hide who they really are inside and not to be ashamed of one's sexuality.
Now, if you've ever read Nietzsche's "Genealogy of Morals" (or better yet, my review of that book), you'd recognize the Prussian philosopher's influence on Wharton's stories. In fact, she evidently had been taking a course in philosophy and had read Nietzsche about two or three years prior to the publication of "Men and Ghosts." Nowhere is Nietzsche more apparent than in the story "The Blond Beast." The title comes from the Nietzschean archetype of the strong and ruthless barbarian, and the main protagonist, a man with a plan to climb the ladder to success, sees himself as just such a superman. However, our young theoretical Nietzschean has a lot to learn. Thinking he needs to be ruthless in his strength, he is surprised to find his own compassion when he encounters a lame dog being picked on by street urchins, and when he is placed in a situation to hurt the man he loves. Wharton has an understanding of a kindler Nietzschean superman, and it is through his newly discovered compassion for the suffering of others that our main character is able to refuse a bribe to remain silent about unscrupulous business decision of his employer.
Infinitely quotable, these stories are a treasure trove of passages to savor and ideas to contemplate. But don't expect the prose to be on the level of "The Age of Innocence" or "Ethan Frome." In her later work, she clearly had developed a cadence to her language that was exquisitely beautiful, but here she has not yet reached those heights. I think this also means that these stories are a little less intimidating and easier to read, though Wharton should never be accused of being difficult like a James Joyce.
If you are a lover of classic and underappreciated literature, Wildside Press has likely got a great book for you, and "Tales of Men and Ghosts" is another fine example of their catalog. This is not necessarily the book you want to pick up to match your Halloween spirit, but I definitely recommend anyone experience these tales any time of year. Edith Wharton is truly an amazing artist, and I think you'll enjoy her work in the short format.
To answer this question, I decided to go to the source. Though "The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton" has become a popular collection, I chose to read her first published collection of fantasy to see in what context audiences at the turn of the 20th Century would have experienced Wharton's ghostly encounters.
"Tales of Men and Ghosts" is her 1910 omnibus of ten novelettes and shorts, re-released by Wildside Press in 2005. And the first thing I notice is that the stories are not necessarily about "men AND ghosts," but primarily just about men... with a few stories that happen to have ghosts in them.
The premier tale is "The Bolted Door." Wow, sounds like a title straight out of Poe or Hawthorne, doesn't it? Well, in a way, it is, but not the way you might think. This is Edith Wharton turning the gothic romance on its head for the 20th Century. There's nothing supernatural or horrific about this story. Instead, what we have here is a self-preoccupied playwright who is disillusioned by his lack of fame and success, so he wants to kill himself. However, he can't override his survival instinct by pulling the trigger against his own temple. So he goes about trying to confess to an old murder in order to be convicted and executed. But this is modern America, and his belated confession just seems too romantic and improbable, so no matter what he says, he is not believed. Is he really a murderer, or has it merely become an obsession to convince people that he is? A brilliant and multi-layered dark comedy with lots to say about psychiatry, the complacency and naivety of the upper middle class, selfishness, and many other themes.
This story is followed by two more non-paranormal studies of human psychology. "His Father's Son" is one I should mention in more detail. This entry almost brought a tear to my eye, and has an absolutely delightful twist that reverses gender roles in a hilarious but touching way. If you want to hear more, message me, or read the tale for yourself. These are the kinds of surprises I look forward to when reading Edith Wharton.
Of the actual ghost stories, only two of these appear in "The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton." First we have "The Eyes," followed by "Afterward."
"The Eyes" is not exceptional as ghost stories go, but those of you who are fans of Henry James will instantly recognize the themes of surfacing conscience and repression. It is a kind warning to everyone to not hide who they really are inside and not to be ashamed of one's sexuality.
Now, if you've ever read Nietzsche's "Genealogy of Morals" (or better yet, my review of that book), you'd recognize the Prussian philosopher's influence on Wharton's stories. In fact, she evidently had been taking a course in philosophy and had read Nietzsche about two or three years prior to the publication of "Men and Ghosts." Nowhere is Nietzsche more apparent than in the story "The Blond Beast." The title comes from the Nietzschean archetype of the strong and ruthless barbarian, and the main protagonist, a man with a plan to climb the ladder to success, sees himself as just such a superman. However, our young theoretical Nietzschean has a lot to learn. Thinking he needs to be ruthless in his strength, he is surprised to find his own compassion when he encounters a lame dog being picked on by street urchins, and when he is placed in a situation to hurt the man he loves. Wharton has an understanding of a kindler Nietzschean superman, and it is through his newly discovered compassion for the suffering of others that our main character is able to refuse a bribe to remain silent about unscrupulous business decision of his employer.
Infinitely quotable, these stories are a treasure trove of passages to savor and ideas to contemplate. But don't expect the prose to be on the level of "The Age of Innocence" or "Ethan Frome." In her later work, she clearly had developed a cadence to her language that was exquisitely beautiful, but here she has not yet reached those heights. I think this also means that these stories are a little less intimidating and easier to read, though Wharton should never be accused of being difficult like a James Joyce.
If you are a lover of classic and underappreciated literature, Wildside Press has likely got a great book for you, and "Tales of Men and Ghosts" is another fine example of their catalog. This is not necessarily the book you want to pick up to match your Halloween spirit, but I definitely recommend anyone experience these tales any time of year. Edith Wharton is truly an amazing artist, and I think you'll enjoy her work in the short format.
October 9, 2015
Read here Hattip to Karen: "thankee ma'am"Description: Tales of Men and Ghosts (1910) consists of ten stories that had previously been printed in Scribner's Magazine and Century Magazine. They are listed here in chronological order of their original publication dates:
The Bolted Door
His Father's Son
The Daunt Diana
The Debt
Full Circle
The Legend
The Eyes
The Blond Beast
Afterward and the Letters
A month of Halloween 2015 reads:#1: 3* Nobody True by James Herbert: fraudio
#2: 4* The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard: fraudio
#3: 1* Brain Child by John Saul: fraudio
#4: 3* Domain (Rats #3) by James Herbert: fraudio
#5: 3* The Mourning Vessels by Peter Luther: paperback
#6: 2* The Doom of the Great City: ebook short-story
#7: 5* Long After Midnight by Ray Bradbury: fraudio
#8: 5* The Dead Zone by Stephen King: fraudio
#9: CR The Chalice by Phil Rickman: hardback
#11: 4* Tales of Men and Ghosts by Edith Wharton: gutenberg
#12: 2* Shattered by Dean Koontz: fraudio
#13: 5* The Dunwich Horror - Lovecraft: e-book: gutenberg
#14: TR Death At Intervals by Saramago: paperback
#15: 3* Alone: gutenberg
#16: CR The Shunned House: gutenberg
#17: 4* The Thing on the Doorstep: ebook
#18: 2* Shadows by Saul: fraudio
#19: CR Precious Cargo: paperback
#20: 2* The Magicians of the Golden Dawn: ebook
#21: 2* The Book of Black Magic: ebook
#22: 4* Beyond the Wall of Sleep: ebook
#23: CR The Haunting of Hill House
October 27, 2025
The collection was fine, nothing really scary or spooky. Overall, I my favorites were the couple of stories that had a ghostly element.
October 14, 2014
I'm ambivalent about this collection. On the one hand - acute observations about human nature, fine descriptive passages, interesting characters. On the other hand - endings so abrupt that the doorbell must have rung just as the author was putting together the final paragraphs. The closing sentence of one story left me baffled as to its meaning, and the protagonist of the last story - after reams of dithering introspection - ought to have disengaged from her useless wastrel of a husband. 'Afterwards' was a fine ghost story but would have been more effective if it had ended once the penny had dropped for the reader. As for 'The Eyes' - too obvious by far. Even so, I've committed myself to 4 stars and I'll stick by them.
June 20, 2011
A set of character studies--and character studies cleverly disguised as ghost stories--that has some fascinating pieces. The two most overt ghost stories are probably my favorites, as they use the supernatural to explore the hearts of two different men. Sometimes witty, sometimes heartbreaking, always rather remote and inquisitive rather than passionate.
September 30, 2017
A couple of good tales, lots of really insightful writing...And endings that just cut off. "Wait, this isn't even an ending." The actual ghost stories were the best of the lot.
May 7, 2017
Read: October-November 2016
Overall rating: 3/5 stars
This was a real mix of good, bad and mediocre. The standout stories for me were The Bolted Door and Afterward while His Father's Son and Full Circle were also worth a read. I wouldnt recommend this collection unless you are already a fan of Edith Wharton.
The individual ratings for each tale is as follows:
The Bolted Door - 4/5 stars
His Father's Son - 3.5/5 stars
The Daunt Diana - 2.5/5 stars
The Debt - 1/5 stars
Full Circle- 3/5 stars
The Legend- 1.5/5 stars
The Eyes- 1/5 stars
The Blond Beast - DNF
Afterward - 4/5 stars
The Letters - 2/5 stars
Overall rating: 3/5 stars
This was a real mix of good, bad and mediocre. The standout stories for me were The Bolted Door and Afterward while His Father's Son and Full Circle were also worth a read. I wouldnt recommend this collection unless you are already a fan of Edith Wharton.
The individual ratings for each tale is as follows:
The Bolted Door - 4/5 stars
His Father's Son - 3.5/5 stars
The Daunt Diana - 2.5/5 stars
The Debt - 1/5 stars
Full Circle- 3/5 stars
The Legend- 1.5/5 stars
The Eyes- 1/5 stars
The Blond Beast - DNF
Afterward - 4/5 stars
The Letters - 2/5 stars
May 5, 2020
It must first be noted that Edith Wharton, for her time, was kind of amazing. Writing in the horror genre (and for that matter, writing Ethan Frome) was a pretty incredible thing to do as a female writer in that era, and she is often regaled as one of the few older female writers in existence (there are far, far more who get ignored or are often under male or anonymous pseudonyms, but a discussion for another day perhaps).
These stories on the merit of actual narrative are not so exceptional. There are certainly some standouts, and the ghost stories in this collection are the exceptional ones, but the others kind of trail off into the ether of strange slice-of-life material with human drama. I’ve read a few more in collections before but there is a certain fondness to be garnered from a collection all in Wharton’s style. In total, I really liked the creepier of these, but I feel like ‘Men’ and ‘Ghosts’ could have easily been separated.
However, for anyone with even a modicum of interest in gothic literature and that fabled slow burning eerieness, this is one to mosey on over to at some point in your readings.
These stories on the merit of actual narrative are not so exceptional. There are certainly some standouts, and the ghost stories in this collection are the exceptional ones, but the others kind of trail off into the ether of strange slice-of-life material with human drama. I’ve read a few more in collections before but there is a certain fondness to be garnered from a collection all in Wharton’s style. In total, I really liked the creepier of these, but I feel like ‘Men’ and ‘Ghosts’ could have easily been separated.
However, for anyone with even a modicum of interest in gothic literature and that fabled slow burning eerieness, this is one to mosey on over to at some point in your readings.
January 12, 2018
Edith Wharton is a master story teller. She write from male and female perspectives quite well, she dissects the mind of her characters so well when she wants to you fell like you are them and when she doesn't, it's because the story is served without it. Her short fiction is great, and I may have to re read The Age Of Innocence which I hated in high school, seeing as how I like her so much more now.
June 16, 2021
This is a difficult book to review. By modern standards, the tales are slow to develop (they drag) and there isn't much punch to them (the endings don't leave your jaw on the floor). If someone were to write this book today it probably wouldn't get published. Fortunately for Ms. Wharton, she didn't write in the 21st century, but the early 20th, when slow-building tales and rich character development were prized. So if you judge this book based on the standards of her day, it's probably a 5 star book.
For this review I tried to allow for the historical differences in story telling, so I'm left with only one real criticism: the endings of many of the stories are anti-climactic.
I'll take the final story in the collection as an example. The Letters is the longest of the stories, and it is pretty typical in how it unfolds. It starts with a flowery backdrop: not much happens in the way of plot development; long in description; short on action. By the middle of the story the major tension of the story is clearly established, and the second half of the story becomes gripping. As we reach the conclusion I found myself almost racing through to find how it was going to finish. The story was compelling and I found myself guessing what would happen next (both are signs of good storytelling). But when I reached the end, I had to re-read the ending a few times to see if I was missing something because it was a dud of an ending. Without giving away anything, the ending was basically one character telling another, "You don't know how I really feel." Not a good way to end an otherwise gripping story.
Aside from the slow starts (make historical allowances for this!) and lackluster finishes (maybe I just didn't get what was really happening?), Ms. Wharton knows how to build story tension. Yowsers!
While not all of the stories are good ones, most were well-told and developed. If you enjoy well-written, poetic fiction, these stories will suit you nicely. If you are looking for action, look elsewhere.
For this review I tried to allow for the historical differences in story telling, so I'm left with only one real criticism: the endings of many of the stories are anti-climactic.
I'll take the final story in the collection as an example. The Letters is the longest of the stories, and it is pretty typical in how it unfolds. It starts with a flowery backdrop: not much happens in the way of plot development; long in description; short on action. By the middle of the story the major tension of the story is clearly established, and the second half of the story becomes gripping. As we reach the conclusion I found myself almost racing through to find how it was going to finish. The story was compelling and I found myself guessing what would happen next (both are signs of good storytelling). But when I reached the end, I had to re-read the ending a few times to see if I was missing something because it was a dud of an ending. Without giving away anything, the ending was basically one character telling another, "You don't know how I really feel." Not a good way to end an otherwise gripping story.
Aside from the slow starts (make historical allowances for this!) and lackluster finishes (maybe I just didn't get what was really happening?), Ms. Wharton knows how to build story tension. Yowsers!
While not all of the stories are good ones, most were well-told and developed. If you enjoy well-written, poetic fiction, these stories will suit you nicely. If you are looking for action, look elsewhere.
May 6, 2024
Difficult to tell if Wharton actually enjoyed writing any of these short stories.
I am summarinzing them like this:
"The Bolted Door." A wealthy uncle dies via poisoned melon. The murder culprit is the nephew, eventually feels very guilty, but all his privilege prevents him from jail. Last resort is a sanitorium.
"Daunt Diana." Collectors of ancient Roman antiquities are absolute freaks.
"The Debt." Nerd honors his mentor's legacy by proving him bogus.
"Full Circle." Author of a book titled "Diadems and Faggots" receives too much fan mail.
"The Legend." People make idiots of themselves when spending time with a supposed famous philosopher.
"The Eyes." When you're about to make bad choices, think about what your face will look like in twenty years.
"The Blond Beast." I have no idea what happens in this story. It's about inheritance and bible classes?
"Afterward." a ghost sighting leads to a husband's disappearance. (my synopsis actually makes the story sound interesting. It isn't really.)
"The Letters." Young wife discovers that her lazy husband is also illiterate.
I am summarinzing them like this:
"The Bolted Door." A wealthy uncle dies via poisoned melon. The murder culprit is the nephew, eventually feels very guilty, but all his privilege prevents him from jail. Last resort is a sanitorium.
"Daunt Diana." Collectors of ancient Roman antiquities are absolute freaks.
"The Debt." Nerd honors his mentor's legacy by proving him bogus.
"Full Circle." Author of a book titled "Diadems and Faggots" receives too much fan mail.
"The Legend." People make idiots of themselves when spending time with a supposed famous philosopher.
"The Eyes." When you're about to make bad choices, think about what your face will look like in twenty years.
"The Blond Beast." I have no idea what happens in this story. It's about inheritance and bible classes?
"Afterward." a ghost sighting leads to a husband's disappearance. (my synopsis actually makes the story sound interesting. It isn't really.)
"The Letters." Young wife discovers that her lazy husband is also illiterate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2022
A mixed bag. As others have pointed out, the ghost story and the pseudo-ghost story are awesome. The rest are character studies. A couple are hilarious, but don't really lead to satisfactory endings. Still, its Wharton and worth reading.
December 25, 2021
"he tried once but he was not dead enough" & "you don't know anything at all" absolute queen shit
July 27, 2021
this book is so good it should be illegal. and it's a *short story collection* and everything in it is amazing. queer af. "The Letters" snapped. there's nothing else to say.
December 13, 2012
I read this collection in bits and pieces over a couple of months, and found it a solid mix of classic Wharton. Most of the tales are of men, and not literal ghosts (although a couple are), but I love what she's implying by naming the collection as she does. As with any short story collection, some stood out more than others, but it's perfect as a quick read during spare moments.
October 28, 2013
Not my favorite Wharton, but still wonderful, slightly older feeling gothic stories.
January 15, 2020
Victorian-style literature takes a bit of patience to enjoy. It is written in a distinctively wordy style that I often enjoy, but can easily become tedious in some books.
Ghost stories were a holiday tradition in Victorian times and it seems some authors known for genres other than Horror lent their talents to this sub-genre, including Edith Wharton. The thing about these Victorian ghost stories is that they are seldom actually scary, but with a few exceptions, generally have an amenable ghost involved who behaves with Victorian manners and even becomes part of the family or just a minor irritation.
I can't say that Wharton's stories are the most stimulating that I've read. Some of the ten stories in this collection don't even have proper ghosts, but more a concept of ghostliness. One entitled The Eyes is the only one of the collection that I would describe as a proper ghost story, though that one was rather good.
Overall I wouldn't think of this collection first if I were going to recommend a book of Victorian ghost stories, but the one story justifies adding Edith Wharton to the list of women authors who can turn their hand to the spooky.
Ghost stories were a holiday tradition in Victorian times and it seems some authors known for genres other than Horror lent their talents to this sub-genre, including Edith Wharton. The thing about these Victorian ghost stories is that they are seldom actually scary, but with a few exceptions, generally have an amenable ghost involved who behaves with Victorian manners and even becomes part of the family or just a minor irritation.
I can't say that Wharton's stories are the most stimulating that I've read. Some of the ten stories in this collection don't even have proper ghosts, but more a concept of ghostliness. One entitled The Eyes is the only one of the collection that I would describe as a proper ghost story, though that one was rather good.
Overall I wouldn't think of this collection first if I were going to recommend a book of Victorian ghost stories, but the one story justifies adding Edith Wharton to the list of women authors who can turn their hand to the spooky.
December 30, 2020
There are only two bona fide ghost stories in this collection, and even those are told 'slant', not classic ghosts.
For the most part, the stories are studies of upper-class men going through business turmoil or otherwise engaging in mistaken communications because people simply can't be frank with each other in this time and place. (The collection was published in 1910.)
Wharton luxuriates in ornate language, and some of her descriptive passages are beautifully drawn, but she also is a proponent of the Henry James-style 'intense interior examination' method of writing, which has gone out of fashion and takes some getting used to.
I have not read her novels, but I suspect that spending more time with her intensely interiorized characters would allow a reader to develop more sympathy with them. Again, I'm thinking of Henry James here, whose novels I have read.
For the most part, the stories are studies of upper-class men going through business turmoil or otherwise engaging in mistaken communications because people simply can't be frank with each other in this time and place. (The collection was published in 1910.)
Wharton luxuriates in ornate language, and some of her descriptive passages are beautifully drawn, but she also is a proponent of the Henry James-style 'intense interior examination' method of writing, which has gone out of fashion and takes some getting used to.
I have not read her novels, but I suspect that spending more time with her intensely interiorized characters would allow a reader to develop more sympathy with them. Again, I'm thinking of Henry James here, whose novels I have read.
May 12, 2025
Slow reading because of the tiny print of this edition. It wasn't so much about ghosts except in a macabre sort of way. Excellent writing and a view into the manners and mores of a time now gone, thankfully. Women were sort of a possession and could hold power in certain realms. So many encounters between men and women were something that happened if both were of the same class and the same mind with little discussion about it in public or private. Much was assumed. Many of the short stories have strange, unexpected twists.
June 3, 2025
A collection of some of Wharton’s short stories. It contains The Daunt Diana, as well as The Bolted Door; His Father's Son; The Debt; Full Circle; The Legend; The Eyes; The Blond Beast; Afterward; and, The Letters. I enjoyed the Diana for its reflection on why people collect art, Afterward as a goof ghost story, and His Fathers Son because I’m sentimental. They are not as good as her longer works, but enjoyable. Be aware the kindle edition I read was converted from paper and contained numerous errors, not unreadable but a nuisance.
May 18, 2022
Entertaining listening 🎶🔰
Another will written 🏰 romantic relationships between family friends and colleagues short story by Edith Wharton, ten short stories about lies and deception as individuals look to control the situation and gain power. As with all box 📦 sets some are better than others but I would recommend this novella to readers of social novels 👍. Enjoy the adventure of novels 👍🔰 and books 📚. 2022 👒😢🏢👑
Another will written 🏰 romantic relationships between family friends and colleagues short story by Edith Wharton, ten short stories about lies and deception as individuals look to control the situation and gain power. As with all box 📦 sets some are better than others but I would recommend this novella to readers of social novels 👍. Enjoy the adventure of novels 👍🔰 and books 📚. 2022 👒😢🏢👑
February 10, 2020
This collection of short stories was quite compelling and Wharton is absolutely full of wit. I do confess that some of these dragged on and were overly wordy, something not uncommon for books of this era, but it is in these verbose elaborations that you find much of the gold of her writing.
I would recommend it to anyone as a good, casual read.
I would recommend it to anyone as a good, casual read.
July 21, 2020
There is one thing you might want to be aware of. This is a collection of, for the most part, rather good short stories containing precisely two tales of the supernatural, one of which is a straight ghost story. The rest are nicely varied, but only one is House of Mirth-ish, and one Age of Innocence-esque.
It probably deserves more than three stars but fewer than four, and I'm feeling mean.
It probably deserves more than three stars but fewer than four, and I'm feeling mean.
January 24, 2025
Very disappointed by this collection. I loved The Bolted Door (4 stars) for its existentialism. There are truly some great quotes that I haven’t stopped thinking about. Unfortunately, everything else was mid (stars) with the exception of The Eyes (3.5 stars) and The Legend (2 stars).
October 3, 2025
Unos cuentos son mucho mejores que otros, pero, en general, lo que más me gustó fue que la autora juega con la expectativa del lector o lectora, construye escenarios y circunstancias que conectan con la sensación durante el proceso de lectura, deja finales abiertos que el lector llena a su gusto.
May 20, 2019
A good collection of short stories, but I'd read the only ghost stories in it before in other collections, which was disappointing.
November 5, 2021
Like any collection of short stories, some are good, some are bad, and some are just plain confusing.
March 13, 2023
I actually listened to the Librivox audiobook read by Nicholas Clifford, but it isn't in the Goodreads DB and I don't see any way to add editions any more.
June 11, 2025
The Librivox recording is of these tales is one of the best from them—a single, excellent narrator.
April 22, 2017
Plenty of men, plenty of twists, not many ghosts.
'The Bolted Door' established Wharton's fondness for a twist in the tale. She introduces us to a failed writer on the cusp of suicide who can't pull the trigger so decides to confess to a murder. I think part of her purpose here was to ridicule the efficacy of psychiatrists, or 'alienists' as they were then called.
Indeed a good number of these stories involve salutary lessons for various professional men. 'The Debt' is a case study in how necessarily ruthless and impersonal the true scientist needs to be. In 'The Legend' an influential philosopher thought to be dead suddenly reappears incognito. Wharton has some wicked fun at the expense of misunderstanding critics and socialites. 'Full Circle' derided the fondness popular novelists acquire for praise.
There is only really one bonafide ghost story, maybe two at a stretch. Of those 'The Eyes' is less supernatural than it first appears, despite the dry old host startling his guests by admitting that if he won't admit to having seen a ghost “it’s only because I’ve seen two!”
'The Letters' is the genuine article and absolutely the best of Wharton, how love deceives and a life can unravel in a single moment. Few writers can deliver a well-timed jab to the solar plexus quite as well as Wharton.
And then there's her impeccable character description, necessarily more succinct in the short story form. Here's one example from many I could have quoted:
'I mean Mrs. Lanfear, the Professor’s wife, poor Mrs. Lanfear, with her tight hair and her loose figure, her blameless brow and earnest eye-glasses, and her perpetual attitude of mild misapprehension.'
The name Edith Wharton is byword for quality in my house.
'The Bolted Door' established Wharton's fondness for a twist in the tale. She introduces us to a failed writer on the cusp of suicide who can't pull the trigger so decides to confess to a murder. I think part of her purpose here was to ridicule the efficacy of psychiatrists, or 'alienists' as they were then called.
Indeed a good number of these stories involve salutary lessons for various professional men. 'The Debt' is a case study in how necessarily ruthless and impersonal the true scientist needs to be. In 'The Legend' an influential philosopher thought to be dead suddenly reappears incognito. Wharton has some wicked fun at the expense of misunderstanding critics and socialites. 'Full Circle' derided the fondness popular novelists acquire for praise.
There is only really one bonafide ghost story, maybe two at a stretch. Of those 'The Eyes' is less supernatural than it first appears, despite the dry old host startling his guests by admitting that if he won't admit to having seen a ghost “it’s only because I’ve seen two!”
'The Letters' is the genuine article and absolutely the best of Wharton, how love deceives and a life can unravel in a single moment. Few writers can deliver a well-timed jab to the solar plexus quite as well as Wharton.
And then there's her impeccable character description, necessarily more succinct in the short story form. Here's one example from many I could have quoted:
'I mean Mrs. Lanfear, the Professor’s wife, poor Mrs. Lanfear, with her tight hair and her loose figure, her blameless brow and earnest eye-glasses, and her perpetual attitude of mild misapprehension.'
The name Edith Wharton is byword for quality in my house.
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