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Das Gespenst von Canterville
Seit seinem Hungertod im Jahre 1575 ist Sir Simon de Canterville der wahre Hausherr im Schloss, hat mit seiner Spukerei Generationen von Bewohnern in die Flucht geschlagen, zuletzt die Witwe Herzogin von Bolton, der er zwei Knochenhände auf die Schultern legte. Doch Unheil naht. Fröhliche Klarinettenklänge kündigen den Einzug der Familie Otis an. Der amerikanische Botschafter samt Frau und vier Kindern halten nicht viel von englischer Gespenstertradition.
Fortan gibt's nichts mehr zu lachen. Rutschbahnen aus Butter und Erdnußschalen, ausgelegt von den kleinen Rotzlöffeln Ronnie und Freddie bringen Simon in ernste Schwierigkeiten. Als Washington Otis, der älteste Sohn der Familie schließlich auch noch der historischen Blutlache mit Pinkertons Fleckweg zu Leibe rückt, stürzt Sir Simon in eine tiefe Identitätskrise. Eine Paraderolle für Henning Schlüter. Hin- und herstolpernd zwischen Entrüstung, Verzweiflung und wilden Rachegelüsten lässt er die von Oscar Wilde zugegebenermaßen dankbar angelegte Figur zum Star der Produktion werden. Dorothee Hartinger, die den Part des rettenden Engels Virginia Otis übernommen hat, wird von dem mal heulenden mal vor Wut rasenden Gespenst regelmäßig an die Wand gespielt.
Wunderbar klischeehaft eingesetzt sind die unverzichtbaren Merkmale einer Schauergeschichte. Rasselnde Ketten, wimmernde Käuzchen, unheilvoll donnernde Gewitter, dazu düstere Paukenschläge. Das macht das Hörspiel schaurig-schön, märchenhaft verstaubt und voller Ironie, ganz wie die literarische Vorlage von 1887.
Das Gespenst von Canterville ist sicher das beliebteste Kunstmärchen Wildes. Er hat die Geschichte vom Aufeinanderprallen der alten und neuen Welt mit einem Augenzwinkern erzählt, das in der Hörspielbearbeitung von Lilian Westphal prächtig zur Geltung kommt. Die Kinder werden sich über die wunderbaren Geräuscheffekte, die gruselige Atmosphäre und die komödiantischen Einlagen von Henning Schlüter freuen, die Erwachsenen mögen schmunzeln und sich rühren lassen von der Moral der Geschichte, dass die Liebe von einer so großen Kraft ist, die sogar den Tod überdauert.
Die Hörspielproduktion des Bayerischen Rundfunks ist 60 Minuten lang und ist mit Schauspielern wie Phillip Moog, Peter Fricke und Rufus Beck exquisit besetzt. --Cornelia Eulitz
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1887
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About the author
Oscar Wilde
5,620 books39.1k followersOscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is best remembered for his epigrams and plays, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, and his criminal conviction for gross indecency for homosexual acts.
Wilde's parents were Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin. In his youth, Wilde learned to speak fluent French and German. At university, he read Greats; he demonstrated himself to be an exceptional classicist, first at Trinity College Dublin, then at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with the emerging philosophy of aestheticism, led by two of his tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin. After university, Wilde moved to London into fashionable cultural and social circles.
Wilde tried his hand at various literary activities: he wrote a play, published a book of poems, lectured in the United States and Canada on "The English Renaissance" in art and interior decoration, and then returned to London where he lectured on his American travels and wrote reviews for various periodicals. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. At the turn of the 1890s, he refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays, and incorporated themes of decadence, duplicity, and beauty into what would be his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). Wilde returned to drama, writing Salome (1891) in French while in Paris, but it was refused a licence for England due to an absolute prohibition on the portrayal of Biblical subjects on the English stage. Undiscouraged, Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s, which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late-Victorian London.
At the height of his fame and success, while An Ideal Husband (1895) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) were still being performed in London, Wilde issued a civil writ against John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry for criminal libel. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The libel hearings unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and criminal prosecution for gross indecency with other males. The jury was unable to reach a verdict and so a retrial was ordered. In the second trial Wilde was convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labour, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897. During his last year in prison he wrote De Profundis (published posthumously in abridged form in 1905), a long letter that discusses his spiritual journey through his trials and is a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure. On the day of his release, he caught the overnight steamer to France, never to return to Britain or Ireland. In France and Italy, he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life.
Wilde's parents were Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin. In his youth, Wilde learned to speak fluent French and German. At university, he read Greats; he demonstrated himself to be an exceptional classicist, first at Trinity College Dublin, then at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with the emerging philosophy of aestheticism, led by two of his tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin. After university, Wilde moved to London into fashionable cultural and social circles.
Wilde tried his hand at various literary activities: he wrote a play, published a book of poems, lectured in the United States and Canada on "The English Renaissance" in art and interior decoration, and then returned to London where he lectured on his American travels and wrote reviews for various periodicals. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. At the turn of the 1890s, he refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays, and incorporated themes of decadence, duplicity, and beauty into what would be his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). Wilde returned to drama, writing Salome (1891) in French while in Paris, but it was refused a licence for England due to an absolute prohibition on the portrayal of Biblical subjects on the English stage. Undiscouraged, Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s, which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late-Victorian London.
At the height of his fame and success, while An Ideal Husband (1895) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) were still being performed in London, Wilde issued a civil writ against John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry for criminal libel. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The libel hearings unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and criminal prosecution for gross indecency with other males. The jury was unable to reach a verdict and so a retrial was ordered. In the second trial Wilde was convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labour, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897. During his last year in prison he wrote De Profundis (published posthumously in abridged form in 1905), a long letter that discusses his spiritual journey through his trials and is a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure. On the day of his release, he caught the overnight steamer to France, never to return to Britain or Ireland. In France and Italy, he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,282 reviews
May 13, 2012
The original Wilde Thing does it again...
Seriously...how does one not love on Oscar Wilde when he's throwing down the snarky...in this case, and in proper British fashion, against cocky, adolescent-cultured Americans and their starched-lip, tradition-trapped English cousins?
A bounty of clever from start to finish, Wilde's tale is charming, engaging and pitch-perfect.
For a story less than 30 pages long, Wilde accomplishes so much, using scalpel-like precision in both his language and his plotting to tell a story with a little bit of everything. The funny is considerable, the sadness and softer emotions are amply represented, and the brilliance is ubiquitous throughout. My sole complaint is that I wish it were a bit longer, as I would have loved for Wilde to give himself more time with these people and this setting.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Briefly, since this is a short story…
A family of flag-flaunting United Staters acquire an historic English mansion from the thoroughly prim, thoroughly British Lord Canterville. Throw in a murderous, aesthetically-minded ghost with a penchant for high drama and theater, and you have a classic, joy-inducing tale of clashing cultures, progress vs. tradition, and Wilde’s self-mockery of his own philosophy of decadent aestheticism.
And….as an added bonus that few beyond Wilde could have accomplished in this setting, you also have subtler themes of a deeper nature running through the narrative, such as penance, forgiveness, and redemption.
THOUGHTS:
I am a Wilde enthusiast, though my knowledge of his work is limited to this piece and The Picture of Dorian Gray, both of which I have loved. His prose speaks to me and I find his comedic orientation and verbal bitchiness to be hand in glove with my own sense of humor. His timing and delivery make me smile, whether he's commenting on his countrymen as having "really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language” to the reciting the casual arrogance of Mr. Otis’s response when Lord Canterville tries to dissuade him from acquiring the haunted estate:
Here, Wilde even aims his high powered criticism at himself, as the ghost, Sir Simon, is a thinly veiled reflection of the author. Initially, we see Sir Simon, this artisitc spook with flair and panache, as a victim of the boorish Yankees who have invaded his haunt, and who are totally unmoved by any of his scare tactics. They apply stain remover to the recurring blood stains, oil his chains to avoid excessively rattling, and medicate his evil laugh after mistaking it for coughing. For them, he is simply a problem to solve.
It seems our artist can't get a break, and Wilde has us sympathizing with the frustrated spectre.
But Wilde slowly starts to show us that the ghost is far from innocent. We learn of his previous murders and his complete amorailty and self-centeredness. Wilde slowly closes the trap and we begin to see the truth behind the ghost's genteel facade. One line, in particular, that struck me was when he casually admitted to killed his wife because she "was very plain, never had my ruffs properly starched, and knew nothing about cookery.” It’s almost a throwaway line, but it really drove home for me the character of Sir Simon.
Now don’t go thinking based on the above that this is really a serious tale. The humor is steady throughout and I was pretty much smiling from beginning to end reading Wilde's on target wit.
I want to make one final comment about Wilde’s skill as it relates to his creative use of the setting. As you read the description of Canterville Chase, you see a litany of characteristics that paint it as the quintessential gothic mansion. Stone gargoyles, secret passageways, paintings of the previous Canterville residents, and even the stereotypical suit of armor as décor-enhancer. Throw in some dark wood and stained glass windows and you have a haunted house cliché that should be gloomy and positively oozing dread.
But is it? Of course not…Wilde simply uses this benckmark so he can quickly and effectively turn it on its head.
So…I loved this and I thought how Wilde took what started as a satire on the uncouthness of Americans and the stale traditionalism of the English, and turned it into something uplifting by marrying the best attributes of both was inspired.
I just wish it had been longer and the story had had a little more time to breathe. I can’t wait to read more of his work.
4.5 stars. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION.
Seriously...how does one not love on Oscar Wilde when he's throwing down the snarky...in this case, and in proper British fashion, against cocky, adolescent-cultured Americans and their starched-lip, tradition-trapped English cousins?
A bounty of clever from start to finish, Wilde's tale is charming, engaging and pitch-perfect.
For a story less than 30 pages long, Wilde accomplishes so much, using scalpel-like precision in both his language and his plotting to tell a story with a little bit of everything. The funny is considerable, the sadness and softer emotions are amply represented, and the brilliance is ubiquitous throughout. My sole complaint is that I wish it were a bit longer, as I would have loved for Wilde to give himself more time with these people and this setting.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Briefly, since this is a short story…
A family of flag-flaunting United Staters acquire an historic English mansion from the thoroughly prim, thoroughly British Lord Canterville. Throw in a murderous, aesthetically-minded ghost with a penchant for high drama and theater, and you have a classic, joy-inducing tale of clashing cultures, progress vs. tradition, and Wilde’s self-mockery of his own philosophy of decadent aestheticism.
And….as an added bonus that few beyond Wilde could have accomplished in this setting, you also have subtler themes of a deeper nature running through the narrative, such as penance, forgiveness, and redemption.
THOUGHTS:
I am a Wilde enthusiast, though my knowledge of his work is limited to this piece and The Picture of Dorian Gray, both of which I have loved. His prose speaks to me and I find his comedic orientation and verbal bitchiness to be hand in glove with my own sense of humor. His timing and delivery make me smile, whether he's commenting on his countrymen as having "really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language” to the reciting the casual arrogance of Mr. Otis’s response when Lord Canterville tries to dissuade him from acquiring the haunted estate:
I will take the furniture and the ghost at a valuation. I have come from a modern country, where we have everything that money can buy; and with all our spry young fellows painting the Old World red, and carrying off your best actors and prima-donnas, I reckon that if there were such a thing as a ghost in Europe, we'd have it at home in a very short time in one of our public museums, or on the road as a show.Wilde’s humor is like a hammer wrapped in silk-covered down. It floats gracefully into your ear and then sucker punches you with its meaning.
Here, Wilde even aims his high powered criticism at himself, as the ghost, Sir Simon, is a thinly veiled reflection of the author. Initially, we see Sir Simon, this artisitc spook with flair and panache, as a victim of the boorish Yankees who have invaded his haunt, and who are totally unmoved by any of his scare tactics. They apply stain remover to the recurring blood stains, oil his chains to avoid excessively rattling, and medicate his evil laugh after mistaking it for coughing. For them, he is simply a problem to solve.
It seems our artist can't get a break, and Wilde has us sympathizing with the frustrated spectre.
But Wilde slowly starts to show us that the ghost is far from innocent. We learn of his previous murders and his complete amorailty and self-centeredness. Wilde slowly closes the trap and we begin to see the truth behind the ghost's genteel facade. One line, in particular, that struck me was when he casually admitted to killed his wife because she "was very plain, never had my ruffs properly starched, and knew nothing about cookery.” It’s almost a throwaway line, but it really drove home for me the character of Sir Simon.
Now don’t go thinking based on the above that this is really a serious tale. The humor is steady throughout and I was pretty much smiling from beginning to end reading Wilde's on target wit.
‘What a monstrous climate!’ said the American Minister, calmly, as he lit a long cheroot. ‘I guess the old country is so overpopulated that they have not enough decent weather for everybody.’It’s just that Wilde adds enough little splashes of depth, of emotion, to make the entire story more resonant and, ultimately, more enjoyable.
‘Yes, death. Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forget life, to be at peace.’You can't ask for better than that.
I want to make one final comment about Wilde’s skill as it relates to his creative use of the setting. As you read the description of Canterville Chase, you see a litany of characteristics that paint it as the quintessential gothic mansion. Stone gargoyles, secret passageways, paintings of the previous Canterville residents, and even the stereotypical suit of armor as décor-enhancer. Throw in some dark wood and stained glass windows and you have a haunted house cliché that should be gloomy and positively oozing dread.
But is it? Of course not…Wilde simply uses this benckmark so he can quickly and effectively turn it on its head.
So…I loved this and I thought how Wilde took what started as a satire on the uncouthness of Americans and the stale traditionalism of the English, and turned it into something uplifting by marrying the best attributes of both was inspired.
I just wish it had been longer and the story had had a little more time to breathe. I can’t wait to read more of his work.
4.5 stars. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION.
October 29, 2017
This is Oscar Wilde’s first published story, in 1887, a year before The Happy Prince, and five years after he’d travelled in the USA. It features his oft misquoted line:
“We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language.”
It’s a curiosity: funny, but mostly not in a Wildean way; ghostly, but not remotely scary; overdoing some stereotypes (Americans), and underdoing others (what ghosts can feel and do); not quite a children’s story, but not really an adult one; long for a short story, but too short for a novella. But who needs labels?
Hiram B Otis (an American, as if you couldn’t guess) buys an English haunted house and moves in with his wife and four children. They “come from a modern country”, so have no fear, because they don’t believe in ghosts.
Idyllic summer
“They heard a wood-pigeon brooding over its own sweet voice, or saw, deep in the rustling fern, the burnished breast of the pheasant. Little squirrels peered at them from the beech-trees as they went by, and the rabbits scudded away through the brushwood and over the mossy knolls, with their white tails in the air.”
But
“As they entered the avenue of Canterville Chase, however, the sky became suddenly overcast with clouds, a curious stillness seemed to hold the atmosphere, a great flight of rooks passed silently over their heads, and, before they reached the house, some big drops of rain had fallen.”
Pragmatism
There’s a bloodstain on the floor which allegedly cannot be removed, but it succumbs to the power of Pinkerton’s Champion Stain Remover. Only to reappear next day. The rational mindset prevails. Even when an encounter forces reluctant belief, they are not scared. Seeing a ghost “of terrible aspect”, Mr Otis’ only concern is the noise of the clanking chains, so he proffers Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator, which the ghost thinks insulting. Worse still, three of the children are forever trying to catch him out and trip him up. Literally. They have no respect!
Illustration: “I ain’t afraid of no ghost” - Ghostbusters, 1984
Whereas Wilde shows comedy in pragmatism towards ghosts, in 1961, the Chinese Communist party used it for propaganda, as I found when I read Stories about Not Being Afraid of Ghosts immediately after this (see my review HERE). It’s a strange collection!
Theatrical
The ghost, a veritable ghoul of 300 years’ proud standing, has many elaborate costumes and characters. He is conscientious of “his solemn duty to appear” at regular intervals, and “with the enthusiastic egotism of the true artist… [remembers] his most celebrated performances”. The family’s refusal to be scared, and their active attempts to outwit him leave him humiliated, angry, and vengeful.
Slapstick
It all turns rather slapstick. Home Alone came to mind, which may be far off the mark, as I’ve only seen it once or twice, many years ago, and no one is alone in this story.
Illustration: “He met with a severe fall”
Sympathetic villain
I started to feel story for this ghost, even though he had murdered his wife: “the very darkness seemed to loathe him as he passed”.
Earnest
One of the children doesn’t join in the taunting and traps. When she meets the ghost and suggests that “If you behave yourself, no one will annoy you”, the dialogue could be between Jack and Algy in The Importance of Being Earnest (see my review HERE):
"It is absurd asking me to behave myself… quite absurd. I must rattle my chains, and groan through keyholes, and walk about at night, if that is what you mean. It is my only reason for existing."
"It is no reason at all for existing, and you know you have been very wicked."
Illustration: Almond blossom (from van Gough)
Garden of Death
“You must weep with me for my sins, because I have no tears, and pray with me for my soul, because I have no faith.”
Towards the end, the tone changes dramatically. The humour evaporates and is replaced with tears and metaphors. Wilde’s stories of The Selfish Giant and The Nightingale and the Rose came to mind. There is even a barren tree that bears blossoms, and a nightingale. As with those, the ultimate message is that love is more powerful than death.
Oddities and links
This joke felt out of character:
“My father will be only too happy to give you a free passage, and though there is a heavy duty on spirits of every kind, there will be no difficulty about the Custom House, as the officers are all Democrats.”
I was surprised to learn that this story has inspired (at least) two heavy metal songs:
• "The Canterville Ghost" by Austrian symphonic metal band Edenbridge. Lyrics here and a recording here.
• "Dark Depth" by Serbian thrash metal band Alister. Lyrics here and a recording here.
• Charles Laughton starred in a film version in 1944, details on imdb here.
• Also, Sir John Gielgud in 1986, details on imdb here.
I don't think I've seen either.
You can read the story, with illustrations, on Gutenberg here.
Illustration: “Suddenly there leaped out two figures”
“We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language.”
It’s a curiosity: funny, but mostly not in a Wildean way; ghostly, but not remotely scary; overdoing some stereotypes (Americans), and underdoing others (what ghosts can feel and do); not quite a children’s story, but not really an adult one; long for a short story, but too short for a novella. But who needs labels?
Hiram B Otis (an American, as if you couldn’t guess) buys an English haunted house and moves in with his wife and four children. They “come from a modern country”, so have no fear, because they don’t believe in ghosts.
Idyllic summer
“They heard a wood-pigeon brooding over its own sweet voice, or saw, deep in the rustling fern, the burnished breast of the pheasant. Little squirrels peered at them from the beech-trees as they went by, and the rabbits scudded away through the brushwood and over the mossy knolls, with their white tails in the air.”
But
“As they entered the avenue of Canterville Chase, however, the sky became suddenly overcast with clouds, a curious stillness seemed to hold the atmosphere, a great flight of rooks passed silently over their heads, and, before they reached the house, some big drops of rain had fallen.”
Pragmatism
There’s a bloodstain on the floor which allegedly cannot be removed, but it succumbs to the power of Pinkerton’s Champion Stain Remover. Only to reappear next day. The rational mindset prevails. Even when an encounter forces reluctant belief, they are not scared. Seeing a ghost “of terrible aspect”, Mr Otis’ only concern is the noise of the clanking chains, so he proffers Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator, which the ghost thinks insulting. Worse still, three of the children are forever trying to catch him out and trip him up. Literally. They have no respect!
Illustration: “I ain’t afraid of no ghost” - Ghostbusters, 1984
Whereas Wilde shows comedy in pragmatism towards ghosts, in 1961, the Chinese Communist party used it for propaganda, as I found when I read Stories about Not Being Afraid of Ghosts immediately after this (see my review HERE). It’s a strange collection!
Theatrical
The ghost, a veritable ghoul of 300 years’ proud standing, has many elaborate costumes and characters. He is conscientious of “his solemn duty to appear” at regular intervals, and “with the enthusiastic egotism of the true artist… [remembers] his most celebrated performances”. The family’s refusal to be scared, and their active attempts to outwit him leave him humiliated, angry, and vengeful.
Slapstick
It all turns rather slapstick. Home Alone came to mind, which may be far off the mark, as I’ve only seen it once or twice, many years ago, and no one is alone in this story.
Illustration: “He met with a severe fall”
Sympathetic villain
I started to feel story for this ghost, even though he had murdered his wife: “the very darkness seemed to loathe him as he passed”.
Earnest
One of the children doesn’t join in the taunting and traps. When she meets the ghost and suggests that “If you behave yourself, no one will annoy you”, the dialogue could be between Jack and Algy in The Importance of Being Earnest (see my review HERE):
"It is absurd asking me to behave myself… quite absurd. I must rattle my chains, and groan through keyholes, and walk about at night, if that is what you mean. It is my only reason for existing."
"It is no reason at all for existing, and you know you have been very wicked."
Illustration: Almond blossom (from van Gough)
Garden of Death
“You must weep with me for my sins, because I have no tears, and pray with me for my soul, because I have no faith.”
Towards the end, the tone changes dramatically. The humour evaporates and is replaced with tears and metaphors. Wilde’s stories of The Selfish Giant and The Nightingale and the Rose came to mind. There is even a barren tree that bears blossoms, and a nightingale. As with those, the ultimate message is that love is more powerful than death.
Oddities and links
This joke felt out of character:
“My father will be only too happy to give you a free passage, and though there is a heavy duty on spirits of every kind, there will be no difficulty about the Custom House, as the officers are all Democrats.”
I was surprised to learn that this story has inspired (at least) two heavy metal songs:
• "The Canterville Ghost" by Austrian symphonic metal band Edenbridge. Lyrics here and a recording here.
• "Dark Depth" by Serbian thrash metal band Alister. Lyrics here and a recording here.
• Charles Laughton starred in a film version in 1944, details on imdb here.
• Also, Sir John Gielgud in 1986, details on imdb here.
I don't think I've seen either.
You can read the story, with illustrations, on Gutenberg here.
Illustration: “Suddenly there leaped out two figures”
September 18, 2019
A Victorian ghost story by Oscar Wilde!
4.5 stars. Wilde deftly combines an occasionally grisly haunting, old-fashioned sentiment, a small droplet of romance, and a large helping of dry wit in this 1887 novella about a rather brash American family that buys a haunted mansion in Victorian England. This story makes fun of some British and American stereotypes of the day, but is oddly touching at the same time.
Mr Otis, the American Minister (whatever that means, or meant), moves his family into a mansion called Canterville Chase, despite earnest warnings from the prior owner, Lord Canterville ("a man of the most punctilious honour"), about the ghost that's been haunting the home for 300 years, since 1584. Mr Otis dismisses the story, stating categorically that there's no such thing as a ghost.
The Otis family--the parents, an older son ("christened Washington by his parents in a moment of patriotism, which he never ceased to regret"), a gravely sweet 15 year old daughter named Virginia, and two younger twin boys who would give Red Chief a run for his money--has a surprise coming. There is in fact a ghost and, like a true artiste, he takes a great deal of pride in his work ... you know, appearing in various bloody guises, breaking up engagements, driving people to suicide and such. It doesn't take the Otis family long to admit they were wrong about the existence of ghosts. But the ghost, too, has a surprise or two coming.
It's a bit predictable, perhaps, but great fun for a ghost story, and a quick, light and enjoyable read. I love Oscar Wilde's brand of humor.
Read it online or download it free here at Project Gutenberg. The illustrated version has some wonderful old drawings.
4.5 stars. Wilde deftly combines an occasionally grisly haunting, old-fashioned sentiment, a small droplet of romance, and a large helping of dry wit in this 1887 novella about a rather brash American family that buys a haunted mansion in Victorian England. This story makes fun of some British and American stereotypes of the day, but is oddly touching at the same time.
Mr Otis, the American Minister (whatever that means, or meant), moves his family into a mansion called Canterville Chase, despite earnest warnings from the prior owner, Lord Canterville ("a man of the most punctilious honour"), about the ghost that's been haunting the home for 300 years, since 1584. Mr Otis dismisses the story, stating categorically that there's no such thing as a ghost.
The Otis family--the parents, an older son ("christened Washington by his parents in a moment of patriotism, which he never ceased to regret"), a gravely sweet 15 year old daughter named Virginia, and two younger twin boys who would give Red Chief a run for his money--has a surprise coming. There is in fact a ghost and, like a true artiste, he takes a great deal of pride in his work ... you know, appearing in various bloody guises, breaking up engagements, driving people to suicide and such. It doesn't take the Otis family long to admit they were wrong about the existence of ghosts. But the ghost, too, has a surprise or two coming.
It's a bit predictable, perhaps, but great fun for a ghost story, and a quick, light and enjoyable read. I love Oscar Wilde's brand of humor.
Read it online or download it free here at Project Gutenberg. The illustrated version has some wonderful old drawings.
July 19, 2022
JAJAJA ¿Cómo es que no lo había leído antes?
Este libro es muy original y divertido. Si me sacó unas cuantas carcajadas y a la vez sentí pena por el fantasma. Inicialmente pensé que era una historia de terror, pero conforme fui avanzando me di cuenta que era pura sátira e ironía. Mi mero mole.
Fue una lectura rápida y ligera, pero muy completa. En menos de hora y media había terminado con esta joyita de Wilde. Esta es mi segunda obra del autor, pero ahora tengo la necesidad de leer más de sus relatos cortos.
Si no tienen nada que leer y quieren algo cortito, esta es la opción.
Este libro es muy original y divertido. Si me sacó unas cuantas carcajadas y a la vez sentí pena por el fantasma. Inicialmente pensé que era una historia de terror, pero conforme fui avanzando me di cuenta que era pura sátira e ironía. Mi mero mole.
Fue una lectura rápida y ligera, pero muy completa. En menos de hora y media había terminado con esta joyita de Wilde. Esta es mi segunda obra del autor, pero ahora tengo la necesidad de leer más de sus relatos cortos.
Si no tienen nada que leer y quieren algo cortito, esta es la opción.
March 18, 2020
Great satire about an English ghost being outwitted by some modern Americans (Mr Otis and his family) who bought Canterville Chase. Is there salvation for the ghost in the end? Funny ghost story with many satirical elements (the bloodstain) and fine allusions (e.g. on Fuseli's Nightmare). A real classic with well drawn characters. Recommended for everybody, not only Oscar Wilde fans.
January 23, 2023
This book is really funny. In it the ghosts are haunted by the people. It is a good twist. I recommend this book to all.
August 28, 2021
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!
A sophisticated parody of the traditional Ghost marvellously juxtaposed to the remarkable satirisation of American and British values; enhanced with an astounding and ingenious reversal of roles that imposes profound reflection on the themes of life and death, and imbues the narrative with refined irony and paradox in concomitance with the continual intertwining of opposites. Wilde’s tale of ‘The Canterville Ghost’ is unconventionally haunting and thrilling!
👻👻👻
American Minister Otis and his family, determined to purchase Canterville Chase notwithstanding consolidated rumours of the supernatural from none other than Lord Canterville himself, take residence in their newly acquired home one fine July’s day. Thus begins the family’s intrepid exploration into the mysterious tale of Sir Simon the ghost, and their leisurely and nonchalant attempts at asserting themselves and their dubious ideas (and ideals) within the household. Sir Simon has made it his life-in-death mission to push residents of the Chase to the brink of insanity since 1584. What will come of him amidst the grand, almighty, and unrelenting Otis bunch?
Sara Ganassi’s beautiful illustration of “The Canterville Ghost”
Elements of the traditional Ghost stories abound, from the characterisation of the aura that announces “higher-natural” phenomena, to the specific reactions elicited by otherworldly manifestations. Recurring are the instances in which the calmness of the night is punctuated by overcast skies, a “curious stillness” in the air, “terrible flash of lightning”, a raging wind, “fearful peal of thunder” or the presence of ravens and crows, thereby electing the “monstrous climate” to its proclaimed role of a portal to the tense-ridden realm of the eternally mysterious. The horrid and ghastly scenes that follow are exemplified by the explicitly reiterated operative words of “awful” and “terrible”, in turn arousing instantaneous responses. Sir Simon, who had “disappeared suddenly under very mysterious circumstances” and whose “body has never been discovered, but his guilty spirit still haunts the Chase” – having murdered his capricious wife – proudly busies himself with effusive exhibitions of his “great achievements”: he has been the perpetrator of many an offense, and his favoured victims have been known to shoot or drown themselves, frighten themselves into a fit, suffer “an attack of brain fever”, or become “a perfect martyr to nervous disorders”. One would think that as primal generator of the uncanny who has assisted to much fainting and starting, Sir Simon would be particularly well versed in first-hand experience of the paranormal, and yet, in a reimagining of the Dantesque rule of “contrapasso” (“suffering the opposite”), our highly established Ghost gets a taste of his own medicine. When he confronted with a “horrible spectre”, the third-person narrator curiously states that “never having seen a ghost before, [Sir Simon] naturally was terribly frightened”, such that following this episode he found himself time and time again “seized with a panic”, jittery, or nursing a severe cold, with his nerves “completely shattered”. Multiple and untiring are his attempts to experiment with his repertoire of “remarkable impersonations” in order to exact revenge on the unusually unimpressionable Otises, and yet he is humiliated, “tricked, foiled, and out-witted!”.
Some questions are in order: Why does Wilde orchestrate the ghost’s defeat? How is it that both the overlapping and reversal of roles bring to the surface important thematic concerns that alter our perception of human values and the supernatural?
Let us return to my earlier reference to the ghost getting a taste of his own medicine, insofar as the content that this generates bring us to the counterforce operating analogously to the ghost’s ridiculing. Why are the Otises persistently depicted as being so entirely unaffected by the “objective existence of phantasmas”? Indeed, from the very incipit of the story, Wilde makes it a point to stress the family’s “gross materialism”, very much in line with the ghost’s voiced realisation that “evidently people on a low, material plane of existence, and quite incapable of appreciating the symbolic value of sensuous phenomena”. The Otis family, by no means undeterred by talk of ghosts, fortify and barricade their household with the impenetrability of their values: “there is no such thing, sir, as a ghost, and I guess the laws of Nature are not going to be suspended for the British aristocracy”. Their overarching confidence in their ways is made to hyperbolically brook no “nonsense” of the kind as a means of exposing – in turn – their creeds and principles for what they and their believers truly are: “horrid, rude, vulgar, dishonest”, adjectives simultaneously applied to the ghost’s contrivances.
The text is littered with allusions that mock American values:
1) Mr Otis argues that were ghosts truly in existence, one of his people would surely have got a hold of it by now, and it would be in exhibition at one museum or other – Lord Canterville bitingly responds that their ghost must have “resisted the overtures of [his] enterprising impresarios”;
2) His son, Washington, who is said to be thus named “in a moment of patriotism, which he never ceased to regret”, is emblematically fixated with removing the “dull red stain” on the living room floors with Pinkerton stain remover, while the father suggests that the ghost make use of a lubricator for his clattering and rusty chains not to disturb the calm during the night;
3) Upon being faced with the tangibility of the ghost, “Mrs. Otis expressed her intention of joining the Psychical Society, and Washing prepared a long letter to Messrs Myers and Podmore on the subject of the Permanence of Sanguineous Stains when connected with Crime”
4) Abundant in-passing references to republicanism, and their two young boys as representing “the only true republicans of the family”
Important also to recall Lord Canterville’s insightful comment - “we have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language” – that symptomatically likens the British and Americans, thereby characterising both nations as blind-sighted by the sheer horridness of their values. Thus contextualised, both satire and parody contribute to the precarious and mirror-like shifting of balances that culminates in the Otis girl’s intervention.
Indeed, the winning feature of Wilde’s story is the dignified movement from satire and parody to Virginia’s display of sympathy towards the ghost, and ultimately, to the tender exposition of pathos. The Otis family, with exception of Virginia, extinguish and deprive the ghost of his “only reason for existing”; when he is finally forced by the reality of what is happening to him to seek counsel inwardly, Virginia discovers him in the Tapestry room looking “so lonely and so unhappy”, and “his whole attitude was one of extreme depression”. She comes to represent – as Chosen by an old prophecy – the worldly saviour who will seal their mutual understanding of life, love, and death and solemnly lead Sir Simon to eternal rest, “the Garden of Death”, where he is finally released from the bodily restraints that held him secretly captive in a forlorn corner of the Chase, behind unassuming wainscoting. “Poor sir Simon! I owe him a great deal. Yes, don’t laugh, Cecil, I really do. He made me see what Life is, and what death signifies, and why Love is stronger than both”
👻👻👻
Beautifully Poetic Quotes 🌹:
“Death must be so beautiful[…] To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow”
“On an on he glided, like an evil shadow, the very darkness seeming to loathe him as he passed”
“deeds of blood would be wrought, and murder walk abroad with silent feet”
Fun Trivia 🔥:
"there was not a prouder man in the whole length and breadth of England" very much echoes Ellen's words about Young Cathy and Hareton's restorative union in Wuthering Heights: "there won't be a happier woman than myself in England!" ❤️
A sophisticated parody of the traditional Ghost marvellously juxtaposed to the remarkable satirisation of American and British values; enhanced with an astounding and ingenious reversal of roles that imposes profound reflection on the themes of life and death, and imbues the narrative with refined irony and paradox in concomitance with the continual intertwining of opposites. Wilde’s tale of ‘The Canterville Ghost’ is unconventionally haunting and thrilling!
👻👻👻
American Minister Otis and his family, determined to purchase Canterville Chase notwithstanding consolidated rumours of the supernatural from none other than Lord Canterville himself, take residence in their newly acquired home one fine July’s day. Thus begins the family’s intrepid exploration into the mysterious tale of Sir Simon the ghost, and their leisurely and nonchalant attempts at asserting themselves and their dubious ideas (and ideals) within the household. Sir Simon has made it his life-in-death mission to push residents of the Chase to the brink of insanity since 1584. What will come of him amidst the grand, almighty, and unrelenting Otis bunch?
Sara Ganassi’s beautiful illustration of “The Canterville Ghost”
Elements of the traditional Ghost stories abound, from the characterisation of the aura that announces “higher-natural” phenomena, to the specific reactions elicited by otherworldly manifestations. Recurring are the instances in which the calmness of the night is punctuated by overcast skies, a “curious stillness” in the air, “terrible flash of lightning”, a raging wind, “fearful peal of thunder” or the presence of ravens and crows, thereby electing the “monstrous climate” to its proclaimed role of a portal to the tense-ridden realm of the eternally mysterious. The horrid and ghastly scenes that follow are exemplified by the explicitly reiterated operative words of “awful” and “terrible”, in turn arousing instantaneous responses. Sir Simon, who had “disappeared suddenly under very mysterious circumstances” and whose “body has never been discovered, but his guilty spirit still haunts the Chase” – having murdered his capricious wife – proudly busies himself with effusive exhibitions of his “great achievements”: he has been the perpetrator of many an offense, and his favoured victims have been known to shoot or drown themselves, frighten themselves into a fit, suffer “an attack of brain fever”, or become “a perfect martyr to nervous disorders”. One would think that as primal generator of the uncanny who has assisted to much fainting and starting, Sir Simon would be particularly well versed in first-hand experience of the paranormal, and yet, in a reimagining of the Dantesque rule of “contrapasso” (“suffering the opposite”), our highly established Ghost gets a taste of his own medicine. When he confronted with a “horrible spectre”, the third-person narrator curiously states that “never having seen a ghost before, [Sir Simon] naturally was terribly frightened”, such that following this episode he found himself time and time again “seized with a panic”, jittery, or nursing a severe cold, with his nerves “completely shattered”. Multiple and untiring are his attempts to experiment with his repertoire of “remarkable impersonations” in order to exact revenge on the unusually unimpressionable Otises, and yet he is humiliated, “tricked, foiled, and out-witted!”.
Some questions are in order: Why does Wilde orchestrate the ghost’s defeat? How is it that both the overlapping and reversal of roles bring to the surface important thematic concerns that alter our perception of human values and the supernatural?
Let us return to my earlier reference to the ghost getting a taste of his own medicine, insofar as the content that this generates bring us to the counterforce operating analogously to the ghost’s ridiculing. Why are the Otises persistently depicted as being so entirely unaffected by the “objective existence of phantasmas”? Indeed, from the very incipit of the story, Wilde makes it a point to stress the family’s “gross materialism”, very much in line with the ghost’s voiced realisation that “evidently people on a low, material plane of existence, and quite incapable of appreciating the symbolic value of sensuous phenomena”. The Otis family, by no means undeterred by talk of ghosts, fortify and barricade their household with the impenetrability of their values: “there is no such thing, sir, as a ghost, and I guess the laws of Nature are not going to be suspended for the British aristocracy”. Their overarching confidence in their ways is made to hyperbolically brook no “nonsense” of the kind as a means of exposing – in turn – their creeds and principles for what they and their believers truly are: “horrid, rude, vulgar, dishonest”, adjectives simultaneously applied to the ghost’s contrivances.
The text is littered with allusions that mock American values:
1) Mr Otis argues that were ghosts truly in existence, one of his people would surely have got a hold of it by now, and it would be in exhibition at one museum or other – Lord Canterville bitingly responds that their ghost must have “resisted the overtures of [his] enterprising impresarios”;
2) His son, Washington, who is said to be thus named “in a moment of patriotism, which he never ceased to regret”, is emblematically fixated with removing the “dull red stain” on the living room floors with Pinkerton stain remover, while the father suggests that the ghost make use of a lubricator for his clattering and rusty chains not to disturb the calm during the night;
3) Upon being faced with the tangibility of the ghost, “Mrs. Otis expressed her intention of joining the Psychical Society, and Washing prepared a long letter to Messrs Myers and Podmore on the subject of the Permanence of Sanguineous Stains when connected with Crime”
4) Abundant in-passing references to republicanism, and their two young boys as representing “the only true republicans of the family”
Important also to recall Lord Canterville’s insightful comment - “we have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language” – that symptomatically likens the British and Americans, thereby characterising both nations as blind-sighted by the sheer horridness of their values. Thus contextualised, both satire and parody contribute to the precarious and mirror-like shifting of balances that culminates in the Otis girl’s intervention.
Indeed, the winning feature of Wilde’s story is the dignified movement from satire and parody to Virginia’s display of sympathy towards the ghost, and ultimately, to the tender exposition of pathos. The Otis family, with exception of Virginia, extinguish and deprive the ghost of his “only reason for existing”; when he is finally forced by the reality of what is happening to him to seek counsel inwardly, Virginia discovers him in the Tapestry room looking “so lonely and so unhappy”, and “his whole attitude was one of extreme depression”. She comes to represent – as Chosen by an old prophecy – the worldly saviour who will seal their mutual understanding of life, love, and death and solemnly lead Sir Simon to eternal rest, “the Garden of Death”, where he is finally released from the bodily restraints that held him secretly captive in a forlorn corner of the Chase, behind unassuming wainscoting. “Poor sir Simon! I owe him a great deal. Yes, don’t laugh, Cecil, I really do. He made me see what Life is, and what death signifies, and why Love is stronger than both”
👻👻👻
Beautifully Poetic Quotes 🌹:
“Death must be so beautiful[…] To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow”
“On an on he glided, like an evil shadow, the very darkness seeming to loathe him as he passed”
“deeds of blood would be wrought, and murder walk abroad with silent feet”
Fun Trivia 🔥:
"there was not a prouder man in the whole length and breadth of England" very much echoes Ellen's words about Young Cathy and Hareton's restorative union in Wuthering Heights: "there won't be a happier woman than myself in England!" ❤️
August 27, 2023
"هذه القصة سجل طريف للمحن التي المّت بشبح قصر آل كانترفيل حين انتقل هذا القصر التاريخي الى وزير أمريكا المفوض في بلاط سانت جيمس"
بهذا التقديم تبدأ هذه القصة القصيرة وبها يعرفنا أوسكار وايلد على الإطار العام (قصر - شبح - انكليز - امريكان) حيث ستجري الأحداث. وداخل القصة يبث الكثير من المشاعر (الحب، البراءة، الخوف)، ويخلق عدة مقابلات (انكليز-امريكان، احياء-اشباح، براغماتية-ارستقراطية،..)
- تزخر القصة بالسخرية من الجميع ومن كل شيئ تقريباً:
* من الإنكليز:
* من الأمريكيين:
* من القصص القوطية (رغم الوصف العبقري للقصر بدهاليزه وصور ساكنيه السابقين والممرات السرية والبدلة الحديدية والتابوت الرصاصي والشجرة العارية في الخارج) الا ان وايلد استعمل هذه السمات في قصة تثير الضحك بدل الهلع وترسم الإبتسامة بدل الإستغراب.
- قصة سلسة وظريفة جداً رغم نهايتها المتوقعة.
بهذا التقديم تبدأ هذه القصة القصيرة وبها يعرفنا أوسكار وايلد على الإطار العام (قصر - شبح - انكليز - امريكان) حيث ستجري الأحداث. وداخل القصة يبث الكثير من المشاعر (الحب، البراءة، الخوف)، ويخلق عدة مقابلات (انكليز-امريكان، احياء-اشباح، براغماتية-ارستقراطية،..)
- تزخر القصة بالسخرية من الجميع ومن كل شيئ تقريباً:
* من الإنكليز:
"الطبيعة لن تغير مجراها إرضاء للأرستقراطية البريطانية"
* من الأمريكيين:
"وكان ابنها الأكبر فتى ذهبي الشعر وسيم الطلعة الى حد ما، وقد أعدّ نفسه للوظائف الدبلوماسية كما يفهمها الأمريكيون بإتقانه فن الرقص"
* من القصص القوطية (رغم الوصف العبقري للقصر بدهاليزه وصور ساكنيه السابقين والممرات السرية والبدلة الحديدية والتابوت الرصاصي والشجرة العارية في الخارج) الا ان وايلد استعمل هذه السمات في قصة تثير الضحك بدل الهلع وترسم الإبتسامة بدل الإستغراب.
- قصة سلسة وظريفة جداً رغم نهايتها المتوقعة.
September 21, 2023
The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde is a ghost story with a few surprises. Sure, it contains horror, as one would expect. Indeed, some moments are very chilling, but there’s also suspense, mystery, and romance. Oh, and as one would expect from Wilde – there is a good dash of comedy.
Canterville Chase, an impressive old English property, sold by Lord Canterville to an American family by the name of Otis. Lord Canterville (bless him) was so honest he warned the prospective buyers about a vicious ghost who has terrorised the inhabitants of Canterville Chase for centuries. This did not deter the Otis family – who didn’t believe in ghosts. In fact, they were quite disparaging about the whole idea, which miffed English sensibilities.
The hilarity occurs in the first half of the story, the Otis children made fun of the ghost when he appeared, mocked him even, they also suggested certain products to get rid of his ‘squeaking chains’, or the blood stain on the carpets. This mortified the ghost. The young twins even set up booby traps for the old, miserable, spectre. Talk about demoralising.
But this aint no comedic piece. All this mockery was followed by a story of some substance, with some worthwhile – not cheesy – messaging, there is also some genuine ‘spookiness’, enough to make me turn off my Kindle and go to sleep. Really.
Yes, death. Death must be beautiful. To lie in the soft born earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no tomorrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace.
When the time comes – that will do me.
If you like Oscar Wilde and are looking for a lively read – I recommend this little beauty.
4 Stars
Canterville Chase, an impressive old English property, sold by Lord Canterville to an American family by the name of Otis. Lord Canterville (bless him) was so honest he warned the prospective buyers about a vicious ghost who has terrorised the inhabitants of Canterville Chase for centuries. This did not deter the Otis family – who didn’t believe in ghosts. In fact, they were quite disparaging about the whole idea, which miffed English sensibilities.
The hilarity occurs in the first half of the story, the Otis children made fun of the ghost when he appeared, mocked him even, they also suggested certain products to get rid of his ‘squeaking chains’, or the blood stain on the carpets. This mortified the ghost. The young twins even set up booby traps for the old, miserable, spectre. Talk about demoralising.
But this aint no comedic piece. All this mockery was followed by a story of some substance, with some worthwhile – not cheesy – messaging, there is also some genuine ‘spookiness’, enough to make me turn off my Kindle and go to sleep. Really.
Yes, death. Death must be beautiful. To lie in the soft born earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no tomorrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace.
When the time comes – that will do me.
If you like Oscar Wilde and are looking for a lively read – I recommend this little beauty.
4 Stars
February 8, 2020
I finally got around to reading this. I heard about it as a child and never read it. Oscar is charming and his writing is funny and he tells a good story.
There is a horrid ghost in a large Manor home in England. Everyone is terrified of this Canterville Ghost. One day, the Canterville’s sell the home, ghost included to some Americans. The Americans move in and the ghost does not scare them in the least. The blood stain is simply cleaned up day after day. There are two twins who terrify the ghost itself and the ghost is so scared of the Americans that he gets depressed and wants to die. I think it’s funny Oscar’s idea of Americans and their brashness and not going by the rules of aristocracy.
It is a scary story with humor thrown in and turns the genre upside down. It’s a quick read. I want to read more Oscar Wilde books. I love his prose and style and he has a strong voice. How does one get that kind of confidence?
The US is still like the young kid on the block as far as the world stage goes. We are having some teenage growing pains. It’s interesting to see that perspective play out in the story.
There is a horrid ghost in a large Manor home in England. Everyone is terrified of this Canterville Ghost. One day, the Canterville’s sell the home, ghost included to some Americans. The Americans move in and the ghost does not scare them in the least. The blood stain is simply cleaned up day after day. There are two twins who terrify the ghost itself and the ghost is so scared of the Americans that he gets depressed and wants to die. I think it’s funny Oscar’s idea of Americans and their brashness and not going by the rules of aristocracy.
It is a scary story with humor thrown in and turns the genre upside down. It’s a quick read. I want to read more Oscar Wilde books. I love his prose and style and he has a strong voice. How does one get that kind of confidence?
The US is still like the young kid on the block as far as the world stage goes. We are having some teenage growing pains. It’s interesting to see that perspective play out in the story.
September 7, 2017
" .. هذه القصّة سجل طريف للمحن التّي ألمت بشبح قصر آل كانترفيل حين انتقل هذا القصر التاريخي إلى وزير أمريكا المفوض في بلاط سانت جامس .. "
رسالة من شبح :
ما معنى أن تكون شبحا ؟ .. نعم ما معنى ذلك ؟ .. كنت في يوم ما أسطورة، رعبا حقيقيا. كنت في يوم ما .. نعم .. نعم كنت، و لكن الأيام دول .. اسألوني أنا .. هل تريدون سماع حكايتي .. اقتربوا .. لا تخافوا فقد ولى زمن الخوف من الأشباح .
اسمي شبح كانترفيل .. و طبعا هذا إسم شهرتي .. ميت حي أو حي ميت لا أدري فالفارق عندي سواء منذ ثلاث قرون، ثلاث قرون أرعبت، خوّفت، قتلت، أمرضت، جنّنت،صرعت، و أرهبت فيها المئات من الأشخاص، حتى أصبحت أشهر شبح . احتاروا في أمري و في موهبتي ( الشبحية ) التي لم يعرف قبلها، كنت استثناء بفضل ذكائي و قدرتي على الإبتكار .. آه .. آه .. لا تندهشوا من رؤية الدموع .. فالأشباح عندها أحاسيس طبعا، و الأهم عندها كرامة تسعى للحفاظ عليها .
هذا كثير، بل أكثر من كثير .. تخيلوا شبحا في عزّ شبوحيته إن صحّ هذا التعبير، شبح يفعل ما يريد و يظهر كيفما شاء و أينما شاء .. شبح في أوج عطائه المهني .. ثم .. ثم فجأة تأتي عائلة من أقصى بقاع الأرض و تهينني، و تعاملني بخشونة، و تسلط و استهتار و الأهم من ذلك لا يخافون مني إطلاقا .. آه .. تبا .. سأنتحر الآن .
بدأت سقطتي يوم قدم هؤلاء الهمج حيث صرح الأب قائلا للمالك أنه سيشتري الدار و الشبح و الأثاث، نعم بهذه اللهجة الوقحة صنّفني مع الأشياء الأخرى، و كأنّه في استطاعته شرائي و بيعي، ثم بدأت الأمور تزداد سوءا حال قدومهم إلى المنزل، أذكر ذلك جيدا، ليلة رومانسية بالنسبة لي كشبح، أمطار و رياح، رعود عنيفة، برد شديد، و منزل مهجور منذ أمد بعيد .. جو لا ينقصه إلى حضوري .. و لكن هيهات .
المهم إذا أردتم معرفة ماذا حدث لي .. إذا كنتم مهتمين بمأساتي .. اقرأوا القصة لتعرفوا ذلك .. لتعرفوا أن جشع الإنسان وصل حتى عالم الأشباح .. و لأننا لا نملك جمعية أو مؤسسسة تهتم بحقوقنا قررت كتابة هذه الرسالة .. و هذه هي كلماتي الأخيرة .. لأنّني بعدها مقدم على فعل لم يسبقني إليه شبح .. سأنتحر .. وداعا .
التوقيع :
شبح كانترفيل .
hébergement gratuit
قصة قصيرة تعد واحدة من روائع الأدب البريطاني، ضحكت و أنا أقرأها كثيرا و خاصة السخرية الواضحة من العقلية الأمريكية و عقلية الطبقة الأستقراطية البريطانية .
" .. و كان إبنها الأكبر فتى ذهبي الشعر وسيم الطلعة إلى حد ما، و قد أعد نفسه للوظائف الديبلوماسية كما يفهمها الأمريكيون بإتقانه فن الرقص "
" .. ما دواء الإغماء يا عزيزي هيرام
فأجاب الوزير المفوض
- اخصميه من أجرها كما تخصمين ما تكسره من أواني، فإن فعلت ذلك لم تعد إلى الإغماء مرة أخرى "
" .. بل دار الحديث حول الموضوعات المهمة المألوفة بين أبناء الطبقة المثقفة من أثرياء أمريكا . مثال على ذلك : ضآلة سارة برنار إذا هي قيست بالآنسة فان دافنبورت. صعوبة الحصول في بيوت انكلترا ، حتى في أرقاها، على القمح الأخضر و الكعك المصنوع من القمح الأسود و جريش الذرة، من كل ما يأكله الأمريكيون في بلادهم و أهمية الدور الذي تلعبه بوسطن في تقدم الروح الإنسانية. منافع نظام الأمتعة الجديد في السفر بالسكة الحديدية.. "
رسالة من شبح :
ما معنى أن تكون شبحا ؟ .. نعم ما معنى ذلك ؟ .. كنت في يوم ما أسطورة، رعبا حقيقيا. كنت في يوم ما .. نعم .. نعم كنت، و لكن الأيام دول .. اسألوني أنا .. هل تريدون سماع حكايتي .. اقتربوا .. لا تخافوا فقد ولى زمن الخوف من الأشباح .
اسمي شبح كانترفيل .. و طبعا هذا إسم شهرتي .. ميت حي أو حي ميت لا أدري فالفارق عندي سواء منذ ثلاث قرون، ثلاث قرون أرعبت، خوّفت، قتلت، أمرضت، جنّنت،صرعت، و أرهبت فيها المئات من الأشخاص، حتى أصبحت أشهر شبح . احتاروا في أمري و في موهبتي ( الشبحية ) التي لم يعرف قبلها، كنت استثناء بفضل ذكائي و قدرتي على الإبتكار .. آه .. آه .. لا تندهشوا من رؤية الدموع .. فالأشباح عندها أحاسيس طبعا، و الأهم عندها كرامة تسعى للحفاظ عليها .
هذا كثير، بل أكثر من كثير .. تخيلوا شبحا في عزّ شبوحيته إن صحّ هذا التعبير، شبح يفعل ما يريد و يظهر كيفما شاء و أينما شاء .. شبح في أوج عطائه المهني .. ثم .. ثم فجأة تأتي عائلة من أقصى بقاع الأرض و تهينني، و تعاملني بخشونة، و تسلط و استهتار و الأهم من ذلك لا يخافون مني إطلاقا .. آه .. تبا .. سأنتحر الآن .
بدأت سقطتي يوم قدم هؤلاء الهمج حيث صرح الأب قائلا للمالك أنه سيشتري الدار و الشبح و الأثاث، نعم بهذه اللهجة الوقحة صنّفني مع الأشياء الأخرى، و كأنّه في استطاعته شرائي و بيعي، ثم بدأت الأمور تزداد سوءا حال قدومهم إلى المنزل، أذكر ذلك جيدا، ليلة رومانسية بالنسبة لي كشبح، أمطار و رياح، رعود عنيفة، برد شديد، و منزل مهجور منذ أمد بعيد .. جو لا ينقصه إلى حضوري .. و لكن هيهات .
المهم إذا أردتم معرفة ماذا حدث لي .. إذا كنتم مهتمين بمأساتي .. اقرأوا القصة لتعرفوا ذلك .. لتعرفوا أن جشع الإنسان وصل حتى عالم الأشباح .. و لأننا لا نملك جمعية أو مؤسسسة تهتم بحقوقنا قررت كتابة هذه الرسالة .. و هذه هي كلماتي الأخيرة .. لأنّني بعدها مقدم على فعل لم يسبقني إليه شبح .. سأنتحر .. وداعا .
التوقيع :
شبح كانترفيل .
hébergement gratuit
قصة قصيرة تعد واحدة من روائع الأدب البريطاني، ضحكت و أنا أقرأها كثيرا و خاصة السخرية الواضحة من العقلية الأمريكية و عقلية الطبقة الأستقراطية البريطانية .
" .. و كان إبنها الأكبر فتى ذهبي الشعر وسيم الطلعة إلى حد ما، و قد أعد نفسه للوظائف الديبلوماسية كما يفهمها الأمريكيون بإتقانه فن الرقص "
" .. ما دواء الإغماء يا عزيزي هيرام
فأجاب الوزير المفوض
- اخصميه من أجرها كما تخصمين ما تكسره من أواني، فإن فعلت ذلك لم تعد إلى الإغماء مرة أخرى "
" .. بل دار الحديث حول الموضوعات المهمة المألوفة بين أبناء الطبقة المثقفة من أثرياء أمريكا . مثال على ذلك : ضآلة سارة برنار إذا هي قيست بالآنسة فان دافنبورت. صعوبة الحصول في بيوت انكلترا ، حتى في أرقاها، على القمح الأخضر و الكعك المصنوع من القمح الأسود و جريش الذرة، من كل ما يأكله الأمريكيون في بلادهم و أهمية الدور الذي تلعبه بوسطن في تقدم الروح الإنسانية. منافع نظام الأمتعة الجديد في السفر بالسكة الحديدية.. "
October 30, 2023
Have you ever wondered what the ghost lurking in the corridor is thinking? Then pick up Oscar Wild’s rip-roaring, hilarious tale of a ghost whose sole purpose is to send shivers down the spines of Canterville Chase. You will not find a macabre tale here. Sir Simon de Canterville is a dignified ghost. One who sets a time schedule and deploys tried-and-true scare patterns to get a rise out of its guests.
But what if the new owners do not believe in ghosts?
|| "They were evidently people on a low, material plane of existence, and quite incapable of appreciating the symbolic value of sensuous phenomena."
Poor old Sir Simon tries everything to get a rise out of the entire family. Scraping heavy chains along the floor, moving items, and even leaving blood stains on the carpets to no avail. The family offers the ghost ‘Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator’ to end the cacophony of chain sounds that echo throughout the night. This angers the ghost quite a bit. The small children add to the ghost’s misery by setting up traps a-la Home Alone, such as trip wires, water buckets, and peashooters to humiliate him.
The hijinks are funny, but what about the ghosts’ feelings? The Canterville ghost has not slept in over three hundred years and had lost his beloved Lady Eleanor de Canterville years prior. Does anyone offer a helping hand and conjure up some sympathy for the master of terror? Find out by checking out this fun classic.
But remember, the next time you see a ghost, try not to lash out, scream, or go running from them in haste. They have feelings too!
|| "Yes, Death. Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace. You can help me. You can open for me the portals of Death's house, for Love is always with you, and Love is stronger than Death is."
📝 | Extra | 📝’s
❖ A fun satire.
❖ I really enjoyed the added bit of emotional weight to the end.
❖ Can be read for free at gutenberg.org or Librovox.
🎵| Soundtrack |🎵
❖ Sonata in C Major – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
❖ Prelude in Em – Frédéric Chopin
⭐ | Rating | ⭐
❖ 4.5 out of 5
But what if the new owners do not believe in ghosts?
|| "They were evidently people on a low, material plane of existence, and quite incapable of appreciating the symbolic value of sensuous phenomena."
Poor old Sir Simon tries everything to get a rise out of the entire family. Scraping heavy chains along the floor, moving items, and even leaving blood stains on the carpets to no avail. The family offers the ghost ‘Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator’ to end the cacophony of chain sounds that echo throughout the night. This angers the ghost quite a bit. The small children add to the ghost’s misery by setting up traps a-la Home Alone, such as trip wires, water buckets, and peashooters to humiliate him.
The hijinks are funny, but what about the ghosts’ feelings? The Canterville ghost has not slept in over three hundred years and had lost his beloved Lady Eleanor de Canterville years prior. Does anyone offer a helping hand and conjure up some sympathy for the master of terror? Find out by checking out this fun classic.
But remember, the next time you see a ghost, try not to lash out, scream, or go running from them in haste. They have feelings too!
|| "Yes, Death. Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace. You can help me. You can open for me the portals of Death's house, for Love is always with you, and Love is stronger than Death is."
📝 | Extra | 📝’s
❖ A fun satire.
❖ I really enjoyed the added bit of emotional weight to the end.
❖ Can be read for free at gutenberg.org or Librovox.
🎵| Soundtrack |🎵
❖ Sonata in C Major – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
❖ Prelude in Em – Frédéric Chopin
⭐ | Rating | ⭐
❖ 4.5 out of 5
June 29, 2017
What a lovely ghost story this was!
This turned out to be the cutest ghost story for me lately.I have read Wilde the novelist, this time his story also made a mark.
When an American minister bought Canterville Chase ( A British Mansion), everyone said it was a foolish decision because the place was haunted and there was no doubt in it. But the American minister believed and said that there was no such thing, as a ghost, and I guess the laws of nature are not going to be suspended for the British aristocracy.
Listening to it the owner of the Canterville replied, “If you don’t mind a ghost in the house, It is all right. Only you must remember I warned you.”
A few weeks after, the purchase was concluded and the family of the American minister shifted to the Canterville Chase.Then there begins the holy terror of a ghost. There appears a red blood stain in the sitting room which comes again and again, even after wiping it multiple times. An old man of terrible aspect, his eyes as red burning coal, long gray hair fell over his shoulder in a matted coil, soiled and ragged garments with antique cut, wrists and ankles hung with heavy manacles and rusty gyves, appears and terrorises the minister’s family.
Many fearful things happened but I was not affrighted as a reader. In fact, I enjoyed Ghost's terrorizing the family. There was an obvious reason behind it. The most charming thing about this story is the wit and humor that is wonderfully incorporated by Wilde in this ghostly plot.
Not only this family faces new experiences in this mansion, this strange ghost also faces some odd but very curious experiences with this family that he had never faced, in a brilliant and uninterrupted career of three hundred years.
This was a refreshing treat, as a quick read. A delightful story, written in a very witty way. The most delightful and colorful character of the story is the Ghost itself and you can surely fall in love with him.
This turned out to be the cutest ghost story for me lately.I have read Wilde the novelist, this time his story also made a mark.
When an American minister bought Canterville Chase ( A British Mansion), everyone said it was a foolish decision because the place was haunted and there was no doubt in it. But the American minister believed and said that there was no such thing, as a ghost, and I guess the laws of nature are not going to be suspended for the British aristocracy.
Listening to it the owner of the Canterville replied, “If you don’t mind a ghost in the house, It is all right. Only you must remember I warned you.”
A few weeks after, the purchase was concluded and the family of the American minister shifted to the Canterville Chase.Then there begins the holy terror of a ghost. There appears a red blood stain in the sitting room which comes again and again, even after wiping it multiple times. An old man of terrible aspect, his eyes as red burning coal, long gray hair fell over his shoulder in a matted coil, soiled and ragged garments with antique cut, wrists and ankles hung with heavy manacles and rusty gyves, appears and terrorises the minister’s family.
Many fearful things happened but I was not affrighted as a reader. In fact, I enjoyed Ghost's terrorizing the family. There was an obvious reason behind it. The most charming thing about this story is the wit and humor that is wonderfully incorporated by Wilde in this ghostly plot.
Not only this family faces new experiences in this mansion, this strange ghost also faces some odd but very curious experiences with this family that he had never faced, in a brilliant and uninterrupted career of three hundred years.
This was a refreshing treat, as a quick read. A delightful story, written in a very witty way. The most delightful and colorful character of the story is the Ghost itself and you can surely fall in love with him.
September 27, 2025
The Canterville Ghost is a charming tale, one of Oscar Wilde's best. It is a ghost story, a comedy and a romance all rolled into one, told with the offbeat, rolling wit that only Wilde can tell.
An American family moves into a haunted mansion in England, but it is they who torment the ghost with their irrepressible irreverence, finally driving the phantom to despair. The lovely, charming daughter of the family, strikes up a friendship with the ghost, freeing it, with her prayer and tears.
It is a tragic tale with a happy ending , a wonderful story for all ages.
An American family moves into a haunted mansion in England, but it is they who torment the ghost with their irrepressible irreverence, finally driving the phantom to despair. The lovely, charming daughter of the family, strikes up a friendship with the ghost, freeing it, with her prayer and tears.
It is a tragic tale with a happy ending , a wonderful story for all ages.
March 8, 2025
What a fun read this was! I'm definitely in love with Oscar Wild works. He combines simple language with wit and humour which is easy to read and which completely holds your attention and leave you in awe once you are done with the reading.
The story is about a ghost who had haunted his family castle and who had terrified all his descendants and their associates who was finally outwitted by an American family. Poor Ghost. He was so humiliated as he says to himself that "no ghost in history had ever been treated in this manner".
Underlying this simple fun story, there is a contrast that has been drawn between British and American culture, values and ways of thinking. There is gentle humour on both sides. And amidst the humour, there is also an important message set in the story on life, death, love and forgiveness.
All in all, I enjoyed the read thoroughly and had a good laugh.
The story is about a ghost who had haunted his family castle and who had terrified all his descendants and their associates who was finally outwitted by an American family. Poor Ghost. He was so humiliated as he says to himself that "no ghost in history had ever been treated in this manner".
Underlying this simple fun story, there is a contrast that has been drawn between British and American culture, values and ways of thinking. There is gentle humour on both sides. And amidst the humour, there is also an important message set in the story on life, death, love and forgiveness.
All in all, I enjoyed the read thoroughly and had a good laugh.
October 19, 2024
Hauntingly humorous
An American family move to a castle which is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville.
But soon the poor ghost realizes that his antics are no match for the American practicality.
An American family move to a castle which is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville.
But soon the poor ghost realizes that his antics are no match for the American practicality.
April 29, 2019
Review in English and in Spanish
Personally I loved this short novel by Oscar Wilde. When I was little I had the opportunity to see an adaptation in cartoons of this work and I loved it, and thanks to reading this story I was able to relive this story again. I like that it is something dark and that the characters are satirical, since this generates a balance within the work. I recommended it for its landscapes, characters and plots. A +
En lo personal me encanto esta novela corta de Oscar Wilde. Cuando era pequeña tuve la oportunidad de ver una adaptación en caricaturas de esta obra y la amaba, y gracias a leer este cuento pude revivir esta historia de nuevo. Me gusta que sea algo oscura y que los personajes sean satíricos, ya que esto genera un equilibrio dentro de la obra. La recomendó por su paisajes, personajes y tramas A+.
Personally I loved this short novel by Oscar Wilde. When I was little I had the opportunity to see an adaptation in cartoons of this work and I loved it, and thanks to reading this story I was able to relive this story again. I like that it is something dark and that the characters are satirical, since this generates a balance within the work. I recommended it for its landscapes, characters and plots. A +
En lo personal me encanto esta novela corta de Oscar Wilde. Cuando era pequeña tuve la oportunidad de ver una adaptación en caricaturas de esta obra y la amaba, y gracias a leer este cuento pude revivir esta historia de nuevo. Me gusta que sea algo oscura y que los personajes sean satíricos, ya que esto genera un equilibrio dentro de la obra. La recomendó por su paisajes, personajes y tramas A+.
October 18, 2017
I am no fan of ghost stories but I read a charming review of Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost and decided that I was ready to be spooked in a good way. But I least expected myself to feel sympathy and even affection for the ghost that had haunted Canterville Chase for three centuries.
Against advice and repeated warning, Hiram Otis, an American Minister to the Court of St. James, bought Canterville Chase from a British aristocratic family. Otis, his wife, three sons (including a pair of young, impish twins) and 15-year-old daughter (Virginia) were greeted by a sudden ominous change in weather the minute they drove up the long avenue to that grand old mansion. They were a modern family and convinced there was no such thing as a ghost. Sorely wrong.
I was soon entranced by the ghost’s antics because he had the "egotism of the true artist". An amusing competition of sorts ensued: Otis Family versus Canterville Ghost. That made for fun reading. Oscar Wilde created a ghost protagonist that was predictably evil but unusually lovable. In fact, I liked him better than the Otis family. His flaws and vulnerability were relatable. The most beautiful writing centered on the ghost’s tender relationship with Virginia, which was precious and oddly touching. There was no lack of humor expressed in the understated antagonism between the Americans (the Otises supposedly “brought up on the severe, and …immortal, principles of Republican simplicity”) and the British nobility (the Cantervilles who claimed to “have blue blood… the very bluest in England").
The Canterville Ghost did not deliver a good scare, for which I was glad. It was a witty and delightful "palette cleanser" in between books. Lovely.
Against advice and repeated warning, Hiram Otis, an American Minister to the Court of St. James, bought Canterville Chase from a British aristocratic family. Otis, his wife, three sons (including a pair of young, impish twins) and 15-year-old daughter (Virginia) were greeted by a sudden ominous change in weather the minute they drove up the long avenue to that grand old mansion. They were a modern family and convinced there was no such thing as a ghost. Sorely wrong.
I was soon entranced by the ghost’s antics because he had the "egotism of the true artist". An amusing competition of sorts ensued: Otis Family versus Canterville Ghost. That made for fun reading. Oscar Wilde created a ghost protagonist that was predictably evil but unusually lovable. In fact, I liked him better than the Otis family. His flaws and vulnerability were relatable. The most beautiful writing centered on the ghost’s tender relationship with Virginia, which was precious and oddly touching. There was no lack of humor expressed in the understated antagonism between the Americans (the Otises supposedly “brought up on the severe, and …immortal, principles of Republican simplicity”) and the British nobility (the Cantervilles who claimed to “have blue blood… the very bluest in England").
The Canterville Ghost did not deliver a good scare, for which I was glad. It was a witty and delightful "palette cleanser" in between books. Lovely.
October 24, 2017
3,5⭐️
Este cuento tragicómico, trata sobre un fantasma que vive en el castillo de Canterville, y que vaga por sus rincones durante la noche, tratando de asustar sin éxito a sus nuevos habitantes, una familia norteamericana insensible a los fenómenos paranormales.
Es muy corto y se lee rápido. Es ameno, por momentos hace reír y tiene un buen final.
Mi baja calificación se debe a que lo leí con las expectativas muy altas, luego de leer el retrato de Dorian Gray, que me encantó. A pesar de eso, lo recomiendo, siempre es grato leer a Wilde. ☺️
Este cuento tragicómico, trata sobre un fantasma que vive en el castillo de Canterville, y que vaga por sus rincones durante la noche, tratando de asustar sin éxito a sus nuevos habitantes, una familia norteamericana insensible a los fenómenos paranormales.
Es muy corto y se lee rápido. Es ameno, por momentos hace reír y tiene un buen final.
Mi baja calificación se debe a que lo leí con las expectativas muy altas, luego de leer el retrato de Dorian Gray, que me encantó. A pesar de eso, lo recomiendo, siempre es grato leer a Wilde. ☺️
October 24, 2020
First published serially in 1887, this novella (really more of a glorified short story; in the anthology Classic Ghost Stories, where I first read it, it occupies about 30 pages) was Wilde's first foray into fiction, having previously made his literary mark in poetry. For this reread, I read it online at the Project Gutenberg website, here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/14522... .
While the tale is definitely a ghost story --there's no doubt that the ghost is, for purposes of the narrative, "real"-- it's not horrific. True, the specter is the revenant of a wicked Elizabethan nobleman who murdered his wife (and was then starved to death by her brothers); he brags about having frightened many people to death or insanity over the ensuing centuries, and the haunting comes complete with a supernatural blood stain, clanking chains in the night, gruesome apparitions, and all the appurtenances of the 19th-century English ghost story tradition. But what we have here is, in part, a humorous parody of the tradition, with its features played for laughs. The ghost isn't actually capable of doing any physical harm, and he's helpless in the face of the good-natured American family (the father is the U.S. minister to England) newly renting Canterville Chase, who at first refuse to believe in him, and refuse to be scared by him even after they're convinced of his existence. (Even his track record of malevolence is so over the top that it's difficult to take very seriously.) Wilde was renowned in his own day for his droll wit, and it's much on display here --and adults are probably better able to fully appreciate it than kids are, despite the occasional inclusion of this work in children's ghost story anthologies.
Adults are also better able to perceive deeper content, which is there below the surface. Like his contemporary Henry James, Wilde is very interested in exploring cultural differences between Americans and Europeans (specifically Brits, here). Much of his humor is directed at the supposed (and exaggerated, here) provincialism and cultural smugness of Americans, but it's an affectionate teasing; all of the American characters are basically decent people, even the mischief-making twins, and the minister's teenage daughter Virginia is the genuine heroine of the story. Americans are more practical and utilitarian, less constrained to act in stereotypical ways just because it's always been done that way, and more attuned to modernity, than their British cousins. (At the same time, Wilde isn't inclined to totally deprecate the value of tradition and traditional verities; the two nationalities can learn from each other.) He also has a surprisingly spiritual message tucked into the latter part of the story --though unpacking it too fully would involve spoilers.
I'd recommend this to all readers who like ghost stories --and even to many who usually don't!
While the tale is definitely a ghost story --there's no doubt that the ghost is, for purposes of the narrative, "real"-- it's not horrific. True, the specter is the revenant of a wicked Elizabethan nobleman who murdered his wife (and was then starved to death by her brothers); he brags about having frightened many people to death or insanity over the ensuing centuries, and the haunting comes complete with a supernatural blood stain, clanking chains in the night, gruesome apparitions, and all the appurtenances of the 19th-century English ghost story tradition. But what we have here is, in part, a humorous parody of the tradition, with its features played for laughs. The ghost isn't actually capable of doing any physical harm, and he's helpless in the face of the good-natured American family (the father is the U.S. minister to England) newly renting Canterville Chase, who at first refuse to believe in him, and refuse to be scared by him even after they're convinced of his existence. (Even his track record of malevolence is so over the top that it's difficult to take very seriously.) Wilde was renowned in his own day for his droll wit, and it's much on display here --and adults are probably better able to fully appreciate it than kids are, despite the occasional inclusion of this work in children's ghost story anthologies.
Adults are also better able to perceive deeper content, which is there below the surface. Like his contemporary Henry James, Wilde is very interested in exploring cultural differences between Americans and Europeans (specifically Brits, here). Much of his humor is directed at the supposed (and exaggerated, here) provincialism and cultural smugness of Americans, but it's an affectionate teasing; all of the American characters are basically decent people, even the mischief-making twins, and the minister's teenage daughter Virginia is the genuine heroine of the story. Americans are more practical and utilitarian, less constrained to act in stereotypical ways just because it's always been done that way, and more attuned to modernity, than their British cousins. (At the same time, Wilde isn't inclined to totally deprecate the value of tradition and traditional verities; the two nationalities can learn from each other.) He also has a surprisingly spiritual message tucked into the latter part of the story --though unpacking it too fully would involve spoilers.
I'd recommend this to all readers who like ghost stories --and even to many who usually don't!
September 13, 2020
In this terrific novella by Oscar Wilde, those brash Americans, the Otis family, refuse to do what the sensible British of good family do, and be scared to death or lose their sanity to a 300 year old ghost. Told in the witty, clever, tongue-in-cheek manner that is so typical of Oscar Wilde, I laughed aloud at several passages, especially one in which the American twins turn tails on the ghost and leave him shaking. The edition I had in hand had some marvelous illustrations done by Wallace Goldsmith in 1906. Sample below:
This story has languished on my TBR for far too long, but I needed a short read today and this was perfect to fill another Bingo slot. For some reason, I’ve read a lot of ghost stories this year, but none that was anything like this one. Depend on Wilde to find a way to make even a ghost story an original.
This story has languished on my TBR for far too long, but I needed a short read today and this was perfect to fill another Bingo slot. For some reason, I’ve read a lot of ghost stories this year, but none that was anything like this one. Depend on Wilde to find a way to make even a ghost story an original.
September 9, 2016
What a cute little story this was! Someone over at Booklikes recommended it to me, and I'm so glad I followed through.
The Canterville Ghost is not scary at all, but it IS funny and as the story goes on, rather pitiful. I found myself laughing at some portions and then all but shedding a tear towards the end.
This is a short story which is available for free, or at least this version is, at Amazon, and you can add the Audio for a nominal fee.
https://www.amazon.com/Canterville-Gh...
The Canterville Ghost is not scary at all, but it IS funny and as the story goes on, rather pitiful. I found myself laughing at some portions and then all but shedding a tear towards the end.
This is a short story which is available for free, or at least this version is, at Amazon, and you can add the Audio for a nominal fee.
https://www.amazon.com/Canterville-Gh...
October 20, 2023
رواية مش كوميدية ولا ممتعة ولا ليها أي معني..
تقرأ للأطفال مش أكتر ولا أقل ومظنش حتي حتعجبهم!
تقرأ للأطفال مش أكتر ولا أقل ومظنش حتي حتعجبهم!
January 30, 2021
Hace mucho tiempo que no leo una obra de Wilde. Siendo sincera, solo leí el retrato de Dorian Grey en mi adolescencia y la verdad es que no me acuerdo de nada. Asimismo, había oído muchísimo sobre el fantasma de Canterville y tenía que leerla sí o también.
Me llevé una gran sorpresa al saber que no se trataba de una novela sino de un cuento que no llegaba ni siquiera a las cincuenta páginas. Así que lo puedes leer en un par de horas sin problemas.
El cuento como el propio título indica nos remite a la historia de un fantasma. Sin embargo, aunque a primera vista pueda parecernos que se trata una narración de terror con tintes góticos, esto dista mucho de la realidad.
-Señores, he visto con mis propios ojos una cosas...que pondrían los pelos de punta a un cristiano. Y durante noches y noches no he podido pegar los ojos a causa de las cosas terribles que pasaban aquí.
Oscar Wilde pretende mofarse de estas historias de fantasmas, pero en vez de ser el fantasma el que aterroriza a los humanos son los nuevos dueños quienes acaban haciéndole la vida imposible a este malvado ser de ultratumba.
Me ha gustado más de lo que esperaba. Además, el autor juega con lo absurdo y hay momentos bastante graciosos. Espero leer pronto más de sus cuentos.
Me llevé una gran sorpresa al saber que no se trataba de una novela sino de un cuento que no llegaba ni siquiera a las cincuenta páginas. Así que lo puedes leer en un par de horas sin problemas.
El cuento como el propio título indica nos remite a la historia de un fantasma. Sin embargo, aunque a primera vista pueda parecernos que se trata una narración de terror con tintes góticos, esto dista mucho de la realidad.
-Señores, he visto con mis propios ojos una cosas...que pondrían los pelos de punta a un cristiano. Y durante noches y noches no he podido pegar los ojos a causa de las cosas terribles que pasaban aquí.
Oscar Wilde pretende mofarse de estas historias de fantasmas, pero en vez de ser el fantasma el que aterroriza a los humanos son los nuevos dueños quienes acaban haciéndole la vida imposible a este malvado ser de ultratumba.
Me ha gustado más de lo que esperaba. Además, el autor juega con lo absurdo y hay momentos bastante graciosos. Espero leer pronto más de sus cuentos.
March 12, 2019
3.5★ estrellas en realidad.
La escritura fue preciosa, cargada con un sentido del humor justo para hacerme reír en varias ocasiones.
Sir Simón me encantó, y la familia Otis era muy divertida.
Igual quedé con la duda de que pasó entre Virgina y el fantasma. Pero me encantó, leeré más obras del autor.
La escritura fue preciosa, cargada con un sentido del humor justo para hacerme reír en varias ocasiones.
Sir Simón me encantó, y la familia Otis era muy divertida.
Igual quedé con la duda de que pasó entre Virgina y el fantasma. Pero me encantó, leeré más obras del autor.
January 22, 2018
This is one of my favourite Wilde stories.
December 7, 2020
A fun Victorian read. I do always enjoy Oscar Wilde.
September 3, 2020
ما هذا الشبح العجيب الغريب 😂
يخترق الجدران ، ويخرج من ثقوب مفاتيح الأبواب ويتعثر بحبال مشدودة ويخاف من شبح مصنوع من أدوات المطبخ 😂
كان له ايام عظيمة مارس فيه رعبه بكل شخصية اتيح له اقتناصها ، ولكن لك شيء نهاية ، ولا بد من الوقوع مهما بلغت درجة الحذاقة والذكاء، بسبب تغير الظروف والشخصيات ، الأفكار
" فلكل زمان دولةٌ ورجال"
https://ibb.co/vkJKK47
https://ibb.co/LQBZVg5
الحقيقةإننا نحن من نُكّبر ونصّغر حجم مشاكلنا وعلى أساسها يكون سير
فترة من حياتنا ، طالت ام قصرت
من الضروري جداً ، حقاً ان نجد شخصاً يكون أهلاً لثقتنا ، ثقة قلوبنا وافكارنا ، ليس فقط للاستماع إلينا بل لمساعدتنا على إيجاد الحل و السير معنا للنهاية ، و ان يتجاهل كل الأصوات الخشنة المشوشة المضللة
https://ibb.co/mtZZX5y
مهما كانت حجم أخطائنا فلا احد يستحق أن يعيش هذه اللحظات التعيسة
يخترق الجدران ، ويخرج من ثقوب مفاتيح الأبواب ويتعثر بحبال مشدودة ويخاف من شبح مصنوع من أدوات المطبخ 😂
كان له ايام عظيمة مارس فيه رعبه بكل شخصية اتيح له اقتناصها ، ولكن لك شيء نهاية ، ولا بد من الوقوع مهما بلغت درجة الحذاقة والذكاء، بسبب تغير الظروف والشخصيات ، الأفكار
" فلكل زمان دولةٌ ورجال"
https://ibb.co/vkJKK47
https://ibb.co/LQBZVg5
الحقيقةإننا نحن من نُكّبر ونصّغر حجم مشاكلنا وعلى أساسها يكون سير
فترة من حياتنا ، طالت ام قصرت
من الضروري جداً ، حقاً ان نجد شخصاً يكون أهلاً لثقتنا ، ثقة قلوبنا وافكارنا ، ليس فقط للاستماع إلينا بل لمساعدتنا على إيجاد الحل و السير معنا للنهاية ، و ان يتجاهل كل الأصوات الخشنة المشوشة المضللة
https://ibb.co/mtZZX5y
مهما كانت حجم أخطائنا فلا احد يستحق أن يعيش هذه اللحظات التعيسة
December 27, 2023
Wilde and I just have the same sense of humour
October 13, 2017
“But there is no such thing, sir, as a ghost, and I guess the laws of Nature are not going to be suspended for the British aristocracy.”
Says Mr. Hiram B. Otis, the American Minister does not believe in no ghost, but he soon changes his mind when he has his close encounter. Even then, contrary to expectations, he is not particularly bothered. The Canterville Ghost is Oscar Wilde turning the ghost story tradition on its head, I suppose it can be regarded as a parody, but it also works well as a charming children’s story for Halloween.
Mr. Otis and family move into Canterville Chase, completely unmindful of the warning from Lord Canterville that the house is haunted. However, he is soon convinced by seeing the ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville himself. The first thing he does is to offer Sir Simon a bottle of “Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator” to oil his noisy clanking chains, much to the ghost’s mortification.
Soon Sir Simon finds himself the object of bullying and pranks the Otis twins. His continued efforts to scare the Otis family members meet with failure, and humiliation and he ends up being more scared of the living than they are of him. Eventually, Sir Simon is left dejected and depressed, taking to moping in some quiet corner by himself. Fortunately the kindly Virginia Otis, Hiram’s teenage daughter, takes pity on him and befriends him. Aww…
Oscar Wilde has a strange notion of the mechanic of the ghostly state, that is how a ghost functions in practical terms. Sir Simon feels out of breath, cold, discomfort and other sensations that you would not expect a non-corporeal being to worry about. He even has a “severe fall, through treading on a butter-slide”. Still, it would be pedantic to worry about such details, if this is how ghosts work in this story then fine.
The Canterville Ghost is nice, pleasant, funny, and charming. It lacks the hilarity of The Importance of Being Earnest or the darkness of The Picture of Dorian Gray (also great for a Halloween read), but for children or anyone looking for something Halloweeny to read, just to get into the “spirit” of things, that is not violent, bloody or actually scary in any way, then this is probably the best option. As a ghost story, it is too tame for my taste, but I am always a fan of Wilde’s wit so it made me quite happy.
Notes:
• The Project Gutenberg e-book of this title comes with wonderful drawings by Wallace Goldsmith (a couple of them are used here).
• There is, of course, a free Librivox audiobook version, wonderfully read by David Barnes, thank you.
Quotes:
“I have come from a modern country, where we have everything that money can buy; and with all our spry young fellows painting the Old World red, and carrying off your best actors and prima-donnas, I reckon that if there were such a thing as a ghost in Europe, we'd have it at home in a very short time in one of our public museums, or on the road as a show.”
“Many American ladies on leaving their native land adopt an appearance of chronic ill-health, under the impression that it is a form of European refinement, but Mrs. Otis had never fallen into this error.”
“What a monstrous climate!" said the American Minister, calmly, as he lit a long cheroot. "I guess the old country is so overpopulated that they have not enough decent weather for everybody. I have always been of opinion that emigration is the only thing for England.”
Says Mr. Hiram B. Otis, the American Minister does not believe in no ghost, but he soon changes his mind when he has his close encounter. Even then, contrary to expectations, he is not particularly bothered. The Canterville Ghost is Oscar Wilde turning the ghost story tradition on its head, I suppose it can be regarded as a parody, but it also works well as a charming children’s story for Halloween.
Mr. Otis and family move into Canterville Chase, completely unmindful of the warning from Lord Canterville that the house is haunted. However, he is soon convinced by seeing the ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville himself. The first thing he does is to offer Sir Simon a bottle of “Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator” to oil his noisy clanking chains, much to the ghost’s mortification.
Soon Sir Simon finds himself the object of bullying and pranks the Otis twins. His continued efforts to scare the Otis family members meet with failure, and humiliation and he ends up being more scared of the living than they are of him. Eventually, Sir Simon is left dejected and depressed, taking to moping in some quiet corner by himself. Fortunately the kindly Virginia Otis, Hiram’s teenage daughter, takes pity on him and befriends him. Aww…
Oscar Wilde has a strange notion of the mechanic of the ghostly state, that is how a ghost functions in practical terms. Sir Simon feels out of breath, cold, discomfort and other sensations that you would not expect a non-corporeal being to worry about. He even has a “severe fall, through treading on a butter-slide”. Still, it would be pedantic to worry about such details, if this is how ghosts work in this story then fine.
The Canterville Ghost is nice, pleasant, funny, and charming. It lacks the hilarity of The Importance of Being Earnest or the darkness of The Picture of Dorian Gray (also great for a Halloween read), but for children or anyone looking for something Halloweeny to read, just to get into the “spirit” of things, that is not violent, bloody or actually scary in any way, then this is probably the best option. As a ghost story, it is too tame for my taste, but I am always a fan of Wilde’s wit so it made me quite happy.
Notes:
• The Project Gutenberg e-book of this title comes with wonderful drawings by Wallace Goldsmith (a couple of them are used here).
• There is, of course, a free Librivox audiobook version, wonderfully read by David Barnes, thank you.
Quotes:
“I have come from a modern country, where we have everything that money can buy; and with all our spry young fellows painting the Old World red, and carrying off your best actors and prima-donnas, I reckon that if there were such a thing as a ghost in Europe, we'd have it at home in a very short time in one of our public museums, or on the road as a show.”
“Many American ladies on leaving their native land adopt an appearance of chronic ill-health, under the impression that it is a form of European refinement, but Mrs. Otis had never fallen into this error.”
“What a monstrous climate!" said the American Minister, calmly, as he lit a long cheroot. "I guess the old country is so overpopulated that they have not enough decent weather for everybody. I have always been of opinion that emigration is the only thing for England.”
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