At the Ghost Hour. The House of the Unbelieving Thomas

by Paul Heyse

In 'At the Ghost The House of the Unbelieving Thomas,' Paul Heyse weaves a spellbinding narrative teeming with the eerie atmosphere of a haunted abode and the vivid history of its inhabitants. With a linguistic finesse that evokes the literary spirit of his time, Heyse delivers a ghost yarn that stretches over three centuries, intertwining themes of superstition, societal outcast, and the spectral. The tale unfurls through the tribulations of a hapless Jewish businessman, the peculiar janitor Wenzel Kospoth, and the ostracized Frau Cordula and her daughter, addressing the human fascination and dread of the paranormal through a compelling Old World lens.The esteemed Paul Heyse, a laureate whose name is often whispered in the revered halls of literary excellence, is no stranger to the intricate workings of the human psyche. Perhaps driven by his own understanding of societal marginalization and spiritual wonderings, Heyse's pen brings forth characters who are a composite of the era's complex views on faith, commerce, and societal norms. His scholarly background and potential encounters with the antiquated European folklore lend a rich authenticity to this spectral narrative, manifesting a tale as chilling as it is reflective of its time.Readers on the hunt for a chilling, spectral narrative steeped in 19th-century European milieu will find 'At the Ghost The House of the Unbelieving Thomas' a gratifying plunge into the realm of psychological ghost stories. This novella is not merely a tale of hauntings but a nuanced exploration of isolation and the human condition, earning its place among the timeless classics that mesh the otherworldly with keen social commentary. Heyse's work comes highly recommended to those who appreciate the Gothic tradition, as well as to lovers of historical fiction yearning for a taste of the uncanny and the profound.

Genres: Nobel Prize

33 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1894

About the author

Paul Johann Ludwig von Heyse (15 March 1830 – 2 April 1914) was a distinguished German writer and translator. A member of two important literary societies, the Tunnel über der Spree in Berlin and Die Krokodile in Munich, he wrote novels, poetry, 177 short stories, and about sixty dramas. The sum of Heyse's many and varied productions made him a dominant figure among German men of letters.

Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1910 "as a tribute to the consummate artistry, permeated with idealism, which he has demonstrated during his long productive career as a lyric poet, dramatist, novelist and writer of world-renowned short stories."

Reviews

[Old Man JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

An old woman, who people believe to be a witch, and her beautiful young daughter move into an old haunted house. Circumstances lead to a romance between the daughter and a young man with a little assistance from a couple of ghosts. This is a short novella told in very lyrical prose by Paul Heyse.

[Coleman Wigger · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great reading this book. How I do love Ghost stories anyway. This one has an ending I think you will much enjoy.

[ROLLAND Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

A humorous ghost story that will appeal to the fans of Oscar Wilde's Canterville Ghost.
There is no element of horror here, which makes it a safe read, even for children (let's say, 10 would be a good target age).

Interesting reflection about well-to-do people who accuse their poor neighbours of being witches, but summon spirits themselves... in order to gossip!

This novella was an excellent palate cleanser in between two more intense reads.
I had an excellent time.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written novella by a Nobel laureate in Literature. The first I have read of Heyse.