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| Type: | Audio Book, human-read |
| Description: | Not available |
| Table of Contents: | Not available |
Product Description
Oscar Wilde's timeless classic of an American family that buys a British manor -- complete with ghost! Filmed many times, its light tone and gentle chills continue to thrill new generations.
Customer Review: If only Wilde was not so Concise, I could have read for hours
May other reviews have mentioned how short this novella is. Wilde created a wonderful haunted house, and a ghost who has through the last 300 years terrorized the Canterville family. Wilde has always been brilliant in his simplicity, in his wit, and in how quickly you become charmed by his characters.
Sir Simon (the ghost) is doomed to haunt the Canterville estate for the wrongs he comitted in life... these include the murder of his wife. His legend has grown through the years and he has terrified everyone who has lived in the house. All is going well for Sir Simon until the house is sold to an American family who absolutely refuses to be frightened by him. Their children torment him and set up booby-traps, The husband and wife offer the ghost grease for his chains and medicine for the sounds of his laughter, which they mistake as a cough of some sort.
Finally Sir Simon is driven to near madness and hides or creeps quietly about the house for fear that the Americans will notice him. Their young daughter Virginia, is the one who truely makes contact with him. I agree with the other reviewers that I wish this relationship had been more fully developed, but Wilde's conciseness prevents this. Virginia helps the old Ghost and everyone lives or dies happily ever after. A very short and sweet story that I sadly finished in less than a half an hour.
Even though it was short, the simple fact that every reader is left wanting more without needing it shows why this is a 5 star story.
Customer Review: Not Free SF Reader
This, basically, is a comedy. A ghost inhabits a house, and a new
modern, brash family move in and completely ignore him, and don't even
want to believe in ghosts at all. I mean, the sheer nerve and
effrontery of some of those mortals. They even get rid of evidence of
ghostly and supernatural behaviour. Quite amusing.
Customer Review: Light comedy into light ghost story
Only a short read - more a novella than a novel. It falls very neatly into two, perhaps three distinct parts. I was quite surprised to see this lightest of comedies suddenly veer into, what?, light horror? A 'Twilight Zone' episode? After perhaps too many terroriser becomes victim incidents (definitely too predictable in our sit-com saturated culture) you turn a page, a door opens, and the ridiculously hapless spectre is transformed into a tragic figure. The comic ghost story drops its broad ironic humour to become a ghost story per se.
I can see some of the reasons for Wilde's popularity. The writing is elegant and the humour good natured. Ultimately no-one requires our contempt or censure, not even the gypsy vagrants. The digs at US vs. UK culture are confirmed as harmless fun as our paragon New World 'princess' enjoys her fairy tale wedding to British aristocracy.
It was refreshing to be able to share some innocent amusement with Wilde. It would be equally refreshing if some of his legion of disciples, such as Fry & Gatiss, could likewise string together a few chapters enjoying some common ground with a wide audience, rather than consistently alienating anyone with alternative sexual values.
Customer Review: One of my favourite short stories - simply wonderful
Oscar Wilde was the master of witty and amusing stories, and this little novella is no different. It tells the tale of the poor Canterville Ghost, whose very existence is made miserable by a family of Americans who not only do not believe in him (despite his best efforts at terrorising them), but who do unspeakable things like removing the gruesome eternal blood stain in the library.
The newly arrived American family are wonderfully depicted, with the children being particularly successful in making the ghost miserable. And the ghost himself - well, we find ourselves having some symapthy for him, and the end of the story is quite poignant.
It is a wonderful story for an older child, but also for an adult. It is certainly one of my all time favourites.
Customer Review: A Wonderful Story For All Ages
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.
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