The Canterville Ghost (Paperback)

by Oscar Wilde (Author)

Editorial Reviews

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 52 pages
• Publisher: Wildside Press (January 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592241875
• ISBN-13: 978-1592241873
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #301,354 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Story For All Ages, March 13, 2005

By	Gary Selikow (Great Kush) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but short, December 22, 2008

By	Zelligar - See all my reviews

This is a good story but very short. For the $10 price tag it would have been better if it was a small collected works.

5.0 out of 5 stars If only Wilde was not so Concise, I could have read for hours, February 26, 2008

By	K. D. Payne "Ravenskya the Princess of Horror" (Chattanooga) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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.