Happy Almost-Halloween!
Usually I treat these Friday posts as a “Fun Fact” series, sharing research on plants, alchemy, and mythical creatures. Today is a little bit different.
Aside from science and folklore, my research also consists of a lot of reading. (That stack of books from the thrift store is for a good reason, I promise!) I read tons of mysteries and short stories, in part because I enjoy them, and partly because I want to learn from them, too.
And that brings us to today. Our “Fun Fact” of today is: Oscar Wilde wrote a short ghost story! And you should read it this weekend. 🙂
I read “The Canterville Ghost” as part of an anthology and immediately loved it. It starts as your classic ghost story, with an American family moving into an infamously haunted mansion. It then takes a hard left turn when the American patriarch meets the ghost, gives it some snakeoil for its ghostly chains, and then slams a door in its face. Hijinks ensue from there.
The story is classic Wilde in that all the characters give clever and cutting remarks, sometimes unwittingly. The narration is very tongue-in-cheek as well.
“The Canterville Ghost” is short enough to finish in an afternoon, and I’m sure you can find it at the library or in anthologies of Wilde’s works. It’s also been made into films (rumor has it that an upcoming animated film will feature Stephen Fry as the ghost!). And, if you want to read it right now, you can find it online here or here (just look out for the occasional ad).
Have a very enjoyable spooky weekend!
And if you’re looking for some more modern Halloween stories, don’t forget about this cozy anthology! 😀 Find it here. Paper and hardback copies coming soon!
