El fantasma de Canterville y otros cuentos

This is a story by one of the greatest humorists of his or any age, so one should not be surprised when it turns out that the titular Ghost is not very scary. At least he is not scary to the American Minister to Great Britain and his family who bought Canterville Chase in spite of severe warnings that it was "haunted".

The ghost who haunts Canterville had died a hundred years ago and ever since had managed to scare the subsequent residents. That all changes when Mr.Hiram B. Otis, his wife, and four children take residence. Hiram is emphatic when he says, "I come from a modern country . . . 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 show more as a show."

Needless to say, Wilde has fun with his parody of the hicks from America, but also pokes fun at the British lords with their cultural snobbery. What ensues is a topsy-turvy plot with the Ghost being flummoxed by the refusal of the Otis's to believe in him along with the mischievous activities of the youngest children, twins, who pester him on an almost daily basis.

The story is subtitled "A Hylo-Idealistic Romance" and as a romance it does have a sweet ending. Virginia, the only daughter in the family and a kind-hearted girl, becomes friends with the ghost. She gradually learns his background, appropriately sordid, and the story takes the reader on a supernatural journey befitting a "haunted house" tale. The result is one that benefits both the Ghost and Virginia, but you will have to read the story to learn the details. Let me say, however, that it was a delightful and satisfying story from the comic beginning to the romantic ending. It almost left me wanting to believe in ghosts, at least those that are as sympathetic as this creation of Oscar Wilde. show less

Although first published in 1891, this ghost story remains a classic of Wildean wit and Victorian sentimentality. True, some of the references to melodrama and nineteenth-century Anglo-American attitudes may elude modern readers, but the basic story of a hardheaded American family that buys a haunted British manor house and proceeds to drive the resident ghost nearly crazy with its skepticism is still a delight, as are Wilde's epigrams: "We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language." Austrian illustrator Zwerger, a master of the exquisite line, has captured the look of the period and the liveliness of the story in this oversize volume. Michael Cart

the canterville ghost is one of my all time favourite stories. it is so funny. and it shows how silly & out of touch westernised people have become with the spiritual realm.

All I read was the Canterville Ghost. It was alright but after reading Mr. Wilde's plays it was tragically disappointing at the same time. It was good, it wass alright, it passed the time and allowed me to forget that I am at work during the few minutes I would read it daily. Overall, not that exciting.

Very ironic and satirical about both American and English customs and behavior.

One great comedy about "modern" life... It's a laugh.

The Canterville Ghost - 4.5 stars (enchanting)
Lord Arthur Saville's Crime - 4.5 stars (so funny)
The Sphinx without a Secret - 4 stars (clever)
The Model Millionaire - 5 stars (heartwarming)
The Portrait of Mr W H - 1 star (so boring)
The Happy Prince - 5 stars (beautiful)
The Nightingale and the Rose - 3 stars (lovely yet depressing)
The Selfish Giant - 5 stars (moving)
The Devoted Friend - 3 stars (good lesson, but slightly cringe worthy)