High Spirits
by Robertson Davies
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A collection of haunting—and hilarious—ghost stories by the beloved Booker Prize finalist and New York Times-bestselling author.Robertson Davies first hit upon the notion of writing ghost stories when he joined the University of Toronto as the first Master of Massey College. Wishing to provide entertainment at the College's Gaudy Night, the annual Christmas party, Professor Davies created a "spooky story," which he read aloud to the gathering. That story, "Revelation from a Smoky Fire," show more is the first in this wonderful, haunting collection.
A tradition quickly became established and, for eighteen years, Davies delighted and amused the Gaudy Night guests with his tales of the supernatural. Here, gathered together in one volume, are those eighteen stories, just as Davies first read them. show less
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Davies is one of my favorite authors and I was unaware of this book until I stumbled upon it at the library. I'm not normally a short story guy but this was great. It's a collection of ghost stories but not the typical kind of gory, suspense filled ones, they are, for the most part, staid and stately ghosts haunting Massey College at University of Toronto.
They're all good, but I think my favorite is "The Xerox in the Lost Room", a story of a ghost who, unlike the high brow kinds and elites, is the spirit of a "Poor Relation". He finds himself at the college after the mansion he'd been inhabiting (by slight and oversight) is bought by a millionaire and was moved, stone by stone, to Canada where the millionaire lost interest, remodeled show more the place into something hideous then opened it to tourists. The ghost couldn't stand that so was looking for somewhere else to haunt and ended up at the college where he was taken pity on and given the Xerox room to haunt.
It's a very funny book. show less
They're all good, but I think my favorite is "The Xerox in the Lost Room", a story of a ghost who, unlike the high brow kinds and elites, is the spirit of a "Poor Relation". He finds himself at the college after the mansion he'd been inhabiting (by slight and oversight) is bought by a millionaire and was moved, stone by stone, to Canada where the millionaire lost interest, remodeled show more the place into something hideous then opened it to tourists. The ghost couldn't stand that so was looking for somewhere else to haunt and ended up at the college where he was taken pity on and given the Xerox room to haunt.
It's a very funny book. show less
i didn’t expect this to be funny.
i’m not sure what i did expect but it makes sense that Robertson Davies would spin yarns at these holiday functions that would entertain but not truly frighten. in fact, he often makes jabs at the academic life very adroitly in these tales.
in doing so, he’s left “real” ghost stories behind and created more Twilight Zone-ish vignettes that are suffused with sardonic humor. there’s more of gravy than of grave to these stories, as it were.
excellent bedtime reads or read-alouds (since that’s what they were intended for) in both eloquence and length. Davies stumbles a bit in the middle and towards the end, in my humble opinion, but not enough to pan the whole thing. i’m sure every story would show more mean much more to me if i had been part of the Massey culture. i could almost hear the impish smirk on his face as i imagined him delivering his jokes in front of a crowd of appreciative scholar types with brief pauses for comedic effect and sidelong, conspiratorial looks. show less
i’m not sure what i did expect but it makes sense that Robertson Davies would spin yarns at these holiday functions that would entertain but not truly frighten. in fact, he often makes jabs at the academic life very adroitly in these tales.
in doing so, he’s left “real” ghost stories behind and created more Twilight Zone-ish vignettes that are suffused with sardonic humor. there’s more of gravy than of grave to these stories, as it were.
excellent bedtime reads or read-alouds (since that’s what they were intended for) in both eloquence and length. Davies stumbles a bit in the middle and towards the end, in my humble opinion, but not enough to pan the whole thing. i’m sure every story would show more mean much more to me if i had been part of the Massey culture. i could almost hear the impish smirk on his face as i imagined him delivering his jokes in front of a crowd of appreciative scholar types with brief pauses for comedic effect and sidelong, conspiratorial looks. show less
Quien desee encontrar el terror en estos relatos, no lo va a encontrar. Estos cuentos están escritos desde una óptica humorística, en donde los protagonistas son fantasmas, pero que no dan miedo en absoluto. ‘Espíritu festivo’, del canadiense Robertson Davies, es una colección de relatos publicada en 1981, tras la jubilación del autor como decano del Massey College. La idea surgió en 1963, cuando a Robertson Davies se le ocurrió contar en voz alta una historia de fantasmas en época navideña, algo que se convirtió en una tradición que duró dieciocho años, lo que dio lugar a los dieciocho cuentos del libro:
-Revelación de una chimenea asfixiante.
-El fantasma que desapareció a fuerza de títulos.
-La reina se divierte.
-La show more noche de los tres reyes.
-El banquete de Charlottetown.
-Cuando Satán vuelve a casa por Navidad.
-Refugio para santos denostados.
-La asimilación de Dickens.
-El beso de Jruschov.
-El gato que fue a Trinity.
-El feo espectro del sexismo.
-La cantera de donde fuisteis arrancados.
-Los peligros del signo doble.
-Conversaciones con la mesita.
-Al rey lo que es del rey.
-La fotocopiadora de la habitación perdida.
-Einstein y el pequeño lord.
-Ofrecimiento de inmortalidad.
El protagonista de todos los relatos es el propio Davies, que cada año se ha de enfrentar a fantasmas de toda clase y condición, en las situaciones más hilarantes y esperpénticas. De este modo, tenemos espectros de antiguos decanos, santos que acuden en ayuda tras haber sido olvidados, antiguos estudiantes que buscan una nueva oportunidad de defender su tesis, espectros de escritores canadienses, el propio Satán, o un fantasma que ha poseído una mesita. Mis favoritos, ‘Conversaciones con una mesita’ y ‘La fotocopiadora de la habitación perdida’. La calidad de las narraciones está asegurada, ya que Davies es un gran escritor, con una fina ironía y unos diálogos brillantes. Me esperaba un libro de cuentos de fantasmas al estilo del maestro M.R. James, y quizás por esto ha sido un libro que no me ha entusiasmado tanto. Pero aun así, se trata de una colección de relatos con la que pasar un buen rato. show less
-Revelación de una chimenea asfixiante.
-El fantasma que desapareció a fuerza de títulos.
-La reina se divierte.
-La show more noche de los tres reyes.
-El banquete de Charlottetown.
-Cuando Satán vuelve a casa por Navidad.
-Refugio para santos denostados.
-La asimilación de Dickens.
-El beso de Jruschov.
-El gato que fue a Trinity.
-El feo espectro del sexismo.
-La cantera de donde fuisteis arrancados.
-Los peligros del signo doble.
-Conversaciones con la mesita.
-Al rey lo que es del rey.
-La fotocopiadora de la habitación perdida.
-Einstein y el pequeño lord.
-Ofrecimiento de inmortalidad.
El protagonista de todos los relatos es el propio Davies, que cada año se ha de enfrentar a fantasmas de toda clase y condición, en las situaciones más hilarantes y esperpénticas. De este modo, tenemos espectros de antiguos decanos, santos que acuden en ayuda tras haber sido olvidados, antiguos estudiantes que buscan una nueva oportunidad de defender su tesis, espectros de escritores canadienses, el propio Satán, o un fantasma que ha poseído una mesita. Mis favoritos, ‘Conversaciones con una mesita’ y ‘La fotocopiadora de la habitación perdida’. La calidad de las narraciones está asegurada, ya que Davies es un gran escritor, con una fina ironía y unos diálogos brillantes. Me esperaba un libro de cuentos de fantasmas al estilo del maestro M.R. James, y quizás por esto ha sido un libro que no me ha entusiasmado tanto. Pero aun así, se trata de una colección de relatos con la que pasar un buen rato. show less
I love Robertson Davies's work. I love his erudition, his humor, his wisdom, his sense of fun. This is the first collection of short stories I've read of him, a sort of MR Jamesian tribute to the scholarly tradition of a ghost story at Christmas. Unlike James, however, these stories aren't meant to scare so much as amuse and enlighten, which they do time and again.
Davies was the founding master at Massey College, a position which he held for eighteen years. For each of those eighteen years he composed and read aloud a new story each Christmas, stories which initially centered around the ghosts of certain famous figures, but which later branched out into supernatural stories of broaderdescription. The stories vary in quality, several show more seemingly written just because they had to be, but the very best are crammed full of of the trademark Davies style, rich and palatable like a fine dessert wine. The worst can merely be called a pleasant waste of time. A couple are derivative of earlier stories, but this is generally the nature of a collection composed over eighteen years.
One slight disappointment: Knowing nothing of the college in which these stories are set, I initially imagined a venerable old institution, dripping with history and lore, but a quick google search reveals a thoroughly modern construction more in keeping with a polytechnic than a college. A bit naive of me perhaps; Canada is still a relatively new country after all. Still, Davies's style is enough to evoke an older era and one in which life seems to have been savored with so much more gusto and panache. show less
Davies was the founding master at Massey College, a position which he held for eighteen years. For each of those eighteen years he composed and read aloud a new story each Christmas, stories which initially centered around the ghosts of certain famous figures, but which later branched out into supernatural stories of broaderdescription. The stories vary in quality, several show more seemingly written just because they had to be, but the very best are crammed full of of the trademark Davies style, rich and palatable like a fine dessert wine. The worst can merely be called a pleasant waste of time. A couple are derivative of earlier stories, but this is generally the nature of a collection composed over eighteen years.
One slight disappointment: Knowing nothing of the college in which these stories are set, I initially imagined a venerable old institution, dripping with history and lore, but a quick google search reveals a thoroughly modern construction more in keeping with a polytechnic than a college. A bit naive of me perhaps; Canada is still a relatively new country after all. Still, Davies's style is enough to evoke an older era and one in which life seems to have been savored with so much more gusto and panache. show less
I love Robertson Davies's work. I love his erudition, his humor, his wisdom, his sense of fun. This is the first collection of short stories I've read of him, a sort of MR Jamesian tribute to the scholarly tradition of a ghost story at Christmas. Unlike James, however, these stories aren't meant to scare so much as amuse and enlighten, which they do time and again.
Davies was the founding master at Massey College, a position which he held for eighteen years. For each of those eighteen years he composed and read aloud a new story each Christmas, stories which initially centered around the ghosts of certain famous figures, but which later branched out into supernatural stories of broaderdescription. The stories vary in quality, several show more seemingly written just because they had to be, but the very best are crammed full of of the trademark Davies style, rich and palatable like a fine dessert wine. The worst can merely be called a pleasant waste of time. A couple are derivative of earlier stories, but this is generally the nature of a collection composed over eighteen years.
One slight disappointment: Knowing nothing of the college in which these stories are set, I initially imagined a venerable old institution, dripping with history and lore, but a quick google search reveals a thoroughly modern construction more in keeping with a polytechnic than a college. A bit naive of me perhaps; Canada is still a relatively new country after all. Still, Davies's style is enough to evoke an older era and one in which life seems to have been savored with so much more gusto and panache. show less
Davies was the founding master at Massey College, a position which he held for eighteen years. For each of those eighteen years he composed and read aloud a new story each Christmas, stories which initially centered around the ghosts of certain famous figures, but which later branched out into supernatural stories of broaderdescription. The stories vary in quality, several show more seemingly written just because they had to be, but the very best are crammed full of of the trademark Davies style, rich and palatable like a fine dessert wine. The worst can merely be called a pleasant waste of time. A couple are derivative of earlier stories, but this is generally the nature of a collection composed over eighteen years.
One slight disappointment: Knowing nothing of the college in which these stories are set, I initially imagined a venerable old institution, dripping with history and lore, but a quick google search reveals a thoroughly modern construction more in keeping with a polytechnic than a college. A bit naive of me perhaps; Canada is still a relatively new country after all. Still, Davies's style is enough to evoke an older era and one in which life seems to have been savored with so much more gusto and panache. show less
Every story in this book is a joy. Davies spoofs himself, as, in his persona as Master of Massey College of the University of Toronto, he narrates them. It seems that there is something about Massey College that is attractive to ghosts, famous, infamous and not famous at all. "Every part of our great University strives for distinction of one kind or another, but it is everywhere admitted that in the regularity and variety of our ghostly visitations Massey College stands alone." Even Little Lord Fauntleroy puts in an appearance! Splendid stuff.
It would have been worth doing a Ph. D. at the University of Toronto in the 1960s and 70s to have been invited to the Christmas Party at Massey College. Massey College was newly built with a generous donation from the Massey Foundation when Robertson Davies was brought in as the first Master in 1963. It is one of only three residential graduate colleges in Canada. It seems like a very convivial place to study having special dinners a couple of times a month, a Christmas dance, the aforesaid Christmas party and other opportunities to eat, drink and discuss. Yes, it is haunted, as Davies was to discover, but the ghosts are the very best kind of spirit. Several royal personages, a couple of Canadian Prime Ministers, notable scientists and show more dramatists--that's the calibre of haunting in Massey College. Fortunately Robertson Davies was there to chronicle every manifestation and he would entertain the gathering at the annual Christmas party with the news. Since Davies is the amanuensis there are witticisms and puns in every story. I probably didn't catch everything because I suspect some remarks were meant to be understood only by those in attendance. One I certainly did understand is contained in the story "The Pit Whence Ye Are Digged". In it all the attendees at a special dinner are thrust back in time to the year 1774 where they become their own ancestor. One person was wearing a black band on his left arm and he told his neighbour that it was in morning for the Scots poet Robert Fergusson who had died recently. He declared "The name of Fergusson will never die." which was met by a murmured comment "No, never so long as it is linked with the name of Massey." As a farm girl I was very familiar with the line of farm equipment made by the firm Massey-Fergusson! show less
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Author Information
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William Robertson Davies was born in Thamesville, Ontario in 1913. He taught English at the University of Toronto and was an actor, journalist, and newspaper editor before winning acclaim as a novelist with Tempest-Tost, the first of his Salterton trilogy. His most famous trilogy, The Deptford Trilogy--Fifth Business, The Manticore, and World of show more Wonders--develops the earlier Salterton novels. The locale is a fictitious Ontario city that prizes its English tradition, including the Anglican Church and the genealogy of the old families. Robertson's novels have been translated into approximately 20 languages. His masterful story-telling encompasses such issues as evil, love, fear, tradition, and magic as he brings his characters to life with wisdom and humor. Robertson Davies died in 1995. (Bowker Author Biography) Robertson Davies (1913-1995) had three successive careers during the time he became an internationally acclaimed author: first as an actor with the Old Vic Company in England; then as publisher of "The Peterborough Ontario Examiner"; & finally as professor & first master of Massey College at the University of Toronto. With twelve novels & several volumes of essays & plays to his credit, Davies was the first Canadian to be inducted to the American Academy & Institute of Arts & Letters. His last novel, "The Cunning Man" (Viking 1995), was a national bestseller. (Publisher Provided) show less
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Awards
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Contains
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- High Spirits
- Original publication date
- 1982
- People/Characters
- Robertson Davies
- Important places
- Massey College, University of Toronto, Canada
- First words
- Ghost stories came into my life before I could read.
- Quotations
- The ICC (Ideal College Cat) had many novel features which distinguished it from the ordinary domestic cat. ... Another of its beauties was that it possessed a novel means of elimination. Frank's cat was made with a small shov... (show all)el on the end of its tail with which it could, once a week, remove its own ashes and deposit them behind the College ... the cat was made to sustain itself on a diet of waste-paper, and what it produced in the manner I have described was not unlike confetti.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)A flighty Three I may perhaps be, but I can boast, as I hope all my successors will be able to boast, that I have never, knowingly, eaten a guest of this College.
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- Members
- 636
- Popularity
- 45,552
- Reviews
- 15
- Rating
- (3.73)
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 9
- ASINs
- 6
