Rousseau and Revolution: The Story of Civilization

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.

It's rare for a ghost story to be sympathetic towards the ghost or to flush out the ghosts character. Usually the ghost is just there to frighten the main characters and the readers. The Canterville Ghost however does make the ghost an interesting and understandable character without letting the suspense suffer.

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 him), but who do unspeakable things like removing the eternal blood stain in the library.The American family are really well drawn 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.

Thi is the first time I start readinng a book and can't leave it since I finish it .If you have a couple of hours read it!!

For those who have been curious about Oscar Wilde and have yet to discover his genius would have been more than US customs could have handled, the Canterville Ghost is a perfect introduction to his work. The story is cleverly woven around the archetypal upper middle class American clergy of the 19th century, yet fits easily into the modern response to our so called classless society.Oscar, it could be said, is the modern day parabalist so heavily featured within the Bible, yet his work is laced with a caustic humor which will inspire smiles and sympathy, and perhaps, if you are prone, even a little terror at the antics of the children in their torment of the long time feared inhabitant of Canterville, the ghost himself.My grandfather introduced me to this story when I was but a nipper here in England. I could not recommend it more, for children and adults alike. A classic!