The Canterville Ghost

This comic ghost story begins when an American family buys Canterville Chase, an old English country house said to be haunted. The ghost, who has terrified generations of owners, finds that the practical, unflappable newcomers are not impressed by his clanking chains and bloodstains. The tale gently mocks the differences between old Europe and new America, while the ghost becomes a surprisingly sympathetic figure. A kind and curious young daughter of the family, Virginia, comes to matter to him. Light, funny and touching, it is a popular short work for readers new to Wilde.