The Canterville Ghost
by Oscar Wilde
- First published
- 1887
- Reading level
- Plain English
- Price
- Free
About the book
"The Canterville Ghost" by Oscar Wilde is a humorous short story published in 1887. When an American family moves into a haunted English castle, they refuse to be frightened by its resident ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville. Armed with stain remover and practical solutions, the Otises respond to supernatural terrors with cheerful pragmatism, leaving the centuries-old ghost increasingly humiliated. Only young Virginia sees beyond the comedy to understand the tragic spirit's desperate need for peace and redemption.
- England
- Ghosts
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #14522. The Canterville Ghost on Wikipedia.
