The Canterville Ghost

The Canterville Ghost is Oscar Wilde's hilarious and heartwarming satire of Gothic horror.

When the American Minister, Mr. Hiram B. Otis, buys Canterville Chase, everyone warns him that the old English manor is haunted. Lord Canterville himself admits that the ghost has been seen by several living members of his family. But the practical, no-nonsense Otis family is not impressed. When the ghost appears in his usual terrifying garb—rusty chains and all—Mr. Otis simply offers him a bottle of lubricating oil for his chains.

The ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville, has haunted the Chase for three hundred years, terrifying nobles and servants alike. But against the modern, rational Americans, his tricks fail one by one. The twins throw pillows at him, Mrs. Otis uses a stain remover on his famous bloodstain, and the ghost finds himself more humiliated than frightening.

Only young Virginia Otis sees beyond the ghost's tragic exterior. She helps Sir Simon find the peace he has sought for centuries, praying with him in the Garden of Death.

Wilde's story is a brilliant parody of traditional ghost tales, blending comedy with genuine emotion. It asks: what happens when the old world of superstition meets the new world of practicality? And what does a ghost do when no one is afraid anymore?

This beloved classic has been adapted countless times for stage and screen. It remains one of Wilde's most popular and accessible works.

This audiobook is based on the 1887 public domain text. Produced and narrated by Qingye Wuchen, with AI assistance.

© 2026 HongMei Zhou (Lydbog): 9780466099312

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Lydbog: 20. april 2026