The Canterville Ghost

De: Oscar Wilde

Narrado por: Rupert Degas

A terrifying ghost is haunting the ancient mansion of Canterville Chase, complete with creaking floorboards, clanking chains and gruesome disguises - but the new occupants seem strangely undisturbed by his presence. Deftly contrasting the conventional gothic ghost story with the pragmatism of the modern world, Wilde creates a gently comic fable of the conflict between old and new. Rupert Degas's hilarious reading brings the absurdity and theatricality of the story to life.

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Brilliant writing and gripping story lines.

You will smile, and you will feel sad and you will feel hopeful. You will understand human kindness, and human cruelty. It is a capsulated view of inability to forgive and great ability to judge.

Spirited Romp

Lord Canterville is driven from his ancestral home by the family ghost. The American family that purchases Canterville Chase take a more pragmatic approach. Sir Simon, the resident haunt, is offered lubricating oil so his chains won't clank so loudly. A patent cleaner is applied to remove the centuries-old bloodstains on the floor. Sir Simon is startled by a ghost (he's never seen one before), but gathers his courage to meet the newcomer, only to discover it's a bed sheet artfully arranged by the twins to taunt him.

Game on, as Sir Simon determines to teach this frightful family the fear and respect he deserves. Who will be victorious in the battle for Canterville Chase? The delightful narration leads you through this charming, spirited romp, as Sir Simon ventures to overcome and return every disarming prank the family can muster.

Family ghost story

A charming story read beautifully by Rupert Degas. Oscar Wilde turns the traditional ghost story on its head

fantastic

a great short story. lots of fun and frankly hilarious content. it gets a bit more serious eventually but is still a fantastic story.

a favorite

i read this long ago as a kid, it is in fact one of the earliest things i can remember reading and it stuck with me but it took many years for me to find it again. this is a great story, funny, touching, very visual. it is a story i always recommend to others, (after i re-discovered it years ago) and it is in my list of best short stories.

So much FUN!

This version was absolutely wonderful! It was so much fun to read, and when combined with sound, and a bit of music it really made the literature stand out. a definite find!

Not of Wilde's usual caliber

This period piece by Wilde was not as enjoyable to listen to as were "The Importance of Being Earnest" or "An Ideal Husband" both of which were literary treats. This play merely seems to dramatize Americans' lack of appreciation for all that is British without being either funny or enlightening. I'm not partial to the favorable portraiture of Americans but the characters in this play were one-dimensional and not engaging, and I couldn't suspend disbelief in the premise of the story. I tried, but I couldn't listen to more than 30 minutes. Instead, I'd highly recommend the two plays previously mentioned.