Humorous Ghost Stories
Public-domain ebook
Humorous Ghost Stories
Language: en7,566 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: Short Stories·Humour·Mythology, Legends & Folklore
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #26950.
About this book
Dorothy Scarborough’s Humorous Ghost Stories is a scholarly yet playful survey of how the specter has evolved from a solemn, fear‑inducing presence into a source of comic satire. The book opens with an essay that frames the “humorous ghost” as a distinctly modern character, contrasting the stiff, etiquette‑obsessed wraiths of early literature with today’s witty, self‑aware shades who relish poking fun at both the living and their own dead‑weight traditions. Scarborough cites a range of examples, from the mischievous captain of Richard Middleton’s ghost ship to Frank R. Stockton’s “Transferred Ghost”, to illustrate how contemporary apparitions have shed their gloomy garb for a more versatile, even entrepreneurial, personality. The introduction’s tone is both erudite and conversational, inviting readers to reconsider hauntings as a venue for satire rather than terror.
Written in the early‑1920s, the work reflects the period’s fascination with both academic literary criticism and the burgeoning popularity of light‑hearted genre fiction. Scarborough’s voice is informed, witty, and steeped in the transatlantic exchange of American and British humor, making the collection appealing to scholars of folklore, fans of classic ghost tales, and anyone who enjoys a clever twist on the supernatural.
Characters in Humorous Ghost Stories
- Dr. John T. HarringtonMiddle‑aged male professor, spectacles, dark suit, white shirt, modest tie, neatly trimmed hair
- Mrs. John T. HarringtonElegant early‑1920s lady, long wavy hair, high‑necked dress, pearls, soft hat, poised posture
Opening lines
Ph.D. LECTURER IN ENGLISH, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AUTHOR OF “THE SUPERNATURAL IN MODERN ENGLISH FICTION,” “FUGITIVE VERSES,” “FROM A SOUTHERN PORCH,” ETC. COMPILER OF “FAMOUS MODERN GHOST STORIES” G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS NEW YORK AND LONDON The Knickerbocker Press 1921 Copyright , 1921 BY DOROTHY SCARBOROUGH Printed in the United States of America To DR. AND MRS. JOHN T. HARRINGTON Life flings miles and years between us, It is true,— But brings never to me dearer Friends than you! The Humorous Ghost INTRODUCTION The humorous ghost is distinctly a modern character. In early literature wraiths took themselves very seriously, and insisted on a proper show of respectful fear on the part of those whom they honored by haunting. A mortal was expected to rise when a ghost entered the room, and in case he was slow about it, his spine gave notice of what etiquette demanded. …
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