• The Canterville Ghost [Classic Tales Edition]

  • By: Oscar Wilde
  • Narrated by: B. J. Harrison
  • Length: 1 hr and 12 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,020 ratings)

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The Canterville Ghost [Classic Tales Edition]  By  cover art

The Canterville Ghost [Classic Tales Edition]

By: Oscar Wilde
Narrated by: B. J. Harrison
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Publisher's summary

The ghost that haunts Canterville Chase has built a marvelous career of midnight haunting. But when an American family moves in, they simply have no respect for permanent bloodstains, nightmarish chains, or ancient legends. They even throw pillows at him.

Public Domain (P)2009 B.J. Harrison

What listeners say about The Canterville Ghost [Classic Tales Edition]

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Oscar Wilde's Humor Deserves to be Lingered Over

I love the work of Oscar Wilde not only for its wit and intelligence but also for its nuance. The story, Wilde's first published story, is about a ghost that haunts an English manor house. But the life of the ghost (pun intended) is upended when his ancestral home is bought by an American family. Because I don't want to put in spoilers I will just say that the cast of the family becomes central to how the ghost's ghostly career is threatened (nice little dig at Americans' love of gadgets and lack of historical tradition). And lest one think that it is only a dig at Americans that Wilde is intending, the family also becomes the ally of the Ghost in trying to end his spectral condition. Wilde was a very good writer who though he may have missed out narrowly on being a great writer, nonetheless left us with several gems. The Canterville Ghost is not the great comic gem that the Importance of being Ernest is, but it is a fine diversion that ultimately is quite satisfying.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a treat!

Would you listen to The Canterville Ghost [Classic Tales Edition] again? Why?

Absolutely! It was such a refreshing and fun ghost story as well as a quick example of Oscar Wilde's biting genius.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Canterville Ghost [Classic Tales Edition]?

My favorite and most memorable moments were of the Ghost trying to gain the upper hand over the Americans. Highly recommended reading.

Have you listened to any of B. J. Harrison’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, but it would be a pleasure to listen to another of B.J. Harrison's performances. Well done!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Fiendishly frolicking foibles featuring foreigners and phantoms...

Any additional comments?

Loved this fun little gem!

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Hilarious!

A ghost story and so delightfuly unique. The Canterville Ghost has been haunting successfully for hundreds of years and is more than proud of his scares. He even relishes and shares many of them in the story as he ponders why he can't seem to scare the current family. They are completely unscarable. He doesn't give up even after they throw pillows at him and other things. He is determined.

The inability of this ghost to haunt the family is ridiculous. The situations had me rolling in laughter and in some respects feeling bad for this ghost. The story is short and flows at a quick pace.

Delightful!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story

I had only seen the movies. The book was way above and beyond what I expected. Glad I got it.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Oscar Wilde is the best

I love his 19th Century verbage and descriptive narratives regarding the settings of the story. I hope he tells wonderful stories in heaven.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Memorable story amd narration.

The Canterville Ghost is by far one my favourite short stories, and what better than having the prolific Mr. B.J. Harrison narrating this treasure tale.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good Oscar Wilde short story

Enjoyable short audio of the classic Wilde story; decent reading but with the typical Audible dropped words at the beginning of every chapter.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

satire in Victorian novel of manners?

sounds to me less than a Halloween ghost story and more like a blend of Brontë-gothic, combined with typical stabilization of 19th century Victorian novel of manners. but then again, his was my first listen. I enjoy b.j. Harrison's narration, but I think someone like Patrick Stewart would be more Halloween Basque .

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

An Unhaunting Ghost Story

I've long loved the 1940s movie, but had never read the original by Oscar Wilde. Now I'm a fan of the real deal! So kind and loving. Suitable for the while family!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Classic Wilde

I've enjoyed several cinematic versions of the story over the years. It was fun to get back to the original, classic Wilde.

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