Wandering Ghosts

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Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Wandering Ghosts

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

A spellbinding collection of supernatural tales by F. Marion Crawford. Explore eerie hauntings, cursed cabins, spectral dolls, and chilling secrets in this Gothic classic featuring a dying patriarch's dark prophecy, a haunted wedding, and a father's desperate search for his lost child guided by a ghostly doll.

Summary up to 500 words

In F. Marion Crawford's *Wandering Ghosts*, a collection of atmospheric Gothic tales, the supernatural and the psychological intertwine to explore themes of heredity, paternal love, and the blurred boundary between life and death. The opening story, "The Dead Smile," introduces the Ockram family, plagued by a terrifying superstition: their ancestors are buried without coffins and rise to smile at the living. Sir Hugh Ockram, dying of a hideous disease, warns his son Gabriel and granddaughter Evelyn against marriage, hinting at a family curse. The narrative delves into the psychological toll of this dread on the young lovers, who feel the shadow of death hovering over their faces, and the ancient Nurse Macdonald, who witnesses spectral apparitions before her own death. The collection shifts tone in "Man Overboard!" and "The Doll's Ghost," which share a narrator and protagonist. A sailor returns to his friend Jack Benton's cottage for a wedding, only to be haunted by the memory of Jack's brother, Jim, who fell overboard years ago. The narrator hears footsteps in the empty house and a child's cry, leading him to discover that his own lost daughter, Else, has been knocked unconscious by bullies while protecting her doll, Nina. The doll's spirit guides the father to her rescue. In the final tale, Mr. Puckler, Else's father, experiences terror after his daughter is taken from him. He hears tiny footsteps and sees a glowing, spectral doll in his dark room. The doll calls out "Pa-pa," leading him through the streets to a hospital where Else is recovering. She explains that bullies tried to take her doll, and she fought them until she was knocked down. Though smashed, the doll speaks with a human voice, guiding her father to her side. The collection masterfully blends atmospheric horror with poignant moments of paternal love, illustrating how the line between the living and the dead can dissolve in moments of profound grief and devotion.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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