The Canterville Ghost

The story follows the newly arrived American Minister, Mr. Hiram Otis, who purchases the ancient Canterville Chase despite the long‑standing warning that it is haunted. He brings his lively family—Mrs. Otis, a confident former New York socialite, and their spirited children—into a house where a centuries‑old specter has been scaring generations of aristocrats. From the moment they step through the grand doors, the ghost’s attempts at terror are met with practical American pragmatism and good‑natured sarcasm.

As the Otis family settles in, the ghost’s classic tricks—clanking chains, cold drafts, eerie moans—are turned into objects of amusement and even inconvenience. The children, especially the mischievous twins, respond with inventive retaliations that leave the apparition more baffled than frightened. The clash of British superstition and American common‑sense creates a witty, gently satirical tale that explores hospitality, pride, and the surprising ways kindness can tame even the most persistent haunting.