
THE PURSUIT OF THE HOUSE-BOAT
ILLUSTRATIONS
I THE ASSOCIATED SHADES TAKE ACTION
II THE STRANGER UNRAVELS A MYSTERY AND REVEALS HIMSELF
III THE SEARCH-PARTY IS ORGANIZED
IV ON BOARD THE HOUSE-BOAT
V A CONFERENCE ON DECK
VI A CONFERENCE BELOW-STAIRS
VII THE “GEHENNA” IS CHARTERED
VIII ON BOARD THE “GEHENNA”
In the underworld’s misty canals, a motley crew of legendary spirits—queens, philosophers, generals, and playwrights—have gathered to confront a most absurd crisis. Their beloved floating clubhouse, the House‑boat that once drifted along the River Styx, has been seized by the notorious pirate Captain Kidd and his ruffian crew, whisking away the esteemed ladies of history along with the vessel itself. The loss leaves the assembled shades both outraged and oddly nostalgic for the Ark‑like comfort the boat represented.
Led by the ever‑observant Sherlock Holmes, the Associated Shades convene a frantic council on the banks of the inky stream. Socrates, Caesar, Bonaparte, Shakespeare and others trade wry counsel, each proposing a blend of philosophy, strategy, and a much‑needed drink to spark action. Their plan, still in its infancy, promises a daring pursuit that will test wit, camaraderie, and the peculiar rules governing the realm of the dead.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (184K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2002-04-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1862–1922
A witty American humorist and editor, he became best known for playful fantasy and satire that turned the afterlife into a stage for clever conversation. His stories mix lightness, literary jokes, and a surprisingly modern sense of comic imagination.
View all books
by John Kendrick Bangs

by John Kendrick Bangs

by John Kendrick Bangs

by John Kendrick Bangs

by John Kendrick Bangs

by William Dean Howells, Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews, John Kendrick Bangs, Alice Brown, Mary Stewart Cutting, Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman, Henry James, Elizabeth Garver Jordan, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Henry Van Dyke, Mary Heaton Vorse, Edith Wyatt

by John Kendrick Bangs

by John Kendrick Bangs