author
Thomas Ingoldsby
1788–1845
Best remembered for The Ingoldsby Legends, this English clergyman-writer mixed ghost stories, folklore, and comic verse with a wonderfully lively touch. Writing as “Thomas Ingoldsby,” he became a favorite for readers who like wit with a hint of the macabre.
1 Audiobook
The Ingoldsby Legends; or, Mirth and Marvels
by Thomas Ingoldsby
About the author
Richard Harris Barham, better known by the pen name Thomas Ingoldsby, was born in Canterbury on December 6, 1788, and died in London on June 17, 1845. He was an English clergyman in the Church of England as well as a novelist and humorous poet, a combination that gave his writing both learning and playfulness.
He is chiefly remembered for The Ingoldsby Legends, the work that made the name Thomas Ingoldsby famous. These tales blend legend, satire, supernatural incident, and comic storytelling, and they helped give 19th-century readers a taste for stories that were spooky and funny at the same time.
Barham’s background in the church and his love of old stories, local lore, and lively language all fed into his distinctive style. Even now, his work stands out for its energy, theatrical humor, and talent for turning folklore into entertaining reading aloud.