Free complete audiobook. Listen to Oscar Wilde’s comic ghost story in three parts, read by David Barnes. The recording runs for 1 hour and 23 minutes.
Listen to The Canterville Ghost
About the Story
An American family buys Canterville Chase, an old English house with a famous resident ghost. Sir Simon has frightened generations of occupants, and he expects the newcomers to show the same fear. Instead, the practical Otis family treats every supernatural event as a problem that can be solved with modern products, household discipline, and a great deal of confidence. Their calm reactions turn Sir Simon’s carefully planned performances into a series of comic defeats.
Wilde uses the clash between the ghost’s ancient traditions and the family’s modern habits to satirize both sides. The story begins as a comedy of manners, but its tone becomes more thoughtful when young Virginia Otis understands the loneliness behind Sir Simon’s theatrical behavior. Her compassion gives the tale its emotional center and leads it toward forgiveness rather than another simple scare.
The Canterville Ghost first appeared in 1887. It remains popular because it combines a clear plot, memorable visual jokes, Gothic atmosphere, and a humane ending. The short running time also makes this recording a good introduction to Oscar Wilde and to classic English-language audiobooks.
About Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was an Irish writer, poet, playwright, and essayist known for precise wit and social observation. His work often exposes the distance between respectable appearances and private motives. In this story, he applies that style to the conventions of the traditional haunted-house tale. Wilde also wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Importance of Being Earnest, and several well-known short stories.
Recording and Public-Domain Sources
This unabridged English recording was read by David Barnes for LibriVox. LibriVox volunteers release their recordings into the public domain. The audio files and cover are hosted by Internet Archive. The underlying work is also in the public domain. BookAud links to the original files and does not claim ownership of the recording.
Audiobook details: Author: Oscar Wilde · Narrator: David Barnes · Language: English · Genre: Humorous and supernatural fiction · Duration: 1h 23m · Source: LibriVox / Internet Archive
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