The Haunted House (story) facts for kids
The Haunted House is a collection of spooky stories published in 1859. These stories appeared in a weekly magazine called All the Year Round. The famous writer Charles Dickens was in charge of the magazine. He wrote the first and last stories in the series. Five other writers also contributed their own tales to the collection.
The stories included are:
- "The Mortals in the House" by Charles Dickens
- "The Ghost in the Clock Room" by Hesba Stretton
- "The Ghost in the Double Room" by George Augustus Sala
- "The Ghost in the Picture Room" by Adelaide Anne Procter
- "The Ghost in the Cupboard Room" by Wilkie Collins
- "The Ghost in Master B's Room" by Charles Dickens
- "The Ghost in the Garden Room" by Elizabeth Gaskell
- "The Ghost in the Corner Room" by Charles Dickens
Contents
When was The Haunted House published?
The story collection came out on December 13, 1859, as a special Christmas edition. Charles Dickens started a tradition of publishing Christmas stories with his famous book A Christmas Carol in 1843. These Christmas stories quickly became very popular in England. The Haunted House was his special Christmas offering for 1859.
What is the story about?
In Dickens's first story, called The Mortals in the House, the main character, John, needs to rest in the countryside. A friend tells him about a large old house that is available to rent. The house is located between Northern England and London.
John decides to rent the house for six months, from October to March. He plans to live there with his sister, Patty. However, the house has a reputation for being haunted. Strange noises scare away all their servants.
By November, John and Patty decide to live in the house by themselves. The only person who stays is Bottles, the stable-man, who is deaf and doesn't hear the noises. Patty then suggests inviting some friends to stay. They form a "Society" to explore the house for three months and see if anything supernatural happens.
Who are the characters?
Seven friends arrive at the end of November. They choose different bedrooms by drawing lots.
- John's room is the "Master B's Room." This room was known for a servant bell that kept ringing until John removed it.
- John's cousin, John Herschel, and his new wife get the "Clock Room."
- Alfred Starling, a young man, gets the "Double Room."
- Patty's friend, Belinda Bates, who loves poetry and women's rights, gets the "Picture-Room."
- Sailor Jack Governor, who was once engaged to Patty, stays in the "Corner Room."
- His friend, Nat Beaver, a ship captain, gets the "Cupboard Room."
- Mr. Undery, a family lawyer, gets the "Garden Room."
The friends agree not to talk about any ghostly experiences until Twelfth Night, which is January 6th. They can only break this silence if something truly remarkable happens.
What kind of ghost stories are they?
The "ghosts" the characters see are not always real ghosts connected to the house. Instead, the stories often focus on feelings like injustice, fear, or regret.
Each tale is unique, but all have a strange or scary element. Some characters hear stories from spirits, while others have out-of-body experiences. For example, Wilkie Collins's story is about Spanish pirates and a burning candle that brings the narrator closer to danger. Charles Dickens's own story, The Ghost in Master B's Room, is a peculiar tale about lost innocence, showing some of the author's sad feelings. Elizabeth Gaskell's story is about working-class people in Northern England. Charles Dickens also wrote the final story, The Ghost in the Corner Room.
Where can you find The Haunted House today?
"The Haunted House of 1859" was once a special attraction at Dickens World in Chatham, Kent, England.
See also
In Spanish: La casa encantada (Charles Dickens) para niños
