Ghosts by Edith Wharton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Edith Wharton’s Ghosts is an absolute gem that beautifully combines her literary brilliance with the timeless allure of ghost stories. Wharton’s collection of supernatural tales is not just haunting but also exquisitely crafted, balancing spine-tingling suspense with her signature wit and elegance.
Wharton uses the ghostly theme to explore deeper emotions like regret, longing, and the unseen forces that shape people’s lives. Her ghost stories are not about cheap thrills; they are about the eerie undercurrents of human experience. The haunting is subtle, making it all the more unsettling.
Each story in the collection is distinct, but they all share a quiet, creeping dread that makes you question what’s real and what’s imagined. From ghostly presences to mysterious events in old houses, Wharton masterfully builds tension, keeping the reader on edge while delivering narratives that are as richly detailed as her more famous works.
The prose is exquisite and she evokes a vivid sense of place, making the eerie settings come alive. What’s particularly enjoyable is that these stories don’t rely on gore or shock but instead evoke an intellectual and psychological unease. You’re left contemplating long after you’ve closed the book.
If you love gothic fiction, Ghosts is a must-read. Wharton proves that ghost stories, in the hands of a master, can be both chilling and thought-provoking. Enthusiasts of supernatural fiction and literary lovers alike will find this collection an absolute treasure!
