| Author |
Quiller-Couch, Arthur, 1863-1944 |
| Title |
Old Fires and Profitable Ghosts: A Book of Stories
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 79.0 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
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| Contents |
Oceanus -- The seventh man -- The room of mirrors -- A pair of hands -- The lady of the ship -- Frozen Margit -- The singular adventure of a small free-trader -- The mystery of Joseph Laquedem -- Prisoners of war -- A town's memory -- The lady of the red admirals -- The penance of John Emmet -- Elisha -- "Once aboard the lugger" -- Which?
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| Credits |
E-text prepared by Lionel G. Sear
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| Summary |
"Old Fires and Profitable Ghosts: A Book of Stories" by Arthur Quiller-Couch is a collection of short stories written during the late 19th century. The stories explore themes of revenants—individuals who return from past lives, either in spirit or as memories—delving into the emotional and psychological impacts of their returns. Each story offers a unique perspective on life, death, and the haunting legacy of memories, inviting readers into a realm where the past collides with the present. The opening portion introduces the first tale, "Oceanus," where the narrator reflects on personal grief after the death of his brother, Harry. Struggling to find meaning in his loss, he experiences apathy and confusion, pondering the nature of God and life's inherent cruelty. This dark contemplation leads him to a supernatural encounter where he meets what he perceives as Harry's spirit on horseback, prompting a reflective conversation about life, death, and the human condition. As they embark on a ride through an unfamiliar landscape that becomes increasingly eerie, the narrator grapples with feelings of joy and apprehension, establishing a tone of tension between hope and despair that sets the stage for the stories to unfold. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PR: Language and Literatures: English literature
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| Subject |
Short stories
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| Subject |
Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
13799 |
| Release Date |
Oct 19, 2004 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Dec 18, 2020 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
90 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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