Other editions of book The Haunted House

The Haunted House" (1859) by Charles Dickens is actually a compilation work, with contributions from Hesba Stretton, George Augustus Sala, Adelaide Anne Procter, ?Wilkie Collins, and Elizabeth Gaskell. Each writer, including Dickens, writes one “chapter” of the tale. The premise is that a group of people has come to a well-known haunted house to stay for a period of time, experience whatever supernatural elements might be there to experience, then regroup at the end of their stay to share their stories. Each author represents a specific person within the tale and, while the genre is that of the ghost story.

Collins among its contributors,The Haunted House is an ingenious tale of the supernatural with touches of pure Dickensian comedy. When the narrator espies a deserted house from his railway carriage, he cannot resist the challenge of taking up residence in a place no one else will inhabit. Local legend has terrified the nearby villagers, and they, in turn, convince his servants to abandon ship. Undaunted, he and his sister invite a group of friends to join them. Having shared out the household tasks, the guests are then commissioned to rout out the supernatural from their respective rooms. On Twelfth Night they meet to share their ghostly tales. The result is a feast of lively and bizarre storytelling, uniting the finest in Victorian literary talent. "As a document of self-revelation, The Haunted House is of the utmost significance for anyone interested in exploring the genius of Charles Dickens."

Compiled by Charles Dickens, and counting Elizabeth Gaskell and WilkieCollins among its contributors,The Haunted House is an ingenious tale of the supernatural with touches of pure Dickensian comedy. When the narrator espies a deserted house from his railway carriage, he cannot resist the challenge of taking up residence in a place no one else will inhabit. Local legend has terrified the nearby villagers, and they, in turn, convince his servants to abandon ship. Undaunted, he and his sister invite a group of friends to join them. Having shared out the household tasks, the guests are then commissioned to rout out the supernatural from their respective rooms. On Twelfth Night they meet to share their ghostly tales. The result is a feast of lively and bizarre storytelling, uniting the finest in Victorian literary talent. "As a document of self-revelation, The Haunted House is of the utmost significance for anyone interested in exploring thegenius of Charles Dickens." - Peter Ackroyd in the ForewordTales included are:Mortals in the House by Charles DickensGhost in the Clock Room by Hesba StrettonGhost in the Double Room by George Augustus SalaGhost in the Picture Room by Adelaide Anne ProcterGhost in the Cupboard Room by Wilkie CollinsGhost in Master B.'s Room by Charles DickensGhost in the Garden Room by Elizabeth GaskellGhost in the Corner Room by Charles Dickens

“The Haunted House” is a story published in 1859 for the weekly periodical All the Year Round. It was “Conducted by Charles Dickens", with contributions from others. It is a “portmanteau” story, with Dickens writing the opening and closing stories, framing stories by Dickens himself and five other authors:“The Mortals in the House” (Charles Dickens)“The Ghost in the Clock Room” (Hesba Stretton)“The Ghost in the Double Room” (George Augustus Sala)“The Ghost in the Picture Room” (Adelaide Anne Procter)“The Ghost in the Cupboard Room” (Wilkie Collins)“The Ghost in Master B's Room” (Charles Dickens)“The Ghost in the Garden Room” (Elizabeth Gaskell)“The Ghost in the Corner Room” (Charles Dickens)