Sunday 22 June 2014

Sofa Spotlight - One Thousand and One Ghosts, Alexandre Dumas

What's it about?

Dumas is visiting a town somewhere in France when he witnesses the behaviour of a man who has just murdered his wife. The man claims that he has cut off his wife's head but that the head had spoken to him after it had been separated from her body. Dumas stays to watch the arrest of the man and later stays for dinner at the mayor's house. The guests at the dinner tell ghost stories and the town's doctor tries to disprove them.

What was good?

The stories are intriguing and keep you reading. I am a wimp and so I was spooked early on, but I suspect that was the desired effect. Dumas is a good storyteller and the stories related in this book are worth hearing. The last story is told from a victim of a vampire attack, which although you could see what was coming, was still mesmerising.

What was bad?

Sometimes details weren't explained and the most annoying part of the book is that Dumas doesn't record the conclusion or their reaction to the final story. Also I don't like the cover.

Who is it for?

Anyone who enjoys horror stories, or the unexplained.


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