<P> The Canterville Ghost is a novella by Oscar Wilde . It was the first of Wilde's stories to be published, appearing in two parts in The Court and Society Review, 23 February and 2 March 1887 . </P> <P> The story is about an American family who move to a castle haunted by the ghost of a dead nobleman, who killed his wife and was starved to death by his wife's brothers . It has been adapted for the stage and screen several times . </P> <P> The home of the Canterville Ghost was the ancient Canterville Chase, which has all the accoutrements of a traditional haunted house . Descriptions of the wainscoting, the library panelled in black oak, and the armour in the hallway characterise the setting . Wilde mixes the macabre with comedy, juxtaposing devices from traditional English ghost stories such as creaking floorboards, clanking chains, and ancient prophecies . </P> <P> The story begins when the American Minister Mr Otis and his family move into Canterville Chase, despite warnings from Lord Canterville that the house is haunted . Mr Otis says that he will take the furniture as well as the ghost at valuation . The Otis family includes Mr and Mrs Otis, their eldest son Washington, their daughter Virginia, and the Otis twins . The other characters include the Canterville Ghost, the Duke of Cheshire (who wants to marry Virginia), Mrs Umney (the housekeeper), and Rev. Augustus Dampier . At first, none of the Otis family believe in ghosts, but shortly after they move in, none of them can deny the presence of Sir Simon de Canterville . The family hears clanking chains, they witness reappearing bloodstains on the floor just by the fireplace, which are removed every time they appear in various forms . But, humorously, none of these scare the Otis family in the least . In fact, upon hearing the clanking noises in the hallway, Mr Otis promptly gets out of bed and pragmatically offers the ghost Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator to oil his chains . </P>

Summary of the story the canterville ghost by oscar wilde