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The Shell of Sense
Gorgeously illustrated by Wendy Wees with book design by Rhonda Boothe. Rhonda and Wendy's contributions have resulted in a book of unusually refined physical appearance.
Edited with an Introductory essay by Jessica Amanda Salmonson "The Psychological Ghost Stories of Olivia Howard Dunbar."
A leading "magazinist" of her day, Olivia Howard Dunbar's ghost stories were never previously gathered into one place. Her tales though American are reminiscent of such Brits as Oliver Onions or May Sinclair, due to their psychological depth.
The tales are "The Long Chamber" "The Sycamore" "The Dream Baby" and "The Shell of Sense." Additionally, there are two non-fiction essays by Dunbar.
One is on the nature of the literature "The Decay of the Ghost in Fiction" which she wrote before writing any of her own, and that essay serves as an Author's Preface. The other is "The Present Status of the Ghost" about persisting belief in them, serving as Author's Afterword.
Edited with an Introductory essay by Jessica Amanda Salmonson "The Psychological Ghost Stories of Olivia Howard Dunbar."
A leading "magazinist" of her day, Olivia Howard Dunbar's ghost stories were never previously gathered into one place. Her tales though American are reminiscent of such Brits as Oliver Onions or May Sinclair, due to their psychological depth.
The tales are "The Long Chamber" "The Sycamore" "The Dream Baby" and "The Shell of Sense." Additionally, there are two non-fiction essays by Dunbar.
One is on the nature of the literature "The Decay of the Ghost in Fiction" which she wrote before writing any of her own, and that essay serves as an Author's Preface. The other is "The Present Status of the Ghost" about persisting belief in them, serving as Author's Afterword.
129 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 25, 2018
This was a good creeper with a happy ending. This story is also very mild and can be read to older children.
September 12, 2025
Letting go.
The young Frances has recently passed, but her essence still lingers on, not ready to move on; drawn by the sorrow of her loving sister Theresa, and the pain of her dearest husband Allan. No. She won't let go, she will never let them go!
Ah this was good. Very good. I'm really not a fan of Olivia Howard Dunbar style of writing, too poetic and convoluted for my liking, but I certainly can't understate the value of this idea, or its overall great impactfulness. Didn't see that coming, and so glad I didn't. Not the standard 'horror' story at all. Bravo. Well done Dunbar. Recommendable.
It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.
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PERSONAL NOTE :
[1918] [12p] [Horror] [Recommendable]
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★★★☆☆ Famous Modern Ghost Stories <--
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Dejar ir.
La joven Frances falleció recientemente, pero su esencia aún persiste, no aún lista para seguir adelante; atraída por la pena de su amada hermana Theresa, y el dolor de su querido esposo Allan. No. Ella no los dejará ir, ¡nunca los dejará ir!
Ah, esto bien. Muy bien. Realmente no soy un fanático del estilo de escritura de Olivia Howard Dunbar, demasiado enrevesado y poético para mi gusto, pero ciertamente no puedo subestimar el valor de esta idea, o su gran impacto en general. No lo vi venir, y me alegro mucho de no haberlo hecho. No en absoluto la típica historia de 'terror'. Bravo. Bien hecho Dunbar. Recomendable.
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.
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NOTA PERSONAL :
[1918] [12p] [Horror] [Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
The young Frances has recently passed, but her essence still lingers on, not ready to move on; drawn by the sorrow of her loving sister Theresa, and the pain of her dearest husband Allan. No. She won't let go, she will never let them go!
Ah this was good. Very good. I'm really not a fan of Olivia Howard Dunbar style of writing, too poetic and convoluted for my liking, but I certainly can't understate the value of this idea, or its overall great impactfulness. Didn't see that coming, and so glad I didn't. Not the standard 'horror' story at all. Bravo. Well done Dunbar. Recommendable.
It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1918] [12p] [Horror] [Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
★★★☆☆ Famous Modern Ghost Stories <--
-----------------------------------------------
Dejar ir.
La joven Frances falleció recientemente, pero su esencia aún persiste, no aún lista para seguir adelante; atraída por la pena de su amada hermana Theresa, y el dolor de su querido esposo Allan. No. Ella no los dejará ir, ¡nunca los dejará ir!
Ah, esto bien. Muy bien. Realmente no soy un fanático del estilo de escritura de Olivia Howard Dunbar, demasiado enrevesado y poético para mi gusto, pero ciertamente no puedo subestimar el valor de esta idea, o su gran impacto en general. No lo vi venir, y me alegro mucho de no haberlo hecho. No en absoluto la típica historia de 'terror'. Bravo. Bien hecho Dunbar. Recomendable.
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1918] [12p] [Horror] [Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
September 30, 2024
3.82⭐
Introduction: The Ghost Stories of Olivia Howard Dunbar • Jessica Amanda Salmonson 4⭐
Author's Preface: The Decay of the Ghost in Fiction • (1905) 3.5⭐
The Long Chamber • (1914) 4.25⭐
The Dream-Baby • (1904) 3.5⭐
The Sycamore • (1910) 4.5⭐
The painter Ansel Hyatt and his beloved sycamore tree he loved to paint.
The Shell of Sense • (1908) 3.5⭐
The narrative of this story is from the point of view of the ghost, a dead woman who observes her surviving husband and sister with both jealousy and concern. The ghost’s realization that her marriage was not what it seemed results in greater acceptance and understanding of both her own life and her husband’s.
The Present Status of the Ghost • (1912) 3.5⭐
Introduction: The Ghost Stories of Olivia Howard Dunbar • Jessica Amanda Salmonson 4⭐
Author's Preface: The Decay of the Ghost in Fiction • (1905) 3.5⭐
The Long Chamber • (1914) 4.25⭐
The Dream-Baby • (1904) 3.5⭐
The Sycamore • (1910) 4.5⭐
The painter Ansel Hyatt and his beloved sycamore tree he loved to paint.
The Shell of Sense • (1908) 3.5⭐
The narrative of this story is from the point of view of the ghost, a dead woman who observes her surviving husband and sister with both jealousy and concern. The ghost’s realization that her marriage was not what it seemed results in greater acceptance and understanding of both her own life and her husband’s.
The Present Status of the Ghost • (1912) 3.5⭐
December 10, 2025
this is not a horrorish ghost story but a bitter-sweet one. mostly it's about letting go but also so many other things - jealousy, ambition, rage, sadness, love, realization that you spent your whole life in a lie hurting you and the people you deeply love. also, i guess this was the first ghost story i read from the perspective of the ghost so it made me realize that we -as living people- also invade and haunt the spaces of the ghosts and this broke my heart. this reminded me of the time when our siblings move out from the house and how joyfully we take their space and make our own without thinking how this will affect them. i think the situation in the story was really similar to this.
i really really loved this story but i think it should have been bit longer. we only learn the things in a superficial way. we don't know why her husband chose Frances over Theresa during their lifetimes and caused all of them to suffer like this. but still, it's become one of my fav ghost stories 🥹💛
i really really loved this story but i think it should have been bit longer. we only learn the things in a superficial way. we don't know why her husband chose Frances over Theresa during their lifetimes and caused all of them to suffer like this. but still, it's become one of my fav ghost stories 🥹💛
October 26, 2025
Text
https://storyoftheweek.loa.org/2012/0...
Audiobook
https://librivox.org/short-ghost-and-...
A woman who lived with her sister and her dearly-loved husband has died and come back as a ghost. As a ghost, she discovers that her sister and husband were always in love with each other, but never gave any sign of it to each other until after she died. She is jealous and uses her ghostly presence to make them feel guilty and keep them apart from each other. Her sister, who believes in ghosts, is prepared to respect her wishes and leave forever. But then the protagonist has a change of heart and signals to them that they can be together. Then they are happy and she is at peace.
https://storyoftheweek.loa.org/2012/0...
Audiobook
https://librivox.org/short-ghost-and-...
A woman who lived with her sister and her dearly-loved husband has died and come back as a ghost. As a ghost, she discovers that her sister and husband were always in love with each other, but never gave any sign of it to each other until after she died. She is jealous and uses her ghostly presence to make them feel guilty and keep them apart from each other. Her sister, who believes in ghosts, is prepared to respect her wishes and leave forever. But then the protagonist has a change of heart and signals to them that they can be together. Then they are happy and she is at peace.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2026
Τέσσερις ιστορίες που προσεγγίζουν το υπερφυσικό με ηρεμία και ψυχραιμία, περισσότερο ως τρόπο παρατήρησης παρά ως πηγή τρόμου. Η ομότιτλη ξεχωρίζει για τη μεταθανάτια οπτική της και τον τρόπο που αγγίζει τη ζήλια, την κατανόηση και τελικά μια μορφή απελευθέρωσης χωρίς να στηρίζεται σε δραματικές εντάσεις. Περισσότερο μου άρεσε το "The Sycamore" για τον τρόπο που φωτίζει τη μνήμη και το βάρος του παρελθόντος με απλότητα και καθαρότητα. Και τα άλλα δύο διηγήματα είναι επίσης αξιόλογα (ιδίως το "The Long Chamber"), με την ίδια ήρεμη, υπαινικτική και κατά στιγμές λυρική γραφή της Dunbar. Καλογραμμένη και αρκετά ενδιαφέρουσα συλλογή. Ίσως όχι 100% του στυλ μου, αλλά ήταν σίγουρα ένα ευχάριστο ανάγνωσμα.
⭐ 3.5
⭐ 3.5
January 19, 2023
Enertaining listening 🎧
Another will written ghost👻 story by Olivia Howard Dunbar. I listened to this as part of the free book Famous Ghost 👻 Stories by various authors. I would highly recommend to readers of paramormal fantasy novels ✨🎉 2023
Another will written ghost👻 story by Olivia Howard Dunbar. I listened to this as part of the free book Famous Ghost 👻 Stories by various authors. I would highly recommend to readers of paramormal fantasy novels ✨🎉 2023
October 28, 2020
A haunting from the POV of the deceased. Will Frances linger around to influence her family (her sister and husband) or will she let them get on with their lives? A sweet, low key ghost story.
December 14, 2024
Read short story shell of self. Ok - I'm not gonna play match maker with my husband after I die tho.
November 12, 2011
There is a presence in Theresa's room, watching her ... Not so good as expected.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews