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The Shadows on the Wall byMary E. Wilkins Freeman, 1903
Mary Wilkins Freeman was the grande dame of writers, recording “quiet” New England life at the turn of the twentieth century. As the first recipient of the William Dean Howells Gold Medal for Distinguished Work in Fiction and one of the first women to receive membership in the National Institute of Arts and Letters, it is a shame she isn’t better remembered! Hard to compete with Mark Twain, I suppose.
Alas, she was prodigious, and her work is widely available on Gutenberg for those who care to find it. Or, you can simply rely on me to bring you some highlights of her oeuvre, including this outstanding, well-paced ghost story, “The Shadows on the Wall.”
In this narrative, we are privy to the private conversations and evening life of the Glynn siblings, who are mourning and puzzling over the sudden death of their brother, Edward. I will brook no spoilers, but will instead stay mirthful in the knowledge that many of you will experience an “ah ha” moment when it dawns on you that the biggest spoiler is hiding in plain sight!
Please enjoy…
