奥斯卡·王尔德（Oscar Wilde，1854年10月16日—1900年11月30日），出生于爱尔兰都柏林，19世纪英国（准确来讲是爱尔兰，但是当时由英国统治）伟大的作家与艺术家之一，以其剧作、诗歌、童话和小说闻名，唯美主义代表人物，19世纪80年代美学运动的主力和90年代颓废派运动的先驱。

该小说讲述西蒙爵士是个死了三百年的凼灵，一直出没在坎特维尔城堡，并以吓人为荣，而搬来的美国家庭却不惧怕幽灵。他们之间发生了一系列让人发笑的“惊吓”故事。该小说跌宕起伏的情节铺设展示了王尔德的叙述技巧和机敏的幽默，优雅的文字间充满了对人类不幸的同情和对爱的世界的向往。

"I knew Pinkerton would do it," he exclaimed, triumphantly, as he looked round at his admiring family; but no sooner had he said these words than a terrible flash of lightning lit up the sombre room, a fearful peal of thunder made them all start to their feet, and Mrs. Umney fainted.
"What a monstrous climate!" said the American Minister, calmly, as he lit a long cheroot. "I guess the old country is so overpopulated that they have not enough decent weather for everybody. I have always been of opinion that emigration is the only thing for England."
"My dear Hiram," cried Mrs. Otis, "what can we do with a woman who faints?"
"Charge it to her like breakages," answered the Minister; "she won't faint after that;" and in a few moments Mrs. Umney certainly came to. There was no doubt, however, that she was extremely upset, and she sternly warned Mr. Otis to beware of some trouble coming to the house.
"I have seen things with my own eyes, sir," she said, "that would make any Christian's hair stand on end, and many and many a night I have not closed my eyes in sleep for the awful things that are done here." Mr. Otis, however, and his wife warmly assured the honest soul that they were not afraid of ghosts, and, after invoking the blessings of Providence on her new master and mistress, and making arrangements for an increase of salary, the old housekeeper tottered off to her own room.