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The Night the Ghost Got in
"The Night the Ghost Got In" is a fictionalized account of life in the Thurber household while its author, James Thurber, was growing up. Early on, Thurber gives the exact date when the events related in the story take place: November 17, 1915. The story begins with a short introductory paragraph that prepares readers for the more colorful events that will unfold in the pages to come—his mother throwing a shoe through a window, his grandfather shooting a policeman—and then goes right into the events of that night.
32 pages, Library Binding
First published November 1, 1983
About the author
James Thurber
363 books614 followersThurber was born in Columbus, Ohio to Charles L. Thurber and Mary Agnes (Mame) Fisher Thurber. Both of his parents greatly influenced his work. His father, a sporadically employed clerk and minor politician who dreamed of being a lawyer or an actor, is said to have been the inspiration for the small, timid protagonist typical of many of his stories. Thurber described his mother as a "born comedienne" and "one of the finest comic talents I think I have ever known." She was a practical joker, on one occasion pretending to be crippled and attending a faith healer revival, only to jump up and proclaim herself healed.
Thurber had two brothers, William and Robert. Once, while playing a game of William Tell, his brother William shot James in the eye with an arrow. Because of the lack of medical technology, Thurber lost his eye. This injury would later cause him to be almost entirely blind. During his childhood he was unable to participate in sports and activities because of his injury, and instead developed a creative imagination, which he shared in his writings.
From 1913 to 1918, Thurber attended The Ohio State University, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. He never graduated from the University because his poor eyesight prevented him from taking a mandatory ROTC course. In 1995 he was posthumously awarded a degree.
From 1918 to 1920, at the close of World War I, Thurber worked as a code clerk for the Department of State, first in Washington, D.C. and then at the American Embassy in Paris, France. After this Thurber returned to Columbus, where he began his writing career as a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch from 1921 to 1924. During part of this time, he reviewed current books, films, and plays in a weekly column called "Credos and Curios," a title that later would be given to a posthumous collection of his work. Thurber also returned to Paris in this period, where he wrote for the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers.
In 1925, he moved to Greenwich Village in New York City, getting a job as a reporter for the New York Evening Post. He joined the staff of The New Yorker in 1927 as an editor with the help of his friend and fellow New Yorker contributor, E.B. White. His career as a cartoonist began in 1930 when White found some of Thurber's drawings in a trash can and submitted them for publication. Thurber would contribute both his writings and his drawings to The New Yorker until the 1950s.
Thurber was married twice. In 1922, Thurber married Althea Adams. The marriage was troubled and ended in divorce in May 1935. Adams gave Thurber his only child, his daughter Rosemary. Thurber remarried in June, 1935 to Helen Wismer. His second marriage lasted until he died in 1961, at the age of 66, due to complications from pneumonia, which followed upon a stroke suffered at his home. His last words, aside from the repeated word "God," were "God bless... God damn," according to Helen Thurber.
Thurber had two brothers, William and Robert. Once, while playing a game of William Tell, his brother William shot James in the eye with an arrow. Because of the lack of medical technology, Thurber lost his eye. This injury would later cause him to be almost entirely blind. During his childhood he was unable to participate in sports and activities because of his injury, and instead developed a creative imagination, which he shared in his writings.
From 1913 to 1918, Thurber attended The Ohio State University, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. He never graduated from the University because his poor eyesight prevented him from taking a mandatory ROTC course. In 1995 he was posthumously awarded a degree.
From 1918 to 1920, at the close of World War I, Thurber worked as a code clerk for the Department of State, first in Washington, D.C. and then at the American Embassy in Paris, France. After this Thurber returned to Columbus, where he began his writing career as a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch from 1921 to 1924. During part of this time, he reviewed current books, films, and plays in a weekly column called "Credos and Curios," a title that later would be given to a posthumous collection of his work. Thurber also returned to Paris in this period, where he wrote for the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers.
In 1925, he moved to Greenwich Village in New York City, getting a job as a reporter for the New York Evening Post. He joined the staff of The New Yorker in 1927 as an editor with the help of his friend and fellow New Yorker contributor, E.B. White. His career as a cartoonist began in 1930 when White found some of Thurber's drawings in a trash can and submitted them for publication. Thurber would contribute both his writings and his drawings to The New Yorker until the 1950s.
Thurber was married twice. In 1922, Thurber married Althea Adams. The marriage was troubled and ended in divorce in May 1935. Adams gave Thurber his only child, his daughter Rosemary. Thurber remarried in June, 1935 to Helen Wismer. His second marriage lasted until he died in 1961, at the age of 66, due to complications from pneumonia, which followed upon a stroke suffered at his home. His last words, aside from the repeated word "God," were "God bless... God damn," according to Helen Thurber.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 10, 2024
Rating: I liked it 😊
Format: audio
Format: audio
March 25, 2022
Humorous! A young man captures the moment in the middle of the night when he and his mother hear footsteps downstairs going round the dining room table.
Other family members are the young man's father, his two brothers, Herman and Roy, and his grandfather. Herman is too scared to go downstairs; his mother reacts in an erratic manner notifying Mr. Bodwell, the neighbor (a retired engraver) to call the police.
Everyone has something on their mind; grandfather thinks the police are General Meade's men beginning to retreat or "even desert" under heavy fire by Stonewall Jackson.
Set in a large house in Columbus, Ohio. The young man didn't immediately know if the footsteps are his father's or Roy's footsteps coming back from a late night trip to Indianapolis; or those of a burglar.
Later on, he considers the ghostly visitation option. At one time, a former occupant had come to a sad end in a house the author had lived in.
Notes
1.Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) served as a Confederate general (1861–1863) during the American Civil War...Wikipedia.
George Gordon Meade (December 31, 1815 – November 6, 1872) was a United States Army officer and civil engineer best known for decisively defeating Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War.
He previously fought with distinction in the Second Seminole War and the Mexican–American War. During the Civil War, he served as a Union general, rising from command of a brigade to that of the Army of the Potomac. Earlier in his career, he was an engineer and was involved in the coastal construction of several lighthouses....Wikipedia.
Other family members are the young man's father, his two brothers, Herman and Roy, and his grandfather. Herman is too scared to go downstairs; his mother reacts in an erratic manner notifying Mr. Bodwell, the neighbor (a retired engraver) to call the police.
Everyone has something on their mind; grandfather thinks the police are General Meade's men beginning to retreat or "even desert" under heavy fire by Stonewall Jackson.
Set in a large house in Columbus, Ohio. The young man didn't immediately know if the footsteps are his father's or Roy's footsteps coming back from a late night trip to Indianapolis; or those of a burglar.
Later on, he considers the ghostly visitation option. At one time, a former occupant had come to a sad end in a house the author had lived in.
Notes
1.Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) served as a Confederate general (1861–1863) during the American Civil War...Wikipedia.
George Gordon Meade (December 31, 1815 – November 6, 1872) was a United States Army officer and civil engineer best known for decisively defeating Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War.
He previously fought with distinction in the Second Seminole War and the Mexican–American War. During the Civil War, he served as a Union general, rising from command of a brigade to that of the Army of the Potomac. Earlier in his career, he was an engineer and was involved in the coastal construction of several lighthouses....Wikipedia.
September 5, 2020
An interesting tale that seems allegorical to me about society and the flow of information and subsequent response.
Start out with a supernatural phenomenon, followed by anxious fear, a call out to a neighbor to notify the police, a keystone kop style raid on the house upturning all things including the senile grandfather in the attic.
This story could easily be turned into an SNL skit with Benny Hill style antics.
My interpretation is that uninformed, fearful calls from the citizenry for help from society's institutions can result in discombobulated craziness if systematic protocols aren't followed to understand the issues at hand.
Start out with a supernatural phenomenon, followed by anxious fear, a call out to a neighbor to notify the police, a keystone kop style raid on the house upturning all things including the senile grandfather in the attic.
This story could easily be turned into an SNL skit with Benny Hill style antics.
My interpretation is that uninformed, fearful calls from the citizenry for help from society's institutions can result in discombobulated craziness if systematic protocols aren't followed to understand the issues at hand.
Read
December 6, 2025This short story is about a family surviving a ghost. The ghost makes their imaginations run wild. Any student that likes supernatural things would enjoy this story. The grade levels for this book could be mid-level and up. Educators could use this book to teach students not to make assumptions.
Read
June 22, 2019Silly goodness
September 9, 2020
A very funny & witty short story, highly recommended
June 20, 2024
This was read aloud to me
January 24, 2025
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!—I just wanted to use that word.
May 22, 2025
Thurber is always a hoot! Kristi & Abby Tabby
May 18, 2026
Decent short story
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews