An Umbrella Case

The Spook Ballads

by William Theodore PARKES (1864 - 1908)

This is a volume of ghost stories in verse by William Theodore Parkes. The poems in this volume are often humorous, and written in a parody of ye olde style of poetry."Dealing largely with ghosts and legends embracing a dash of diablerie such as would have been dear to the heart of Ingoldsby. There is a rugged force in 'The Girl of Castlebar' that will always make it tell in recitation; and even greater success in this direction has attended 'The Fairy Queen,' a story unveiling the seamy side, with quaint humour and stern realism. It is specially worthy of note that Mr. Parkes's skill in versification has received the warmest acknowledgment from those best qualified to appreciate the bright local coloring as well as the blending of fancy and fun."— Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper. - Summary by Carolin

Listen next episodes of The Spook Ballads:
A Cantible on Music, Art and Law , A Confidential Sonnet , A Fight in the Phoenix Park , A Fugitive Kiss , A Gun Solo , A Horror of London Town , A Kleptomaniac's Doom , A Pretty Little Land I Know , A Tram Car Ghost , A Wallflower Sonnet , An Abdicated Crown , An Ill Wind Blew him Good , Antediluvian Pat O'Toole , Canticrank , Caught in the Breach , He Followed the Fox , Heads and Tails , Heraldic Fruits , His Future State , How they Enlist , I'll go for a Sojer , John McKune , Leather Versus Law , Margate Sands , Ode Here! , Paradoxical Words , Tears in Law , The Bedroom Curse , The Colonel and the Cook , The Ghost of Hiram Smike , The Honest Young Cashier , The Kindergarten Way , The Late Fitz-Binks , The Lucky Sixpence , The Magic Specs , The Polis and the Princess Granauille , The Road to London , The Semi-Grand Piano , The Smuggler's Fate , The Spirit that held him down , The Spook of Rotten Row , Why did ye die? , Woman's Tears , Ye Curious Tayle