Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Vintage (2014), Edition: Media tie-in- Vintage Movie Classics, 192 pages
Description
"The basis for Joseph L. Mankiewicz's cinematic romance starring Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison. Burdened by debt after her husband's death, Lucy Muir insists on moving into the very cheap Gull Cottage in the quaint seaside village of Whitecliff, despite multiple warnings that the house is haunted. Upon discovering the rumors to be true, the young widow ends up forming a special companionship with the ghost of handsome former sea captain Daniel Gregg. Through the struggles of supporting her children, seeking out romance from the wrong places, and working to publish the captain's story as a book, Blood and Swash, Lucy finds in her secret relationship with Captain Gregg a comfort and blossoming love she never could have predicted. Originally published in 1945, made into a movie in 1947, and later adapted into a television sitcom in 1968, this romantic tale explores how love can develop without boundaries, both in this life and beyond"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member tapestry100
I received this from a friend for Christmas, and her gift theme this year was books that were the basis for famous movies. It's been years since I've seen the film The Ghost and Mrs Muir (and I didn't even know about the sitcom series from the 60s), and I'll admit up front that I had no idea the
The story follows Lucy Muir, who strikes out on her own after the death of her husband. Due to a large amount of debt that he left her, and trying to escape the overbearing, constant presence of his family in her life, she decides that all she needs in life for her and her children is a place of their own and solitude for herself. After being shown Gull Cottage in the village of Whitecliff, Lucy decides on the spot that she must live there, even though she is warned very strongly about moving there because the house is haunted. Determined not to let something as simple as a ghost deter her from her dreams of independence, she moves into the house anyway and ends up forming a friendship with the ghost of sea captain Daniel Gregg. Over the course of her life and through multiple struggles, she and Captain Gregg become more than just friends, and ultimately the story grows beyond her story to become their story.
This is a charming and quick read. I finished the book in one reading, and is the perfect book to sit down with a cup of tea on a chilly winter afternoon and enjoy.
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movie was based on a book, so I went into the book with no preconceived expectations. Turns out, I love this book!The story follows Lucy Muir, who strikes out on her own after the death of her husband. Due to a large amount of debt that he left her, and trying to escape the overbearing, constant presence of his family in her life, she decides that all she needs in life for her and her children is a place of their own and solitude for herself. After being shown Gull Cottage in the village of Whitecliff, Lucy decides on the spot that she must live there, even though she is warned very strongly about moving there because the house is haunted. Determined not to let something as simple as a ghost deter her from her dreams of independence, she moves into the house anyway and ends up forming a friendship with the ghost of sea captain Daniel Gregg. Over the course of her life and through multiple struggles, she and Captain Gregg become more than just friends, and ultimately the story grows beyond her story to become their story.
This is a charming and quick read. I finished the book in one reading, and is the perfect book to sit down with a cup of tea on a chilly winter afternoon and enjoy.
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LibraryThing member Kirconnell
I loved this old-fashioned telling of a unique relationship between the ghost of a sea captain and the woman who rented his house. Since I saw the film first I may never get Rex Harrison out of my head as the cranky captain, but I must say that he was perfect for the role.
LibraryThing member TnTexas
A fun, albeit rather short, book. The first part of the story felt like it was paced pretty well, but the last part skipped over a lot of events with barely a mention, basically making it a really long short story. Having said that, I enjoyed it even though I wish it had been longer and the
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characters and events explored more indepth. Show Less
LibraryThing member pussreboots
This book was one of my grandmother's favorites. I remember her talking about it all the time. I didn't read it until after she had died, though.
LibraryThing member janerawoof
I zipped through this one--a charming, delightful novella about a widow, Lucy Muir, wishing to escape her domineering [though well-meaning] in-laws. She begins to exert independence and settles in a cottage by the sea. She meets the ghost of a sea captain, Captain Gregg. The two form an unlikely
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but warm friendship which lasts through the years. His wisdom and counsel along with prompt action rescue her from several scrapes. To escape penury, she "ghostwrites" his memoirs which become a bestseller. A heartwarming story laced throughout with gentle humor. No wonder this became a successful Hollywood movie and television series! Highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member MathMaverick
I loved this book. Somehow I put it on my reading list (I must have seen it referenced in some other book and it struck a good nerve). In any case, I am glad I did. I think the book is way ahead of it's time, specifically from an independent women perspective. I love books that promote
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independence, in action and thought, and this book did just that. The characters were first class and the descriptions were excellent. it's a very easy read and very entertaining. I Highly recommend this book - you will not be disappointed. Show Less
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
I fell in love with the 1947 movie based on this book many years ago and so I was looking forward to reading the original story which was published in 1945. The author, Josephine Leslie decided to hide her gender and published under the name R.A. Dick but to me, it was quite obviously written by a
The crusty old sea captain and the dainty Mrs. Muir learn to get along remarkably well and she comes to rely on his companionship. They help each other, ignoring both the spiritual and physical boundaries that exist between them. When Lucy experiences money difficulties, the captain dictates his life story to her and it becomes a best selling book. Both these characters evolve through the years, Lucy becoming a stronger person, more able to stand up for her rights, while the Captain learns patience, understanding and gentleness.
An original and unusual love story in that passion isn’t part of the relationship at all. Instead through their humorous exchanges, the characters learn to understand, like and respect each other. Unlike the movie, Lucy never “sees” the captain, he is simply a voice that speaks in her mind. Nevertheless, they are a delightful couple and I found the book very entertaining.
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woman. The story is of Lucy Muir, a young widow who defies her overbearing in-laws and moves herself and her two children to Gull Cottage on the seaside. The cottage is for rent at a very reduced price and she soon learns why. It is haunted by Captain Daniel Gregg and he is not shy about making his presence felt. The crusty old sea captain and the dainty Mrs. Muir learn to get along remarkably well and she comes to rely on his companionship. They help each other, ignoring both the spiritual and physical boundaries that exist between them. When Lucy experiences money difficulties, the captain dictates his life story to her and it becomes a best selling book. Both these characters evolve through the years, Lucy becoming a stronger person, more able to stand up for her rights, while the Captain learns patience, understanding and gentleness.
An original and unusual love story in that passion isn’t part of the relationship at all. Instead through their humorous exchanges, the characters learn to understand, like and respect each other. Unlike the movie, Lucy never “sees” the captain, he is simply a voice that speaks in her mind. Nevertheless, they are a delightful couple and I found the book very entertaining.
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LibraryThing member mstrust
The story of young English widow Lucy Muir. Along with her two young children, Lucy moves into the isolated cliffside home of Gull Cottage. Eager to finally be free from her domineering in-laws, Lucy finds that she must deal with another strong personality, the long dead Captain Gregg, who owned
This is the book of the movie starring Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney and the book was re-issued by Vintage Movie Classics. The scare factor is almost non-existent, just a bit of apprehension about what Lucy will find when she first moves in, but this is a rather sweet ghost story. Well, if you put aside how Lucy behaves when she has a shot at romance.
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the house and died there.This is the book of the movie starring Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney and the book was re-issued by Vintage Movie Classics. The scare factor is almost non-existent, just a bit of apprehension about what Lucy will find when she first moves in, but this is a rather sweet ghost story. Well, if you put aside how Lucy behaves when she has a shot at romance.
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LibraryThing member ReneePaule
Deep and thought provoking - right up my street ;)
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
I love this story - not sure why, Mrs. Muir is constantly being badgered about and managed. She escapes her husband's family only to run into a managing ghost...Captain Gregg is mostly very annoying, except when he's utterly wonderful. He screws up mightily a few times, and every time he apologizes
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and tries to make things better (though mostly he can't). Lucy Muir also screws up a few times, though usually more by omission than commission - letting others direct her actions rather than standing up for herself. I like Anna, and dislike Cyril, exactly as I'm supposed to. Anna's disgust at falling into such a conventional life is wonderful - it's one short scene, but I love it. And the end is not at all surprising, but it's lovely. I've seen the movie at least a couple times; I really can't remember whether I've read the book before. I certainly know the story, but whether I got it from the book or the movie I don't know. The foreword, in my edition, spends a good deal of time praising the movie's screenwriter, who modified the book to make a better movie without destroying its story (as all too many screenwriters have done to other books). I wonder if anyone's published the movie novelization; that would be interesting to compare to the original. But I guess I'll just have to watch the movie again, and compare it that way... Show Less
LibraryThing member cathyskye
Once more, I find myself reading a book upon which a favorite movie has been based. Even though I've never been a fan of either Gene Tierney or Rex Harrison, the 1947 screen adaptation of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir has always been a favorite. Since I don't care for the actors, I think it's safe to say
The movie actually follows along rather closely to the book, only changing the chronology from time to time and having Mrs. Muir have just one child-- an excision I could understand completely.
At the very beginning of the book, we are told that Lucy Muir is a little woman, but it takes no time at all to see that the only people who call her little are those who go through life with blinders on-- and those who insist on keeping her "in her place." R.A. Dick's novel is so much more than a ghost story; it's about a woman who insists on living the life that she wants without other people telling her what to do.
My experiences in reading books that have been the source of favorite movies have been a bit hit-or-miss, but I'm happy to say that reading The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is a success. Both book and film are well done. Both stand the test of time, and both can bring a tear to the eye.
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that it's all due to the story.The movie actually follows along rather closely to the book, only changing the chronology from time to time and having Mrs. Muir have just one child-- an excision I could understand completely.
At the very beginning of the book, we are told that Lucy Muir is a little woman, but it takes no time at all to see that the only people who call her little are those who go through life with blinders on-- and those who insist on keeping her "in her place." R.A. Dick's novel is so much more than a ghost story; it's about a woman who insists on living the life that she wants without other people telling her what to do.
My experiences in reading books that have been the source of favorite movies have been a bit hit-or-miss, but I'm happy to say that reading The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is a success. Both book and film are well done. Both stand the test of time, and both can bring a tear to the eye.
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LibraryThing member jsabrina
This is a charming and quietly wise story about a relatively young widow who finds herself suddenly able to make a life and choices for herself, free of the influence of her late husband and his formidable family. Over the objections of everyone from the realtor to her sister-in-law -- to the late
The titular ghost is none-too-pleased about having a WOMAN living in his house, but he soon becomes fond of the stubborn Lucy and starts giving her unsolicited advice and lecturing her. They fall into a congenial, affectionate, if sometimes quarrelsome friendship that lasts for decades.
Through this time, Lucy raises her children, falls in love, fends off the well-meaning but overbearing attempts of those around her to manage her life, and does well for herself.
Her relationship with the Captain is an important part of the story, but by no means the sole focus.
This is a quick, easy read, but not less satisfying for its simplicity.
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owner himself! -- Lucy takes up residence in Gull Cottage determined to live her life the way she wants to.The titular ghost is none-too-pleased about having a WOMAN living in his house, but he soon becomes fond of the stubborn Lucy and starts giving her unsolicited advice and lecturing her. They fall into a congenial, affectionate, if sometimes quarrelsome friendship that lasts for decades.
Through this time, Lucy raises her children, falls in love, fends off the well-meaning but overbearing attempts of those around her to manage her life, and does well for herself.
Her relationship with the Captain is an important part of the story, but by no means the sole focus.
This is a quick, easy read, but not less satisfying for its simplicity.
Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1945
Physical description
192 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
0804173486 / 9780804173483
Local notes
The book upon which the beloved movie, with Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison, is based.