The Open Door and The Portrait (Annotated)

-Two great spooky stories-The Open Door and the Portrait are two short spooky stories. The Open Door is from the perspective of Mortimer a father who’s brought his family to live in an old Scottish manor but when his son is taken ill, having apparently heard a lost spirit, Mortimer promises to solve the mystery and help the lost soul. The Portrait is about Philip, a man who returns home to his elderly father and becomes enchanted by the portrait of his dead mother who he never knew. Both stories are eerie and are set in old, manor houses that hide their secrets and have male leads that like to believe they are sound of mind but maybe that’s not the case.Margaret Oliphant (1828-97) was a prolific Scots writer, author of over 100 books and innumerable articles. Early widowed, she was compelled to write for a living. She is best remembered for her 'Chronicles of Carlingford' series, which is set in a quiet country town near London. Religious themes predominate but the books are sharp and humorous.MysteriaA paperback and e-book series published by Intra.Global readability, Italian charm.

John Williams, New York Times Book Review

“[This] series of Christmas ghost stories, miniature books chosen and illustrated by the cartoonist Seth … [offers] chills―and charm.”

Patton Oswalt

“I just bought my set of these and they … are … PERFECT. I hope they do these every year.”

Matt Galloway, CBC’s Metro Morning

“These are beautiful little books … [My family’s] been reading them at home, and we’ve actually put them away so we can re-read them on Christmas Eve.”

Peter Robb, Ottawa Citizen

“For Seth, this is really a labour of love.”

Ben McNally, Ben McNally Books, Toronto, ON

“The two classic Christmas ghost stories that Seth and Biblioasis fashioned last year were a huge success for us. Nifty packaging, striking design―so Seth.”

John Toews, McNally Robinson Booksellers, Winnipeg, MB

“Seth’s Christmas Ghost Stories series resurrects the legacy of fireside tales at Christmas with these beautifully illustrated editions.”

From the Back Cover

World-renowned illustrator Seth returns with three new Christmas ghost stories for 2020.Retired officer Colonel Mortimer takes a lease on the mansion of Brentwood, the grounds of which share the ruins of an older house, including a strange, vacant doorway, but eerie events begin to unfold and Mortimer’s son falls ill. As the supernatural takes hold, Mortimer resolves to do what he must to save his son even as he ventures further into an increasingly horrifying place.

About the Author

Margaret Oliphant was a Scottish novelist and historical writer. Her fictional works encompass "domestic realism, the historical novel and tales of the supernatural." She wrote more than 120 works, including novels, books of travel and description, histories, and volumes of literary criticism.Seth is the cartoonist behind the comic-book series Palookaville, which started in the stone age as a pamphlet and is now a semi-annual hardcover. His comics have appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Best American Comics, and McSweeney’s Quarterly. His illustrations have appeared in numerous publications including the cover of the New Yorker, The Walrus, and Canadian Notes & Queries. He is the subject of a recent documentary from the National Film Board of Canada, Seth’s Dominion. Seth lives in Guelph, Ontario, with his wife Tania and their two cats in an old house he has named “Inkwell’s End.”

Reviews

News