I was wrong about The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by Josephine Leslie who wrote under R.A. Dick. I hadn’t read the book, although I was a big fan of the TV series with Edward Mulhare and Hope Lange who won an Emmy Award for her role. I own the movie, so I need to watch it. But, the book. I love the ghost of Captain Daniel Gregg. I have opinions about Lucy Muir, though.
Lucy Muir is a widow with two children and an inadequate income after her husband’s early death. Despite protests from his family, she rents an inexpensive house, Gull Cottage, in the seaside village of Whitecliff. Its rent is cheap because all the locals know it’s haunted and no one who rents it stays. Mrs. Muir knows it’s haunted, but insists she’ll stay for one night, and see if she can get along with the ghost of the sea captain who owned it. The gruff captain comes to an agreement with her that he won’t haunt her children, and he’ll only stay in his bedroom.
Lucy and the captain go through time together, as she buys the cottage with the captain’s hidden money, falls for the wrong man, and, when she runs low on funds, write his seafaring story together. He’s always there with advice when she needs it, although she has a hard time accepting it.
As I always do, I fell for the ghost of the Captain. But, Lucy. I kinow the book was first published in 1945, when there were expectations for widows in England. However, I found Lucy to be wimpy with no spine. She was easily cowed by everyone from her sister-in-law to her son. She fell into everyone’s plans, and seldom seemed to have an opinion of her own. And, the description of her was always “little Mrs. Muir”. People seemed to use that to look at her as an unimportant person, easily overlooked. Maybe I object to that name because I’m short. While I admired Lucy Muir for her ability to find a place to live and survive there, raising her children, I didn’t care for all the opinions of her as a weak, insignificant woman.
The edition I read had an introduction by Adriana Trigiani, author of The Shoemaker’s Wife and Big Stone Gap. Trigiani loves the movie with Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison, and covers that in the book.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir won’t make my list of favorite books, but I did love the captain’s ghost.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick. Vintage Books, 1945/2014. 152p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I bought a copy of the book.
I find your review particularly interesting because about a year ago, I started reading this book (I’ve never seen the movie) and found it so sexist that I stopped before I’d read very far. I don’t believe in books being updated, but sometimes they are such products of their times that I just can’t keep reading — and this was one of those. Sounds like you felt similarly, but the appealing ghost kept you going.
Well, the appealing ghost, Kim, and the fact that I wanted to see how it ended. I know Kaye Barley loved The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, but I don’t know if it was the book or the movie. I’m sure she’ll let us know.
And, you’re right! So sexist! “Little Mrs. Muir” who can’t take care of herself. Bah.
You didn’t mention Charles Nelson Reilly, who played the Captain’s goofy great nephew Claymore, who rented her the cottage. I liked the TV show too, but the book sounds like one to skip.
Jeff, I watched the TV show when I was 11-13. I don’t even remember Charles Nelson Reilly in it! I fell in love with Edward Mulhare as the ghost.
Thank you for this review Lesa. I have a vague memory of the tv show so when you mentioned the book in a previous post I was tempted to add it to my TBR pile. With Kim seconding your opinion of Mrs. Muir I’ll skip it.
I’m eager to watch the movie now, Susan. I think you can skip the book.
I loved the movie with Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney and George Sanders. One of my favorite movies and more of a love story than a ghost story. I am definitely going to read the book!
Nina, I can’t wait to see what you think of the book. I definitely need to watch the movie now.