Elisa Segrave

An angry poltergeist: Long Shadows, by Abigail Cutter, reviewed

A ghost from the American civil war is outraged when a couple move into his old home and unearth precious family mementoes

The appalling aftermath of Battle of Gettysburg is vividly described by Abigail Cutter. [Getty Images] 
issue 20 August 2022

Long Shadows, a powerful novel set mainly in the American civil war, is very unlike Gone with the Wind. The narrator, Tom Smiley, is now an unhappy ghost trapped in his old home, which, apart from snakes, mice and silverfish, has been uninhabited since his widowed daughter Clara died. A young couple arrive: Harry, who has inherited the property, and Phoebe, a psychic.

GIF Image

Disagree with half of it, enjoy reading all of it

TRY A MONTH FREE
Our magazine articles are for subscribers only. Try a month of Britain’s best writing, absolutely free.

Comments

Join the debate, free for a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first month free.

Already a subscriber? Log in