Old Fires and Profitable Ghosts: A Book of Stories
1900
Old Fires and Profitable Ghosts, published in 1900 by Arthur Quiller-Couch, is a collection of short stories that delve into the emotional and psychological impacts of revenants—those who return from the past, either as spirits or memories. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Great Britain, the stories explore themes of life, death, and the haunting legacy of memories. The opening tale, 'Oceanus,' reflects on grief and the nature of existence through a supernatural encounter, establishing a tone of tension between hope and despair that permeates the collection.
