The Curse of Ravenscourt

The Curse of Ravenscourt is a Historical Character Mystery that is part of Samantha's books.

Characters

From the Central Series

• Samantha Parkington
• Nellie O'Malley
• Gardner Edwards
• Cornelia Edwards
• Bridget O'Malley
• Jenny O'Malley
• Gertrude
• Mrs. Pitt

Introduced

• Horace Raven
• Eloise Raven
• Mary Crosby
• Mr. Winthrop
• Martin
• Mrs. Calloway
• Walter Enderby

Chapter By Chapter Summary

Looking Back

Discusses people's views on spiritualism and fears of technological advances in the turn of the century. Topics include:

• Fascination with mysteries and the supernatural
• Popular mysteries people might have read, such as the Sherlock Holmes novels
• How dishonest people took advantage of people's beliefs with the supernatural
• Kate and Maggie Fox, who played an important role in the spiritualism movement and popularized seances
• How ghost shows were performed, using a combination of actors and trick lighting -- these were usually performed by actors who wanted to show the audience how they were being taken advantage by fraudsters preying on their fears or beliefs
• How elevators were seen as a public anxiety and used only for freight, even with the invention of the safety elevator by Samantha's time
• The development of taller buildings and skyscrapers, with the advent of the safety elevator -- in newer buildings with elevators, upper story apartments commanded a high premium due to the dramatic views of the city and distance from ground-level street noise
• How property owners dealt with the number 13 in taller buildings -- some owners played around with the numbering system such as labeling the first floor "Ground" and the second floor "First", other owners simply omitted the number 13 altogether