Book excerpt: “The Abbot's Ghost” is an 1867 novel by American author Louisa May Alcott. Maurice Treherne becomes crippled as a result of saving his cousin’s life during a misadventure involving on the water. Despite being grateful for this fateful deed, his cousin Jasper isn’t very good at showing his appreciation. When Treherne realises he is in love with his other cousin Octavia, her mother attempts to keep them apart until a ghostly intervention paves the way for their happiness. A charming Christmas tale with noticeably gothic elements, “The Abbot's Ghost” would make for a perfect festive read and is not to be missed by those who have read and enjoyed other works by this author. Louisa May Alcott (1832 – 1888) was an American short story writer, novelist, and poet most famous for writing the novel “Little Women”, as well as its sequels “Little Men” and “Jo's Boys”. She grew up in New England and became associated with numerous notable intellectuals of her time, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Henry David Thoreau. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with the original text and artwork.