Suitabook

The Ghost of Thomas Kempe

Penelope Lively

Reading: Read it as a comic mystery, pausing to distinguish the ghost’s actions from the events attributed to James. Afterward, explore what the diaries, folklore and physical objects add to the story, without assuming the ending resolves every question.
Themes: The past in the present: James investigates dusty diaries and local folklore while encountering a ghost connected with an earlier period and discovering traces of lives before his own. The past is treated as meaningful and discoverable, not merely as background for supernatural events.
Belief and being believed: James says he did not cause the events, while no one else believes in ghosts. He must try to deal with Thomas Kempe’s actions and demands. The book leaves its stance open to more than one reading.
Growing up and change: James is described as nine years old, and the story leads him towards recognising his place in the passage of time and that people cannot remain ten forever. Growing older is presented as part of James’s developing understanding, alongside the adventure rather than as a separate lesson.
Worth knowing: The ghost causes unsettling and disruptive incidents: writing appears on lists and fences, bottles are smashed, and tea is poured into the Vicar’s lap. The overall framing is described as funny, but the ending’s emotional tone is unclear.