Aunt Joanna by Sabine Baring-Gould
In a remote Cornish district, an elderly woman lives alone in a modest cottage. Known as Aunt Joanna, she is a strict Wesleyan, disapproving of dances and social gatherings. Her grand-niece, Rose, defies her by attending a dance, leading to a permanent rift between them. After Rose marries a local tradesman, communication ceases, and Aunt Joanna remains resolute in her disdain for her family. As Aunt Joanna ages, her neighbors express concern for her well-being, suggesting she hire help. However, she stubbornly refuses, believing she can manage on her own. One day, she is found dead in her cottage, having passed away alone. The local farmers, Jabez and Elizabeth Hockin, discover her body and decide to take inventory of her possessions to prevent theft. To their surprise, they find valuable items, including silverware and money, hidden away. The Hockins, believing they are honoring Aunt Joanna's wishes, decide to cover her funeral expenses, despite her estrangement from her family. They conduct a lavish funeral, garnering praise from the community for their generosity. However, after the funeral, the Hockins experience strange occurrences at night. They hear the sound of coins rolling and counting, leading them to believe Aunt Joanna's spirit is restless. Terrified, they decide to return her possessions to her grave, hoping to appease her spirit. On a stormy night, they sneak into the churchyard and leave Aunt Joanna's items on her grave. As they watch, they witness her ghostly hands emerging from the grave, retrieving the items they had placed there. The spirit seems to be reclaiming her belongings, and in a bizarre twist, she throws coins back at the Hockins, who collect them in fear. The story explores themes of pride, family estrangement, and the consequences of one's actions. Aunt Joanna's strictness and refusal to reconcile with her family lead to her isolation in life and her haunting presence after death. The Hockins, while initially appearing generous, are ultimately driven by self-interest and fear, revealing the complexities of human nature in the face of death and legacy.
By Sabine Baring-Gould · First published 1892 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Literary Fiction, Folklore · 5,522 words
First lines
In the Land's End district is the little church-town of Zennor. There is no village to speak of -- a few scattered farms, and here and there a cluster of cottages. The district is bleak, the soil does not lie deep over granite that peers through the surface on exposed spots, where the furious gales from the ocean sweep the land. If trees ever existed there, they have been swept away by the blast, but the golden furze or gorse defies all winds, and clothes the moorland with a robe of splendour, and the heather flushes the slopes with crimson towards the decline of summer, and mantles them in soft, warm brown in winter, like the fur of an animal.
What this Textopian page supports
Aunt Joanna is listed on Textopian as a novella by Sabine Baring-Gould, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Sabine Baring-Gould
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic Fiction, Literary Fiction, Folklore, Drama, Historical Fiction
- Length: 5,522 words
- Structure: 1 section, 124 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Aunt Joanna by Sabine Baring-Gould
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Aunt Joanna?
- How does this novella by Sabine Baring-Gould fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Gothic Fiction — The story features supernatural elements, such as the ghost of Aunt Joanna, and explores themes of death and the afterlife.
- Literary Fiction — The narrative delves into character development and moral dilemmas, focusing on the complexities of human relationships and societal norms.
- Folklore — The setting and themes reflect local traditions and beliefs, particularly in relation to death and the customs surrounding it.
- Drama — The plot centers around interpersonal conflicts and emotional struggles, particularly between Aunt Joanna and her grand-niece.
Tags
family · relationships · drama · love · loss · rural · community · tradition · conflict · identity · women · society