The Spook Ballads

"The Spook Ballads" by William Theodore Parkes is a compilation of funny poems from the late 1800s, which cleverly uses ghosts and legends to entertain readers. The collection mixes storytelling with rhymes to present tales that blend humor, mockery, and observations about society. Early on, readers are introduced to amusing ballads showing characters like a haunted butler and ghostly events at places such as Hampton Court. In one poem, a man and a ghost have a funny chat where the ghost complains about his destiny, cleverly playing with the misconceptions and scares about the supernatural. Through entertaining language, rhymes, and strong images, Parkes pulls readers into a world where the silly and spooky meet, establishing the playful and imaginative mood for the poems that follow.