Kerfol

What begins as an ordinary event quickly shifts into the bizarre after the narrator, a wealthy bachelor, meets their friend, Lanvivain, at an old mansion. Thinking about purchasing the property, the narrator and Lanvivain explore the mansion at Kerfol, attracted to the vast and ordinate property. Lanvivain enthusiastically urges the bachelor to buy the property, declaring that it matches his personality exactly. The narrator, however, is unconvinced, as he is concerned when they notice how vacant the house is. The property is incredibly still—no-one is around, except a pack of dogs that are deadly silent and calm, almost as if they were just a figment of the imagination. Intrigued, the two friends decide to look into the history of the house to find the previous owners. First occupied years before, the house used to be owned by a couple. The husband, Yves, was often away on business, so to make it up to his wife, Anne, he would buy her dogs. Anne cared for her dogs dearly. She would treat them with the best care possible, and loved them like they were her own children. The sentiment that was appreciated and reciprocated by the dogs. However, as the young couple’s bond was not as strong. As Yves and Anne’s relationship started to slip into turmoil, Yves grew to be cruel, committing acts that would haunt the mansion forever. With retroactive narration and compelling characters, Kerfol by Edith Wharton follows two generations of characters in association with the same property. With skillfully crafted prose, Wharton delivers a narrative that is suspenseful and spooky, while simultaneously appealing to a sense of sentiment and mystery. Kerfol defies genre and demands attention with twists and odd phenomena. Though first published in 1916, just over one-hundred years ago, Edith Wharton’s Kerfol appeals to contemporary audiences with its unique plot, vivid setting, and timeless themes of loyalty and revenge. This edition of Kerfol by Edith Wharton is presented with a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this heart-breaking gothic horror is a tempting and alluring experience for contemporary readers.