The Autumn Ghosts
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The Autumn Ghosts is a children's novel first published in 1973 under the title The Autumn People, later reissued in 1976 with its current name. Authored by Ruth M. Arthur and illustrated by Margery Gill, the book was released by Atheneum Books. Set against the backdrop of the Scottish Islands, the story delves into the struggle between good and evil within a close-knit community.
Summary
While visiting the Scottish Islands, Romilly undergoes a time slip that transports her into Millie's life, drawing her deeply into the world of the Autumn Ghosts and the lingering impact of history. Through this experience, she unravels the reasons behind her great-grandmother's permanent absence and the circumstances surrounding her cousin Rodger’s death, ultimately aiding in dispelling the malevolent forces afflicting her family.
Plot
Entry
Romilly Williams leads a joyful childhood in Pembrokeshire, Wales, surrounded by her Gran and their devoted housekeeper Jeanie, who holds strong beliefs in ancient wisdom. Gran shares tales about their family’s connection to Karasay House on the Scottish Islands and the enigma of Millie—Gran’s mother—who visited once but never returned.
Part I
In 1901, sixteen-year-old Millie spends time at Karasay with family friends as she transitions into adulthood. Although warmly received, Rodger becomes obsessively focused on her. Millie senses his dark intentions as he intimidates her and warns of harm should she continue seeing Jocelyn. Upon discovering Rodger’s hidden chamber filled with unsettling objects, Millie is compelled to swear a blood oath sealed with an ancient stone ring.
Jocelyn asks Millie to marry him, but she hesitates due to Rodger’s threats. After Rodger vanishes during a storm—believed to have died—Millie maintains silence about their pact despite its toll on Jocelyn. Eventually, she ends their engagement for his protection and weds James; they have a daughter named Alison. Nevertheless, Millie remains haunted by Rodger’s malevolence.
Part II
Romilly encounters both admiration and intrigue regarding Karasay and Millie’s conduct. During a visit with Gran, she forms a close bond with Cousin Derwant and grows fond of the island herself. Immersed in family narratives and photographs, Romilly consciously time slips back to Millie’s autumnal era when the ghosts appear—a connection made possible by her ancestry and intent.
Rodger’s spirit also claims Romilly, instilling fear and chilling dread. After discovering and wearing Rodger’s ring—which she cannot remove—his influence grows stronger. Through Romilly, Millie locates Rodger’s sinister hideout and destroys it by fire, banishing the spirits. The ring then slips off effortlessly; Romilly secretly donates it to a museum collection, neutralizing its power.
Exit
In her first term at art school, Romilly meets Joss, and together they begin dancing.
Major characters
Romilly Williams – the sixteen-year-old main character.
Alison Graham – Romilly’s maternal grandmother, known as Gran; originally from Edinburgh, she lived in London with her husband and often visited Karasay House with relatives. She is also a pianist.
Romilly Graham (née Romilly Carpentier), also called Millie – Gran’s mother and narrator of Part I, after whom Romilly is named. Often moody and unhappy, she aspired to become ‘the happy person I could be’. Following a childhood tragedy, she developed an aversion to Karasay House and never returned. Millie passed away when Gran was ten; she was reserved, secretive, and challenging for Gran to understand.
Rodger Graham – Charlotte’s eighteen-year-old middle brother who practices black magic. His thin, secretive expression concealed a violent temper and dark rituals masked by an interest in animal photography. He threatened family members to keep his occult activities hidden and coerced Millie into marriage.
James Graham – Charlotte’s seventeen-year-old elder brother; open-minded and optimistic. He cared for Millie but recognized her true affection lay with Jocelyn.
Jocelyn Parsons – eighteen-year-old male who was Millie’s true love.
Miss Minnie – neighbor of Karasay House whose sister is allied with Rodger; she breaks Rodger's spell over Millie and Romilly through a fiery exorcism.
'Joss Parsons – descendant of Jocelyn Parsons who meets Romilly after Rodger’s enchantment ends.
The Autumn People/The Autumn Ghosts – the Parson family from Millie’s time who return annually each autumn for a brief stay on Karasay Island.
Reception
The Desert Sun identified Ruth Arthur as a prominent figure in Young Adult supernatural literature, possibly drawing inspiration from her Scottish heritage, and commended her talent for capturing "the world just beyond touch." The review drew favorable comparisons between this title and her previous work Requiem for a Princess, highlighting its depiction of the fascination with history. Charlotte's Library Blog suggested the novel as an effective bridge between past and present timelines, though it pointed out that the characters Rodger and Jocelyn lacked depth. The Read-at-Home Mom blog described the story as "haunting but with a happy ending," underscoring its exploration of how history influences the present.