The Ghost of Thomas Kempe

The Ghost of Thomas Kempe is a novel for children by Penelope Lively published in 1973. The novel won the Carnegie Medal in 1973.

Plot summary

A young boy called James Harrison and his family decide to move house. They find a small cottage in a village called Ledsham. When they first move in they are disturbed by troubles caused by a ghost called Thomas Kempe. In life, Kempe was a seventeenth century cunning man and wants to resume his work. He attacks people whom he thinks usurp his work, such as the village doctor, nurse, policemen, and the pharmacy. He is also extremely vicious towards the vicar, but his most dangerous behavior is reserved for Mrs Verity, whom he believes to be a witch. The ghost also wants James for his apprentice, while James keeps getting blamed for the trouble the ghost causes. Eventually the ghost realizes things have changed since his time and asks James to help him move on to the next life.

Characters

Major characters

• James, the main character
• Mrs Harrison, James mother
• Mr Harrison, James father
• Helen, James sister
• Tim the dog

~Aunt Fanny, Who wrote the diary and is mentioned a lot. ~Arnold, James "pretend friend" who had been alive 120 years ago

• Thomas Kempe, the poltergeist who troubles James

Minor characters

• Bert, the local handyman who tries to deal with the poltergeist
• Mrs Verity, an old lady whom Thomas Kempe accuses of being a witch
• Arnold, a Victorian boy who experienced the ghost before James
• Aunt Fanny, Arnold's aunt
• Mr Hollings, James' teacher
• The Vicar
• Julia, Helen's friend
• Simon, James's friend

Major themes

An interest in history, the passage of time and local change is a running theme in the work of Penelope Lively, and can be seen in many of her books. This story involves the life of an ex-inhabitant of the cottage in the 19th century and the history of the surrounding countryside.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

In 1978, a film was made based on the novel, which aired on the ABC Weekend Special, a showcase for a variety of different films aimed at children. The film was re-broadcast many times over the years, and has had several releases on home video. The book was also read on BBC's Jackanory. In 1977, a radio play version was aired over a number of weeks on Australia's ABC radio.