Mary E. Wilkins-Freeman was born in Massachusetts and raised in Vermont - and her ghost stories have a strong New England flavor. That's their particular charm.People say "ain't" and "mebbe," women gossip over their sewing, villagers help each other out, and sweet old ladies take in boarders. Dark deeds transpire in the most unlikely households. There are reports of "strange sights and sounds" in a certain house with no near neighbors. Apparitions thrive in an atmosphere of old-time religion and covert superstition.A victim of murder or neglect might take the form of a rustling rosebush or a shadow on the wall. In one story the spirit of a cantankerous old lady tries to keep people out of her old room. In another, the ghost is a pathetic little girl. There are haunted houses and even a haunted vacant lot. There's a story with a truly fatal femme fatale. The way she practices her witchcraft is almost modern in its psychology.The Wind in the Rosebush was originally published in 1903. The style is not always sophisticated, but the plots are lively and the hauntings quite imaginative. I loved the contrasting characters of the various old ladies. Wilkins-Freeman is especially good at portraying New England spinsters and widows.The stories grew on me as I went along, and by the end of the book I had become a true admirer of this neglected American author. This edition has pleasantly readable type. The helpful product description above is from the back cover of the book. There's no introduction beyond that. You'll have to do your own research on the author's life and works.But if you're interested in lesser-known turn-of-the-century American writers, I'd definitely suggest reading The Wind in the Rosebush.