Among the Primeval Shadows: Exploring the Strange Magic of Edith Wharton’s Ghost Stories with Robert Oakes

Join Robert Oakes, author of Ghosts of the Berkshires and long-time ghost tour guide at The Mount, as he explores Wharton’s ideas on ghosts and ghost stories, sharing excerpts from her tales that reveal some of their mysterious magic. Following the talk in The Mount’s Drawing Room, we’ll bring the tales to life as we explore the Mansion by flashlight and hear reports of hauntings at the estate. Wharton invited her readers to meet her “halfway among the primeval shadows.” In this program, we’ll look into the darkness and see what we may see! Though we know it’s just a story… Right?! IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION: This two-hour program consists of a seated presentation in The Mount’s Drawing Room, followed by a fully-accessible ghost tour of the Mansion. Seating is first-come, first-served. If you have seating preferences, we recommend arriving fifteen minutes early. Parking for Ghost Tours is in The Mount’s lower lot, adjacent to the Mansion. An attendant will direct you from the Ticket Booth. This tour contains adult content that is not appropriate for young audiences under 12 years old. Families should consider attending one of our Ghost Tours for Kids. Accessible accommodations are available. To discuss arrangements, please contact us by phone: 413-551-5111 x5; or email: [email protected]. For more information about accessibility, review The Mount’s accessibility webpage. Robert Oakes writes books about ghosts, leads tours in haunted places, and sings soulful original songs. He has written three books, The Ghostly Tales of the Berkshires (2023), Ghosts of Northwestern New Jersey (2022), and Ghosts of the Berkshires (2020), all published by Arcadia Publishing. He has also released numerous recordings, both as a solo artist and as part of the folk duo Oakes and Smith. Since 2010, Robert has led immersive ghost storytelling experiences at historic locations in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, including Ventfort Hall, Edith Wharton’s The Mount, and Herman Melville’s Arrowhead. He has also given talks and readings for both children and adults at many libraries, schools, and cultural centers. Robert has appeared on Syfy’s Ghost Hunters, Jeff Belanger’s New England Legends series on PBS, and The Apple Seed show on BYUradio and has been featured in The Boston Globe, The Berkshire Eagle, and numerous other media outlets. Robert earned his master’s degree from the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English and has taught elementary, middle, and high school English, as well as adult writing workshops. “You’ll never look at the region the same way after chatting with Robert Oakes.” — Diane Bair, The Boston Globe “Robert Oakes is an incredible speaker and tells … stories so elegantly you feel like you’ve stepped back in time!” —Drew Babineau, paranormal investigator