The Haunted Bookshop · Chapter
Aubrey Takes Lodgings explained
Aubrey Gilbert, recovering from his attack, rents a room opposite the Haunted Bookshop to secretly observe Titania Chapman.
What happens
Aubrey Gilbert, recovering from his attack, rents a room opposite the Haunted Bookshop to secretly observe Titania Chapman. He uses opera glasses to watch her from his window, feeling both exhilarated and absurd.
Themes in this chapter
Mystery and Adventure
Aubrey's secret surveillance of the bookshop and his romantic-adventurous impulse to investigate.
The Power of Books and Reading
Aubrey finds solace in O. Henry's stories, and the bookshop is a central focus of his attention.
Characters to notice
- Aubrey Gilbert
Rents a room opposite the bookshop to spy on Titania; recovers from his head wound; reads O. Henry and scans the newspaper.
- Titania Chapman
Seen through Aubrey's opera glasses working in the bookshop, wearing a white V-necked blouse and brown skirt.
- Mrs. Schiller
The landlady who rents Aubrey the third-floor front room; warm, stout, with a pug dog named Treasure.
- Roger Mifflin
Mentioned as the owner of the Haunted Bookshop; his bulletin board is visible from Aubrey's window.
Key passages
“I am sensible that Mr. Aubrey Gilbert is by no means ideal as the leading juvenile of our piece. The time still demands some explanation why the leading juvenile wears no gold chevrons on his left sleeve.”
The narrator admits Aubrey is an imperfect hero and explains why he is not in uniform.
Sets up Aubrey's background and his flat feet excuse from military service.
“He was accustomed to remark that 'the fellow who writes the Packard ads has Ralph Waldo Emerson skinned three ways from the Jack.'”
Aubrey thinks advertising copywriters are more skilled than classic authors like Emerson.
Highlights Aubrey's commercial, non-literary perspective.
“He could see the lighted windows of the Haunted Bookshop quite plainly, but he could not think of any adequate excuse for going over there.”
Aubrey sees the bookshop from his window but feels he has no good reason to visit.
Shows his internal conflict between desire and propriety.