Sarah Orne Jewett

World-renowned cartoonist Seth returns with three new ghost stories for 2025. When young Marcia is sent to stay with relatives, she’s drawn to their houseguest, Lady Ferry: a mysterious old woman who wanders the gardens, with a memory longer than humanly possible. Everyone has rumours to share, and Marcia soon wonders if Lady Ferry is cursed to live forever—or if she’s even alive at all.

The country of the pointed firs unfolds as a gentle and immersive portrait of life in a small coastal village, capturing the rhythms, traditions, and quiet beauty of its isolated setting. Told through the eyes of an observant narrator returning to Dunnet Landing, the story blends personal reflection with affectionate sketches of the community. The opening scenes establish the charm of the village, its steadfast scenery, and its enduring way of life. Encounters with local residents, including a skilled herbalist whose garden and remedies carry both practicality and lore, open windows into the town's customs and histories. Conversations and visits reveal themes of memory, solitude, and the deep ties between people and place. The narrative's loose, episodic structure allows each portrait to stand on its own while contributing to a larger meditation on time's passage and the persistence of community bonds. Rooted in rich detail, the work celebrates both the physical landscape and the inner landscapes of those who dwell by the shore.