Concerned that the realities of the world slowly beat down our childhood imagination, writer Walter de la Mare made a point of keeping his own intact. His imaginative style shines most clearly in his supernatural work, such as “Seaton’s Aunt,” a short story that will be included by organizer Kurt Beattie at Town Hall’s Ghost Stories. This month’s installment of their Short Stories Live reading series also includes de la Mare’s “Crewe,” a servant’s tale of backstabbing and haunting, and some selected poems, not necessarily about ghosts. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be mystified by the Britishisms like “billy-cock hat”—but what’s a better introduction to Brit-lit than a children’s author telling ghost stories? Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255, www.townhallseattle.org. $15-$18. 4 p.m. BRENT ARONOWITZ

Sun., Feb. 17, 4 p.m., 2008