The Red Room | A Ghost Story by H. G. Wells | A Bitesized Audiobook
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- Опубліковано 7 чер 2024
- In H.G. Wells’s celebrated ghost story, an intrepid and self-confident young man resolves to spend the night in a room which is reportedly haunted by a malevolent spirit, determined to disprove the legend. The story begins at 00:01:20 **Note for returning listeners: This is a new recording of a story previously available on the channel. The previous upload was actually the very first story I recorded before I set up my studio, so the audio quality was low. I hope you enjoy this new recording, released for Halloween season 2023.
Narrated/performed by Simon Stanhope, aka Bitesized Audio. If you enjoy this content and would like to help me keep creating, there are a few ways you can support me (and get access to exclusive content):
* Occasional/one-off support via Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/bitesize...
* Monthly support on Patreon: / bitesizedaudio
* Visit my Bandcamp page to hear more of my performances of classic stories, and you can purchase and download high quality audio files to listen offline: bitesizedaudio.bandcamp.com/
* Become a Bitesized Audio Classics member on UA-cam, from $1 / £1 / €1 per month:
/ bitesizedaudioclassics
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:20 The Red Room
00:30:07 Credits and thanks
H.G. (Herbert George) Wells (1866-1946) was an English writer prolific in many genres. He was born in Bromley, Kent, the fourth and youngest child of former domestic servants turned shopkeepers. When the shop struggled financially, Wells was apprenticed as a draper - an unhappy experience, which he later used in novels such as 'The History of Mr. Polly' and 'Kipps'. He was released from apprenticeship to become a pupil-teacher at Midhurst Grammar School, which allowed him to self-educate and work his way via a scholarship to the Normal School of Science in London. He began writing by contributing short articles to periodicals such as The Pall Mall Gazette.
As an author, Wells is perhaps best remembered today for his science fiction - he is regarded as one of the founders of the genre, and many of his works have achieved the status of classics, including The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897) and The War of the Worlds (1898). From a young age Wells was an active socialist, and his later writing moved away from science fiction and tackled wider social and political themes, in novels such as 'Tono-Bungay' (1909) and 'The History of Mr. Polly' (1910). He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times.
'The Red Room' first appeared in the March 1896 issue of 'The Idler'. It's especially notable that Wells himself - like the narrator - was an avowed sceptic of the idea of ghosts and hauntings; it's possible the story may have been intended to some extent as a send-up or attack on the genre; but it's a powerfully and concisely written tale and, whether satire or not, 'The Red Room' has gone on to become one of the most anthologised Victorian ghost stories.
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2023 - Розваги
In H.G. Wells’s celebrated ghost story, an intrepid and self-confident young man resolves to spend the night in a room which is reportedly haunted by a malevolent spirit, determined to disprove the legend. The story begins at 00:01:20 **Note for returning listeners: This is a new recording of a story previously available on the channel. The previous upload was actually the very first story I recorded before I set up my studio, so the audio quality was low. I hope you enjoy this new recording, released for Halloween season 2023.
Narrated/performed by Simon Stanhope, aka Bitesized Audio. If you enjoy this content and would like to help me keep creating, there are a few ways you can support me (and get access to exclusive content):
* Occasional/one-off support via Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/bitesizedaudio
* Monthly support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bitesizedaudio
* Visit my Bandcamp page to hear more of my performances of classic stories, and you can purchase and download high quality audio files to listen offline: bitesizedaudio.bandcamp.com/
* Become a Bitesized Audio Classics member on UA-cam, from $1 / £1 / €1 per month:
ua-cam.com/users/BitesizedAudioClassicsjoin
🎉Thank you 👻 🎉
😊
❤😊
As I listen to your narrations, I find myself searching for the reason I am so captivated by your voice Simon. Then, I had a realization. You have a quality to your voice, I believe a natural skill honed by sincere desire, to turn a mere storytelling if told by another, into a literal experience for those that are fortunate enough to hear you speak. Beautifully done Simon! Absolutely beautifully done. ❤
I'm touched by your lovely comment, Susan, thank you so much
I agree-I've given up listening to other story narration channels....none of the readers can possibly compete with Simon's level of brilliance!
This channel is a treasure! 🥰
Perfect voice for audiobooks. 💯💯👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
this is probably the most perfect ghost story ever written .... narrated with perfect genius .... and within 30 minutes it manages to be delightfully humorous and at the same time to pierce to the very pith and marrow of human spirituality as the impetus for all religiosity and moralism .... bravo...shabash ... well done ... and many thanks
I agree 100%!
I've lost count of how many times I've listened to it. 😍
Thank you for this and all your videos. I have enjoyed many of them over the years. I really appreciate that someone brings these grand old tales to life. Bravo, well done! xo
Thanks Julie, glad to know you enjoy them
Always your devoted fan Simon!
Will we ever get to see some video of you in a play?
I would totally love that!
If it's filmed, and if I'm allowed to, I'll see what I can do!
I love your tremulous trembling voice acting when the narrator starts to get frightened, thanks again Mr S, so glad you're back to keep us company as the nights get longer.. mweheheheh❤
I hadn’t realised that HGWells had written any ghost stories. I loved this story and your narration. It’s so well done. Thank you for sharing this story and bringing this to life.
You have been as busy as a Bee who has left everything to the last minute. Thanks old Bean
'Candle in the tomb' is a Chinese legend. The candle is blown out if there's a spirit in the tomb
Interesting, I hadn't heard that
He was in my room
then suddenly
he departed.
🙃😁👍
Absolutely perfectly suited narration for these older British stories! Love it and I prefer this story to even MR James whom I saw an amazing documentary about recently! ❤
Thanks Maria. Which documentary was that, out of interest? I saw one presented by Mark Gatiss not so long ago...
@@BitesizedAudio do you know I can’t remember! But it had people dressed up as him and they recreated (what’s the word??!!) they re-enacted the people (including him) in his life and (my memory of that night is patchy! There were several of us watching it but only I was paying attention really to the extent that I didn’t mind being rude lol!!) I was with a friend who had started dating an English literature teacher or professor I think, and he was drunk at this point… practically, but it was on his screen I don’t know if it was from UA-cam or what! They had a museum (I don’t know if it was just for him (James) and they spoke about his education and how his major success was from ghost stories but he had originally planned to do something else?! I think 🤔 but it was good and I think they had his house or a replica of it on it too but I really enjoyed it and it saved my night from social awkwardness as an extra bonus! (I made it clear that I was riveted and didn’t want to be interrupted (after explaining that I was a fan, I’m not that rude! (Id better explain I didn’t know anyone except my friend and was there as a favour!) The younger me would have sacrificed watching because I was such a people pleaser!)
Sorry for that sloppy long winded answer! Simon thank you for putting up with me! Maybe you recognise that from your version which I will now be looking up in the new year! Thank you so much for reminding me!
🤍💜💛
Thanks ! Loved this when Freddie Jones did this for the old BBC spine chillers program (early 80s).
Ah yes, I remember that production! I think it's available on YT somewhere
I have listened to this story 4 times I should think, until I can now almost predict every little gasp and shudder, anticipate the extinction of every candle & every panicked match strike. Fabulous
You are without doubt one of the best narrators I have ever heard. You take me right into the story.
That's very kind of you to say, thank you
Wells is such an artful story teller! As are you, Simon! Thank you, as always ..
Thank you, Simon.
It's a refreshing change from typical stories where there's an AHA! moment to explain the strange phenomenon.
Ooh this was tense! 😬🎃❤️
It's a well-crafted tale indeed! Thanks Gina
Great reading!id forgotten the ending of this story Wells and yourself have captured the essence of our collective fears of the dark and what we know is right next to us 👺
Ah yes. It's such a well-crafted story. Thanks Dennis
Another one of English literature's finest horror stories read by one of the best voices in the business. Great listening for an October evening.
@spews1973 Thank you! I do love this time of year....more spookiness to come, I hope
It’s a great day when you post!!! Thank you for being such a calming and safe place to come to on the internet, listening to you is like comfort food
What a lovely comment, thank you!
H.G WELLS lived in a house just down the road from me for some time....he has a plaque on the wall... x
Perhaps I was in the mood for uncomfortable impressions…❤ thank you as ever Simon! Off to the red room beyond the green baize door…! 🕯️
Thanks Stephanie. Do mind those steps!
Marvellous! I shall enjoy this .
Delighted to find this today! Beautifully done. Thank you, Simon.
Oh thank you thank you, Simon. Perfect for October, kindly keep them coming if you are able!!!
The month for ghosties and hauntings galore`~especially from our great great grand elders~is once again upon us. Halloween has always been very popular in the States (United) and I understand it's only grown in popularity more recently abroad. I love it because the symbols for things we fear from humanity, can be spoofed, imitated, celebrated in their most innocent, harmless and childlike forms, and we can vanquish them the minute we tire of them~generally that would be on November 1~when we all say "Begone"~and they are!
Interesting, yes I've always been aware of Halloween but when I was a child it felt like Bonfire Night (November 5th, the anniversary of Guy Fawkes' and co's plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament) was a bigger deal - toffee apples, fireworks etc - and Halloween seemed like a prelude to that... Now it seems to have been reversed and Halloween has become a big thing and tends to overshadow Bonfire Night (though we still have bonfires and fireworks...) Perhaps just me, though!
Excellent video as usual. I didn't know H.G. Wells wrote ghost stories
Indeed, I don't think he wrote many (The Inexperienced Ghost is another one which springs to mind, and which I hope to record at some point) but this is certainly a good one!
Thank you so much! Loved the story. I love the language and how you bring the story alive.
Looking forward to listening to more!
Take care, and until next time, best wishes from Manitoba, Canada
Greetings from France ,as always thank you so much for revisiting these great old stories , by the way I hope that all is well and you are enjoying your on stage role RNK
Thank you Bob, I am indeed! I hope all is well with you too
Thank you Mr Stanhope for yet another lovely story reading. Saving my sanity.
This is one of the scariest stories I know!
You read it wonderfully well, Mr. Stanhope.
Happy Hallowe’en!
Thanks K. Friedricks, same to you! So glad to know you enjoyed it
KAF89089: You got to be kidding, this is not even in top 1000th a scary story. Want me to make you a list of really but really scary stories? Stories that give you goosebumbs, make the hair on the back stand and your breath to stop? Stories that make you shiver and snap at every single sound you hear in the house for few next days. Want to?
I enjoy learning more about the social customs and attitudes of earlier years
Yes indeed, I always find that aspect of the stories particularly interesting too
An excellent story by an excellent author, and your narration is perfect! An excellent story for the Halloween season!
This was definitely a creepy one.
Fore there's nothing scarier than Fear & Darkness.
Wells, always a marvelous choice. May I ask, anything in particular that influence your choice for tales on this channel?
Hmm, interesting question. The truth is I have quite a few different influences... obviously I like to keep trying different authors, digging up forgotten gems as well as some well-worn classics like this one, keeping a decent balance between genres (ghost, detective etc). I always tend to have a rough outline plan for what I'm going to do for the next few weeks/months, but it's not fixed and can be derailed or change when events intervene, e.g. a 20-30 minute story is easier to fit in than a 90 minute story which needs much more planning and recording time. I have a long list of stories I'd like to record and it's regularly being added to both by my own discoveries and by listener requests. But my overall guiding principle is that they're stories and/or authors that I enjoy, or at least shed some interesting light on the era...
@@BitesizedAudio Thank you for the reply! I agree when it comes to exposure of any kind of media, it's great to show hidden gems away from the usual mainstream fair as it keeps things fresh. I too enjoy seeking out niche stories that are considered off the beaten path. I love Folk Horror especially.
Thank you these are wonderful❤🎉
Thank you for getting me relaxed enough to go to sleep.
We all want to know, how rehearsals are going for you Simon! Your channel of listeners, are pulling for you to have sold out shows! I'm NY Toms very British/Brazilian future wife MD, Veteran, Middle E. & Cont. of Africa
Thanks Shannon. I'm on a little break at the moment and haven't started rehearsals yet for the next show... I'll try and post an update on the community tab once I get into the swing of it!
Will be watching Finding Peace this weekend Simon. Want to see you in action.
Oh gosh, I haven't actually seen that myself! Where is it on? I'm only in it quite briefly in a flashback and I didn't see the whole script so will be interesting to know how it turned out
That was very spooky Simon 😬
So exciting. Thoroughly absorbed from start to finish.
Your voice is so soothing. Had heard this on your channel before and it’s wonderful to be listening again.
Thank you, and welcome back!
That one was quite funny! Thank you Simon.
Okay right now, one hour after posting, it says 11k likes~but less than 600 views!
The same thing happened with Brief Case yesterday
405 views 89 thumbs up on my machine😅
Hmmm, very strange. 11K likes in an hour would be good! I think the stats are a bit random in the first few hours, certainly what I see at my end can vary considerably from what the viewer/listener sees, but it seems to settle down after about 12 hours or so
@@BitesizedAudio good to know, computers still glitching out. Guess they won't take us over after all 🥱
As always very enjoyable 👍thank you 🥂.
Very enjoyable! Thanks Simon. Well worth a listen.
Sanhope is excellent.
Thanks for sharing!
Happy Halloween!
😊👻🍁🎃
Thank you for Eclipse confirmations. 🌚 Love to you! ❤️👑
Thank you.
Splendiforous!
Indubitably. 😉
Thank you
Thanks!
Good one for sure
Enjoyed. Thank you.
Glad to know that, thanks for listening
I listened in this in the dark. I regret that.
Happy New Year Simon ❤🎉🎉
Thank you Judi, and to you
Wonderful stuff,Simon (although struggles to top Saki!). Odd question, perhaps, but what is your piano intro? I’ve dusted my ivories, and fancy getting it under the fingers...
Ah yes, the introductory piece of music is called 'Remembering Her' performed by the very talented Esther Abrami. I'm not sure whether she composed it herself or not. Esther has her own UA-cam channel, which is certainly worth checking out
@@BitesizedAudio I'll take a look. Many thanks, as ever.
❤
I really like your videos. One question for this one... hand or arm? It is arm in the book. Just trying to keep us on our toes?
A good question! It varies in different editions of the book. The version I read came from a book I've had for years, and switches between arm and hand several times during the narrative. Although it has to be said the book was a cheap 80s print and contains several obvious typos. I thought it was odd, but checked the versions on Project Gutenberg and Google books and they both had the same inconsistency... but some other editions do give it only as arm. I'm not sure whether it's a typo in the version I read, or whether a modern editor at some point decided to change it for consistency. I thought it would be interesting to mix it up a bit anyway!
@@BitesizedAudio my Guild Publishing Short Stories opts for the greater disfigurement! All the best from a place not far from your namesake. Please keep up the excellent work
I must've missed why this is a "house of sin" - why is it haunted? Listened twice & it didn't come clear. Illumination, please? Thank you.
An interesting question. I'm not sure that there *is* an explanation other than the one proffered by the narrator at the end. I believe Wells himself was a declared sceptic of the supernatural and didn't have much truck with the concept of ghosts, and I think this story reflects that. Ironically it's become one of the most celebrated of Victorian ghost stories, and there are quite a lot of articles and analyses of it available on the internet which may be worth a look to address your specific query (unfortunately it seems I can't paste links in the comments)
I'm not a paid up member of the Simon fan club 😮
Is it OK for me to comment. 😅
All are welcome!
Who waste matches, if they have a lit' candle.. 😢 probly where room' (1408) came from.. 😅 must be an origins' story. 🤔👀👻🕯💀
First😂
Thank you, Simon.