Interesting to note that Miss Sargent's clairvoyance "while asleep" was not scoffed at, but accepted as a normal human characteristic. How unfortunate that Mr. Upward's works are not more easily available! Many thanks for posting.
Very enjoyable Victorian ghost story - it didn’t let it’s inviting title down. Hargrave is lucky to have Miss Sargent - she’s the brains and the steel in the outfit. As always, you don’t just read a story - you put on an excellent one man play. Thank you for the perfect ending of a long day.
Thanks Chris. I do sometimes think of them as a one man play. This channel has been a great artistic lifeline for me for the last year or more, when other acting work has been thin on the ground to say the least!
Finding this narrative so enjoyable, Simon, I listened to it a second, and then a third time. The first go-round, when you whispered loudly the housekeeper’s line: “Are you going to follow it!?!!!- lying in the dark with my i-phone near my ear - I jumped! Startled Lulu and Nacho, too! (Brown Betty, the kitchen spider, being a distance away, and a little cold hearted by nature, remained unmoved.) Full of creepy detail, and your narration was spot on! Thank you, Simon! 🙀🐶🐭
How pleasant with a story so straight-forward, well-told, fun! No complicated or gory special effects, just "listen to the ghost and go!". Beautifully told, as always. You do voices so very well, and your infinitesmall pauses after each sentence allows one to savour them the more. Thank you as always, so very much fun to listen to!!
Appreciate your kind feedback, thank you! I do try to strike a balance between clarity and pace; in my experience as a listener to audiobooks I find it hard to follow if the narration is too fast, but on the other hand if too slow can be painful listening too, for different reasons. Glad to know you enjoy it anyway
Yes! Another Ghost Hunters story. Miss Sergeant is becoming my favorite characters in this series. I think I liked this one better than the 1st one. Thanks again for another lovely reading Simon.😊
You're welcome Shannon, thank you! I like Miss Sargent too, especially as I've noticed that there are actually relatively few female characters in Victorian and Edwardian ghost stories, even in stories by female authors like Amelia Edwards. And often the female characters who do appear are secondary characters; so it's enjoyable that Miss Sargent is the one who tells Mr Hargreaves how the ghosts should be dealt with...
I enjoyed this story. It was very nearly a textbook example of its type. I believe you said there are more to come, and I am interested in seeing how, or if at all, the characters develop. One of the more interesting things about it, is that although the investigator is the focal point, he is really only playing second fiddle for an exceptional female talent.
Thanks William. Yes, there were five stories in the series... I plan to read them all, but I do want to keep a mix of different authors/stories/genres, so the next one will probably be towards the end of the summer. The characters do indeed develop a story arc across the series. Agreed about Miss Sargent being the brains of the outfit...
Compliments of the season to you Scout Rifle! Thanks for your supportive comments, and also for the coffee earlier, it's hugely appreciated. Best wishes to you
Why in all the world would the old lord HIDE such an important document?? That is the McGuffin, isn't it? Adore this author's name. Always a pleasure to listen to Mr Stanhope.
Thanks Ramey Zamora. That question occurred to me too... Difficult to say without giving spoilers, but perhaps it might be argued he was concerned that his distant relative might try to destroy it and/or put pressure on him to alter it if he found out, and then he fell ill before he was able to tell those who needed to know...?
@60s 70s I'm not sure about that... could be tricky if the new owners bought them in good faith, although it may be that some of them take the same view as the man who bought the picture, or are prepared to return them if they get their money back
Thank you for this upload, beautifully read as always. I do hope the draught offered by the housekeeper was a decent brandy (possibly filched from the cellar before it was sold off). I think I've listened to this out of sequence. I'll go back and listen to last week's upload - I've had one of *those* weeks so missed hearing it.
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you Hannah. The stories are stand-alone and can certainly be listened to separately, but the previous story does introduce the characters and there's a bit of a through-line in the series so it does add something when listened to in sequence I think.
A beautiful speaking voice! You should record your voice , as a message for voicemail on landlines...I am sure more than a few pennies would come your way!
What is rewarding about this ghost story is it has a positive ending - the discovery of the will. Too often ghost stories leave me uncomfortable with their negative finish - part of the ghost story attraction for many I guess. This positive feeling is enhanced by Simon's narration - thanks.
If thiese stories were a modern reality television series it could be titled Flip this Haunted house. 💀 Brilliant narration! Wishing you all the best ☠️
I'm close to unsubscibing to my other ghost story channels, this is so perfect. The choice of stories, the reading, the cadence, the voice, it's just perfect.
I love all these Victorian ghostly tales; for by the hindsight of the 21st Century, the characters there-in so portrayed are such silly-willie in their resolve. Even the 'manly' central character...lol....
Good question... although I suppose the house itself accounts for the bulk of the inheritance. Perhaps she was able to get some of the other family heirlooms back, and/or perhaps cousin Henry was obliged to pay compensation!
I wonder if the title of this did inspire Mark Gatiss when he created the TV supernatural drama Crooked House. Puts me in mind of the first section called "The Wainscoting".
Quite possibly, although there's an old nursery rhyme (from the 1600s I think) about a crooked man, who had a crooked cat and a crooked mouse, and they all lived together in a little crooked house... that's what I'd assumed to be the inspiration for his main title. Thanks for listening Valerie
I'm sure she would have come home, after everything was untangled! Mr Upward is quite an obscure figure and it was tricky to find much reliable information for my mini biog in the description, but he certainly did write a few now-forgotten novels - I named a couple of them in the description but must confess I haven't read them, I'm not even sure if they're easily available. Funnily enough I recently, in a second hand bookshop, stumbled across a volume of short stories by his rather better remembered cousin Edward Upward, who lived an extraordinarily long life (1903-2009). Unfortunately I'm not able to do any of those for the channel as, in part because of his longevity, his work is still under copyright for many decades yet! Thanks Patricia, glad you enjoyed it - I'm planning to do the remaining two episodes of this series in the next few weeks all being well
Interesting to note that Miss Sargent's clairvoyance "while asleep" was not scoffed at, but accepted as a normal human characteristic. How unfortunate that Mr. Upward's works are not more easily available! Many thanks for posting.
You have such a lovely voice for telling old fashioned ghost stories, enjoy your videos most dearly..
Very kind of you to say so, thank you Cathy!
Wonderful, soothing voice. Makes all the difference.
Very enjoyable Victorian ghost story - it didn’t let it’s inviting title down.
Hargrave is lucky to have Miss Sargent - she’s the brains and the steel in the outfit.
As always, you don’t just read a story - you put on an excellent one man play.
Thank you for the perfect ending of a long day.
Edwardian ghost story. Came out in 1906.
I sit corrected.
Thanks Chris. I do sometimes think of them as a one man play. This channel has been a great artistic lifeline for me for the last year or more, when other acting work has been thin on the ground to say the least!
Finding this narrative so enjoyable, Simon, I listened to it a second, and then a third time. The first go-round, when you whispered loudly the housekeeper’s line: “Are you going to follow it!?!!!- lying in the dark with my i-phone near my ear - I jumped! Startled Lulu and Nacho, too! (Brown Betty, the kitchen spider, being a distance away, and a little cold hearted by nature, remained unmoved.) Full of creepy detail, and your narration was spot on! Thank you, Simon! 🙀🐶🐭
Wonderful, thanks Rachel, glad to know it bears repeat listening!
Another superior story read superbly. You certainly rise to the occasion, as always. ❤
Whenever I see a new post from you, my heart skips a beat. It does, Simon. It absolutely does. ❤
Thanks Bob, take care!
How pleasant with a story so straight-forward, well-told, fun! No complicated or gory special effects, just "listen to the ghost and go!". Beautifully told, as always. You do voices so very well, and your infinitesmall pauses after each sentence allows one to savour them the more. Thank you as always, so very much fun to listen to!!
Appreciate your kind feedback, thank you! I do try to strike a balance between clarity and pace; in my experience as a listener to audiobooks I find it hard to follow if the narration is too fast, but on the other hand if too slow can be painful listening too, for different reasons. Glad to know you enjoy it anyway
This is a true to life ghost story, with a purpose & a great ending, many thanks Simon with the smooth as silk voice.xx
If I had a narrator of my daily life, it would have your voice.
Why, thank you Janet!
Saving for bedtime. Liked before listening as I know this will be a top notch reading as always. Thank you ❤️
Sleep well! And thank you for "Liking" on trust, much appreciated!
Same here!
Always happy to listen, when Simon reads a good ghost story.
Kind of you to say so, thank you!
I do so love a nice ghost story. Narrated by Mr. Stanhope makes it all the better.
I do love happy endings
Another enjoyable ghost story - thank you 👻👻
You're most welcome, thanks Barbara
Another one! Yes! Yes!!! I was so sad when I couldn't find the rest of them and now one is here!!!
I'll do them all eventually (there's only another three). Next couple of uploads will be something else, but Hargreaves and Sargent will be back!
I am so addicted to your voice! It's fabulous.
Thank you Angie!
Yes! Another Ghost Hunters story. Miss Sergeant is becoming my favorite characters in this series. I think I liked this one better than the 1st one. Thanks again for another lovely reading Simon.😊
You're welcome Shannon, thank you! I like Miss Sargent too, especially as I've noticed that there are actually relatively few female characters in Victorian and Edwardian ghost stories, even in stories by female authors like Amelia Edwards. And often the female characters who do appear are secondary characters; so it's enjoyable that Miss Sargent is the one who tells Mr Hargreaves how the ghosts should be dealt with...
Good ghost story. Mystery solved...Thanks again, as always.
Excellent... Thank you!
Another ghostly mystery solved. - Very good again.
HOORAH!
A happy ending, ⚖ justice was served!!!
Yes indeed, it's rather refreshing when that happens! Thanks Janet
Please take care not to give too much away about endings, for those who have not listed fully to the story. Ty.
Good balance kept the story flowing well to its conclusion, another good one. 👍
I enjoyed this story. It was very nearly a textbook example of its type. I believe you said there are more to come, and I am interested in seeing how, or if at all, the characters develop. One of the more interesting things about it, is that although the investigator is the focal point, he is really only playing second fiddle for an exceptional female talent.
Thanks William. Yes, there were five stories in the series... I plan to read them all, but I do want to keep a mix of different authors/stories/genres, so the next one will probably be towards the end of the summer. The characters do indeed develop a story arc across the series. Agreed about Miss Sargent being the brains of the outfit...
I always enjoy your narration very much!! ❤️❤️❤️
Appreciated, thanks Eliza!
Thank you!!! 😁
Love when there's a new BAC story in my feed-it's like a little Christmas!
Compliments of the season to you Scout Rifle! Thanks for your supportive comments, and also for the coffee earlier, it's hugely appreciated. Best wishes to you
Oh fantastic! Thank you. Not even listened yet 😃❤️
Hope you enjoy it! Thanks Annette
@@BitesizedAudio oh I did ...
Simple, straight and interesting story. Excellent narration as always. Thank you.
Why in all the world would the old lord HIDE such an important document?? That is the McGuffin, isn't it? Adore this author's name. Always a pleasure to listen to Mr Stanhope.
Thanks Ramey Zamora. That question occurred to me too... Difficult to say without giving spoilers, but perhaps it might be argued he was concerned that his distant relative might try to destroy it and/or put pressure on him to alter it if he found out, and then he fell ill before he was able to tell those who needed to know...?
@@BitesizedAudio Can the sale of the furniture and other things be considered illegal and thus returned?
@60s 70s I'm not sure about that... could be tricky if the new owners bought them in good faith, although it may be that some of them take the same view as the man who bought the picture, or are prepared to return them if they get their money back
@@BitesizedAudio Thanks for replying.
Thank you for this upload, beautifully read as always. I do hope the draught offered by the housekeeper was a decent brandy (possibly filched from the cellar before it was sold off).
I think I've listened to this out of sequence. I'll go back and listen to last week's upload - I've had one of *those* weeks so missed hearing it.
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you Hannah. The stories are stand-alone and can certainly be listened to separately, but the previous story does introduce the characters and there's a bit of a through-line in the series so it does add something when listened to in sequence I think.
Yet again you have delivered a superb performance. Thank you,. 🙏🏻
Thank you!
I am really enjoying these Allen Upward stories, thank you!
Glad to know that - there are a few more to come, later in the summer
Thanks again. Well done as always.
Cool thanks for story
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks Johnny
Again what can I say but thanks for another Sunday treat Your voice enhances any and all stories Stay safe and well Regards RNK
Thank you - you too!
thanks much. a wonderful story. 🌷
A classic ghost story. Thank you for sharing this wonderful tale.
I find your voice and these old fashioned horror tales so so soothing…..
Yes indeed. A perfect ghost story with a happy ending. Thank you for the read.
A beautiful speaking voice! You should record your voice , as a message for voicemail on landlines...I am sure more than a few pennies would come your way!
Thank you Susan, very kind of you to say so! That's an idea...
Thoroughly enjoyed this story and I must admit I laughed out loud a few times. Brilliant.
What is rewarding about this ghost story is it has a positive ending - the discovery of the will. Too often ghost stories leave me uncomfortable with their negative finish - part of the ghost story attraction for many I guess. This positive feeling is enhanced by Simon's narration - thanks.
If thiese stories were a modern reality television series it could be titled Flip this Haunted house. 💀 Brilliant narration! Wishing you all the best ☠️
I'm sure someone will be working up a pitch right now... Thanks Scott, appreciate your comments, best wishes to you too
I'm close to unsubscibing to my other ghost story channels, this is so perfect.
The choice of stories, the reading, the cadence, the voice, it's just perfect.
Very kind of you to say so, thank you!
I like this one. The ghosts that need vindication are the ones I like best.
what a treat Mr Stanhope is a wonderful narrator wonderful
Great Job, Simon!!😮Perfect For 🎃 👻 🎃 Halloween 🎃!!
Brilliant!
I love all these Victorian ghostly tales; for by the hindsight of the 21st Century, the characters there-in so portrayed are such silly-willie in their resolve. Even the 'manly' central character...lol....
I'm intrigued as to how much the girl got back since the vast majority of what she stood to inherit had been sold off by that point.
Good question... although I suppose the house itself accounts for the bulk of the inheritance. Perhaps she was able to get some of the other family heirlooms back, and/or perhaps cousin Henry was obliged to pay compensation!
That makes sense. In a way, I'm reminded of both The Sign of The Four, or The Castle of Cagliostro. Both had somewhat similar endings :)
This one was very predictable, however, as usual it was read superbly. Many thanks.
Awesome :)
Thank you!
Naming the housekeeper Musgrave seems a bit like a reference to The Musgrave Ritual?
I wonder if the title of this did inspire Mark Gatiss when he created the TV supernatural drama Crooked House. Puts me in mind of the first section called "The Wainscoting".
Quite possibly, although there's an old nursery rhyme (from the 1600s I think) about a crooked man, who had a crooked cat and a crooked mouse, and they all lived together in a little crooked house... that's what I'd assumed to be the inspiration for his main title. Thanks for listening Valerie
@@BitesizedAudio Haha, yes, could be... that reminds me of that 1964 song by Ronnie Hilton "Dont let the rain come down (crooked little man)" 🙂
6 hours ago damn I'm late!!!!
Nice to have you back Page Burner, I've missed you! Hope all's well
@@BitesizedAudio yeah it's nice to be back someone hacked my account
How rude, Mr. Allen! Did the girl come home to the house or not? What happened to her? Beautiful read, Simon. Does Mr. Upward have any further novels?
I'm sure she would have come home, after everything was untangled! Mr Upward is quite an obscure figure and it was tricky to find much reliable information for my mini biog in the description, but he certainly did write a few now-forgotten novels - I named a couple of them in the description but must confess I haven't read them, I'm not even sure if they're easily available. Funnily enough I recently, in a second hand bookshop, stumbled across a volume of short stories by his rather better remembered cousin Edward Upward, who lived an extraordinarily long life (1903-2009). Unfortunately I'm not able to do any of those for the channel as, in part because of his longevity, his work is still under copyright for many decades yet! Thanks Patricia, glad you enjoyed it - I'm planning to do the remaining two episodes of this series in the next few weeks all being well
Day after tomorrow...next day but one
👍👍👍👍👍😲🤔
Twenty Thumbs Up!