Showing results by author "Gertrude Atherton" in All Categories

Almost always when we think of Ghost Stories, we first think of those written by the Victorians. If you want a really good ghost story to bring that edge of chill, that foreboding of dread, that feeling that in an empty house we are not quite alone and that sometimes the sharp, sheer shock of what just happened is upon us then look no further than ‘The Victorian Ghost Story’ for your listening pleasure.

Almost always when we think of Ghost Stories, we first think of those written by the Victorians. Whatever the reasons given or proffered the reality and known facts are that if you want a really good ghost story to bring that edge of chill, that foreboding of dread, that feeling that in an empty house we are not quite alone and that sometimes the sharp, sheer shock of what just happened is upon us then look no further than ‘The Victorian Ghost Story’ for your listening pleasure.

Featuring work by M. R. James, Edith Nesbit, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Atherton and many more, this enhanced audio collection of eight enduring stories - some well-known, others less familiar - transport you to a candlelit fireside to hear tales of lonely coastlines, deadly rivers, dark, creaking corridors, horrific, everlasting love and unknown entities lurking in black velvet shadows.

Flora, the daughter of a clergyman, grew up the playmate of the castle children but learned early on that a certain prettiness and good breeding did not put her in the same class as her friends. With the sudden death of her father and no chance of a rich husband, poverty was looming and the young woman may be forced to earn her living. As a companion to Lady Victoria Gwynne, she meets an American cousin come to trace her ancestry. - Summary by Lynne Thompson

Step into a world where age and wisdom intertwine in Crystal Cup. The narrative kicks off with Mrs. Carteret’s grim proclamation “Old age will be served.” As a strong-willed and independent author, this writer has crafted numerous novels that often stir controversy, blending elements of Gothic romance with a rich backdrop of California, her beloved home state. This fictional tale spans 50 captivating chapters, inviting you to explore the complexities of life and the passage of time. Join April Reynolds as she brings this public domain classic to life.

Lee Clavering, a young playwright, falls in love with an Austrian countess, not noticing the adoring glances from the outgoing flapper, Janet. Unknown to the young lover, the object of his devotion is defying age with artifice in this controversial pseudo-science-fiction romance.

We are introduced to Englishman Dudley Thorpe on the evening of his arrival in California. At a ball, he is introduced to several belles, including the lovely Nina Randolph. Is this the start of something special? Dudley thinks so, but what about Nina? Why won't she open herself up to love? She is obviously attracted to Dudley.

Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton (1857-1946) was a prominent and prolific American author of novels, short stories, essays, and articles for magazines and newspapers. Her horror stories are particularly popular. 'The Striding Place' (1895) tells the story of a man who is searching for his best friend ,who's gone missing. The search takes him to a dangerous waterfall in the forest called The Strid, from which many have fallen and drowned. There he discovers something most terrifying and surreal.

Fifty short stories by women writers who broke the mould.

Weigall remembers talking with Wyatt about the soul and afterlife. Wyatt states, 'If I had my way, I should stay inside my bones until the coffin had gone into its niche, that I might obviate for my poor old comrade the tragic impersonality of death.' The characters wonder about death and the destination of the human soul when it occurs. Weigall does not believe that the marshy bog, the Strid, has taken his friend, but when he sees a hand raised above the surface of the water, he knows it must be him and he desperately and quickly saves him.

A spine-chilling collection of creepy, unsettling and unnerving stories. 'If You See Her Face' by B. M. Croker. 'The Ghost at the Blue Dragon' by William J. Wintle. 'The Shadows' by Henry S. Whitehead. 'The Grey Cat' by Barry Pain. 'The Yellow Globe' by Alexander W. Drake. 'The Devil of the Marsh' by H. B. Marriott-Watson. 'The Spectre Spiders' by William J. Wintle. 'The Curious Vehicle' by Alexander W. Drake. 'Number Ninety' by B. M. Croker. 'The Black Cat' by William J. Wintle. 'The Permanent Stiletto' by W. C. Morrow. 'Passing of a God' by Henry S. Whitehead. 'The Chamber of Doom' by William J. Wintle. 'The White Cat' by Hugh Walpole. 'The Loosened Cord' by Alexander W. Drake. 'Mrs. Brassington-Claypott's Children's Party' by F. Anstey. 'The Inmate of the Dungeon' by W. C. Morrow. 'The Red Rosary' by William J. Wintle. 'Caveat Emptor' by F. Anstey. 'The Former Passengers' by B. M. Croker...and over 20 more unsettling tales.

When a child is born, its temperament and character are unknown. The effects of nature versus nurture, of heredity and of circumstance are a mystery. Rarely, the stars align to make an exceptional child, a man who will move mountains. Such was the case with the last Rudolf von Hapsburg, a man born before his time, as shown in this fictionalized historical account. - Summary by Lynne T.

When a man of notable accomplishments enters the halls of power, he faces a steep learning curve and formidable challenges. Little does he realize the trials awaiting him—despite his knowledge of public affairs and his strong moral compass, he must navigate a landscape filled with temptations and the weight of public scrutiny. The pressure to maintain integrity amidst unjust criticism and the hurtful barbs of ignorance can be overwhelming. Yet, if he wishes to uphold his principles, he must forge ahead, relying on the hope that time will reveal the truth. In this compelling journey, Miss ...

Ralph Orth is an American novelist who decides to move to the English countryside. There he buys a marvellous estate called Chillingsworth. Inside Chillingsworth’s gallery, Orth finds an old portrait of a young girl who takes Orth’s breath away. He is fascinated and is determined to find out who this girl was. His obsession with little lady Blanche gets so strong that one day he sees her walking around in the neighborhood.

What is the worst thing that can happen in a cemetery? "The Dead and the Countess" gives one truly horrific description which will keep you at the edge of your seat until the very end. Now do you really want to know what happened in the Breton cemetery? Its inhabitants’ long sleep has been interrupted and they have become restless. What will follow is still unknown. B. J. Harrison started his Classic Tales Podcast back in 2007, wanting to breathe new life into classic stories.

The semi-invalid Mrs. Moulton and her long-suffering husband are touring Europe with their two adult daughters, Jane and Lydia. They have firm ideas of what is proper and decorous. Mr. Moulton's young relative, Catalina, does not fit this ideal. Her dress is too short. She mixes with the natives. She wants to visit Spain... not, in itself, a problem; except she proposes to travel in a third class compartment on the train! Funds will not stretch to any other class, and if the Moultons refuse to accompany her, she proposes to walk.

Enid Belfame: 42 years old, 22 of them as a married woman; eminently respectable; founder of The Friday Club; small town dignitary; a paragon of virtue. But does she have what it takes to commit murder? And will the young and handsome Dwight Rush benefit if she does?

Savage bears, a river rescue, capture by Indians, escape on wild mustangs and a revolutionary battle await the protagonists of this suspenseful adventure novel, set in California.

She had been a gay and irresponsible young creature when he married her, so much so that he had found it expedient to put her on an allowance and ask her not to run up staggering bills in the fashionable shops; which she visited daily, as much for the pleasure of the informal encounter with other lively and irresponsible young luminaries of San Francisco society as for the excitement of buying what she did not want.

Roldan Castanada does not want to be conscripted into the army. Although no coward, the idea of a regimented army life does not suit his ideals, so he decides to run away from home with his friend Adan Pardo, and the pair disappear into the California wilderness. Savage bears, a river rescue, capture by Indians, escape on wild mustangs, and a revolutionary battle await the boys in this suspenseful adventure novel.