The Ghost Hunters by Allen Upward | The Complete Series | A Bitesized Audio Production
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- čas přidán 30. 11. 2021
- Originally serialised in 'The Royal Magazine' between December 1905 and April 1906, but almost completely forgotten since, these five stories chart the adventures of Jack Hargreaves, an estate agent who specialises in dealing with haunted properties, and his "lady assistant" Alwyne Sargent, whose clairvoyant powers prove the key to unravelling the mysteries they encounter.
Episode list:
1. The Story of the Green House, Wallington 00:00:30
2. The Tapping on the Wainscot 00:23:24
3. The Secret of Horner's Court 00:52:14
4. The Two Roses 01:19:49
5. The Haunted Woman 01:49:09
A new, original recording of a classic public domain text, read and performed by Simon Stanhope for Bitesized Audio.
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/ bitesizedaudio
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There is not a great deal of reliable biographical information available about George Allen Upward (1863-1926). Born of Welsh parentage, he studied law at the Royal University of Ireland in Dublin in the early 1880s. He became a vocal supporter of nationalist causes including Irish Home Rule, composing poetry and journalism for the cause. He attempted to start a political career but was defeated in his attempts to stand for parliament in the Labour interest. Upward was the author of a number of now-forgotten novels, including 'The Prince of Blakistan' (1895) and 'A Bride's Madness' (1897), and his work has fallen into comparative obscurity today. (Incidentally he was a cousin of the rather better remembered novelist Edward Upward, 1903-2009.) Allen Upward died of a gunshot wound in November 1926 at the age of 63, apparently self-inflicted, although the exact circumstances are unclear and there has been some speculation as to whether it was suicide or accident, or if any third parties were involved.
Between December 1905 and April 1906, Upward published a series of five short stories in 'The Royal Magazine' under the banner title "The Ghost Hunters", rather grandiosely described as "A New Series of exciting Ghost Stories. They are entirely Different in Conception from Anything of the Kind that has ever been Published before." In fact they not so very different from many of the ghost stories which were popular in the Edwardian era, but they are of interest inasmuch as they depict a male and female ghost-hunting duo in the shape of the narrator Mr. Hargreaves, an estate agent who has ended up specialising in selling haunted houses (making a profit by laying the spirits to rest), and his "lady secretary" Miss Alwyne Sargent, who is a clairvoyant and "sensitive". Hargreaves and Sargent were thus an early example of the Edwardian vogue for "occult detectives", which culminated a few years later with the stories of Hope Hodgson's Carnacki and Algernon Blackwood's John Silence.
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2021. - Zábava
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Thanks for listening.
Simon Stanhope (narrator)
❤
L
It's astounishing, how many insomniacs in the world are seeking their refuge in ghost stories and in tales about the supernatural and uncanny!
I raise to you my nightly glass of warm milk and honey and send you my best regards and whishes! Sisters and brothers of the waking night! May you find rest and comfort and soothing dreams.
I'm the same. Have been listening to tales of the supernatural for over 3 months now to help me sleep!
Lovely sentiments!
Ditto....
I actually thought I was the only one who could relax to ghost stories it's a comfort I'm not alone🤗
Scotch and soda for me, and to your health.
These keep me happy during my long slow terminal illness. Thank you so much,keep it up!
Sorry for your troubles
Here's to a happier time, Sir John.
Perhaps a journal of your pleasant recollections, trials & lessons garnered
from your time to date.
It is emotionally tasking, thou extremely rewarding, as 3 generations of my
paternal keepsakes have undertaken.
I'm in the midst of mine.
All the best 🍻
I'm so sorry...may you experience love and peace during these times.
God bless you!
"God bless you john 'and also your family "
Please don't tell my wife this, but I think I love you! You are the master teller of the ghostly tale. If I might be so bold, I would like to request your services for my eulogy...You could even turn my mundane life of non-achievement into a true tear-jerking classic.
I love it !!!! Free too , I can’t afford anything right now , I’m going through cancer treatments for a year now and I just found this guy . I wish I found this earlier .
I love to listen to these while I go to sleep :) thank you
Best wishes for your treatment, glad to know you enjoy the stories
Hoping you have a speedy recovery, Matty!
Wishing you all the best. Simon has the ability to take your mind off everything and is so comforting.
Good luck with your treatment, I wish you a speedy recovery. You will find many great. Free audio books on CZcamsrs. I strongly recommend Magpie Audio especially if you're a Sherlock Holmes fan.
Wishing the best recovery for you. Have you learned about colloidal silver? The Natural Health Library w Terry Chamberlain & Angie Mohr has helped me & so many others. ☮️🙏🏼💞
Just an acknowledgement of possibly the best narrator I have ever heard. Thank you for your fine work, it means even more in this crazy world.
Thank you Sean, I'm touched by your lovely comment. Best wishes to you
Sean, I could not agree more. My life has been completely enhanced by the finding of this splendid channel. I feel I have fallen among friends.
Agreed...great narration brings a sense of calm in all this madness...
My husband died December 2022 after 36yrs.The way I have handled this is with your audios and others. Your voice is soothing and the author intros are interesting. It keeps my mind from dwelling while I work and feels a little like having company. Thank you.
excellent narration,
I really can’t wait, but I will have to. I am saving this one until Christmas when I shall listen to it whilst sipping a brandy after having had a fine dinner. I shall also have all the house lights turned off as my lounge will be illuminated by the flickering flames on my TV that are provided by one of the many log fire videos on CZcams.
That sounds very atmospheric. I hope you enjoy whenever you're able to listen
@@BitesizedAudioIt is the ideal way to appreciate your wonderful content.
If you'll pardon my French, cher Simon, this treasure trove is: "Bladdee le Gawjuss". The music is a lovely touch too. What a *STAR* you are. ❤
Thanks Bob! I hope your run went well?
@@BitesizedAudio It did, Simon. The ensemble cast are doing a terrific job. It was really quite moving. ❤
Beautifully written stories read by my favorite narrator. Cannot tell you how much this channel has helped me keep sane in this mad world.
Absolute bliss 😊
Glad to be of service!
It's funny that ghost stories are so peaceful.
@@saran.4001 its all about the voice, the tone etc of the narrator - it is the most comforting.
Yep,they’re wonderful stories,love this narrator as well,his best ghost story I’d Nut Bush Farm, highly recommend it if you haven’t heard it yet? One of my all time favourites😁specially the description of the very masculine Miss Gostock😂😂👍
@@julielevinge266 indeedy, have listened to all of them and got the collection on Audible too. Can listen to them again and again, do enjoy a binge!
The beauty of this reading. I can listen to it again and again!
Extremely kind of you to say so, thank you!
Very enjoyable stories! I got a kick every time the author said, "the reader won't be interested in..." LOL
Two stories in so far, I'm already becoming fond of the heroine. Intelligent, brave and genre-savvy!
P.S. That poor old woman in the last one. Please, folks, however pickled you fancy getting, don't drink formaldehyde.
Simon is such a good narrator I find when I try to listen to other narrators I give up after about 8 minutes, thanks Simon
Just found your channel, been looking for another channel who reads Victorian ghost stories like Encrypted does as well..honestly im hooked n looking forward to continuing to go thru the back catalog of episodes! Thank u for doing this Sir! It is dec 23rd 2023 currently, so Merry Christmas everyone 🎅!
Thank you so much for putting them all together for us, Simon - perfect for future binge listening! This was such a wonderful series. Mr Upward was a very fine writer of this genre and you brought his words and his characters completely to life. Simply sublime.
You are most welcome Yvonne, glad you enjoyed it, thank you for your kind comments
😂❤😂ww 1:18:56
Good stories, excellently narrated.
I love the old fashioned ghost stories where you can use your imagination unlike a lot of modern ghost stories. Many thanks for a great few hours entertainment.
Go Jack and Alwyne! Read and acted as they should be. Great picture, too,it's both spooky and gorgeous.
@blixten2928 Thank you! The picture is by Atkinson Grimshaw. His work is a treasure trove for spooky atmospheric images...
When most people in New York City returned to work, I am in my cubicle in the back of the room by myself listening to your programs. I listen to 4 of your programs per day. Two hours before I leave for the day, I pick a Ghost Story. Thank you Sir for making my day at work enjoyable!!
Thumbs up to all comments 👍 what a narrator this gentleman is !
Thank you kindly, Mark! Much appreciated
I love these! Old houses, ghosts, great reading…perfect for a day of cleaning house! Thanks!
A tour de force! Nice early Christmas gift.
I love this series. Listened in many times. Never gets old, the end is simply charming.
I’ve been listening to these again! And there’s still stuff that I have not heard. I was listening to this channel a lot before I ever left a comment! And now I’ve gone too far with that! I think I must be an all or nothing person, just like my dad. Thanks again 🙏
The real horror is the price of houses now lol.
Fantastic! This has been one of my favorite series that you've done. Love having all the stories back to back. And the music is lovely.
Thanks Shannon, appreciated
Mine too, hadn’t heard of it till I subscribed to this channel.
Is as near perfect collection of ghost stories from that era as you can get. Narrator is superb.
But my absolute favourite is NutBush farm, must have listened to it a dozen times & will listen to it a dozen more!
Another gem is Loveday Brooks,another only discovered through
BITESIZE✊♥️
When I come down with the dreaded, Covid, back in November, I listened to, Nutbush farm, over and over. Having that to concentrate on, helped to get me through. Now I have to listen to, Nut Bush farm, every night as I go off to sleep. I'm sure I know every word. Strangely, that story has become a friend and comfort to me.
I think what really sets the
Victorian and Edwardian stories apart from newer is detail to character development and you do a fine job of bringing the characters to life and giving them personality also, you were building a fine collection of stories for everyone to enjoy please keep the stories coming listening to your stories has become a part of my nightly routine many thanks friend Simon
Gosh I am glad I've found you. Lovely traditional narration. Exceptional. Ghosts and the dusty weird is my favourite thing in the world. Thank you for doing this for free and for bringing us cosy shudders Simon. God bless ya.
I'm very glad you found your way here too! Thanks for your kind comments
How brilliant to have these fantastic stories all together. I feel a binge listen coming on!! Thank you Simon. x
Me too! Binge watch!🤩✨🤩
So completely agree, bed, hot lemon an whisky and an Allen upward binge, sounds like a plan lol xx
@@mariameere5807 absolutely!! 🥰
@@paeganshadow Love the sound of hot lemon & whisky, but trying to get organised & begin writing Christmas cards! xx
@@SueCooke your more organised than me sue lol xx
One of my top five narrators. Easily. Right up there with Hugh Fraser et al. Thanks for your work. We appreciate all the stories.
I'm honoured, thank you!
Just off to a run through of 'A Christmas Carol' and now I have this to look forward to - all together. Deep joy. ❤
I just saw your comment, which made me curious enough to search for a channel by the same name-found it and subscribed. I was glad to see you have Simon reading some of the stories. I look forward to listening. Thanks!
@@gigig2492 Thanks, Gigi. That's really lovely of you!
@@SpuktasticAudio Any friend of Simon’s…😊
@@gigig2492 He's a complete *STAR*, isn't he? 👍
@@SpuktasticAudio 👍🏻
Very interesting and very enjoyable. I thought how modern the stories were and how relatable. I feel sure Mr Upward was a member of,or had some experience of, the Society of Psychical Research as I can hear familiar terminology and a scientific attitude. Also, the fact that he was a labour supporter and seemingly quite a forward thinking man, I suspect he was also a supporter of the Suffrage movement as indicated by the strong minded heroine, Alayne. Thank you very much for this treat, brilliantly read as usual.
Wonderful stories, beautifully told - as always
I love the stodgy yet steadfast
Mr. Hargreaves and sparkling,
brave Miss Sargent! Beautifully brought to life by you, Simon.
Wish Mr. Upward had seen fit
to write more stories featuring
this couple.
Thanks for your kind comments Robin. Also, this is my first opportunity to say thank you so much for joining as a channel member, I really appreciate your support
@@BitesizedAudio Glad to help support your channel.
I derive so much enjoyment from it.
Lovely! A nice long listen while I trim the tree!
Wonderful! I'm hoping to get mine in the next day or two
Simon Stanhope is a marvelous narrator for these stories. His voice reminds me a great deal of Edward Everett Horton... a pleasant similarity which adds to the feeling of being told these ghost stories by a trusted, happy old uncle. 🥰
Why, thank you Kara! I remember Edward Everett Horton from the old Astaire and Rogers films from the 30s, which were regularly shown on television when I was growing up. (Funnily enough I caught part of 'Top Hat' just the other day, as the BBC were showing some of them for Christmas, and EEH was in the scene I saw.) Thank you for your kind words!
Yes, that how I know his work, too! 🙂 Best wishes!
@@BitesizedAudio When I first heard your voice, I thought " Is that EEH, from 'Fractured Fairy Tales' ?" From the Rocky & Bullwinkle show. lol
Simon is great!!!
I downloaded this one!! I have a road trip next week and this will make the hours fly by.
You are a gem, Simon, and I count you among my blessings.
That's very kind of you to say Tammy, thank you! Have a good road trip
Excellent victorian ghost stories read by a brilliant narrator...thank you Simon Stanhope.
Kind of you to say so, thank you!
Thank you for all the hard work and talent you put into these audio books. They are truly enjoyable!
Oh my God! This has made my day! Thank you so much Simon!!!! The tapping on the wainscot, by the amazing writer, Was particularly good, everything he wrote is🌟😇💛
So glad to help make your day Maria! Sleep well...
There is no need to use our LORD'S name in vain, Maria.
Ghosts and the likes are demons(fallen angels) and can be rebuked in the name of our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST by born again Christians - just in case you didn't know.
@@albertafarmer8638 Don’t push your beliefs onto other people! Thank you!
@@mariameere5807 Hi, this is GOD'S law not mine and it applies to everyone. GOD wants the lost to get saved through JESUS CHRIST. Just be glad that there is a way to heaven for us hell deserving sinners.
Haven’t been into ghost stories since childhood, but your presentation has brought me back around, your use of language is art!
I loved the stories, and the real estate business connection, and the ending was great too 😀
Two and a half hours! What a treat!
The readers voice is perfect for these stories.
Thank you so much I was wondering what I was going to listen to and there you were have an awsome day
Your voice is so smooth & comforting. Thank you.
Kind of you to say, thank you Evelan!
Captivating. A brief escape from todays realality. Thank you!
A great writer and a wonderful performance, as always. I enjoyed these independently just a week or so earlier, but couldn't stop myself hearing them all again! Thank you!!
Lovely to hear from you @kirpalani-griffin, I hope you're well
A wonderful audio collection and beautifully read. I hope there is more like it.
Enjoying this channel ! Nothing like ghost stories read to you to put you to sleep. I'm on my second week listening to this Ghost Hunters Series and am only half way! Plus outstanding narration ZZZZzzzzzzzz...
Thanks for listening, and for your kind comments!
Simon! 🥳 Thank you!
You're most welcome as always! Thanks Felene
I'm stood in Wallington as I listen - there's green houses everywhere, mostly sporting tomatoes, runner beans and the like.
Loved this, and I have listened more than once. Narrator is superb.
loved this series, thanks as always bitesize!
You're welcome, thanks J C!
The story selections have been fantastic, and the narration perfect and wonderfully classic. I write ghost stories as well, and I as I read them during editing I use your voice for my mental monologue. Thank you for these.
Thank you so much, that's lovely to know. Are your ghost stories available to read or hear? I'm always interested to discover new authors
The narration in the storytelling of these stories are great I love them
Brilliant selection! These old stories really draw one in. Thanks.
These are my absolute favourite stories. Thanks for putting them all in one video!
New subscriber, very impressed with your delivery! I've always loved the vintage stories narrated with a British accent. They just demand them read so and you do a marvelous job! I'll be enjoying your work often! Thankyou!
Thanks so much for subscribing Angie, glad to know you enjoy them!
A great find and excellent narration, Simon. Thanks for your great channel. 🇦🇺👻😎
So glad you’ve put all these together, really enjoyable series, each story well worth a listen.
This collection a must on a cold winter evening✊
I so enjoy your recordings. Your voice is excellent and I appreciate the sound quality so much.
Appreciated, thank you Heather - thanks for your support
This is a masterly work using some hautings as the background for an enjoyable discourse about expectations of the relation between the estate agent and his lady assistant. Wonderful.
Thanks Henrik. Yes, quite a buttoned-up Edwardian discourse, but enjoyable I hope!
Excellent narration voice
Thanks David, appreciated
I was unaware of this book and it was a delight to find it and hear it read so very well! Thank you!
Although recently hearing all the tales individually & enjoying them, it was a pleasure therefore to hear the total as a compilation without break, thank you
Glad to know that. Yes, I thought it would be good to provide the option for those who like a longer listen
I just cast this to my TV for the first time. Wow! Beautiful articulation.
I had heard all but the last story but I really enjoyed hearing them all together. This series was excellent. Thank you. ♥️
Glad you enjoyed the whole saga, thanks Jackalina
Truly delightful. Wonderful narration. Thank you so much ❤
Yes, me too! I was a pop star in the seventies and after finishing gigs still wide awake at 2 or 3 in the morning, I used to turn to my portable short wave radio, the world service or on the odd occasion Radio 4 or Local Radio to listen to people and stories. It was enjoyable but hit and miss and its an absolute luxury to be able to delve into youtube and get gems like these....However you are definitely my favourite, if only you and the internet were here 50 years ago!!! Still I suppose there were other benefits in those days
I'm glad you put these all together. I had missed 2 of them.
I have listened to all these stories singly, but nevertheless I enjoyed listening to them all together every bit as the first time I listened!
I'm so grateful for your channel Simon!
Thank you so much.
So glad to stumble on this! I love detective stories and horror (ghost) stories so this is just such a good niche for me!
And so well read!
Thank you Veronica, glad you stumbled here too. It sounds like this is a good channel for you! I hope you enjoy listening to some of the other detective and ghost stories - over 100 to date, and more to come
Some of the descriptive humor in the story, just has me lol all by myself 🤣. Also your delivery sells it as well.
How is it possible that this excellent channel has only 23,000 subscribers? I haven't paid much attention to the numbers on this one because I always assumed it was a highly popular channel. It should be. I guess I'll have to tell my friends. Your readings are always well done and it pleases me to no end that you always choose great stories and don't pick them out like a bored ten year old who goes mining along the septum when nobody's looking. When any little bit will do..bite-sized or not.
Thank you for your kind comments, so glad to know you enjoy the readings. Yes indeed, please do share/spread the word, it's very much appreciated!
Thank you for making my day, I love ghost stories
So glad to know that, thank you Catherine. More to come...
God sent you to me and everyone. Your voice is wonderful. Wishing you good health and luck to bring readers more wonderful works like this. Thank you!
Thanks for listening, and for your kind comments!
Subscribed!! It's 2:22 a.m. here and I just can't fall asleep. I'm so glad I found your channel. Thank you, sir.
Really enjoy these stories thanks so much for putting them all together, now I can put them all on & just lye back & listen bliss✊♥️
what i'm enjoying about this is the narration. it sounds as if the narrator is reading to us from 1906. quite spot on formality.
Thank you! I'm not quite that old, I would stress, although I do feel a bit like it occasionally... Thanks for listening
Beautifully read. Congratulations. Much enjoyed.
Hello Simon, yet another old yet gold eh?❤❤
I am really enjoying this. Coloring at 3.30 a.m. thank you. And of course HAPPY NEW YEAR
Glad to know that, Happy New Year to you too
Second time around listening to theses well written and clever storys thank u Simon 🙏 💜🙏💜
Your voice is truly wonderful. Thank you!
Very enjoyable, very well narrated and sound quality very good.
They should make this into a TV series, I might even buy a TV for it lol, I knew this was going to be exceptional and I wasn't disappointed, listening for the umpteenth time lol. Thank you xx
Thanks Tracy. Yes, a few people have suggested that... perhaps something is in development!
@@BitesizedAudio can't wait to find out lol xx
Thank you.
Definitely well timed (Xmas)...who doesn't like a ghost story/Investigation round an open fire? Thanks for putting these up sir...I can imagine many , many people enjoying these...Bravo🤘👌✌️🏴
OMG I am so happy I found this channel 😍😍 thank you!!!!
Welcome to the channel, thank you for your lovely comment!
I’m so glad I found this wonderful channel thank you!
Me too, it's been a week for me. I subscribed after listening to, two stories.
Really enjoyed this. Thanks!
Very enjoyable, well written and nicely narrated ghost stories. I wish Upward had written more about this businessman, his clairvoyant secretary/ eventual wife and their ghostly adventures. It's sad the author succombed to a bullet at age 63. It would be good to know more about the circumstances surrounding his unfortunate end. Thank you.
Perfect for this spooky season 👻🎃 thank ya,Gov’na! My dear Sir!
Thanks for collecting these together. 😁
You're most welcome, thanks for listening Jen!
Everything about these stories are just brilliant
Thanks Seamus
A wonderful collection which I have enjoyed twice now.
You find the greatest stories. Thanks again.
An unexpected gift for Christmas! Thank you so much for these great stories, the wonderful narration and all the time and work you've put into sharing these with us. You are so appreciated !! Merry Christmas to you.
Thanks BlueFriend, same to you. More detective stories coming soon...
I absolutely love your voice and performance style. So easy to listen to. Lovely set of stories about sleepwalking, ghosts, extremely long epilogues, and casual victorian misogyny. Of course he marries his secretary. 🤣
Thank you for your kind words
Great stories sir, and excellent narration. Also, the piano music is so fitting
Thank you kindly!