Classic Ghost Stories (A CSA Word Recording) [Audiobook, CD, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Richard Pasco (Reader)

Book Description

Series: A CSA Word Recording | Publication Date: January 1, 2009

Ghost stories have a timeless appeal for readers of all ages, and this audiobook collects 11 of the best ever written from the 19th and 20th centuries. Some of the authors here, like Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu and Guy de Maupassant, were masters of the spook story, while others, like Dickens, made occasional memorable forays into the genre. From Dracula author Bram Stoker comes "The Judge's House," a Victorian chiller dripping with atmosphere, foreboding—and rats. Rudyard Kipling's "My Own True Ghost Story" involves a game of billiards being played in a room that doesn't exist—or does it? F. Marion Crawford's "The Upper Berth" presents grisly doings in the cabin of a steamship and no doubt caused many a passenger to hesitate to take down his or her bed. Reader Richard Pasco renders the spectral mood of these stories with appropriate gravitas.

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

This anthology of 11 mostly gothic, mostly British horror stories features works from such usual suspects as Le Fanu, Stoker, Dickens, Saki, and Poe. Every culture and many leading authors have mined the rich ore of this genre; the amazing variety of styles, moods, and themes is well represented here. Richard Pasco, veteran of the Old Vic, Royal Shakespeare, and National Theatre Companies, makes full use of his classical training and love of rousing tales to invigorate and "spookify" the selections. Apparently his readings are collected from various old and new sources, for the sound quality varies widely from one to the other. But there's nothing deficient in the quality of Pasco's narrations. They are uniformly outstanding. Y.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio CD: 1 pages
• Publisher: CSA Word; Unabridged edition edition (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934997188
• ISBN-13: 978-1934997185
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #702,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this audio-book, March 23, 2010

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Classic Ghost Stories (A CSA Word Recording) (Audio CD)

This four CD collection contains a mixture of classical ghost and horror stories, each written by a famous author. Now, as you might expect with a collection drawn from so many different sources, each one is of a different style, and some are more likely to please one listener than another. As for me, I found Dracula's Ghost, The Upper Berth and The Open Window to be the best of the lot, but I did enjoy them all. Richard Pasco does a great job with the stories, reading each one out in a clear and pleasing manner.

You might want to see the list of stories included, to see if your favorite author is included, which will probably influence what you think of the collection. As for me, though, I really enjoyed this audio-book, and highly recommend it. It makes for some entertaining listening during those long, winter drives!

In case you are interested, the stories included are:
The Judge's House by Bram Stoker - When a young scholar seeks out an old house for some solitary studying, he soon finds himself dealing with a very frightening companion.

Dracula's Ghost by Bram Stoker - When an English traveler goes wandering during Walpurgisnacht, he soon learns that the dead can be all too lively.

To Be Taken with a Grain of Salt by Charles Dickens - A rather sensible Englishman finds himself being haunted by the ghost of a murdered man, and when he is selected to be on a jury, he soon finds out what the ghost wants.

The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford - A man crossing the Atlantic is told that his cabin is haunted, and he decides to get to the bottom of what is going on, no matter the cost...and it will cost dearly.

Who Knows? By Guy de Maupassant - A man afraid of the world seeks refuge in his house, but learns that the outside world can reach in after him.

Narrative of the Ghost of a Hand by Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu - A story of a house that is being haunted by the ghost of a disembodied hand.

The Furnished Room by O. Henry - When a young man comes looking for a furnished room, it soon becomes apparent that he is not so much looking for a room as he is looking for a certain young lady. He takes the room, and in a mysterious way he finds the young lady.

The Open Window by Saki - The story of a man with shattered nerves and a widow waiting for her husband's return...and a girl with a lively sense of humor!

My Own True Ghost Story by Rudyard Kipling - A night spent in an old, converted billiards room is interrupted when the dead come back for one more game.

Called by F.C. Wren - A man in the Foreign Service in Siam is a hard man indeed, but when he grows tired of his wife, he soon learns that a wife's anger can last a long, long time.

When I Was Dead by Vincent O'Sullivan - What a surprise it is for Alistair when he suddenly turns up dead!