Dickon the Devil | A Ghost Story by J. Sheridan Le Fanu | A Bitesized Audio Production
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- Опубликовано: 8 окт 2020
- Barwyke Hall in Lancashire has remained empty and neglected for some twenty years, following the death of Squire Bowes. When a solicitor is appointed to administer the estate, he hears the strange story which has given the place a bad name, and left it so long untenanted...
A new, original recording of a classic public domain text, read and performed by Simon Stanhope for Bitesized Audio.
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Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-1873) was an Irish author who was arguably the most important single contributor to the development of the literary ghost story in the Victorian era, hugely influential on future generations of authors including E. F. Benson and M. R. James, who described him as "absolutely in the first rank as a writer of ghost stories". He was born in Dublin into a literary family; his mother and grandmother were writers, and his great uncle was the celebrated playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan ('The Rivals' etc), and his niece Rhoda Broughton also became a popular writer of ghost stories in the later 19th century. He wrote in many genres, but his best known works are his contributions to gothic horror and supernatural novels and novellas, including 'Uncle Silas' (1864) and 'Carmilla' (1872), one of the earliest vampire stories. He published many short ghost and mystery stories in various magazines in Ireland and England - including several contributed to Charles Dickens's 'All the Year Round' - from the 1850s through to the early 1870s, although they remained uncollected in book form until 1923 when M. R. James compiled and edited the volume 'Madam Crowl's Ghost and Other Tales of Mystery', which revived interest in his work some 50 years after Le Fanu's death.
'Dickon the Devil' was Le Fanu's last published ghost story. It first appeared in the Christmas 1872 edition of 'London Society', shortly before he died in February 1873. It was later published in book form in the 1923 collection 'Madam Crowl's Ghost and Other Tales of Mystery'.
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2020. 
Развлечения
A rainy Sunday in the woods...fireplace heat, coffee, chocolate chip cookies and a classic ghost story. Thank You!
You're welcome. That sounds wonderful, the perfect atmosphere for these tales
The woods are deadly, dark & deep.
And you have little hope of peaceful sleep. . . . 🥵
Lovely narrative. I thought you were dear Michael Horden at first. It's wonderful to listen to someone who actually knows the pronunciation of their words, an ability rather lacking in some.
Thank you Lesley. I'm very flattered by the Michael Hordern comparison! A wonderful narrator, and a familiar voice from my youth (not least for Paddington...) Thank you for your kind comments, much appreciated
After a grueling shift at work today, I was rewarded by listening to you narrate this eerie story tonight.
Atmospheric enough to feel the chills - yet not overly macabre as to not be fun.
As always - thank X 1000.
Thank you Simon. So well read and acted again as all your work
Super narration as always Sir Simon, and also smart performance playing different characters.
Many thanks .
He wasted no time getting well away from that place. Smart smart man.
Thank you for sharing this nice story.
Brilliant.. as always!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! You are truly helping me get through the nights, and days in STAGE 4 lockdown.
I have been binge listening to as many as possible.
Hope you & yours are well!
Much 💖.. 😊✌🐨
Thanks Rom B, same to you!
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Stage 4 lockdown?! You're good 😆 As a homebody and an introvert, I can't relate at all 😆😆😆. But it sure is funny 🤣
Another brilliant narration, Simon. This setting is right on my doorstep. I'm in the middle of listening to this with a cheeky glass of something, but I just had to press pause and let you know my appreciation. Your accents are absolutely superb. Thank you 🙏.
Simon's narrations are superb aren't they? I don't know of the number of regional dialects I've heard him speak, but I do know how brill they are.
There are other channels of narrated stories, but I've found that they're really not worth listening to-inferior in every aspect in my estimation. 😊
I could listen to you all night!!!! Thanx again for your fantastic narration of a Fanu tale, take care.
Thanks Elaine, you too!
I enjoy the little vignettes of the authors and thumbnail pictures you post for your channel, it puts me up and in the mood to enjoy the stories you narrate so very well. Thank you!
Glad to know they're of interest! Thanks Annette
Brrr! Gooseflesh at the end! Excellent reading, the accents are so good! Thank you!
Thanks Nancy, good of you to say so. I grew up not all that far from where this story is set, so the Lancashire accent is particularly familiar to me... although with narration I always try to strike a balance between authenticity and understandability for listeners not so familiar with the dialect! So I do appreciate your feedback, thank you!
Excellent yarn and reading
Thank you! Your work is excellent! 😊
Thanks Gigi!
The show must go on hahaha thanks a lot for the story nice one
You're welcome, thanks Johnny!
Marvelous Simon! Magnificently marvelous! Thank you so much.
Very kind of you, thanks Catharine!
Thank you so much. Excellent.
Loving your readings Simon .Thank you so much.
You're welcome David, thanks for your kind comment
Wonderful , after a few very hectic days our dear Simon to listen to this evening , so I'm going to put the kettle on and relax whist listening . Bliss 😌 ☕️ 💝 👌🏼
How lovely, thanks Christine
You’re so right, a nice cuppa and a story. Bliss
Read a compilation of his a few months ago, was brilliant!
One of my three favourite ghost writers (with M. R. James and E. F. Benson) and a story I still managed to miss. I think it must be from his early work, and I don't mean that in a dismissive way, obviously. I love the setting up of the story, the atmosphere and the voice that brings it all together to a pleasant chill (or several). Thank you.
Thanks HerrCrankzy, glad you enjoyed it. Actually it's not an early work, it's from the end of his career, possibly even his last published work - it first appeared at Christmas 1872, and Le Fanu died in February 1873. Anyway, I certainly hope to record some of his (better known) stories in the future!
Great writing and you narrative so well done. Many published works will soon be in the public domain. Sherlock Holmes for one. Can't wait to hear your take on them.
Have been coming back to this particular one recently, Well done, as always!
Wonderful, thanks Nicholas
The accents sound pitch perfect, it really adds to the telling. A creepy tale.I love your channel.Thanks for giving your listeners so much pleasure.
You're most welcome Bridget! Thanks so much for your coffee earlier (I'm not sure whether you see my responses on that site), I really appreciate your kind support. Best wishes to you
@Bitesized Audio Classics, thanks for your lovely reply!
My GOD that SLAPPED. Ghosts crawling into the room and stealing children? Absolutely HORRIFYING.
Yes indeed, a quietly creepy tale, this one... Thanks for listening
Found a copy of Wylder's Hand just lying on the street recently. Queuing this video up for when it gets dark tonight with great anticipation. Thanks as always.
You're welcome John, thanks as ever for listening. What a wonderful thing to find, was it in good/readable condition?
Wonderfully understated! Simple haunting but no way to escape it or change it!
Excellent! Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Just great Mr S! The part whete Tom Windsor's voice dropped at the end of his speech told volumes about your skilled preparation. Kind thanks.
Thanks Ramey Zamora, glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you Sir
Loved this story. You would make a great narrator of Sherlock Holmes stories😃
@manas bose Thank you, appreciated. Actually I have done a few of the less well-known Sherlock Holmes stories, most recently 'The Creeping Man' (available on this channel). I do love the Sherlock Holmes stories, and may try my hand at more of them one day, but I should say there are excellent versions of all the available adventures on the Magpie Audio channel, beautifully narrated by Greg Wagland - worth checking out if you haven't already.
@@BitesizedAudio Wonderful to hear the shout-out for another great channel. Greatness = graciousness.
@@BitesizedAudio yes Ive listened to all your stories including Conan Doyle's They helped me through the UK lockdown whilst my wife watched some rubbish on TV 😃 Thanks for the recommendation
@@BitesizedAudio qqqqq1a
!!
Fab always😄
Thanks Stella!
This was a wonderful surprise thanksalot for this 👏 ❤
Thanks Dean
Whoopee! Just in time for my nap.
Thank you once again -👍
You're most welcome!
Very good Lancashire accent, if l'm any judge. 😊
Thank you for another cracking tale.
Thank you Christopher, appreciated! I grew up just over the county border in north Cheshire, so it's a familiar one for me
I love this channel! I woke up so early Sunday, read some, then read a chapter in my latest book. Slow going as I've been reading it the entire month, but am almost done. Two chapters left. Loved laying down with the lights off listening to this story. As it finished I checked my phone and the first light of sunrise had begun. Perfect. Fun. Thank you.
Love the Narration.
Thank you Julia, appreciated
I truly enjoyed listening to this, the narrator was excellent. Was a good story and now I shall be looking for others like it.
Thanks so much for listening and taking the time to comment. I've recorded quite a few other ghost and suspense stories, if you'd like to hear more. A couple of playlists which you may be interested in:
Victorian Ghost Stories: ruclips.net/p/PLi95qAoufCZISCGdeBUtYxynNFtZCeRrv
Early 20th Century Ghost Stories: ruclips.net/p/PLi95qAoufCZI0zeT0uMxvy9TkkoUvtOAZ
Who else got murdered by the title? 😂
Yeah, I'm 75 and still that immature . lol
@@lindasmith6202 wow
🤣
How the hell did I miss that! No I can’t stop seeing it. Sounds like a great song title. 😄
?
Thank you. Well done.
Thanks Patricia, appreciated
Thank you for this new story. So appreciate your good work. Yes !
Thanks as ever BlueFriend
I have listened to quite a few of these books and I am always glad to hear the familiar voice Simon Stanhope reading it. The best reading Voice I have ever heard.
What a lovely comment! Thank you!
Good excellent words.
Where are you from?
@@natalya6091 UK
@@thelastpilot4582 Gotcha.Thank you.G'evening.
@@thelastpilot4582 Good evening.
Happy Halloween!
I’m going to save this for tonight - it’ll give me something great to look forward to when I get off from work.
Wonderful, hope you enjoy. Thanks Chris.
How could I not enjoy?
I’m on my break at work and was thinking about going home and sitting in my comfortable chair and listening to a good story.
I like the Victorian/Edwardian stories because they’re eerie and scary - but not gory.
Wonderful stuff. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks Eamon
Thank you. I am enjoying your channel.
Glad to know that, thanks Lynneda!
My Sunday was complete as always by your always perfect rendition of this classic Thank you so much Best regards RNK
Wonderful, thanks Bob
Great stuff 💯🙏👌👏
Just discovered your channel. Great storytelling. The voice reminds me of Willie Rushton. Perfect for a grim rainy grey day.
Thanks Neil, very kind of you to say so. I used to love Willie Rushton on I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue; attended a lecture he gave once too, a very funny man, sadly lost too young
Bitesized Audio Classics Yes, Very sad indeed. God rest his soul.
A story worthy of your talents! Deep, deep joy! ❤ 👍
Thanks Bob!
@@BitesizedAudio No, thank you, Simon. It's so glorious to hear you render class stories that so benefit from your talents. I could list my many favourites but this gem is definitely one of them. ❤ 👍
Thank you.
Thanks for the video. A pretty good story but not in the same league as “Madam Crowl’s Ghost” or “Squire Toby’s Will”.
Le Fanu had a thing for creepy, inquisitive hands
Yes indeed - and of course there's also "Narrative of the Ghost of a Hand". Thanks Tim
Thank you cxx
You're most welcome! Thanks Lee
Thank you 😊
You're welcome 😊
I'm so glad the title of this tale is "Dickon the Devil" and not "Dick on the Devil".
😁
Help! If anyone can help it might be you. I remember a story on a haunted house record that my classroom had when I was a kid in the early 70s. It had the flavor of a Victorian ghost story, and I mainly remember that in involved a pair of investigators in a house, and witnessing a sort of black blob that was lurking in the room, the next morning they "went over the room with a fine toothed comb" which I particularly remember as I had to look up what the phrase meant. Does anyone have a hint of what this story was or where I might find it again? (it scared the crap out of me. It was awesome)
@TrinlayK I can't think what that could be off the top of my head I'm afraid. I thought it perhaps sounded like one of Hope Hodgson's Carnacki stories, but having just done a word-search on the online text the words tooth and comb don't crop up anywhere! I'll keep an eye out as I keep researching stories...
Lol the guy was smart though. He left before he could run mad 😂
I think I'd probably have done the same... Thanks for listening!
At 7:00 the bailiff is a "young fellow".At 9:20 he has miraculously become an "old fellow"! How can you possibly take the story seriously after such a ridiculous mistake like this?
It may be my enunciation/delivery which is the issue, but on the first occasion it does say old fellow, not young. "A light-limbed, jolly-looking old fellow" is the exact phrase (06:57) but perhaps I rushed the reading a little at that point
@@BitesizedAudioI heard "jolly old fellow" perfectly well.
Perfect narration from first to last! 😊
Have another listen-it's very clearly "jolly old fellow" 😊
Light
Morning.Dear Simon do you celebrate Halloween tomorrow?
Halloween isn't tomorrow in the UK, we have it on the 31st. I don't dress up or anything, but may enjoy a good story by an open fire if I have an opportunity!
@@BitesizedAudio Dear Simon, do you have " an o p e n fire" at your home?Is it in the kitchen or in your living room.We have no.Awaiting your soonest reply.Thank you.🇬🇧🇷🇺
Jolly-looking old fellow in a barracan jacket
Мужчина средних лет в куртке из грубой шерстяной ткани
Hey!
It's like something else should follow. Left you wanting more.
Morning.Dear Simon, do you like ghost stories? WHY?
Awaiting your soonest reply.
Yes I do like ghost stories, as you may be able to tell from my selection of readings! In fact generally I enjoy mystery / suspense / detective stories, all of which share overlapping characteristics with literary ghost stories, and indeed are often by the same authors. As to why... well, that's a deeper, more complicated question. I enjoy puzzles, reasoning things out, getting to the bottom of mysteries. The fear aspect of ghost stories gives you a good chill, it's entertaining but at the same time safe because you know it's not real, and you could choose to stop reading any time (unlike something scary in real life). So, escapism, I suppose?
I think not is what they say
Lockdown days..
Indeed... going on a bit isn't it! Hopefully there'll be some relief early next year.
Oh so late to the party 😆 But a damn good tale nonetheless.
Glad you made it! Thanks Nancy
@@BitesizedAudio I may be late, but I'm not missing out entirely!👏😁😉
Dear Simon
Go mad
And
Go to bananas
Are they (both expressions)
Synonims?
Hello Natalya. Yes, "go mad" and "go bananas" (not "to bananas") are both expressions in English, which do mean pretty much the same thing. "Go bananas" is more informal / slang
@@BitesizedAudio Dear Simon.You are so careful polite frienly attentive.Your explanations are so nice and beautiful.
I feel confident with you.
@@BitesizedAudio Gotcha!!!
Go bananas
We have the simular expression in Russian
" стать овощем = become vegetable" also slang.
@@catrinlewis939I love "hop around and hoot" I had never heard that one before, but I'm glad to hear it now! It's great 😅
Thank you for giving me a giggle.
@@BitesizedAudio And I believe that "go bananas" comes from the idea that monkeys are particular fond of that fruit. So if someone has gone bananas, he's acting like a monkey.
(I, too, thank you for your work on this channel. May it long continue!)
Rw
Made a rapid toilet? What does that mean? "He's an idiot, an awpy." What is an awpy? I'm assuming that's an idiot but I just tried looking it up to no avail. Some of these idiomatic phrases are really odd.
In this case, to make a rapid toilet means to clean/freshen up quickly. To make oneself presentable before going on to needful social endeavors.
@@msursa Ok, thanks for explaining that to me! I'm American, and I don't know if you're British, but sometimes these expressions that might seem easy to understand to you, are a little peculiar to us on the side of the pond. Thanks for getting back to me so quickly!
@@sugarfalls1 My pleasure : )..I'm american but grew up watching PBS/BBC and have read a fair amount of english classics,etc. As to "awpy", it could just be period slang from a small isolated region. Le Fanu might have written it phonetically w/o reference as to proper spelling. Which might explain why we can't find a definition.
@@msursa I've watched a lot of Masterpiece Theatre productions but I never heard "made a rapid toilet." lol I don't know if they can put that stuff in dialogue without people being seriously confused! I thought it meant he took a quick leak! lol I'll have to ask a friend of mine from Somerset if he knows what "awpy" means. Anyway, thanks again!
@sugarfalls1 Sorry to be late to the discussion, but I think @msursa is correct that "awpy" is period slang. Funnily enough I grew up not far from where this story is set, and I know the local accent and dialect well, but don't recall that particular word. Having looked it up, I discovered it crops up a fair bit... in other stories by Sheridan Le Fanu! As for the rapid toilet, it is indeed a fairly out-dated euphemism generally replaced now by "freshen up" or similar... but no doubt he would also have probably wanted to take a quick leak after several hours travelling in a horse-drawn carriage!
the narrators intonation got on my nerves unfortunately