The Ghostly Rental by Henry James
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- Опубликовано: 7 мар 2024
- Henry James (1843-1916) was an American author renowned for his contributions to literature, particularly within the realm of psychological realism. Born in New York City, James spent much of his life traveling between Europe and the United States, which greatly influenced his cosmopolitan worldview and writing style. Known for his intricate character studies and keen exploration of human psychology, James's works often delved into themes of social conventions, personal freedom, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships. Throughout his prolific career, he authored numerous novels, short stories, and essays, earning him recognition as one of the foremost literary figures of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Henry James made a special contribution to the ghost story genre through his unique blend of realism and supernatural elements. His ghost stories are characterized by their vague, psychological qualities, featuring unreliable narrators and a chilling mixture of realism and romantic suggestiveness. James challenged conventional notions of what constitutes a ghost, exploring the haunting power of guilt and remorse alongside more traditional supernatural elements. His works, including "The Turn of the Screw" and "The Ghostly Rental," continue to captivate readers with their rich prose, intricate character portraits, and haunting themes.
"The Ghostly Rental," first published in Scribner's Monthly in September 1876, exemplifies Henry James's exploration of themes within the ghost story genre. This tale revolves around a grad student's fascination with an old soldier who visits an abandoned mansion to collect rent from his supposed ghostly daughter. Themes of guilt, redemption, and the blurred lines between reality and imagination permeate the narrative, as James challenges readers to ponder the nature of truth and the power of perception. Through its atmospheric setting and complex characters, "The Ghostly Rental" remains a timeless exploration of the human psyche and the haunting effects of past misdeeds.
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Развлечения
Such great stories they wrote in those days. Except for a few people it seems to me that most modern writers lost the ability to create an atmosphere that absorbs you from the first paragraph. Thanks for all the hours of pleasure you provide us with. All the best from Holland. 👏🏻
I agree! 😊
Tony has that ability. He is the one that got me hooked on these grand old tales. ❤
I totally agree! Well-said! I can not say it any better. It is exactly how I feel, too.
Technology has killed the Horror atmosphere. These days people have an explanation for everything. I love how Lycanthropy began when peasants ate ergot off the grain that had an early freeze. Now the mystery seems ruined.
@AnnyMacToo agree. He has a knack for this that many "think" they have, but do not. He has this down to an art.
His own work is excellent, too. I love his stories.
Bless your heart! First day of Spring Break, and it's pouring rain. Got my blanket, cat, candle, and a new ghost story; thank you, Tony!
One would almost think you wuz a Sothron Lady, Miss H.
Is the cat wearing a miniature bowler hat?
Do you really call them Southrons? i love that
"Bless your heart" is not a compliment in Southern colloquialism. 😂
@@heatherjohnson3273 oh no. Should I be offended?
Look at those photos closely before you throw them away.
At the last family dinner before my cat died, someone picked up my phone and took some pictures while we were getting ready. I nearly deleted one that was was chaotic with two different scenes, then I saw myself in the dark background with my back to the camera at the counter, with a dark fuzzy thing hanging over my shoulder and two fuzzy glowing yellow eyes looking at the camera. My cat had to be held like a baby on my shoulder constantly, and he had learned to hang at just the right point as to not slide off, leaving me with two hands free. It's one of my favorites now.
I know . I have saved quite a few. :))
Good thing you didn't delete it. I wished I had kept a few more of my beloved pets 😢
I know you have reservations about reading Henry James because of the baroque structure of his sentences, but none of that is apparent in this performance. The story is wonderful, the atmosphere palpable, and your delivery is sheer pleasure. Thank you so much for another wonderful journey.
I think he's a great writer of course. I am going to try some William Faulkner soon for really baroque sentences !
So you're just going to go for baroque eh Tony?!
(Sorry. I just couldn't resist 🤦🏼♀️)
@@ClassicGhost Faulkner can be a struggle for me. I love him, but sometimes I get "tangled"...can't wait to hear you read him!
@@Story-Voracious66😂😂😂 Stahp… 😅😅😅😅😅❤
it is 85 degrees and sunny on this Easter in SW Florida and in spirit we can't be further away from a Henry James Ghost Story but in the end, it was much less of a Ghost Story and more of a morality Fable. It becomes a thought will the Captain now "haunt" his daughter, or will he have just checked in on her before he moves on? So delighted to find this channel as I am slumbering in the sun, how wonderfully well written as always. I am a fan of Henry James and the period that he inhabited, sharing a life in both the USA and Great Britain. The two great countries were both rich and varied and contributed to so many wonderful Ghost Stories. Thank you!
You did a lovely job on Henry's convoluted sentences. Distant relatives who were actors and did Shakespeare taught me the value of rhythm and proper breathing. I really enjoyed this one, with the nice twist. People always act as though Turn of the Screw was his only short story.
I'm down to listening to Old Time Radio and these kinds of classic stories. Algernon Blackwood is one of my favorite authors. Greetings from "Mayberry," NC USA.
Nice to hear from you
I was born within a couple of miles of this mythical Medford house in neighboring Somerville. Both cities are very small! Seeing the the painting of the house took me aback at first. Today's Medford is wall to wall houses!!!!! Nothing like that exists now!! The house is ok, you can still see houses like that. it's the forest!!
One more thing. Medford is pronounced "Mefed"!!!! At least it was in the fifties!!!! The "R" did not exist in any word!!!!!
🍻 Mass...
....hole😁
-neighbor-
Tony, take from an American and retired nurse - your American accent is just fine and, I would be hard pressed to find anything artificial in it. And I’ve taken care of people not just from all across the USA but from all over the world. Thank you for your very entertaining work. 👏
I suspect that, in the story, his daughter and her suitor were really friends and the romance was just a story for convenience. When I was younger, I never thought my brother, sister, and I would be estranged, but we are. They cheated and bullied me and they can both take a flying leap. Neither of them are reasonable people and they don't deserve me in their lives and I sure as hell don't deserve to have their bad energy in mine.
You're right, Tony...about forgiveness of family transgressions. I realized a few years ago that the resentment and dislike (warranted btw) was taking too much of my energy. So I just dropped it. Best decision I ever made. Great discussion after the story too...I love those.
I am estranged from my sister, years of bs, resentment is warranted by me too, but too soon to let it go, yet
@@Andrew-if3sd Your comment is so relatable. Funny, it's MY sister who has caused all the grief too. A total nasty narcissist her entire life. It took me a long time to move on. (Truth told, I'm still careful to avoid her.)
I've read the story and heard it narrated before. No one does it as perfectly as you do. ❤
awww
Went from watching the Space Casket to this story! Thank you, Tony! 😊
I’d come to Tony’s Church of Otherworldly Neighbors & Fay Folk Friend…oh wait, I’m here, faithfully, & listening to short stories, loving thy neighbor, cherishing life & family, and learning about how to be a better writer from a good person/parson. 😊🎉 Always great stuff! Thank you!🎉😊
Thank you. I listened to the story and was caught off guard by your fascinating and rather endearing chat afterwards.
When you mentioned the Psychic Society I wondered if was situated in Bloomsbury, London where the Svedenbourg Society is and lo and behold it was the next name that you mentioned!
I was amazed. Im so glad that I'd hung about to listen to your after story chat.
I only knew about the Svedenbourg Society from a very dear old gentleman, a Monsieur Darras. A delightful 'Gandalf' looking gentleman with his long white beard, his beret, long grey raincoat and shopping trolley basket. He looked ancient but was always out n' about locally or he could turn up anywhere in London drop of a hat!
Or beret, as the case may be?
A Scholar, his bedsit walls were festooned with over-laden shelves containing a long lifetime of studies and writings made by himself. All regretfully ended up in the builder's skip outside in the street that sad day in the mid Nineteen-Eighties, that I found outside his dwelling one sad day when I discovered that he had passed on. I dont recall seeing his works within, they must have been hidden underneath all the fittings and splintered ditritis, perhaps?
Hopefully, the Society may have it all in it's vaults, at least I hope so?
40 years on, all I have since to remember him by are several wonderful memories, two saucepans of his that I rescued from the shamefully mucky skip and a video that I shot of him on VHS telling a very spooky Japanese ghost story. He had spent many years in Japan I recall?
A truly wonderful gentleman, somewhat of a 'Richmond Hill Eccentric' perhaps and greatly loved and missed even more because of that.
Anyhow, that's what your rounding up chat conjured up in my memory banks and I thank you for it.
Ps. Incidentally, the Japanese ghost story he recited was excellent.. it culminated in countless ghosts floating around with no lower torsos and legs, because they had thrown themselves into a volcano, it's believed?
Keep up the good work Tony, I's a luvvin' it 🙏
What a fantastic anecdote. You should write it up as an article. I wonder whether The Idler might publish it ?
Ahhh you chose the image I picked 🎉🎉🎉
Beautiful image! I could look at that all day! ❤
Yes!
Yup! That house is awesome snd fits the story well!
The ruts to the left of the house go well with the story, too, since they are referred to.
It had my vote🙂
We all heard yesterday from our beloved Catherine, Princess of Wales speaking about her unfortunate illness. Listening to your comments about forgiveness within the family, I wonder how many people believe that King Charles 111 and his son in the UK should find forgiveness for their wayward son and brother living in Montecito, USA. I don't know that I could in their position. Great narration thank you Tony. From Australia.
Eh, what? 😅
Wonderful! I just found you and it’s sooo nice to hear someone that can really tell a story!
Tony always delivers when it’s been 1 of them days when it’s best just to listen to a book because the other options would have immense consequences!
Who wants that drama. 😂😂
I hope all is well Tony and Family
we are all well . thanks for asking
WHAT...the moons not made of cheese.....I'm halfway through building a ladder..great story again all the best.....Jacob.
1hr 46..Perfect!! Thanks Tony. 👌
I love the works of these authors from much earlier days.
There's so much more atmosphere,and I love that.
Good evening padre, it's taken me a couple of days to hear all, and as usual, thoroughly enjoyed it.
Always your talks strike a chord for me.
I often compare Ms Jackson's Hill House to James's Turn of the Screw.
They are two of my favourite ghost stories especially because of the psychological aspect of both.
( and because of the big scary house ).
I was very happily surprised at your explanation of "Gothic ", because it was the subject of my final paper in my Artisan's Diploma.
You put it all so succinctly.
Coincidentally, right now I'm reprinting a Buddha's head that I am restoring for a friend. Getting that old bronze look back.
Thanks as ever Tony.
Very grateful for your work.
👩🏼🎨
No such things as coincidences!
Ooh! Here we are in the Twilight Zone, we soul birds of a feather, flocking together.
❤️
Great story and narration! I really like it. I listened to this one two times yesterday.
I never knew William James was his brother. I teach some of William James' concepts at work. The name is so common, and I never thought to see if they were brothers. We learn new things every day. During class, I can now say, "William James was the brother of the great British/American author Henry James, known for..."
This is a neat tale. That ending.....
I really wish..... ( I can not say any more because the "Spoiler Police" read the comments before the story).
I like your explanation of "Turn of the Screw."
Ruskin's quote and your wirds at the end are awesome.
Thanks!
Glad you liked it. Yes they were brothers . i’ve never read a biography of either but i believe they were close
I have a PhD psychology researcher tell me that the James brothers should have switched their jobs. Henry understood people and their hidden motives. William was a good writer but not an innovator in theory. Just an observation that stuck with me for years
@@Je-Vette interesting observation. That would be some good research to read. I would love to read through it.
Great two stories in one week what a treat
Thank Tony
Lovely story and narration as usual! These early-days writers are so unforgiving when it comes to people's age. 40s is old and 60s is ancient 😅?
I know
Tony, I am so happy that there are a few channels left like yours, where the stories are read by real human beings. You and Ian Gordon are tied for first place when it comes to the art of giving these stories the character they deserve. Top-notch work. I also adore the background artwork you've chosen, which seems to tell a story all by itself.
I’m glad you like real voices. we are under threat these days.
I love Henry James' writing. A true master.
You sir are just the BEST! Best narration, great story, and even the art is perfect. Then at the end a mixture of interesting history and profound thoughts. Many thanks from Texas.
Thank you very much. I bet it’s warmer there than it is here
Fantastic story I somehow haven't heard or read before. Great job reading it. Thanks
Really enjoy this story. As an American, I'm fine with your British accent of an American authors story. Keep up the hard work.
Thank you! Will do!
I agree, the accent is very clear. Not all USA has the same accent, most of us enjoy the difference. And thank you for your efforts to share the older stories and novels. I miss the serendipity of library stacks and paper card catalogs so this is a substitute. I am hearing books I’d never find. Salute!🎉
A ghost story just' doesn't sound right, without' "a Britt" to narrate it. 😊
That is an interesting subject ..
Many Brits complain about hearing an "American* accent narrating a book written by a brit. First of all, there is no American accent!!!; there are many. I was born just a couple of miles from this mythical house in Medford. Somerville which is nextdoor!!!! When I was a kid we knew if a person was from Medford...not only that but which part of Medford!!! And it is a tiny city.
Sadly the regional accents are disappearing. My kids speak the neutral Midwest accent that all the people on TV speak.
Just one thing. He is pronouncing Medford incorrectly.. it is Mefed!!!!! At least it was in the fifties!!!!
@user-ws1qf7ol4k I don't know about the regional dialects disappearing everywhere. I'm in southern West Virginia and there's still various dialects the further south you go.
As for Tony doing an American accent, his isn't too bad. I love his Scottish & Irish versions.
That house on the title page! Perfect! Spooky, foreboding!
I would love it if you'd record The Friends of the Friends by Henry James.
it’s
certainly possible
Hi Tony. I’m an avid listener of your excellent narration and selection of stories. For your information, Constantinople fell to the Ottomans in 1453, not 1485.
ah yes. Sorry
was mixing it up with The Battle of Bosworth :)
Masterful, captivating also this time around. Much appreciated, Tony. Thank you.
Here here' you are so right there is nothing to compare to the antique good old ghost stories!! I also find the earliest the better...
I totally agree!
Thanks, Tony. You gifted us with another fascinating and new (to me) tale of the macabre.
I am under the stress of moving apartments, but i can always count on your stories to help me unwind after a day of filling out forms and collecting paperwork.
Good stuff. Best wishes to you, Tony (if i may address you thusly) and a happy and prosperous 2024 to everyone reading this! 😻😻
What a delight! I love listening to your stories. Thank you 🩶
I am so happy that I found your stories. They get your attention from the beginning to the end.
I am sure I will be hearing all that you have for a rainy day or to shut my mind when paying attention to rich stories and get to sleep 😴 🛌 without even noticing it.
So nice! ♡ ♡ ♡
I hope so!
Love the story.
great story, not heard of this one. Really enjoyed it , thanks Tony
What a great thumbnail picture!
Yes it took some deciding on
You're spoiling us...Thank You! 💜
very different stories though :)
Very emotive narration. Thanks
It’s easy to say forgive your family if you have not been severely abused and have lots of trauma you are dealing with in day to day life as a result. I will never forgive them. I am getting therapy though to help me heal from the trauma but forgive never.
So sorry 😞
What a lovely message at the end. Ty.
Condolences.
Great stories Tony. love listening to your voice and accents thanking you.📚📖
Thanks for listening
Great story and superb reading! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you! 😊
Thank you for the great story. 👏👏👏
A particularly good story. Thank you Vicar
I like how that sounds. I wonder whether it's too late to retrain?
It's an enjoyable story, but Tony's rambling at the end about Emmanuel Swendborg reminded me that his book Heaven and Hell might be the ultimate ghost story. Swendborg is a polymath born in the late 1600s who, for the last 20 or 30 years of his life, walked and talked with angles, visiting heaven and hell many times. One thing Swedenborg makes perfectly clear is that after death, which is as physical as we are now, you will become what you truly are. Our inner most thoughts and feelings are revealed, and we gladly exploit them. He also wrote a short essay called Charity of which we might find redemption. He writing is rather dense and repetitive but well worth the trouble to read.
Thank you so much Tony! Forgive my not commenting so much lately, I have been so busy that I have usually fallen asleep by the end of the video so I’m saying thank you for all your amazing work! 🌺
Don’t worry at all. it’s lovely to see you here again
Great story, great lecture, great sermon
I missed my way
Great story! Thank you so much.
Very good stuff
Another brilliant video from you. I'm working my way through all the stories on your site, I find listening to them very relaxing. I think you have many past lives of being a story teller...
Well… apparently I was once
a wandering Celtic bard called Roudocauros . But that another story
@@ClassicGhost That will be a marvellous story to hear, one we will all look forward to you sharing with us...
I’m not even halfway through this story and my mind is screaming at the narrator that curiosity kills the cat!
You saw the old man and luckily for you, nothing happened. lol
I love how these stories pull you in like you’re right there too.
Just wanted to add - I finished the story it was very good! You did an awesome job!
Thinking on this story, and maybe I am in the minority, I can’t help but feel sorry for Captain Diamond.
I come from a very old, traditional family and the men in my family, especially my grandfather was always head of the family.
They were stern, hot tempered, militaristic, but also kind. They always had our best interest at heart even under their very stern demeanor.
I believe the reasoning behind Captain Diamond’s over reacting and being down right cruel with his words, I think came from a fear.
At that time, if his daughter had chosen to marry a man that was wild, poor, or a rake, his daughter’s life would have been hell and she would be left with nothing.
Not the mention the disrespect (at the time) of the man not meeting her father first.
Yes, I believe her father over reacted in the extreme and was very cruel. I believe he acted that way for fear and knowing what his daughter had lost in that kind of society.
Yes it was cruel, he should have never cursed her and said he did not care that she was dead.
He regretted it.
But to punish the man for 20 years when you can tell how sorry he was…?
I’m with you to be fair. I thought he got a raw deal
Excellent 😊❤
Thank you! Cheers!
I saw a movie recently that was based on this story. I love this tale. Thank you! Your reading is perfect! 🖤
Awesome! Thank you!
Brilliant writing and narration
Love the after story commentary as your interpretation rings true and so honest with your personal experiences.
I appreciate that
Wow I am so happy to find your podcast. The stories are awesome. I like the audio versions because of my age. Very relaxing and such interesting. All I can say is thank you. My relaxation time shall be filled with my love of good literature. ❤
Welcome aboard!
Such a fantastic story with, I must admit, a title that didn’t attract me. Really loved it!
Fine readings. Exceptionally so.
Thank you!
Love your critique/discussion at the end! Very amusing but also astute. And your narrating voice is excellent!
And forgive your family if they ask forgiveness. Otherwise, forget it.
A very enjoyable tale. I'm going to get the Oxford book from my library systen. Ive also read Swedenborg.
Wonderful as always ❤
Excellent !
Such an amazing looking old house . It would have been something when it was newly built.
You are amazing, thank you so much.
You're very welcome!
Much appreciated. 🪦🌌🍷👻
Very well done. Thank you.
Good message,,,,,let forgive one another
When the individual trusts the integrity of the Universe within
himself, the outer occurrences of humanity will change. To blame or accept any idea because it’s easier than to
be a mature/thoughtful/moral individual creator of reality contributes to the ignorant
stupidity for which all humanity
deserves. Justice is it’s own reward. peace+&-🎶🌸
A more than interesting story. 👍💀🕯
Thanks
Thank you 🙏
Wow. What a great reading. Subscribed.
Thanks for subbing!
I was impelled to come to the comments because of how struck I was by James' writing - how compelling, interesting, and efficient it was - when I caught a comment about how Henry James' style is baroque and that you're not typically comfortable with this style. Now I'm wondering if it's the baroque style that I was drawn to and also what makes you uncomfortable with presenting it. What I love about your podcast is that in addition to gracing us with your beautiful voice, you spend a good deal of time afterward providing historical context, influences, and drawing parallels with other works. I look forward to learning more as I work my way backwards. Love your channel and think I'll become a member!
I’d love you to become a member! What’s hard are all of the sub clauses
in the sentence . so apart
from the rhythm being awkward to say, the sentiment of the first clause (wonder, irritation, fear) ) then the interrupting
clauses may have different sentiments bit by the time you finish the sentence you have to jump
back to the first emotion
@@ClassicGhost in that case, you did a brilliant job keeping it coherent for us. I suspect I would've had a completely different experience reading it on my own. Did you have to edit anything at all in order to accomplish that?
@@trstnmxc23 no,
i never edit or abridge. it as he (or his then editor) intended
@@ClassicGhost I hope I didn't offend. It makes it all the more impressive that you were able to perform his rambles in such a natural and engaging manner. I felt his enthusiasm for his subject and became enthusiastic with him. Of the 50 or so stories I've listened to so far, this one is my favorite. I love listening to you and savor every one of your episodes.
@@trstnmxc23 not at all. i just deliver it like they wrote it. i think for me to abridge is a taking a liberty
All is not lost..there's a ten year old boy in America who has a gift..like an old soul .who is extremely talented...He's a natural ....🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🦅🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌
A nice Lady With Whiskers From Boston is one of those classical elements of Gothic Horror :)
The narrator's impertinence is quite something. I almost wished the ghost descending the stairs was the last thing he saw.
My mother died in the fall and I totally get what you said about not waiting to ask the family history questions I wish I knew now that I cannot ask.
I know ❤️❤️
Where I used to live in Here hill there was a Ruskin park,I used to walk through there, and I'm sure I read somewhere it was named after a Victorian writer,John Ruskin...a beautiful park..
Mississippi ❤❤❤❤❤
If it’s such a great story. Why doesn’t someone make a film about it? And not that tosh with Michael York in it.
You have a new subscriber 🎉
Thanks for subbing
Just as I was about to write this comment on how Henry James and the like can make a sunny meadow seem very creepy -- in the dark night I'm hearing this screaming in the fields -- I shut the drapes. Now I'm freaked out. (probably a fox or a cat or an owl? -- I hope so, anyway). Eek. (help)
Are you still alive?
I've heard the reading by John Waite on the Audiobook "horror anthology" and I've just noticed how portentous this reader is with everything.
I’m not sure whether that is a compliment, but i’ll take it as one.
Hwrê! Mae hyn yn fwy fy steil.
Diar annwyl! tithe’n Gymraeg a finne heb wybod.
❤
For fun, look up Henry's brother William.
👍
Your Mum probably kept those photos as moments in time. Like memory prompts. Maybe.
Yaaaz, Kaaang. Lol, Tx T
I didn’t get that at first . Kang!
You are a wonderful narrator! Are you a professional voice actor? ❤
No, I’m not . I am just a hobbyist:)
You tried to get into the locked drawer/door.
I need a better screwdriver
$532.00 in 1876 is worth about $15,334.28 in 2024; yeah, he was poor.
I am reticent to admit that I often lose patience with James. I get annoyed with his overwraught and (literally) incredible dialogue and language. Somehow your reading has slowed him down, and has let me enjoy his delicious pretension and frightening imagination.
I was feeling the same way at the beginning! If James used the word, grotesque, one more time...
But, yes, indeed, Tony breathed life and emotion into this story! I loved it.
I’m feel the same the stories are fine it’s the way he goes about them that pisses me off 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@THEPAGEBURNER1979 Can't you just hear " blah, blah, ostentatious, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, blah!" in your head!😁 Not Tony, just Henry, or shall we call him "the Fonz?!"
You mean overwrought*
@@christinesbetterknitting4533 yawn
I'm from New York, so I hate Boston, Mass and the ppl from it as much as the next man but damn. 😂