A Race with the Sun | L. T. Meade and Clifford Halifax | A Bitesized Audiobook
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- Опубликовано: 21 июл 2024
- A rip-roaring and frankly slightly bonkers tale of derring-do from 1897; the shadow of war looms and foreign spies abound. Scientist and inventor Paul Gilchrist finds himself embroiled in a devilish plot devised by "fiends in human shape", culminating in a breathtaking race against time for his very survival...
Narrated/performed by Simon Stanhope, aka Bitesized Audio. If you enjoy this content and would like to help me keep creating, there are a few ways you can support me:
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00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:20 A Race with the Sun
01:01:32 Credits, thanks and further listening
L. T. Meade (Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Smith, 1844-1914) was a prolific author of mystery and suspense stories, dominating the periodicals of the 1890s and early 1900s. Born in County Cork, Ireland, she began writing fiction at the age of 17 and had a highly productive career, publishing almost 300 books in her lifetime. Meade married Alfred Toulmin Smith in London, in 1879, when she was in her mid-30s. She was an advocate of feminist causes, and as a solo writer became most associated with adventure stories for girls and young people, of which the most famous was ‘A World of Girls’, published in 1886.
However, she was also much associated with mystery and suspense stories, and her name appeared frequently in the periodicals of the 1890s and early 1900s. Interestingly, in this genre she often wrote in collaboration with medical practitioners, who apparently supplied the scientific details which underpin many of the plots of her stories. Her most frequent collaborators were Robert Eustace (Dr. Eustace Robert Barton, 1854-1943) and Clifford Halifax. A short biographical sketch of Meade and a discussion of the identity of Robert Eustace can be found in the introduction to my video of 'The Mystery of the Felwyn Tunnel', available on this channel: • The Mystery of the Fel...
"Clifford Halifax M.D." was the pen name of Dr Edgar Beaumont (1860-1921), who maintained a general practice in Crystal Palace, south London. He collaborated with L. T. Meade on several series of stories which ran in the Strand Magazine in the 1890s, most notably the 'Stories from the Diary of a Doctor' (1893-96), in which the character of Dr Clifford Halifax recounted episodes from his medical life, and 'The Adventures of a Man of Science' (1896-97), which featured the exploits of Paul Gilchrist, scientist and adventurer.
According to his obituary in The Lancet, Clifford Halifax's main contribution to the partnership was to come up with the plot and basic storyline, while L. T. Meade did the writing. Based on 'A Race to the Sun', he clearly had quite an imagination!
'A Race to the Sun' first appeared in The Strand Magazine in January 1897, with illustrations by J. Finnemore.
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2019 & 2023. 
Развлечения
Narrative begins at: 00:01:20 This story forms part of a short series which featured in The Strand Magazine between July 1896 and February 1897; entitled 'The Adventures of a Man of Science', it recounted the exploits of Paul Gilchrist, scientist and adventurer. I hope to record more stories from this series in the future. In the meantime, if you enjoyed this story you may enjoy the "Rivals of Sherlock Holmes" playlist, available on this channel, featuring a selection of other Victorian and Edwardian detectives: ruclips.net/p/PLi95qAoufCZL5tiXECltwXUI2QDDFrDHD
Long time listeners may remember this story from a previous upload available pre-2021, but I was never happy with either the recording (I had a heavy cold at the time) or my editing, so this is a new and I hope much improved version.
Quite right - you DID have a cold. That said, it was Lockdown-ish, and you were a light in the darkness. Thank you, as ever, for looking after us all!
@@Lemma01 Agreed! Thanks, as ever, Simon.
HI SIMON 👋 👋 👋 👋!!!! I literally did a happy dance 💃 when I read the description and saw that the performance is an hour long!!!!! YAY 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁🤪 THANK YOU 😊 I know this is going to be terrific 😊 😄 😀 ☺️ 💖
@@waningmooncancer9628 I did the same thing when I saw LT Meade is one of the authors (my favorite story of all in Simon's catalog thus far is the savvy and irresistible, "The Eight Mile Lock"), AND that it was one hour long!
@@Frenchblue8 Now you're going to make me go back and listen to it again....as if I need an excuse 😁 ! Simon's work is such a treat, I'm already looking forward to the next one ☺️
Keep doing your happy dance, Frenchblue, no matter what 🤪😁☺️
Recently I had cataract surgery which meant, for a time, I would not be able to read as I was accustomed to. I began to search You Tube for audiobooks and stumbled upon one of Simon's renditions. I was instantly hooked. Many stories later, my eyes have healed and I am able to hold books in my hands to delve into once again. Yet, I find myself still drawn to Simon's narrations. It is such a delight to be read to especially by one as skilled as Simon. I believe there is sufficient room in one's life for both physical books and audiobooks.
What a lovely comment, thank you Nancy
You were very fortunate to have come across one of the best narrators on y tube, congratulations & a speedy recovery from your surgery, if ever you want a rest from reading you’ve found the best channel full of wonderful stories, brilliantly narrated.✊♥️
Oh how wonderful you have recovered and how wonderful that you were able to find Simon,. I think most of us have a finding Simon story of one sort or another and mine is a bit similar to yours just sort of 'tush over tea cup' as it were. What I mean is, I had found Simon, become quickly enchanted, as he was really my first story narrator. But that wasn't all, not only did I find one of the loveliest storytelling voices on the planet, but I found stories I never knew existed. I began with rivals of Sherlock Holmes, because I am more into the detective realm, although I love a jolly good ghost story from this era as well. But I have always been enamored in what I think of as the Vic-Ed period, not just for literature for architecture, decoration, furnishings, all the joys of wrought iron and glass, black and white tile, intricately detailed fabrics and wallpapers, and the beauty of graphics as wedded to tech, such as all of the appointments, from a-z, of, for example, Titanic. So this is my favorite, and so here in, thanks to Simon, I am able to add literature in my favorite genre to the lot, with all those beautiful visuals applied, too, as I listen in pretty much sheer bliss to the words roll out.
So,v I found Simon prior to my own emergency eye surgery, and I couldn't have been happier, even with pretty severe pain at the beginning, to be able to go straight to Simon's channel. I still have plenty of memories of warm evenings from last August, falling to sleep to Simon's voice, behind my therapy dark glasses. I doubt there would have been anything else that could have relaxed me sufficiently through, first the intense pain and then again through the intense stinging brought on by eye drops
But I am better now as well thank goodness.
Being read to by Simon Stanhope, stories of crime detection, from the pre DNA & GPS period, as well as his tales of the ghostly and the arcane... Is nothing short of indescribably wonderous, isn't it?
Again, Nancy, so glad you are healed and that you can enjoy books again, in all ways!
Peace.
I agree. I have a similar situation. I stopped reading a few years ago, due to cataracts.
I too had surgery, but book sized print is still difficult.
Simone is a jewell. He brings to life all the best of Victorian literature.
After listening to all of his work multiple times, I envy you. You get to hear them all for the first time. God bless
Ahh! The old fiends in human shape Victorian stories! The best on a rainy cold night 🧟♀️
These stories hit different in the evening. Something about it lulls you in and it’s just so comforting.
Thanks Max, appreciated. Although, as a few other commenters have noted, this one's perhaps not the *most* relaxing story for evening listening...
Well, this tale was certainly not one for casual listening. I listened twice to make sure I missed nothing and it was riveting each time. The author included so very much emotion invoking detail in the story I could believe I was witness to the events. But of course, the one item that truly brought it to life was Simon's brilliant performance without misstep. Simon, you always carry me away from the mundane if only for a time, and I will always love you for the respite you give so freely. ❤
Yeah I started playing this while trying to go to sleep and all it did was wake me up and make me want to listen to other stories lol
@@skussy69 LOL!
I rewound multiple times. Excellent tale.
very well narrated. but what was even more important for me, since i am listening with headphones, that the level of sound, music and talk, is always the same.
Thanks for that comment Benedikt, I'm glad to know that. I enjoy listening to audiobooks and podcasts when out and about and I know how annoying it is when the levels go up and down, so I do try to pay particular attention to that aspect of the editing process
Thanks so much, Simon - perfect for late-night listening!
I'm saving this for later. I recall reading this story years ago. What a pleasure.
It's quite a rollicking yarn, I hope you enjoy!
Your voice and accent are from another time and I'm very grateful for your contribution to society❤
That's very kind of you to say, thank you!
Wow, really going to enjoy my walk tonight listening to this story. Very good ratings. Thank you Simon.
Aloha from Kapakalu, Maui; love your channel. Thank you.
Thank you Mr Stanhope. Happy slumber time. X
fabulously read wonderful tale...thanks Simon.
Yes, indeed!
An absolutely brilliant story, thank you Simon.
I love all your narrations, Thankyou so much 😀
How absolutely delightful
Thank You 🙏🏼 📖 🌹🌹🌹♥️
Agreed, Christine!
My two favourite channels on RUclips are both Simons. Simon, a bloke in the woods, and Simon Stanhope. My evening relaxation just wouldn't be the same without them. Best entertainment and education on any platform Thank you.
It is always a brilliant joy, to see a new video.
Becoming a really avid fan of LT Meade, & co!
This was one of those which easily lent itself to visualization of the events,, and another tale in which the marriage of narrator to story is truly nothing short of glorious!
Thank you, Simon, thanks so much!
Glad to know you enjoyed it!
I particularly enjoyed this story Simon. The details of the balloon & the protagonist((s) were almost “007” like! Thank you so much. ♥️♥️♥️♥️😎🇦🇺✌️
I know, I had similar thought - a sort of Victorian era James Bond!
You are the best part of my nitetime routine.
Well I don't know but I probably would have died myself.
Great story! Thank you Simon!
Before supervillains constructed overly complicated ways to kill James Bond or Batman and Robin, before the Hooded Claw came up with overly complicated ways to do away with Penelope Pitstop, there was "A Race with the Sun". Fun all the same.
Ah, the Hooded Claw, that brings back some memories!
Very entertaining!
Thank You
Thank you so much, Silmon! We love you whether you have a cold or not.❤
I'm quite partial to bonkers - as you know only too well, cher Simon. Bravo! ❤
Indeed! I'm rather fond of this ripping yarn, glad to know you enjoyed it Bob
Thanks from all of us! "The Stanhopeien society🥂👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍!!!!!!!!
I rather like the sound of that!
Good story Mr Simon!
Another addition to your wonderful collection. Perfect accompaniment to a long journey just start at the beginning, every single story is enjoyable,whole collection is quality.✊♥️
Thanks Julie. Happy travels!
Excellent. Thanks Simon.x
That was nicely rip-roaring! 🤣♥️
So good I'm re-listening and am sure I will again.
I love detective stories.
You are an amazing narrator. Thank you for all the work you've done. It must be a labour of love. I wish I could support you, but I'm a disabled pensioner in South Africa, and times are tough.
Of course, I completely understand. Listening, clicking like, commenting and sharing are all great ways to support me and help the channel grow, so thank you for taking the time to do that
Brilliant reading of an strange story. Thankyou
Long term illness and never getting a full night's sleep, discovered this, what a help it is.
So glad to know it's helpful Peter. Best wishes to you
Yay a new story.😁
Oh this story is horrifying if you're afraid of heights..and I am.
Oh dear, sorry about that Gina... I sympathise, I'm not great with heights myself!
Thank you for all your readings . They help me sleep. Ans make my day go better.
You’re such a good reader - a pleasure listening.
Thank you!
Lots of fun, thank you, Simon!
Please record more Gilchrist stories. I can probably find different recordings on RUclips but they are not as high quality and well done as yours.
Yes indeed, I'd like to do more from this series... So many stories, so little time! But I'll aim to get around to this character again before too long
And the moral of this wonderful story is .....
You will have to listen to find out. I certainly hope you do so.
Thank you, Mr. Stanhope, for one more prize to enjoy.
You're most welcome! Thanks Sharon
I throughly enjoyed this story! Thank you so much, Simon!! Have a great weekend!! 😊
Thank you Jacqueline. You too!
Stirring stuff, Simon - it's a veritable 'Ripping Yarn'!🙂
SPOILER ALERT.
Written in 1897? Oh, dear. With the horrors of the First World War on the horizon it's particularly sad that there was so much excitement at the prospect of stout-hearted chaps employing scientific research to deliver (in this case) a 'marvellous' new explosive that would solve all the world's problems...
What we got instead was trench warfare, mustard gas, the first tanks, warplanes, and the incredible tactic of ordering unprotected men to walk slowly into machine-gun fire.
It's ironic that the writer herself should also have died in 1914.
That was a wild ride.
Ty for the great offering...another wonderful read!
Loved this. Thank you
Alas I found another trove of stories , thanksgiving to your venture
Wonderful, thank you
Wonderful story. Beautiful grammar.
Enjoyed your first reading of this but great to hear an even better one 👍
Mad science! Convolouted death traps! Foreign baddies! This is some high entertainment...
Yes, this one has it all! It's almost a late-19th century James Bond adventure...
Great adventure nice little twist at the end. Never judge a nun by her habits.
Very good!
I think it fair to say that trying to stabilize nitrogen trichloride is not going to end well
Simon, as we say in the States, you hit a home run with this story...but I guessed the identity ... Oops..my lips are sealed. 😉
Great narrator
Excellent. Excellent.
Thanks
Thanks for your support 🙏
Thrilling.
Makes the Perils of Pauline look tame.
Such an interesting historical moment: both power and fear from the gathering potentials of flight, the complementary energies of artificial and natural light, the terrible nightmare of war chemicals assembled thanks to communication networks borne of peace.
Yes indeed, I think many of these stories shine an interesting sidelight onto the lives and attitudes and expectations of the era, which is especially fascinating in retrospect
Thanks!
Thank you so much for your support
Bonkers but fun story.
Never trust someone with a dog named Demoniac.
I don't know about being a rival to Holmes, the main character was conned fairly easily.
A very fair point! This story (and character) did feature in one of the later volumes of Hugh Greene's 'Rivals of Sherlock Holmes' series in the 1970s, but you're right, he doesn't quite fit in that category. He seems more like an early version of John Buchan's Richard Hannay perhaps, the man of action to whom strange things happen...
I love to go for a ride in my aerial car. 😂
Simon is a diamond in the rough. Please like, share and subscribe, everyone! 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks for your support, much appreciated! 🙏
Nothing rough about Simon!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was hoping for revenge lol
A weapons producer, eh? Ptui. Even Nobel felt his invention would good for much more than killing people. Hope our hero gets what a deserves from the Gypsy-like, swarthy man with small eyes too close together.
The person who is reading this comment , i wish you great success , health, love and happiness !
Great tale but a weak ending for it. but considering it's over 125 years since it was penned, excusable.
Rather elaborate way to kill someone. 🤔
Not watching anything with that a holes ad in front. sorry Simon but yt is shl.
Ah, the pomposity of the upper middle classes