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E.F. Benson's Ghost Stories
Publisher's Summary
Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Doctor Who, Game of Thrones) reads chilling tales by the unsung master of the classic ghost story: E. F. Benson.
There's nothing sinister about a London bus. Nothing supernatural could occur on a busy train platform. There's nothing terrifying about a little caterpillar. And a telephone, what could be scary about that?
Don't be frightened of the dark corners of your room. Don't be alarmed by a sudden inexplicable chill. There's no need for a ticking clock, a limping footstep, or a knock at the door to start you trembling. There's nothing to be scared of. Nothing at all.
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What members say
Average Customer Ratings
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5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robert
- 28-10-2017
E.F. Benson Classics Excellently Read by Gatiss
Nine E.F. Benson stories read by Mr. Gatiss. I was pleasantly surprised by his performance - he has a great voice and did some enjoyable character acting. I thought his voice for Mrs. Amworth was more like a creepy old man and a bit out of place, but still entertaining. The stories in this audiobook are:
- Spinach
- In the Tube
- The Room in the Tower
- And No Bird Sings
- Negotium Perambulans
- The Man Who Went Too Far
- Mrs Amworth
- Caterpillars
- The Bus-Conductor
Highly recommended to classic horror fans!
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Meep
- 02-12-2016
Gatiss and Benson, a superb combination
I have been a fan of E.F. Benson's ghost stories for many years, and I am also a huge fan of Mark Gatiss, so to run across the combination was a true Christmas treat for me! Benson wrote some wonderful classic ghost stories and this is an excellent selection of some of his best, though of course I wish there were more here. He wrote a huge selection, and it would be lovely to have another volume read by this reader.
Gatiss is a superb reader. I wish we could have a collection of him reading M. R. James (the best ghost story writer to ever live, in my opinion) as I know Gatiss is a fan of James also and I feel sure he would read them splendidly. I also wish that Audible would provide us with Mr. Gatiss reading his own books. I know he has provided audio recordings of at least one of his works, how about getting them for us, Audible? Please?
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- BirdyThurs
- 06-08-2018
Partway Through, but Wonderful!
Disclaimer: I have not heard all the stories yet.
Because these are very restrained, atmospheric stories you need to be in the right mood to listen.
Mark Gatiss is a wonderful narrator, perfect at maintaining a calm tone on the surface to give a sharper edge to the events. I get worried sometimes about a single narrator performing dialogue, but Gatiss is excellent at distinguishing characters without distractingly silly voices.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- John
- 28-08-2017
SATURATED with SUPERB SHUDDERS
This little tome is saturated with superb shudders... the old fashioned way of giving you little fingers of dread
running up your spine and over your shoulder... Deliciously subtle...
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anna
- 15-05-2017
Masters of their crafts!
Firstly, it was a thrill to discover that E F Benson, a fairly new love of mine, is a firm favourite of Mark Gatiss, who is a genius in his own right. His narration of these spooky tales is without peer, they grip you and don't let go. Gatiss inhabits the dozens of different characters with very distinct nuances, and does so effortlessly. This collection has been an absolute blessing for many otherwise banal car drives.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- A. Freudenberg
- 11-03-2017
Mark Gatiss at his Best
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Mark Gatiss reading those well written ghost stories. It was quite clear from his performance that he not only loves these kind of stories but is a skilled and experienced actor who has a well trained voice.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Babs
- 13-10-2016
Captures the age
It's a nice change from Gothic castles and Victorian weirs but certainly just as creepy.
The airy atmosphere created by the stories & performance makes the eerie parts cut just that bit deeper.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Scigirl
- 08-10-2016
Excellent Ghost Stories!
Have you listened to any of Mark Gatiss’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Mark Gatiss is an excellent narrator and does an tremendous job with these tales.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Listened to the entire series of stories on one sitting while working on a knitting project. Kept me thoroughly entertained and engaged.
Any additional comments?
Good creepy fun, especially for those who enjoy old-fashioned ghost stories.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 22-12-2018
recommended
The stories vary a bit in quality but over all they were intrigueing. They are not very scary so it can be a nice listen even for those who are easily scared. Gatiss narration is fantastic!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Ashley O'Neal Starnes
- 22-10-2018
great performance for mediocre stories
Gatiss breathes life into otherwise uninteresting stories. His performance alone makes the purchase worth it, but I doubt I could ever sit and read the stories myself.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 13-10-2016
Excellent stuff!
Very atmospheric stories, creepy, and read superbly by Mr Gatiss, who clearly relishes them. Despite listening to many audiobooks this is my first review, I am moved to do so simply because someone has given this a rating of one star, which is ridiculous. More please!
25 of 26 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Gerard
- 28-02-2017
methadone for the MR James addict
lovingly read by the brilliant Mark Gatiss, this collection is the closest in quality to the unbeatable MR James of nearly all the available ghost stories in my opinion. a second or extended volume would be very welcome.
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Di Harris
- 14-11-2016
E.F Benson's Ghost Stories read by Mark Gatiss
I have always thought that Benson's Ghost stories should be held in the same esteem as M R James. Those on this audio book are enhanced by the reader. Who better than Mark Gatiss! His voice alone,when in full creepy mode sends a shiver down the spine! Just wish there were more stories on th CD.
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dr. R. Brompton
- 08-01-2017
Nicely gothic.
I adored listening to this audible, Mark Gattis narrates wonderfully and the stories are just scary enough without being too gruesome or graphic. It depicts a different world (early 20th century) where there were still servants and people went to stay at country houses, where retired majors lived in quiet villages and played Bridge. Great to listen to as the day closes as the shadows get longer...
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- DarkSkies
- 29-01-2017
Better than M.R. James
What did you like most about E.F. Benson's Ghost Stories?
Obviously with ghost stories of this type and from this period in time comparison to James is inevitable. Whilst James' stories are undoubtedly excellent they always struck me as strangely soul less, almost clinical in their execution. Benson' stories however overflow with personality, wit and charm whilst being genuinely eerie. Beautifully worded and superbly performed the only fault with this is that it is way, way too short.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Melanie
- 22-04-2017
Wonderfully English ghost stories
A whimsical, at times, collection of very English ghost stories. Superbly read by Mark Gatiss.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Aurora
- 01-03-2017
A wonderful reading of classic ghost stories
Would you listen to E.F. Benson's Ghost Stories again? Why?
As with all E.F. Benson stories these are entertaining and multi layered. His eye for detail is fantastic, it gives you such a vivid picture of the people and places.
What about Mark Gatiss’s performance did you like?
This was a revelation - such a beautiful voice, I was swept away by him. His voicing of the characters, the pace and tone, made this one of the best narrations I have ever listened to.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It was spine chilling and fascinating - I wanted to listen to the whole thing in one sitting
Any additional comments?
A totally bewitching listen, I can only wish that Mark Gatiss will do many more readings.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Stephen Hamblin
- 05-02-2017
Brilliant!
What did you like most about E.F. Benson's Ghost Stories?
As a fan of M R James I was overjoyed to discover this author. He was a contemporary of James' and his stories are a joy to listen to, perfectly narrated by Mark Gatiss.
I am so glad I discovered Bensons work. Better late than never!
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 13-02-2018
Just brilliant<br />
Loved the stories and the narration was perfect.
I would recommend this book to any lover of ghost stories.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- A. Redgrove
- 09-02-2018
Thoroughly enjoyed these stories. Thank you
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes without hesitation. Mark Gatiss' narration was almost hypnotic, i was immersed in the story from a few lines in and held to the last. What more can you ask.
What does Mark Gatiss bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
understated tension and drama in the telling appealed to me. Enough for good effect without quashing my own imaginings.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No, but no less for that.
Any additional comments?
like a long walk down a dark and unfamiliar corridor with nothing but a flickering candle.
Excellent! thanks
1 of 1 people found this review helpful