Showing results by author "Barry Pain" in All Categories

Barry Eric Odell Pain (1864-1928) was an English journalist, poet, and writer. The Green Light is an iconic horror story describing graphically the rapid decline into psychosis of a man who has murdered his wife.

A wonderful selection of some of the most bizarre and unsettling stories ever written.

The Giraffe Problem tells the story of an evening at the Problem Club, a secret society of gentlemen in London who meet once a month in a private room above a restaurant, where one of the waiters is the admirable Leonard. Every month Leonard sets the members a problem or challenge. The one who is able to complete the feat successfully wins that month's share of the membership fees.

A glorious collection of some of the finest British short stories ever written. The Dog – Arnold Bennet, Not On The Passenger List – Barry Pain, The Old Man’s Tale About The Queer Client – Charles Dickens, The Half Brothers – Elizabeth Gaskell, The Veiled Portrait – James McGovan, Markheim – Robert Louis Stevenson, The Bottle Imp – Robert Louis Stevenson, The Adventures Of The Kind Mr. Smith – William J. Locke, The Man Of Mystery – Barry Pain, The Brazilian Cat – Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle.

Join the intriguing world of the Problem Club, a notorious gathering in London that meets monthly to tackle unconventional social dilemmas. Each session presents a unique challenge that stretches the imagination and tests the wit of its members. For example, how can one manage to kiss ten young ladies on the cheek in just one hour without causing any offense? Are you up for the challenge? Tune in to witness the lively competition as members devise their clever solutions to these perplexing problems. - Summary by Carolin

Dive into Barry Pains witty parody that cleverly dissects ASM Hutchinsons acclaimed novel If Winter Comes. Join us as we navigate the tumultuous life of Luke Sharper, whose professional and marital woes take center stage. As his relationship with Mabel deteriorates, an unexpected romance with Jona blossoms, leading to a conclusion that promises to be anything but ordinary. Will it all end in heartbreak, or is there a twist in store? (Summary by Nigel Boydell)

A train seems a very reliable mode to bring out the best in authors and sometimes the worst in their fictional characters. In this volume our narratives are usually set inside the carriage compartment where they are really up close and personal with each other. All our authors need to do is to light the touchpaper and stand well back.

Murder is that most heinous of crimes. But some murderers simply can’t get enough of it. Beneath the well-known monsters such as Lecter there lurk those other evil-doers who are the vivid confessions of our classic authors.

Join us for a delightful journey through the whims and woes of our hilariously pompous protagonist and his ever-patient wife, Eliza. This charming series of brief anecdotes explores their everyday lives, filled with unexpected twists and comical hazards that keep listeners laughing and engaged. (Summary by Nigel Boydell)

In the English language ‘bittersweet’ is that most pivotal of words. The mixture of sadness and happiness that suggest both but often bringing us smartly to earth, smack dab in-between them both, with little of either.

Dive into a whimsical parody of the Margot Asquith memoirs with Marge Askinforit. In this delightful tale, Pains character, Marge, captivates us with her candid and often outrageous anecdotes about her dysfunctional family. With a flair for exaggeration and a knack for the entertainingly awkward, Marge shares the intriguing, if not entirely accurate, details of her thrilling private life. Join us for a rollercoaster ride of laughter and reflection! (Summary by Nigel Boydell)

Step into the haunting world of Shadow of the Unseen, a supernatural melodrama unfolding in the enchanting Fens and Marshlands of Cambridgeshire. At the heart of the tale is Linda Pettingill Merle, a young woman celebrating her twenty-first birthday. As she inherits a grand Manor house and its sprawling lands in Merelsfleet, Linda grapples with the fleeting nature of life and her quest for identity. What secrets lie within her new domain? Will it provide the answers she yearns for about her origins and destiny? Join her on this captivating journey steeped in the rich tapestry of witchcraft ...

Dive into a captivating collection of stories by Barry Pain, where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs. While not every tale fits neatly into the realm of ghost stories or horror, many will undoubtedly send shivers down your spine. Each story is a testament to Pains exceptional storytelling, promising an engaging experience for both readers and listeners alike. - Summary by Carolin

In An Exchange of Souls, Barry Pain, known for his horror tales, takes a bold departure from his usual themes. This gripping novel follows the story of Dr. Daniel Myas, a respected scientist who invents a machine capable of exchanging personalities. However, when he attempts this exchange with someone he holds dear, the consequences spiral into a chilling descent into horror. Published in 1911, this work is said to have influenced H.P. Lovecrafts The Thing on the Doorstep, revealing the dark complexities of immortality and identity through a scientific lens. What happens when souls are swapped...

The Modern Age is one of information overload. Bombarded, surrounded, and battered by facts, figures, opinions and seemingly whatever else comes out of anyone’s head from all directions at all hours of the day and night. It’s exhausting. In the pens of such luminaries as Henry James, E M Delafield, C E Montague, Charlotte Perkins Gilman and many others we connect with old fashioned media from publishing and advertising to telegrams and radio and everything in between in ways that are surprising, enlightening but always entertaining.

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Whatever history and culture says WE think 3, a hat-trick of stories, is a great number to explore themes and literary avenues that classic authors were so adept at creating.

Delve into the gripping tale of a dying man, a concealed diamond, a murder conspiracy, and spectral visitations in this unique narrative crafted in a round-robin style by renowned authors of yesteryears. This riveting tale, woven together by the likes of Jerome K. Jerome, Eden Phillpotts, E. F. Benson, F. Frankfort Moore, and Barry Pain, offers an unparalleled storytelling experience. Join us as we unravel the Mystery of Black Rock Creek. (Summary by Ben Tucker)

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. They can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere. The zenith of Empire is bookended by two catastrophic wars that slaughter vast swathes of humanity. And yet authors manage to record and create fragile libraries of humanity, its talents, its dreams and increasingly its nightmares.