Showing results by author "Barry Pain" in All Categories

Fifty of the greatest classic horror stories ever written: 1. "The Beast with Five Fingers" by W. F. Harvey 2. "The Well" by W. W. Jacobs 3. "The Nightmare Room" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 4. "The End of a Show" by Barry Pain 5. "Bagnell Terrace" by E. F. Benson 6. "Fingers of a Hand" by H. D. Everett 7. "The Interruption" by W. W. Jacobs 8. "Gavon’s Eve" by E. F. Benson 9. "The Ring of Thoth" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 10. "Moon’s Gibbet" by Egerton Castle 11. "The Mystery of Sasassa Valley" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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.

The short story is considered to be one of the most challenging genres because of the need for compact plotlines and the ability to conjure up atmosphere and character in a few sentences and to engage the reader instantly. This collection presents 66 of the greatest examples of the genre - many of them well known, some hidden literary treasures, all of them exquisite examples of the short story at its finest.

A gripping collection of the very best classic mystery and adventure stories. 1. "Rose Rose" by Barry Pain 2. "The Perfect Crime" by Seamark 3. "The Well" by W. W. Jacobs 4. "The Tea-Leaf" by Edgar Jepson and Robert Eustace 5. "The Step" by E. F. Benson 6. "The Queer Feet" by G. K. Chesterton 7. "The Beast with Five Fingers" by W. F. Harvey 8. "The Enemy" by Hugh Walpole 9. "An Impromptu Dance" by A. J. Alan 10. "The Red-Headed League" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 11. "The Wedding Guest" by Guy Boothby

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.

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.

Welcome to The Problem Club, where logic takes a holiday and wit is the law of the land. In this delightful collection of early 20th-century comic tales by Barry Pain, twelve eccentric gentlemen gather regularly in an upscale London club to tackle bizarre, imaginative challenges—each one a “problem” designed to confound, amuse, and showcase their cleverness.

One fateful night, Dr. Gabriel Lamb unexpectedly saves Claudius Sandells life, bringing him into his home and providing extraordinary care to nurse him back to health. But beneath Dr. Lambs seemingly benevolent exterior lies a darker agenda, and Claudius may find himself facing an unimaginable cost for this unexpected kindness, orchestrated by the enigmatic doctor and his equally mysterious wife. - Summary by Carolin

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...

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 the chilling world of Barry Pains most captivating horror tales and unsettling weird fiction. This collection, narrated by Carolin, will keep you on the edge of your seat as you explore the darker side of storytelling.

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)

Loss in any form seems to burden us with more weight than anything that can possibly be gained or learnt from. The loss of a person, a loved one, is often overwhelming. Lives so interwoven that the severing or loss of one life leaves the other weakened, unable to function for some time. Recovery comes in a myriad of forms but is usually debilitating, slow and, in the end, we are not as whole as we once were.It is a subject that authors return to again and again.

A pompous and pooterish city clerk with social pretensions relates anecdotes of suburban life in Edwardian England, as he and his patient and long-suffering wife, Eliza, deal with various crises and contretemps—including the vexed question of visiting cards; a malfunctioning music player; the mistreatment of the narrator’s hat; a mushroom (or toadstool) in the front garden; and the ongoing struggle to balance the household accounts …

Barry Eric Odell Pain was born at 3 Sydney Street in Cambridge, on 28th September 1864. He was one of 4 children. It is often said that Pain was discovered by Robert Louis Stevenson, who compared his work to that of Guy de Maupassant. It’s an apt comparison. Pain was also a master of disturbing prose but able to inject parody and light comedy into many of his works. A simple premise could in his hands suddenly expand into a world very real but somehow emotionally fraught and on the very edge of darkness as many of these short stories demonstrate.

Barry Pain was noted for his humorous tales of “Eliza” and her husband, but his tales of the weird and supernatural are equally noteworthy. This volume, More Tales in the Dark, contains eight of them.