B. J. Harrison Reads the Classic Tales Podcast, Season Three
by Various Authors
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Season Three comes with serious firepower. The genre of adventure, science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, melodrama, and the psychological are all present, turning the collection into a kaleidoscope of characters, plot twists, emotions, and revelations. Magicians hurl lightnings at each other, talking rabbits and vanishing cats talk to a little girl, while mad scientists try to create life from dead body parts. One of the most prominent names in this season is the American master of horror H. P. Lovecraft, whose haunting and hallucinatory tale "The Music of Erich Zahn" will echo for a long time in the listener's ears.
B. J. Harrison Reads The Island of Doctor Moreau
by H. G. Wells
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
B. J. Harrison reads a classic science fiction novel from the late 19th century. In "The Island of Doctor Moreau", a man is rescued from death after a shipwreck, only to face something possibly even more frightening. The island he now faces is inhabited by a mad scientist, who is creating a whole new breed of human-like hybrids. What's more, his methods are far from pleasant. This science fiction classic is one of H. G. Wells' best-known novels and has been turned into numerous films, including The Island of Doctor Moreau, the 1996 version starring Marlon Brando as the mad scientist.
B. J. Harrison Reads Leiningen vs. The Ants
by Carl Stephenson
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Man against nature, Leiningen against ants. Leiningen, an owner of a plantation, gets one day warned that an army of ants is approaching his fields and that it would be smartest to leave. Leiningen is however not going to give up on his land without a fight. The ants arrive and a long and exhausting battle follows. The technology and the power of the human brain are on Leiningen's side. However the ants have a numerical superiority. Who will win this prolonged fight? Will Leiningen save his plantation or will nature be undefeated?
Find out the answers in "Leiningen vs. the Ants" by Carl Stephenson.
B. J. Harrison Reads A Study in Scarlet
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Dr. John Watson comes back to London to recover after being heavily injured at war. However, thanks to his scarce pension, Watson cannot afford a decent apartment. One day he serendipitously meets an old friend named Stamford with whom he shares his plight. Stamford introduces Watson to Sherlock Holmes, who is also in a similar situation. After the two men discuss their problems and the obstacles they have been through, Holmes and Watson decide to live together.
What was Dr. Watson's role in the war he attended? Who is this friend of his and where does he know Sherlock from? Will Holmes and Watson find a common language? Does a great friendship await them?
"A Study in Scarlet" is a short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, first published in 1887.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
by Arthur Conan Doyle
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
London is such a large city with so many various crimes and mysteries waiting to be solved. In "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, you can find the most notable, complicated and intriguing stories about the great Sherlock Holmes. Investigating mysterious murders, missing people, fraud and abuse is only part of Holmes' job. He is ever afraid to pick up another case, no matter how complicated it is. Just the opposite. He craves for more and more difficult cases that can put his abilities to the test.
If you really want to learn more about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, do not hesitate to embark on this journey and solve all the cases alongside the two friends.
B. J. Harrison Reads the Hunchback of Notre Dame
by Victor Hugo
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is one of Victor Hugo most popular historical novels. It follows the story of the young Quasimodo, a hunchback who lives the solitary life of an outcast in the bell tower of Notre-Dame in Paris. When his path crosses that of the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda, his little world is turned upside down. Quasimodo's guardian, the Archdeacon Frollo, becomes equally obsessed with Esmeralda and tries to convince Quasimodo to kidnap her. This gothic tale full of betrayal and lust explores human condition and all those emotions and feelings that make us human.
Hugo's romantic description of the cathedral inspired a renewed interest in medieval architecture in France, and led to a wave of renovations across the country. His novel has been adapted into numerous big and small screen adaptations, most famously the 1996 Disney animated movie.
B. J. Harrison Reads Jeeves and the Hard Boiled Egg
by P. G. Wodehouse
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
When the wealthy English gentleman Bertie Wooster meets with his friend Francis "Bicky" Bickersteth, he hears that his friend is in a bit of a pickle. As usual, Bertie turns to his ever-trustworthy valet Jeeves for advice. In a game of pretend, the three try to solve Bicky's problem but only end up complicating matters further. This humorous short story by P. G. Wodehouse from the early 20th century has been turned into a TV episode for the English comedy series "The World of Wooster". The story is read by the versatile B.J. Harrison.
B. J. Harrison Reads Uncle Silas
by Sheridan Le Fanu
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
"Uncle Silas" is a Gothic locked-room mystery novel by Sheridan Le Fanu. Maud Ruthyn is an orphan, left in the care of her mysterious and evil uncle Silas. The latter keeps thinking up new and creative ways to get rid of his niece. In a similar vein to Wilkie Collins' novels, Le Fanu's "Uncle Silas" depicts a heroine in danger, who moves from one hair-raising adventure to the next, making it a perfect, terrifying, horror tale of greed and vile intentions.
B. J. Harrison Reads a Classic Tales Christmas
by Various Authors
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
The stories in this collection are all about Christmas, but that does not mean that they are all happy and tranquil. Sincere and romantic ones like O. Henry's meet the mysterious tales of Chesterton and Conan Doyle. A malevolent and nihilist gravedigger receives absolution from the most unlikely of creatures, while a poor shoemaker that has renounced God begins to look for His presence through his small window. Of course, it would not be a complete collection without everyone's seasonal favourite – Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", which combes bitterness, love, forgiveness, and goodness into one magical story. A heartfelt and haunting collection that everyone will enjoy.
B. J. Harrison Reads Dracula
by Bram Stoker
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
You have certainly heard of Dracula. But do you know the whole story? Everything begins with Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor who travels to Transylvania. He is about to sell a piece of real estate to Count Dracula. The locals warn Harker of the strange things that occur near Count Dracula's castle, but Harker doesn't listen. Shortly after he realizes that he has fallen into captivity. Will he get himself out of there? Will he live to tell everybody about the vampire Dracula? Does he have a chance against the bloodsucker or will Dracula make him regret his insurgency?
Find out the answers in Bram Stoker's most famous story "Dracula".
B. J. Harrison Reads Classic Scary Tales
by Various Authors
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and mad scientists. The most characteristic features of the gothic and horror genre are combined here, together with some mysterious and hard to crack, enigmatic tales. The listener will be Dracula's, or seek the elixir of life with an alchemy student; they will run in horror before the headless horseman or be poisoned by the beautiful daughter of the mad scientist Rappaccini. And if this is not enough, the Inquisition will step in, torturing the reader's body and soul with inhuman, otherworldly violin chords. You have been warned!
B. J. Harrison Reads the Classic Tales Podcast, Season Four
by Various Authors
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
A kaleidoscope of genres, themes, topics, and motifs await the listener here. From comedy and mystery, to horror and children's stories, Season Four abounds in fairy tales adventures, challenges to the listener's imagination, and joyrides through the unknown realms of the psyche. One of the most famous short stories in horror fiction, "The Call of Cthulhu" sits next to the funny characters of "Right Ho, Jeeves" by Wodehouse, while the eponymous sleepyhead from "Rip Van Winkle" is very much awake, facing H. G. Wells' "The Door in the Wall". The collection also includes one of the best psychological horror novellas in world literature – Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw" where a young governess and her two entrusted children are haunted by a ghostly presence.
B. J. Harrison Reads Young Goodman Brown
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Goodman Brown is a young man who leads a normal and peaceful life with his wife Faith. However one evening, he leaves his wife and heads out to the forest. He has to run an unknown and urgent errand. There, he meets an old man who strangely resembles Brown a lot. Together, they walk deeper in the woods and suddenly Brown hears Faith's voice coming from an unknown direction. He runs angrily through the forest when he stumbles upon a strange ceremony. Goodman Brown's adventure through the woods is a symbol for his journey into self-scrutiny. But is he being tortured through a dream or it this all reality?
B. J. Harrison Reads the Horror of the Heights
by Arthur Conan Doyle
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Joyce-Armstrong is a pilot, whose allies dies while they are trying to break the current height record of 30,00 feet. The man is curious over the mysterious deaths and thinks that his friends have been caught in what he calls "air-jungles". Hay Connor and Myrtle are its two most recent casualties. Connor dies immediately after landing, while Myrtle is found beheaded. Joyce-Armstrong then decides to conduct his own investigation and takes his plane to a height of 40,000 feet.
Who or what is killing the pilots? Will the brave aviator, Joyce-Armstrong, find the truth about the mysterious deaths? After take-off, can he safely return to the ground? What shocking discoveries will he make while in the air?
"The Horror of the Heights" is a horror story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, first published in 1913
B. J. Harrison Reads the Pit and the Pendulum
by Edgar Allan Poe
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
A prisoner arrives at a trial before the Spanish Inquisition and is condemned to death. Upon his conviction, he faints and finds himself in a horrendous cell to fight off death. Still, this prisoner is not giving up that easily and describes his horrendous circumstances to the last detail. "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe is nothing short of grim until the very end. The short story from the 19th century has inspired countless film and television adaptations, including Guillermo del Toro's narrated version in the animated anthology Extraordinary Tales (2015).
B. J. Harrison Reads The Ring of Toth
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Mr. John Smith is a British student of Egyptology who travels to Paris. The main purpose of his trip is to visit the Louvre and research some papyri. Unfortunately, tired from going round the museum, Smith falls asleep in one its the many corners. When he wakes up, he sees an Egyptian-looking man performing a ritual on a mummy. Things get even stranger as the Egyptian man unwraps the mummy, uncovers a beautiful woman and hugs her.
Why is Smith interested in those particular papyri? Do they hold a secret that needs to be revealed? Who is the man that Smith saw at the museum and was he even real at all? How will the young student end up? Could it all have been a dream?
This short story about adventure and mystery by Sir Conan Doyle was published in 1890.
B. J. Harrison Reads Lord Arthur Savile's Crime
by Oscar Wilde
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Sometimes self-fulfilling prophecies are not all they seem. Lord Arthur Savile is a young British aristocrat about to get married. Mr. Podgers tells people's fortunes, and he has bad news for the groom: he will commit murder. Unable to get the thought off his mind, he decides to get it over with before entering into marriage, but things do not go as planned. Hear the darkly humorous short story "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime" by Oscar Wilde from the late 19th century brought to life by B.J. Harrison.
B. J. Harrison Reads Captain Blood
by Raphael Sabatini
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Dr. Peter Blood is an Irish physician who served in the Dutch and French navies. He now works as a doctor in the city of Bridgwater in southwestern England. During the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth, Blood is captured after saving a man's life. Unfortunately, the man turns out to be a rebel. Therefore, the doctor is sentenced to ten years as an indentured slave in the Caribbean colonies.
How did Peter get captured? Why was he sentenced to ten years as a slave? Will he manage to escape from the Caribbean colonies, or will he spend the rest of his sentence in slavery? Find all the answers in Rafael Sabatini's adventure novel "Captain Blood" from 1922.
B. J. Harrison Reads the Flying Stars
by G. K. Chesterton
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
It is the day after Christmas. Colonel Adams and his daughter are throwing a party. The neighbor, the girl's uncle, her godfather and the local priest Father Brown are invited. The uncle comes up with a plan: they are going to arrange a masquerade play with costumes. It seems like a very good idea, until the three diamonds the girl's godfather had brought her as a gift disappeared from his pocket. Luckily Father Brown is there and he will try to solve this case as quickly as possible. Will his intuition be enough or will a further investigation have to be led? Find out who the thief is in "The Flying Stars".
B. J. Harrison Reads The Mysterious Mansion
by Honoré De Balzac
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
For a very long time Monsieur de Merret has been suspecting his wife of infidelity. One night he comes home earlier than usual and knocks on the door of his wife's chamber. Right before he enters the room, he hears the door of her closet squeak. Initially, Merret thinks that this is their maid Rosalie, but he is perplexed when the maid enters the room right after him. Merret desires to open the closet so he can once and for all find out the truth about his wife.
Who is hiding in the closet and why does Monsieur de Merret think his wife is having an affair? Will his suspicions turn out to have been warranted? Will he open the closet, or his wife will manage to change his mind? Find all the answers in Honoré de Balzac's novel "The Mysterious Mansion".
B. J. Harrison Reads the Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg
by Mark Twain
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Hadleyburg is a decent American town where all the people are honest, selfless and honorable. At least, that is how they see themselves. One day a stranger arrives in town and somehow the locals manage to offend him so badly that he is determined to get his revenge on them by exposing their true nature, which according to him is far from "incorruptible".
How will he tempt the people that are so well trained to avoid temptation? Are they really as honest as they claim to be?
B. J. Harrison Reads The Stolen White Elephant
by Mark Twain
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Can you imagine that a big white elephant could disappeared into thin air? It may sound impossible or ridiculous but it actually happened. An elephant got sent to Great Britain as a gift to the Queen but it was lost on the way and nobody seems to have a clue how it came to happen. Can chief inspector Blunt solve the case? Find out in Mark Twain's short story "The Stolen White Elephant".
B. J. Harrison Reads Merry Christmas
by Stephen Leacock
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
The First World War has left the world in agony. Disillusionment, hopelessness, and horror are rife when a despondent author gets a visit by Father Time and Father Christmas, who come to raise his spirits. He wishes for better days, but the war has taken everything, turning him into a hopeless and angry nihilist. Nevertheless, the Christmas spirit is here to bring hope and another chance at happiness.
"Merry Christmas" is a poignant short story where Stephen Leacock unleashes his ironic and satirical potential, together with his usual socially critical tone, to construct a narrative about the erosion of Christmas values. A must for fans of the author and for winter time reading.
B. J. Harrison Reads The Gardener
by Rudyard Kipling
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Helen Turrell is a young and well-off single woman, living a the countryside village. But one day, she decides to travel to southern France and returns home with a baby called Michael. Helen says that Michael is the son of her brother, George, who died in India after falling off a horse. However, the truth is quite different and secretly, Helen tells Michael that he can call her "Mummy".
Why did Helen travel to France? Is Michael really her nephew? Find out the truth in Rudyard Kipling's story "The Gardener" from 1925.
B. J. Harrison Reads The Hand
by Guy De Maupassant
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
A man keeps a disembodied hand attached to his wall. One night he is found murdered, a finger sticking out of his mouth, and the hand is missing from the wall. Later a hand with one missing finger is seen at the man's grave. The police inspector who worked on the case wants to give some logical explanation but is there any? Or it was a supernatural occurrence? Find out in Guy de Maupassant's horror story "The Hand".
B. J. Harrison Reads The Cut-Glass Bowl
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
"Evylyn, I'm going to give a present that's as hard as you are and as beautiful and as empty and as easy to see through."
When New York housewife Evylyn Piper receives a cut-glass bowl from a former boyfriend as a wedding gift, it's like the bowl brings a curse along with it. As years go by, a downward spiral seems to engulf her family and all she has to blame is that cursed bowl.
Fitzgerald's descriptions are vivid and spellbinding. In 'The Cut-Glass Bowl' he explores themes of unrealized dreams inherent to middle age, which he would later dive deeper into with 'The Greats Gatsby'.
B. J. Harrison Reads The Happy Prince and Other Tales
by Oscar Wilde
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
B.J. Harrison reads "The Happy Prince and Other Tales" which consists of various children's stories by Oscar Wilde. Originally published in 1888, the work includes five memorable stories: "The Happy Prince", "The Nightingale and the Rose", "The Selfish Giant", "The Devoted Friend" and "The Remarkable Rocket". It features unforgettable characters, such as the happy prince who has never experienced sorrow and a nightingale who accepts a rose for the ultimate sacrifice. These tales have inspired countless different adaptations, including the 1974 animated film "The Happy Prince", featuring Christopher Plummer as the voice of the prince himself.
B. J. Harrison Reads The Call of Cthulhu
by H. P. Lovecraft
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Francis Thurston finds an old collection of letters and articles from his late uncle. They contain detailed descriptions of the so called Cthulhu cult, which Francis gets more and more interested in. He begins to understand his uncle's fear and dread but he decides to continue his investigation. Will he keep be able to keep his sanity or will the Cthulhu cult come calling on him?
B. J. Harrison Reads At the Mountains of Madness
by H. P. Lovecraft
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
William Dyer is a geologist who embarks on a long expedition to the Antarctic continent. The journey is dangerous but the strange things he and his group witness and find are far from what they had expected. The discovery mission turns into a fantastical and supernatural experience. Things get out of control when Dyer finds one of his colleagues' camp demolished. The bigger part of the group is slaughtered, another man and his dog are missing. Could Dyer have stumbled upon some creature from another world? Will his expedition be successful and will he get the chance to come back and tell his story? Find out in "At The Mountains of Madness".
B. J. Harrison Reads An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and Other Tales
by Ambrose Bierce
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and Other Tales" is a collection of 23 stories by the American author Ambrose Bierce. It consists of some of the author's best known works such as "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", "Chickamauga", "A Horseman in the Sky" and many others.
The American Civil War, execution of plantation owner, twist endings, stream of consciousness narration, soldiers who are morally challenged, horses running through the sky, murder and supernatural occurrences. The collection of stories promises to take up not only those, but also more intriguing cases.
B. J. Harrison Reads The Gloria Scott
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Sherlock Holmes is still a student when he receives his very first case. While still in college, he is invited to the house of his good friend, Victor Trevor. There he meets Trevor's father, who challenges Holmes to analyze him, so that he can test the young detective's investigative skills. Holmes touches a nerve after mentioning a person with the initials "J.A.". After the shock passes, Trevor's father tries to hide how terrified he is, but Holmes can still catch the anxiety in his eyes.
Why did Trevor's father get so scared after he heard the initials? Whose are they and what does their possessor have to do with the father? Who or what is Gloria Scott? Will Holmes be able to complete the case and reveal the truth? Is he good enough?
This story about mystery and fear of the past was first published in 1893.
B. J. Harrison Reads the Adventure of the Six Napoleons
by Arthur Conan Doyle
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Inspector Lestrade is investigating a series of break-ins in London which have one thing in common: shattered Napoleon busts. After many unsuccessful attempts to solve the case, Lestrade comes to a dead end and is forced to ask Sherlock Holmes for help. The next day another bust has been destroyed, but there has also been a murder. Holmes wants to solve the case as quickly as possible to prevent another crime. He finds out that all the Napoleon busts come from the same mould. The investigation then begins from the factory where they were produced, and the detective quickly finds out where the remaining busts are.
Who is destroying all the Napoleon busts in the city and for what purpose ? Is this just some Napoleon-hating lunatic? Will inspector Lestrade and Sherlock Holmes prevent another murder? Can they solve the mystery and find the culprit in time?
"The Adventure of the Six Napoleons" is a short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, first published in 1904.
B. J. Harrison Reads The Descent of Man
by Edith Wharton
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
"I tell you there's nothing the public likes as much as convictions – they'll always follow a man who believes in his own ideas. And this book is just on the line of popular interest."
Professor Linyard is a man of science. And when he writes a book to great acclaim in which he takes the side of religion, he fully expects the satire to be understood. But when it's taken at face value, he goes along with it to better provide for his family.
Is Professor Linyard a sellout or merely a good provider? 'The Descent of Man' is a brilliant short story by Edith Wharton that leaves it to the reader to finds the answers.
B. J. Harrison Reads Nicholas Nickleby
by Charles Dickens
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Nicholas Nickleby is a young boy left without a father. Nicholas has to take care of his mother and sister and is forced by his uncle to work as an assistant to the schoolmaster Wackford Squeers. Squeers' intentions are however not good and his only goal is to make Nicholas' life miserable. At the same time Squeers' wife convinces herself that Nicholas loves her and this gets the young boy in even greater trouble. Nicholas' uncle is colluding with the schoolmaster and it seems like everybody is against him. Will Nicholas manage to save his sister and mother from his uncle's clutches? Will he find a better future for himself? Will Squeers and the uncle get what they deserve?
B. J. Harrison Reads The Hound of the Baskervilles
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Dr. James Mortimer asks Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson for advice, after finding his friend Sir Baskerville dead. According to the official version, Baskerville died from a heart attack, but Mortimer thinks that something terrible happened to his friend. He believes the supernatural hound that has been chasing the Baskerville family down for many years is responsible for his death. Sherlock Holmes takes on the difficult task of solving the mystery surrounding Sir Baskerville's death.
Why are the Baskervilles being chased by the supernatural hound? Is the creature real? What exactly is the reason for Baskerville's death? Can Holmes and Dr. Watson solve this complicated case?
Find all the answers in Sir Conan Doyle's short story "The Hound of the Baskervilles".
B. J. Harrison Reads the War of the Worlds
by H. G. Wells
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Martians have wanted to invade Earth for some time in order to secure their own survival. They make their way to the new planet, but what they don't realize is that Earth may not be all that suitable for outsiders. H. G. Wells' science fiction novel "The War of the Worlds" dates back to the late 19th century and is one of the first literary works to depict a battle between aliens and humankind. "The War of the Worlds" has even inspired the works of scientists in the field of space travel. Well's story was turned into the 2005 War of the Worlds movie, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise. Hear the story as read by B. J. Harrison.
B. J. Harrison Reads The Bell of St. Sépulcre
by M. P. Shiel
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
What will happen if you hear the bell of St. Sépulcre? According to the local small town folks, dangers and even death may follow. When a stranger enters the town, he is warned by the locals not to follow a certain path because it could be dangerous. It is believed that a strange and scary woman wanders the woods and terrorises whomever crosses her path. Will the traveler dare to enter the woods? What awaits him there? Find the answers in "The Bell of St. Sépulcre".
B. J. Harrison Reads The Circular Staircase
by Mary Roberts Rinehart
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Rachel Innes is a rich lady who has been taking care of her niece and nephew since their father died. The three of them decide to rent a house in the country and although everything seems to be alright in the beginning, strange events soon begin to occur. Her niece disappears then reappears a few days later. There is a murder they are involved in. They hear strange noises. Things fall down the stairs in the middle of the night. Will Rachel solve the mysteries and how will their summer end? Find out in "The Circular Staircase".
B. J. Harrison Reads David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
David Copperfield was a little boy who grew up in an unfortunate family. His father died six months before David's birth. Later his mother remarried to a cruel man who beat him up. David however fought back and bit him. This resulted in David getting sent to a boarding school which he did not finish because of his mother's death. All in all, David's life has been a string of misfortunes. His development from infancy to maturity happened unnecessarily fast. Will he still be able to succeed in life and overcome all these setbacks or will he fall victim to his circumstances like so many have before him?
B. J. Harrison Reads the Lifted Veil
by George Eliot
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Latimer is convinced that he has a special power. According to him, he can see into the future and he can also read people's mind. Actually everybody's but one; his brother's wife Bertha's mind remains closed to him. Although he marries her after his brother's death, he still cannot manage to read her thoughts. What he realizes however is that Bertha is manipulative and her heart is not pure. Bertha's maid has something she wants to share with Latimer, but will she manage to relate her story in time? Find out what the future holds for Latimer in "The Lifted Veil".
B. J. Harrison Reads Plutarch's Lives, Volume 2
by Plutarch
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
This second volume of "Plutarch's Lives" introduces the reader to even more important figures of the ancient world. Sertorius, Eumenes, Pompey, Alexander, Caesar and Cicero are only a small part of all the historical figures Plutarch describes. The philosopher produces character sketches of each persons, based on episodes of their lives. Thanks to Plutarch work and B. J. Harrison excellent narration, you will gain a better understanding of the ancient world and the lives of noble Greeks and Romans.
B. J. Harrison Reads The Flowering of the Strange Orchid
by H. G. Wells
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Winter Wedderburn is an amateur collector of orchids, spending his days peacefully with his housekeeper. One day he invites more adventure into his life and buys an unknown species of orchids brought from the Andaman Islands. Little does he know that purchasing this unusual plant will bring him more adventure than he could ever have dreamt of. "The Flowering of the Strange Orchid" is a short horror story by H.G. Wells from the late 19th century, providing the reader with a most unusual enemy. It was turned into an episode for the 1980s television series Spine Chillers and is now read out loud by B.J. Harrison.
B. J. Harrison Reads The Burned House
by Vincent O'Sullivan
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
"The Burned House" is a ghost short story by Vincent O'Sullivan in which a benighted traveler stumbles upon a deserted house right in the middle of nowhere. Soon, strange things begin to happen and becomes involved in a series of supernatural events. A tale of vivid imagination, terrors, and mystery, "The Burned House" includes elements from the science fiction genre as well as classic horror elements such as murder, suicide, and violence, making a chilling yet engaging read.
B. J. Harrison Reads Eclipse of the Crescent Moon
by Géza Gárdonyi
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Hungary during the Ottoman wars: Turks attack Buda and set up a siege of Eger.
Gergely Bornemissza is a poor half-orphan who is about to become a national hero. "Eclipse of the Crescent Moon" follows Gergely's life from the age of eight until his early thirties. His life is a vivid combination of poverty, love, battles and dangers. He is on the front line when the Turks capture Buda and later when they approach Eger. His country is in danger and so is his family. The battle is one of life or death. Will he get out of it safe or will the country remember him as a hero who sacrificed himself in the name of Hungary? What will happen to his family? Géza Gárdonyi's historical novel holds the answers.
B. J. Harrison Reads the Classic Tales Podcast, Season Five
by Various Authors
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
B. J. Harrison does not tire of the adventurous and mysterious settings in his choice of narratives. This time, the horror element is a bit subdued, though Edgar Allan Poe makes up for the lost thrills with his haunting poems "The Raven", "Annabel Lee", and "The Sleeper". P. G. Wodehouse appears with four works, scoring points for his humor. However light-hearted and adventurous this collection may sound, the thrills come not only from Poe's presence, but also from the snow-covered Denmark and Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen" – a haunting and chilling fairy tale about the eternal struggle between good and evil. All in all, it is another fantastic season that all fans of fiction will enjoy.
B. J. Harrison Reads the Classic Tales Podcast, Season One
by Various Authors
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
The first season focuses on the short story tradition, and B. J. Harrison has selected some of the most prominent representatives of the genre. As far as the thematic aspect is concerned, the stories cover crime and mystery episodes like Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Speckled Band", or revenge-driven ones like Shakespeare's "Hamlet". There are also supernatural and horror classics such as Hawthorne's "The Devil and Tom Walker" and W. W. Jacobs' masterpiece "The Monkey's Paw". Of course, the listener can also rest their sanity a bit with the stories of O. Henry and Edith Warton. Still, the overall focus falls on the supernatural and mysterious element.
B. J. Harrison Reads the Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann Wyss
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
William and Elizabeth are aboard a ship, together with their four sons, when a storm breaks out. William prays for their salvation, but this does not seem to be enough and the ship gets wrecked. The six-member family survive by finding their way to an isolated tropical island, but now they are alone and abandoned and can only survive if they stick together. They build a camp, but one of the sons is sent off to find a more permanent shelter. During his expedition, he meets a young girl named Jenny Montrose.
What was the family doing on the ship? Where were they heading to? Will they find a permanent shelter? Who is Jenny and what is she doing on the island? Is she to be the family's salvation?
Find all the answers in Johann Wyss' book "The Swiss Family Robinson" from 1812.
B. J. Harrison Reads the Blue Cross
by G. K. Chesterton
read by B. J. Harrison
Part of the Classic Tales with B. J. Harrison series
Father Brown, an amateur detective, takes up his first case ever. He has to find the infamous criminal Flambeau. The task is however very difficult because Flambeau is a master of disguise and nobody knows what he really looks like. The detective finds out that Flambeau is planning to head out to an international conference in London, most probably intending to steal some religious articles. So Father Brown decides to cross Flambeau's path. What the detective had not expected is a police inspector from Paris to be crossing his path. How will the three men meet? Will the criminal be caught or will the two inspectors hinder each other's investigation? Find out in "The Blue Cross" by G. K. Chesterton.