
Transcriber's Note:
BY
RICHARD MARSH
I. The Tales which were Told
A Second Coming
CHAPTER I - THE INTERRUPTED DINNER
CHAPTER II - THE WOMAN AND THE COATS
CHAPTER III - THE WORDS OF THE PREACHER
CHAPTER IV - THE CHILDREN'S MOTHER
CHAPTER V - THE OPERATION
A sudden proclamation at a genteel dinner party throws a London household into bewilderment: a nervous guest bursts in, breathless, insisting that Christ has returned. The scene crackles with humor and tension as polite society wrestles with his frantic certainty, while the household’s inner dynamics—married couples, wary hosts, and skeptical friends—are laid bare. Through vivid dialogue and keen observation, the novel captures the clash between ordinary routines and the extraordinary, inviting listeners to consider how faith, madness, and curiosity can upend even the most carefully set table.
From this striking opening, the story unfolds as a series of interlinked sketches, each probing how different people might react when the sacred is thrust into the modern world. Whether in bustling streets, quiet parlors, or humble workshops, the characters’ responses range from frantic denial to unexpected compassion. The narrative balances wit with thoughtful reflection, offering a glimpse into early‑20th‑century London while raising timeless questions about belief, perception, and the ripple effects of a single, astonishing claim.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (312K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books
Release date
Nov 28, 2011
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1857–1915
A master of late-Victorian popular fiction, this English novelist wrote fast-moving mysteries, thrillers, and supernatural tales that once reached a huge readership. He is best remembered today for The Beetle, a strange and unsettling bestseller published in the same year as Dracula.
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by Richard Marsh