
Produced by Polyvios J. Simopoulos
E. F. BENSON. - BOOK I - CHAPTER I
"MARTIN."
"CHAPTER I
"FINIS."
The book opens with a quietly playful debate about how people make sense of the unseen—whether it is the dead reaching out, a devil’s whisper, or simply the brain’s tricks. It sketches three camps of believers, skeptics and the curious, showing how ideas once dismissed become tomorrow’s science. This thoughtful framing invites listeners to consider how mystery and reason have always tangled together.
Against that backdrop, the story slips into the tender memories of a young boy named Archie, whose earliest night‑time fear is soothed by the gentle presence of his night‑nurse, Blessington. Her candle‑lit face and the comforting weight of her hand become a lighthouse in the dark, while the glow of a nursery fire‑guard and the sparkle of a Christmas evening etch lasting, almost magical impressions. These vivid childhood scenes set the tone for a narrative that balances wonder, nostalgia, and the lingering question of what lies beyond ordinary perception.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (542K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2011-11-03
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1867–1940
Best known for the witty Mapp and Lucia novels, this prolific English writer also delighted readers with ghost stories, memoirs, and sharp social comedy. His books capture the manners, rivalries, and quiet absurdities of late Victorian and Edwardian life with lasting charm.
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by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson