Austin and His Friends

audiobook

Austin and His Friends

by Frederic Henry Balfour

EN·~6 hours·14 chapters

Chapters

14 total
1

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1:06
2

Chapter the FirstToC

16:40
3

Chapter the SecondToC

16:19
4

Chapter the ThirdToC

20:23
5

Chapter the FourthToC

31:51
6

Chapter the FifthToC

25:02
7

Chapter the SixthToC

25:12
8

Chapter the SeventhToC

41:08
9

Chapter the EighthToC

35:44
10

Chapter the NinthToC

33:58

Description

The story sets out to turn the familiar chill of a ghost tale on its head, offering a warm, sun‑lit alternative to the usual midnight‑shiver. Rather than terrifying specters, the narrative invites listeners to meet a kindly presence that brightens the lives of those it touches. It’s a gentle experiment in showing how the supernatural can be comforting instead of frightening, all grounded in anecdotes that feel surprisingly real.

At the heart of the tale is Austin, a boy who has known nothing but the open countryside, daring games, and the bustling life of his beloved red‑brick home. The house itself, wrapped in ivy and blooming irises, feels like a character, its garden a patchwork of formal lawns and wildflowers. When a sudden illness forces Austin to sacrifice his leg, his world shifts dramatically, and his resilient spirit begins to seek solace in unexpected places.

As Austin learns to navigate his new reality, hints of a friendly ghost start to appear, offering the promise of companionship and hope. The early chapters weave his personal struggle with the subtle, uplifting influence of this unseen friend, inviting listeners to wonder how the ordinary and the extraordinary might intertwine.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~6 hours (354K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2005-06-21

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Frederic Henry Balfour

Frederic Henry Balfour

1846–1909

A Victorian-era writer and editor in Shanghai, he helped bring Taoist thought to English readers through some of the earliest translations of classic Chinese texts. Alongside his sinological work, he wrote essays, journalism, and fiction shaped by his years in China.

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