
Set in a remote Hampshire hollow, the story opens on a storm‑laden night at Riversley Grange, a sprawling country house populated by the proud Squire Beltham, his daughters, a stoic butler, and the curious young grandson, Harry Richmond. The secluded estate, surrounded by heath and old tales of highwaymen, feels both rustic and uneasy, its stone walls echoing the whispered superstitions of the servants who tend it. As the household settles into uneasy sleep, the atmosphere crackles with the promise of something extraordinary about to intrude.
A sudden, frantic ringing of the outer bell rouses everyone, and a lone figure stands on the locked doorstep, refusing to be turned away. The Squire, half‑asleep and irritable, confronts the unknown visitor with blustering threats, while the household watches the tension unfold. Harry, wide‑eyed and eager, becomes an unwitting witness to a mystery that will thrust him from the safety of the manor into a world of adventure, danger, and unexpected allies.
Language
en
Duration
~20 hours (1177K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-11-03
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1828–1909
A major Victorian novelist and poet, he is best remembered for sharp, psychologically rich fiction and for turning comedy into a serious way of looking at human behavior. His work rewards listeners who enjoy wit, moral complexity, and characters who rarely fit simple categories.
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