
audiobook
Gilead Balm is a fresh‑faced, quick‑witted clerk in the bustling halls of Whitehall, whose keen mind and generous heart set him apart from his fellow bureaucrats. Though his salary is modest, he spends his lunch hour poring over the Agony Column of the Daily Post, drawn to the raw, unfiltered cries of strangers seeking aid or understanding. This habit awakens in him a restless curiosity about the hidden stories behind each brief, plaintive note.
Compelled by a blend of humor and idealism, Gilead resolves to trace those anonymous pleas back to their sources, believing that uncovering the truth could ease suffering and expose deception. His modest means become a catalyst for a modest yet daring quest, propelling him from the orderly world of paperwork into the messy, human dramas that unfold beyond the printed page. As he steps beyond his clerkly routine, listeners are invited to follow his early adventures, where wit, compassion, and a yearning for meaning guide each tentative step.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (408K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Canada: THE COPP CLARK COMPANY, LIMITED, 1911.
Credits
an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer
Release date
2023-02-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1854–1918
Best remembered for his eerie ghost stories and sensation novels, this prolific English writer published more than 40 books and helped shape popular late-Victorian and Edwardian fiction. His work ranges from supernatural tales to historical adventures, with a knack for atmosphere and suspense.
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