The Algernon Blackwood BBC Radio Collection
17 Dramas and Supernatural Ghost Stories
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
About this listen
A collection of strange and fantastical tales from Algernon Blackwood, plus bonus documentaries
Described by H P Lovecraft as 'the one absolute and unquestioned master of weird atmosphere', Algernon Blackwood (CBE) was the acclaimed and prolific author of numerous ghost stories and horror tales. Throughout his lifetime, he wrote 14 novels, several children's books, a number of plays, and over 200 short stories.
This anthology opens with a selection of stories featuring his most influential character, occult detective Dr John Silence. The inspiration for the famous horror movie Cat People, 'Ancient Sorceries' (read by Philip Madoc), sees a timid tourist becoming enchanted by a sleepy French town whose residents have an oddly feline manner. It is followed by four chilling dramatisations starring Malcolm Hayes as Silence. In The Nemesis of Fire, the psychic doctor investigates eldritch events at an English manor house; while Secret Worship is a chilling tale of haunting and evil in a Bavarian forest. A wilderness trip turns terrifying in The Camp of the Dog, and in The Empty Sleeve, a virtuoso violinist's desire for a rare instrument has dire consequences.
Next up are three gripping standalone dramas: The Decoy (starring George Baker and Susan Jameson); Keeping His Promise (starring Eric Deacon and Christopher Neame) and The Human Chord (starring Philip Skale).
Also included is Violet Pearn's captivating fantasy play The Starlight Express, adapted from Blackwood's imaginative children's novel A Prisoner in Fairyland and starring Denis Dowling, Patrick Barr and Cecile Chavreau. This is followed by The Willows, read by Roger Allam: a claustrophobic tale of suspense and terror, as two companions camp on a remote island and become convinced they see a body in the water.
Three eerie supernatural stories are narrated by Blackwood himself in long-lost gems from the BBC Archive. They centre around mysterious encounters with a depressed Englishwoman ('The Occupant of the Room'), a man who was frightened to death ('The Woman's Ghost Story'), and the spectral presence of a town ('The Destruction of Smith'), and are followed by a quartet of strange stories ('Algernon Blackwood Tells a Strange Story').
To conclude, two bonus documentary programmes, presented by Blackwood, delve into his life and career. The Genesis of Ideas sees him revealing the sources of his material, while the reflective On Being Eighty finds him looking back on his many years of experience and experiment.
Written by Algernon Blackwood.
First published 1906 ('Keeping His Promise'), 1907 ('The Willows', 'The Woman's Ghost Story'), 1908 ('Ancient Sorceries', 'The Nemesis of Fire', 'Secret Worship', 'The Camp of the Dog'), 1910 ('The Human Chord'), 1911 ('The Empty Sleeve'), 1912 ('The Destruction of Smith'), 1916 ('The Starlight Express'), 1917 ('The Occupant of the Room'), 1921 ('The Decoy'), 1948 ('A Japanese Literary Cocktail')
Special thanks to Keith Wickham for sourcing audio files.
Contents List
Ancient Sorceries
The Nemesis of Fire
Secret Worship
The Camp of the Dog
The Empty Sleeve
The Decoy
Keeping His Promise
The Human Chord
The Starlight Express
The Willows
The Occupant of the Room
The Woman's Ghost Story
The Destruction of Smith
Algernon Blackwood Tells a Strange Story
The Genesis of Ideas
On Being Eighty
Content Note: Contains some dated references that reflect the language and attitudes of the time.
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution LtdWhat listeners say about The Algernon Blackwood BBC Radio Collection
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Highlight
- 27-05-24
THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS COLLECTION
This is a well acted and produced collection of supernatural stories, all different, some better than others but still worth a credit for 12 hours and 10 minutes of enjoyable entertainment.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Miss TDQ
- 28-04-24
Delightful, simply delightful!
I thoroughly enjoyed every single narration and drama. Having never heard the voice of Algernon Blackwood, it was a very pleasant surprise to hear him recite his own tales. I’d certainly recommend exploring his short stories.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lee
- 12-12-23
Old fashioned ghost stories
Bought for my hubby who enjoys old fashioned stories with ghosts and things that go bump in the night. He likes the ghost stories that you get at Christmas time, this is similar, scary without the gore you get in modern stories, although too cosy for me. Hours of listening, kept him quiet. Bought in a BOGOF sale so well worth the credit.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 24-03-24
Laughable!
How this audiobook ever got a 5 star rating is beyond me.
The stories all disappoint.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!