Showing results by author "Mary Elizabeth Braddon" in All Categories

A heartwarming festive tale of redemption and cheer, The Christmas Hirelings is the story of a lonely widower who reluctantly invites a group of children to his manor for Christmas. It showcases the benefits of opening your doors and hearts during the holiday season.

From the author of The Christmas Hirelings comes this Audible Exclusive production of Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s classic sensation novel Lady Audley’s Secret. English actress Olivia Poulet gives an assured and captivating narration; a cornerstone of the genre and a scandal at the time of its publication, Lady Audley’s Secret is an entertaining and shocking tale of high drama and shifting perceptions.

Lady Audley is universally adored: Beautiful, kind and charming, she enamors all whom she meets. It is not until the strange disappearance of widower George Talboys that her behavior takes an odd turn. George's friend, Robert Audley, Lady Audley's nephew-in-law, is on the case; an upper-class layabout turned detective, he is determined to get to the bottom of things.

Weathering critical scorn, Lady Audley's Secret quickly established Mary Elizabeth Braddon as the leading light of Victorian 'sensation' fiction, sharing the honour only with Wilkie Collins. Addictive, cunningly plotted and certainly sensational, Lady Audley's Secret draws on contemporary theories of insanity to probe mid-Victorian anxieties about the rapid rise of consumer culture. What is the mystery surrounding the charming heroine? 

EXCERPT In everything he did, the doctor prioritized Floras happiness above all else. He filled his home with delightful company—esteemed professionals and their charming wives—hoping to cultivate friendships that would bring joy to her life. Despite her initial reservations, Floras gentle nature won over those who came to know her. In Cuthbert Ollivants close-knit circle, she was simply known as his beloved ward, and to know her was to love her.

Though they may all be siblings beneath the skin (and graveyard as well!), these vampiric sisters are as different as any eight women could be. One, "The Good Lady Ducayne", prefers to acquire her nourishment through more scientific means. Another doesn't even drink blood at all; her approach to draining the life from her victims is somewhat more direct (but we think you'll agree that "Luella Miller" deserves the appellation "vampire" every bit as much as any of the rest).

Dive into the world of Victorian Sensationist literature with Mary Elizabeth Braddons captivating novel, Doctors Wife. Renowned for her masterpiece Lady Audley’s Secret, Braddon delivers an engaging narrative filled with wit, charm, and a touch of self-mockery, especially through the lens of a character who is a Sensation Author herself. The story explores timeless themes of secrecy, infidelity, and mortality, while also delving into the serious social issues of the era. At its heart is Isabel Sleaford, a married middle-class woman grappling with the constraints of her life alongside her ...

Darkness falls. The undead rise to feast on the succulent blood of the living. For years vampires have fascinated great writers of the occult such as De Maupassant, Count Stenbock, E Nesbit and EF Benson. This is The Story Circle's collection of some of their spine-chilling tales told by award-winning actors.

A village in Cornwall is thrown into turmoil after a young girl falls from a train to her death. Was this an accident? Or murder? The mystery deepens when clues link the girl to a double homicide committed ten years earlier. Braddon's sensational novel takes us to the estates of aristocrats, the haunts of tabloid writers, the homes of Bohemian artists, and the dark alleyways of Paris. Braddon, one of Victorian England's best-selling novelists, is at the height of her powers in Wyllard's Weird.

When The Doctor's Wife was first published in 1864, Mary Elizabeth Braddon was well known for her scandalous bestseller, Lady Audley's Secret. Adultery, death, and the spectacle of female recrimination and suffering are the elements that combine to make The Doctor's Wife a classic women's 'sensation' novel. Yet it is also Braddon's most self-consciously literary work and her rewriting of Madame Bovary. Like Emma Bovary, Braddon's heroine, Isabel Gilbert, is trapped in a marriage to a man incapable of understanding her imaginative life.

Meet Aurora Floyd, the stunning daughter of a wealthy banker and a talented actress. Fresh from a prestigious finishing school in Paris, she possesses beauty, intelligence, and fortune. However, her life takes a tumultuous turn when two men fall for her, only to uncover a dark secret from her past. As they grapple with her history, the question remains who will remain loyal when the truth emerges? With a cast of unforgettable characters, the author weaves a captivating domestic drama that probes profound themes Is it right to love someone who has deceived you? Can we truly forgive the ...

Cunning. Corrupt. Charismatic. The degenerate characters in this collection shun conventional morality, and will stop at nothing to get what they want... These five sensational dramas, set in locations ranging from 16th century Venice to Victorian England, revolve around their unscrupulous actions – and the devastating consequences of the choices they make.

Clara and Robert Hatrell lead an ideal life with their young daughter Daisy in a beautiful old fashioned cottage on the banks of the Thames. When his son Cyril goes away to school their friend and neighbor Ambrose Arden who is a notable scholar offers to tutor Daisy. Some time later Robert carrying a large amount in banknotes is found stabbed to death in a London rooming house supposedly lured there by the mention of someone called Toinette. The murderer is not found and the money trail implicates a Frenchwoman exchanging the notes in Cannes, Nice and Paris.

Raised by a parish schoolmaster harboring a mysterious past, Sylvia Carew yearns for a life free from the shackles of poverty. Torn between her deep love for a devoted man and the allure of wealth and social status, she faces a heart-wrenching choice. How far will she go to secure her dreams, and when the dust settles, will she find the happily ever after she longs for? This gripping Victorian novel by Mary Elizabeth Braddon delves into themes of romance, ambition, greed, and deceit, delivering a thrilling narrative with a masterfully crafted surprise ending. - Summary by Celine Major

This chilling collection includes: "The Romance of Certain Old Clothes" by Henry James, "The Shadow" by E. Nesbit, "Monsieur Anastasius" by Dinah Maria Mulock, "John Granger" by Mary Elizabeth Braddon and more.

A late 19th Century sensation novel following the young life of Ida Palliser as she searches for fortune and love within England's Gentry Class. Victorian sensation books were often set in ordinary, familiar setting, undermining the perceived adherence to social convention. They exposed the true lives of Victorian England's upper class - lives they tried to keep hidden.

In the blissful setting of a perfect honeymoon, a wife is haunted by recurring nightmares of her husbands murder. She attempts to warn him, to convince him of the chilling reality of her dreams. However, he dismisses her, until the grim day her nightmares come true. As the mystery unfolds, the question remains - who is the real murderer, and how will the devastated wife cope with her haunting premonitions becoming reality? - Summary by Stav Nisser

Dive into a captivating tale crafted by one of the foremost authors of the Victorian sensational novel. This story seamlessly weaves together elements of murder, greed, madness, secrets, and romance, ensuring a thrilling experience. The characters are intricately connected, each bringing their own unique flavor to the narrative. With Braddons expertly layered plot, youll find just the right amount of suspense to keep you engaged until its gratifying conclusion. - Summary by Celine Major

Like "Wuthering Heights", the center of this story is a dramatic love triangle, the setting is a huge English manor. Olivia Marchmont has always "done her duty." However, when she falls in love and her beloved is in love with another woman, the malice of her heart is released in full view. In this dramatic tale, the vivid description of the country is also important- as if nature has a part in it. Unlike many novels, nobody gets what they deserve at the end. Or do they? Read and decide for yourself.

Enter the dark and suspenseful world of Mary Elizabeth Braddon's 'Lady Audley's Secret.' Follow the story of the enigmatic and beautiful Lady Audley, and the dark secrets that she seeks to hide from those around her. Experience the power of literature to captivate the imagination and to transport us to another time and place, and to reveal the hidden depths of the human experience.https://www.solgood.org - Check out our Streaming Service for our full collection of audiobooks, podcasts, short stories, & 10 hour sounds for sleep and relaxation at our web site