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Bitesized Audio Classics
United Kingdom
Приєднався 14 жов 2018
Welcome. This channel celebrates classic English short stories, in particular the mystery and suspense stories which were a staple of the popular periodicals of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
All my uploads are original recordings, narrated/performed by me, Simon Stanhope, UK-based actor and voice artist.
I've added captions for those learning English, or if you want to read along, plus author biogs and background notes.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: All text of all the stories featured here is in the public domain. There is NO RE-USED CONTENT on this channel, only new interpretations/performances of classic texts. All copyright for these recordings rests with Bitesized Audio. They are not available on other channels. If any of these recordings are found on other UA-cam channels this is not authorised and it would be appreciated if you could notify me in the comments or via the email address below.
I hope you enjoy this content. Please subscribe, like, share etc. Thanks for listening.
All my uploads are original recordings, narrated/performed by me, Simon Stanhope, UK-based actor and voice artist.
I've added captions for those learning English, or if you want to read along, plus author biogs and background notes.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: All text of all the stories featured here is in the public domain. There is NO RE-USED CONTENT on this channel, only new interpretations/performances of classic texts. All copyright for these recordings rests with Bitesized Audio. They are not available on other channels. If any of these recordings are found on other UA-cam channels this is not authorised and it would be appreciated if you could notify me in the comments or via the email address below.
I hope you enjoy this content. Please subscribe, like, share etc. Thanks for listening.
The Riddle of the 5.28 | Thomas W. Hanshew | A Bitesized Audiobook
As the packed 5.28 from London Bridge to Croydon steams into Anerley station, one compartment is seen to be in darkness. Inside the locked compartment the stationmaster discovers evidence of a baffling crime... A classic "locked room" railway mystery from 1910, featuring ex-criminal-turned-detective Hamilton Cleek. Story begins at 00:01:20
Narrated/performed by Simon Stanhope, aka Bitesized Audio. If you enjoy this content and would like to help me keep creating, there are a few ways you can support me (and get access to exclusive content):
* Occasional/one-off support via Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/bitesizedaudio
* Monthly support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bitesizedaudio
* Donate via PayPal: www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=HMMUWZ7URN26A
* Visit my Bandcamp page to hear more of my performances of classic stories, and you can purchase and download high quality audio files to listen offline: bitesizedaudio.bandcamp.com/
* Become a Bitesized Audio Classics member on UA-cam, from $1 / £1 / €1 per month:
ua-cam.com/users/BitesizedAudioClassicsjoin
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:20 The Riddle of the 5.28
01:01:30 Credits, thanks and further listening
Thomas Washington Hanshew (1857-1914) was an American actor and author who spent the latter part of his life and career in England. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and began a career on the stage in the early 1870s, when he was in his mid-teens.
There's not a great deal of verifiable information about either his life or career, but it appears he worked in his formative years with Adelaide Neilson (1848-1880), a British theatre star who achieved notable success in New York in a number of celebrated productions between 1872 and 1877. He is also recorded as having worked with Ellen Terry (1847-1928), perhaps the best known British actress of the late 19th century, leading lady to Henry Irving, and part of the illustrious Terry dynasty (whose later members included Ellen's great-nephew Sir John Gielgud). Ellen Terry toured the USA six times from 1883 onwards, but it's unclear whether Hanshew worked with her in America or in England (or both).
Whether through his connection with Neilson, or Terry, or some other route, Hanshew eventually made his way to Britain and settled in London. Exactly when he made the move is unclear, but he seems to have been established in London by the early 20th century, as he is recorded as contributing fiction to various periodicals, including Pearson's, Cosmopolitan, The Windsor Magazine, and many others, from 1904 onwards. He sometimes wrote under the pseudonym "Charlotte May Kingsley", and possibly other (female) pen names.
Hanshew's most celebrated creation, for which he's best remembered, is Hamilton Cleek, a master of disguise, known as "The Man of the Forty Faces" and "The Vanishing Cracksman", a successful gentleman thief who reforms and decides to use his talents to help the police as a detective. As far as I can ascertain, Cleek's adventures first appeared in print circa 1909-10; a series of his adventures appeared monthly in the "People’s Ideal Fiction Magazine" from August 1910 onwards, but it appears one or two stories featuring the character were published singly prior to that, including this story, which is listed in the contents of Cassell’s Saturday Journal for 30th April 1910.
A second (this time weekly) series appeared in Cassell's Saturday Journal in 1911-12, and such was the success of the character that many more were to follow before Hanshew's death in March 1914. The character actually survived the author's death, as it was continued by his wife Mary E. Hanshew: new stories continued to appear into the mid 1920s, usually jointly credited to "Mary E. Hanshew and Thomas W. Hanshew". Mary had also occasionally been credited as co-author during her husband's lifetime but this doesn't seem to have been consistent, so it's unclear quite how the partnership worked. Hanshew's use of female pseudonyms makes it difficult to be certain, but it's believed he produced 150 novels in his lifetime, plus dozens of short stories (mostly featuring Cleek).
Cleek was a wildly popular character with the public, leading to a successful series of silent films starring the American actor Ben F. Wilson, beginning with 'The Vanishing Cracksman' (1913).
If you would like to hear the "origin story" of Hamilton Cleek, which I narrated for this channel in 2023, it's available here: ua-cam.com/video/Z-QYxGJQvZk/v-deo.html
'The Riddle of the 5.28' is one of the earliest Hamilton Cleek stories. It is first listed in the contents of Cassell’s Saturday Journal, on 30th April 1910; subsequently the story appeared in the 1918 compilation volume entitled 'Cleek, the Master Detective'.
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2024
Narrated/performed by Simon Stanhope, aka Bitesized Audio. If you enjoy this content and would like to help me keep creating, there are a few ways you can support me (and get access to exclusive content):
* Occasional/one-off support via Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/bitesizedaudio
* Monthly support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bitesizedaudio
* Donate via PayPal: www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=HMMUWZ7URN26A
* Visit my Bandcamp page to hear more of my performances of classic stories, and you can purchase and download high quality audio files to listen offline: bitesizedaudio.bandcamp.com/
* Become a Bitesized Audio Classics member on UA-cam, from $1 / £1 / €1 per month:
ua-cam.com/users/BitesizedAudioClassicsjoin
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:20 The Riddle of the 5.28
01:01:30 Credits, thanks and further listening
Thomas Washington Hanshew (1857-1914) was an American actor and author who spent the latter part of his life and career in England. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and began a career on the stage in the early 1870s, when he was in his mid-teens.
There's not a great deal of verifiable information about either his life or career, but it appears he worked in his formative years with Adelaide Neilson (1848-1880), a British theatre star who achieved notable success in New York in a number of celebrated productions between 1872 and 1877. He is also recorded as having worked with Ellen Terry (1847-1928), perhaps the best known British actress of the late 19th century, leading lady to Henry Irving, and part of the illustrious Terry dynasty (whose later members included Ellen's great-nephew Sir John Gielgud). Ellen Terry toured the USA six times from 1883 onwards, but it's unclear whether Hanshew worked with her in America or in England (or both).
Whether through his connection with Neilson, or Terry, or some other route, Hanshew eventually made his way to Britain and settled in London. Exactly when he made the move is unclear, but he seems to have been established in London by the early 20th century, as he is recorded as contributing fiction to various periodicals, including Pearson's, Cosmopolitan, The Windsor Magazine, and many others, from 1904 onwards. He sometimes wrote under the pseudonym "Charlotte May Kingsley", and possibly other (female) pen names.
Hanshew's most celebrated creation, for which he's best remembered, is Hamilton Cleek, a master of disguise, known as "The Man of the Forty Faces" and "The Vanishing Cracksman", a successful gentleman thief who reforms and decides to use his talents to help the police as a detective. As far as I can ascertain, Cleek's adventures first appeared in print circa 1909-10; a series of his adventures appeared monthly in the "People’s Ideal Fiction Magazine" from August 1910 onwards, but it appears one or two stories featuring the character were published singly prior to that, including this story, which is listed in the contents of Cassell’s Saturday Journal for 30th April 1910.
A second (this time weekly) series appeared in Cassell's Saturday Journal in 1911-12, and such was the success of the character that many more were to follow before Hanshew's death in March 1914. The character actually survived the author's death, as it was continued by his wife Mary E. Hanshew: new stories continued to appear into the mid 1920s, usually jointly credited to "Mary E. Hanshew and Thomas W. Hanshew". Mary had also occasionally been credited as co-author during her husband's lifetime but this doesn't seem to have been consistent, so it's unclear quite how the partnership worked. Hanshew's use of female pseudonyms makes it difficult to be certain, but it's believed he produced 150 novels in his lifetime, plus dozens of short stories (mostly featuring Cleek).
Cleek was a wildly popular character with the public, leading to a successful series of silent films starring the American actor Ben F. Wilson, beginning with 'The Vanishing Cracksman' (1913).
If you would like to hear the "origin story" of Hamilton Cleek, which I narrated for this channel in 2023, it's available here: ua-cam.com/video/Z-QYxGJQvZk/v-deo.html
'The Riddle of the 5.28' is one of the earliest Hamilton Cleek stories. It is first listed in the contents of Cassell’s Saturday Journal, on 30th April 1910; subsequently the story appeared in the 1918 compilation volume entitled 'Cleek, the Master Detective'.
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2024
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A great read Simon ❤
Simon .. i am so very grateful that your kindness is lifting the spirits of so many. It is said that the only acceptable, worthy attribute at the Pearly Gates … is the degree to which you have been of “service to others”. You will pass that test with flying colours. Thank you .. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I have read this before and loved it. Hearing it read makes it so much more real and you do a fantastic job, sir. Texas thanks you! I mean, we do read Dickens here in my country of Texas. 😉
Thank you Simon for your continued activity. You are a gem!
Brill, thanks for posting, loved it
Thank you.
Another great story.
Aliester Crowley friends WC 🚾 👍🏼 then MUCH TO my amazement 😊 Frank Harris dear dear friend 🥅 🚹 😍 🚹 Oscar Wilde 🏆 🚺 👠 ⚽
Harold Bloom Yale 🕊 bulletin 🐗 WHAT BE 🤔 THINKS THEE 🌬 PRIMO LEVI then 😊 ELEAZAR DE WIND BLEW his 🎺 own HORN not a FRENCH 📯 nor was it ⏸ CORNISH HEN 😊
D R I V E N ⏸ that 🚉 O U T 🔀 🗨 🔀 © A 🚪 👇🏼 🚪 G O O G L E Y 😮 🦗 A GOOGLIE 😅 a Bobby Orr 🏒 no 🧠 E R CANNOT READ KANT in his own 🇩🇪 LANGUAGE ⚡ CONSCIENCE ⚡ 🔝 MAKES COWARDS ® 😊
😊 3 7 7 7 6 😊 🔝 😊 🔝 😊 ❤ 🧠 💪🏼 🔝 🚹 🔝 said D E L P H I 🇬🇷 A B O R T 😊 _______ 😊 MOST famous ⏸ infamous | TO BE OR NOT TO BE | 😊 |
I enjoyed that. Just the thing for just before going to bed ! Hopefully there are more Cleek stories to come.
Long time no listen! My fault, not yours. Thanks Simon for all of the uploads. I enjoy them.
❤ 👉🏼 ENGLISH LANGUAGE 👇🏼 the most beautiful 😊 🚪 😊 🚪 forget God 1⃣ man 🚹 👉🏼 William Shakespeare the most important influential 🖋 🖋 🖋 composers of all 💭 things 💭 knowing what who where when why 🗨 H O W L considered 😊 😊 😊 no reason 😊 his Mother Catholic ⚡ ⚡ GOD INSPIRED ME 👉🏼 re William Shakespeare James Joyce Dostoyevsky Melville etal 😊 🔝
Thanks
Did any Builders get on at Norwood?
❤❤❤
Thanks
I'm in love ❤️
Love this as always
All aboard for another ripping railway yarn! ❤ 🚂
Rats. I was completely on the wrong track. I was convinced the murderers had done a way with a carriage that was switched to a sideline...😂 😂😂 Kidding, but the things they managed with those trains in that period... 🤔 Thanks for the entertaining reading! 😊👍
I liked this story. A clever plot and fun for train lovers.
I cannot, never HAVE been able to, fathom the Fr. Brown stories. It's a backside over elbow type of dénouement. kind of cheats smart alec mechanism. Very well read though. 🙏
Brilliant.
Wonderful! Thank you so much for a strong, clear, well-trained voice.
Excellent story! When they kept describing the little man with the dark mustache, I kept thinking Poirot was going to show up! 😂❤️
This would’ve been a very different story had only one person been able to hear the you-know-what.
“All the heavy artillery of music.” “Do you know his haunts?” I love the humor in this one.
Clearly the reader/curator is a Chesterton fan ... he narrates this so well ! Thank you Sir 🤗
Wonderful - thank you again
Well well well-who'da thought? 🧐 Not me-not clever enough to even think of a suspect. 😆😊
🇬🇧 ( aka Itallia 666) Oh that was a splendid yarn indeed! I do love Railway Crime for some obscure reason & remember you have narrated quite a number of said crime genre. Can't think of his name but a young Reverend of the 1900s wrote some very good Railway crimes, which you have narrated, a Rev Peter ...? I've never heard of Thomas Handshew, did he write anything else? As convoluted as this tale was, it was perfectly logical, well thought out & excellently written. Nice to hear that a rotten old stinker came to a sticky wicket! I dare say there are still a few aristocrats of damnable & scurulous behaviour around today who need a swift seeing to! But not in a terminal manner, I may add! I still believe in Karma! I'm always transported to past times whenever you read these marvellous stories... Btw, did you know that there are some lovely words, that are slowly disappearing from the British language ? & the word Marvellous is one of them? Some Etomologist ( I do mean word origins not insects 🐞) on BBC Radio 4, some chap used to host a Marvellous programme ( during 2018) about Words & being in fashion & out. He lamented some Marvellous words were becoming obsolete. . Marvellous being one of them, tracing it's history to a very long usage.. We all remember a very young Queen Elizabeth 1st, saying, when informed her sister Queen Mary had died & now she was Queen, said.. " It is Marvellous, in our eyes" Who knew the word harkened back to 16th c. So, appalled that this Marvellous word could be lost, I've made it my duty to use it as much as is Marvellously possible... So here's hoping everyone who reads this will take my lead in the fight to retain the word MARVELLOUS .. Sorry to have overtaken your platform for a Stand Up For Failing Old Words Society.. I do believe that such a society exists... If anyone knows, PLEASE, Inform me! Thank You Simon! Marvellous & of the Highest Magnitude are your narrations Peace & Jolly Japes! 🇬🇧🙋
I can think of some dwindling-in some cases extinct-words & phrases: "Ghastly" "By jove" "By George" "By Jupiter" "I say!" "By thunder" "Scoundrel" Putting "Why" at the beginning of a sentence- (which is a mystery to me) The tradition of having a "last cigar" or a pipe with a stiff drink of brandy, whisky or port whilst the ladies retire to the drawing room. A gentleman always having a revolver in his pocket-can you imagine? A male servant always referred to by his surname-rather lofty, but there we are, the aristocracy class had standards to uphold. I don't belong to a society for preserving such words, phrases or traditions, but if one exists, or becomes a thing, I shall be an enthusiastic member. 😊
@@nickybaker1338 Ah yes, but those phrases were primarily used by the upper classes. There are some words like Marvellous that really are in decline, words that were used, common place by all members of society. I can remember our local Blacksmith, back in the 1960s, who had a booming voice, used to always utter ... " Hell & Damnations" as his ' go to' expletive! Very old fashioned! Also I recall a friend from school back, ithen who would say, if they wanted you to go and look at something they drew your attention to .. " Cock a Snook at that" Also rarely heard these days! My Granny always said a curious adage to her normal farewell + it was " Toodle Pip & Sans Faire Ann" Obviously of French origin but she produced it San Fairy Ann, I still sometimes say goodbye with Granny's farewell. I wish I could remember the name of this chap who Hosted this British Language Origins on BBC Radio 4... I think he had a Jewish surname but could be wrong, it was a fascinating show. Anyway, Thank You for replying & your comments Peace 🇬🇧🙋
@ValerieAnnHorn-Ross-mx4cv Yes, the author wrote a lot more stories featuring this character... he was rather prolific, and I must confess I've not got around to reading all of them by any means. I've recorded one previously: the origin story which is titled 'The Man Who Called Himself Hamilton Cleek', which you'll find on the channel if you've not heard it already. Some more info about the author is available in the video description. Re the Radio 4 presenter: was that Michael Rosen? (Word of Mouth?)
@@BitesizedAudio Arrrggghh YES! Marvellous Yes, it was Michael Rosen... Bliss. I knew he had a Jewish surname but it had completely gone from my memory. I've so often wanted to listen to his radio series again, AND now I can. Thank You so much Simon, I really am grateful. I loved Mr Rosen's programmes, a true Wordsmith! Yes I did listen to the other Mr Handshew story about Mr Cleek. I think I shall re listen to that one. Id a pal at university who's Name, delightfully was Kamilla Kaliq, pronounced exactly like Camilla Cleek There's another fascinating subject, peoples surnames, I've come across some unbelievable ones in my Time! My absolute favourite is Suppilulliumas ( Soop ill looli oooh mas) I believe it's of royal connection from the Hittite Empire but is still Used as a name today Now! That IS a name. So grateful for your info on Michael Rosen Peace & Jelly Beans 🇬🇧🙋
New story, Simon's narration 'nuff said 😍🤩😊
Simon, I love the way you use different accents for the characters! You are so talented.
So good to have another take of yore from you. Thanks as always for breathing life into these tales.
Yay! Another Mr Hamilton Cleek of the many faces! Good luck to him in his quest for redemption and love. Wonderful Simon!, Thank you.
Smooth perfection!
Your activity provides an invaluable possibility to learn the really beautiful English that still exists but, helas, is becoming very rear. Special thanks for this from a Hungarian learner of British English.
My usual route from London Bridge! This adds even greater relish to my enjoyment. Thank you so much for recording this rare gem.😊
Ah yes, it always adds something extra when you know the scenery... I used to live on that line myself for a couple of years in the late 90s
Thank you Simon! 😊
Thanks!
Thank you so much
Thanks so much for presenting a new story. I’ll totally gaining on you and have had to listen to some dreadful copycats while awaiting your new stories.
I used to do that, but none of them are a patch on Simon are they? Gave up with no withdrawal symptoms👂😅🥰
Lots of AI copycats seem to be springing up at the moment, all rather depressing I think. But I'll keep going!
A new one! Hurray!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ an hour long too!!!! Woot! Woot! Thanks much *Simon* 👍👍👍👍👍
Religion requires the participant to believe in a non-material phenomenon this blind faith is an insult to human intelligence, Don't be fooled by the smoke and mirrors.
Perfect timing, as always. I have a quilt to finish binding, and an hour is just about how long it will take me. I always hope for a story to listen to while I work on Sundays.
Oh, excellent-the sequel to “The Man who Called Himself Hamilton Cleek?” ….The main character ( not to mention his name ) were so memorable, I knew it couldn’t be coincidence …. I cannot wait to discover how he does treading the “straight and narrow”….
Its 3.33 am and I came to bed at around 11.00 pm, I originally put these on to go to sleep , I can safely say that it did not work 😂😂😂 I just can't stop listening
Another winner!