The Familiar Audiobook By Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu cover art

The Familiar

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The Familiar

By: Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Narrated by: Walter Covell, Walter Zimmerman
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About this listen

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu was one of the major figures of 19th-century supernaturalism. He helped move supernaturalist fiction away from the gothic's emphasis on external sources of terror and toward a focus on the effects of terror, thus helping to create the psychological basis for supernaturalist and horror literature that continues today. "The Familiar" is one of his most terrifying tales.

Public Domain (P)1984 Jimcin Recordings Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Short Story
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Editorial reviews

19th-century Irish novelist Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu helped shaped the Victorian ghost story. His 1872 story The Familiar showcases his ability to create chilling tales in which the supernatural is only one possible explanation.

The Familiar tells the story of navy captain James Barton, who is pursued by a demon named "The Watcher". Hearing voices, Barton begins to fixate on his fiancée’s pet owl, which may or may not be real.

Using mid-Atlantic accents, Walter Zimmerman and Walter Covell bring restraint and tension to their performances of this spooky tale of madness and paranoia.
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The story is what it is. The narration is well done. The recording is atrocious and better can be found elsewhere.

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The narrator combined incorrect pronunciation with a bland voice and poor audio quality. Mediocre ghost story. Spend your time elsewhere.

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