Thurnley Abbey

by Perceval Landon

The classic 1908 ghost story by Perceval Landon, originally featured in his book, Raw Edges: Studies and Stories of These Days.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fiction, Ghost Stories, Classics, Gothic, Paranormal

12 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1908

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an eerie story Colvin tells the narrator here. It's about his overnight-stay at Thurnley Abbey, where a friend of his named John Broughton settled down after marrying. What shocked Colvin that much? Why did he think on a prank first? Eerie little tale with a sinister ghost. Recommended!

[Quirkyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This creeper is definitely not for the faint at heart. There is some gore action in this one.

[Davonna Juroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was so disappointed to see that this is the only ghost story written by Perceval Landon. His prose and style are quite delicious. Very fantastic Edwardian era ghost story (written in 1908) primarily narrated by a veteran who recounts the acquisition of his friend's estate: Thurnley Abbey. The townspeople all believe that a ghost haunts the Abbey, but the main character and his friend who owns the property don't really believe in the supernatural. Ha! I'm sure you can guess what happens next.

Truly one of the most chilling descriptions of encountering a ghost in classic literature. I'd go as far to say even better than James' illustration in "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad." This is a treat for classic horror fans and is definitely one I'll read again and again. You can read it here for free: http://gaslight.mtroyal.ca/thurnley.htm

[April Helms · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd love to see this short story turned into a play (if a play doesn't already exist.) The tale is told in a "story within a story" format, which was popular in that time (this was published in 1908). While on a train, the narrator gets an unusual request from another passenger, then is told a story that is both scary and a bit funny. It's hard to tell too much more without giving away spoilers, just that this was an enjoyable read.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Thurnley Abbey concerns a man named Alastair Colvin who asks a fellow traveler if it is alright if they share a room on the boat they are on, not because it is crowded but for some other reason. Slowly, the narrator pulls the story out of Colvin, who relates his association with a man named Broughton and the events which led him to being unable to sleep alone in a compartment.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ghost story actually seemed believable! I did not expect Alastair Colvin's reaction to the ghost - it was shocking, but kind of funny too!

[Zombaby Cera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good,classic short ghost story.

[Mortisha Cassavetes · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a man is asked to spend the night in the haunted Abbey, he agrees but he isn't prepared for what the night will bring. Spooky Short Story so No Spoilers! Highly Recommend It!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful nested story-within-a-story. A ship, foreign travels, and a stranger with a tale to tell: this quick read unfolds into a horrifying ghost story and promises great entertainment. A treat for lovers of horror, of short fiction, and of Victorian drama.

[Andy Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic gothic haunted house (or abbey) short story read as part of my Halloween festivities.

Anyone trying to write such a story these days is at a huge disadvantage. This was written in 1908, the golden days of such ghost stories. Within such a short number of pages Landon manages to make his characters (4 of them) so memorable. He describes the necessary parts of Thurnley Abbey wonderful well.

It succeeds so well for what he doesn't do also. He doesn't spend time describing ancillary characters or parts of the Abbey that are irrelevant. With only a very few exceptions ghost stories are better when short, occasionally novella, but usually short I believe. This is a great example.

[April Cordon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn't do it for me... maybe I've read too many Victorian ghost stories in too short a time period. I found myself annoyed with how slow moving and anticlimactic this was.

[qoheleth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really enjoying the story, but it ended too abruptly.

[ناني ماكفي · Rating 4 out of 5]

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳❤️
لأحتفل معكم بكتابي ال100
هنا سأستريح قليلا وأتنفس فقد أكملت ال 2024chalenge
💃💃💃💃💃💃🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
بالصدفة كان audiobook ل percival landon
إستمعت له مرتان و قرأته
25 صفحة ورقية فقط أما النسخة الإلكترونية 9 صفحات
كنت محظوظة لأني صادفتها
1 لأنها أقصوصة الرعب الوحيدة للعم percival
2 لأن قصصه نادرة وهاته الوحيدة التي بقيت تطوف تقريبا وان ارخص نسخة منها وصلت ذات فترة ل 1000دولار. وهي ارخص نسخة لكل المجلة التي نشرت فيها القصة raw edges
ظهرت القصة أول مرة عام 1908
واسمحوا لي ان أقول إنها عصارة الedwardian era
و قد نجح تماما العم برسفال في تصويرها رغم صغر حجم قصته
نجحت صفحاته القليلة أن ترسم ما لم يرسمه كتاب اليوم في 600 و 700صفحة من gibbrich talk و ال bla bla blaaaaa ثم يسمونه أدب رعب

القصة حول رجل حل ضيفا بطلب من صديقه" عريس الزين "وزوجته
Newly wed couple
وبعد السهرة ذهب لينام فزاره شبح الnun راهبة
ظن المسألة خدعة وغضب وهشم عظام الشبح ورأسه واخذ جزءا من الفك ورماه في غرفة مضيفه
لكن رد فعل المضيف وزوجته جعلت هذا الأخير ينتبه للامر
وقع خطوات في الردهة وشخص يدخل ببطئ ويحمل العظام ويخرج بهدوء .لم يروه لأنهم تجمدوا من الرعب وكلا أخفى رأسه
صدقوني إنه ألطف شبح متجسد قرأت عنه
مهذب ولطيف وغير صاخب وأظن نيته سليمة. ربما اراد التعرف على السيد colvin the narrator
الراوي
مع هذا تبقى القصة في تلك الفترة رغم ما نراه فيها من كليشي رائدة وقيل قمة الرعب
حسنا من الجانب النفسي اجل بالنسبة لشخص يخاف
أنا ولله الحمد كفتاة كانت تقطع المقبرة ليلا في الظلام في سن 12 عائدة من المعهد نظرا لكونها لا تحب السير في طريق أطول بعدة أمتار .. أعتبر نفسي محصنة نوعا ما
لم تخفني بل لنقل سرتني وفيها شيء لذيذ
نعود لشبح الراهبة
Cute ومؤدب
لم تدخل حتى الغرفة حملت أشياءها من الباب(فكها وجزء من جمجمتها) 😁😂😂😂 عندها عزة نفس وكرامة

وهذا مقطع وجدته على الانترنات إسمحوا لي بنقله لكم فهو يلخص كله

that it is the one story of Landon’s that remains in active circulation today. Everything else is largely unobtainable, with the cheapest copy of Raw Edges that I can find online costing a thousand dollars (around eight-hundred pounds). If you are not fussy, then there is another available for two-thousand dollars.

In “Thurnley Abbey” the main character, Alastair Colvin, is staying at a haunted abbey and he is visited in the dead of night by the ghost of a nun. The magic of this story is that only clichés are thrown into the cauldron and yet the final flavour is bafflingly original.

فقط الكليشيهات قدمت لنا مع هذا اقصوصة لذيذة
خسارة أنها وحيدة ونادرة

[Mayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An English gentleman is traveling to India from London, and meets a man named Colvin who wishes to share his cabin on the ship, even though each has his own cabin. The reason he does not wish to room alone is made clear in the story he tells his new acquaintance. He is a man who is fearful of being alone at night. This short story is a Victorian ghost story - brief, horrific, and ending abruptly with questions not answered. Well written, it ends just as it is getting really interesting.

[Etain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Gary Gianni's Illustrated version, collected in Monstermen.

That was quite fun but once again I think it was a bit too long, particularly the framing story which served just to make the story less blunt took up quite a large portion of it. Still I liked it.

[Red Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting framing of a then-modern gentleman’s encounter with the deeply gothic traditional ghost in the most horribly tangible form. It’s the genuine sensory tangibility of this tale that makes it so unsettling.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great ghost story! I loved this book, and the little twist within it!

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief story, very much in the M.R. James tradition.

[Vonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic short horror story, well written and I recommend.
The last short horror story from the Ambrose Bierce Classic Tales of Horror 500+ Vol 1.
All of volume 1 are outstanding stories.

[Rissa (rissasreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7

[Sem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit of a damp squib.

[Melany Milano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una historia corta , pero sentí escalofríos al leerla , de igual manera me gustó

[Ludor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The build up is good, if you pay attention. I started with a spooky podcast version before switching to this one which was clearer and easier to follow.

[bbcamel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very interesting to see a ghost appear not as a disembodied spirit but as a physical presence that you can touch if you want to.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very atmospheric!

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent if somewhat forgettable ghost story.

[Brooke Cousins · Rating 4 out of 5]

“who is this DIVA 💜,” i ask myself. it is unclear as to whether i am referring to alastair colvin or the somehow tangible skeleton/ghost he tears to pieces

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and scary!

[Tony Ciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

ghost story, horror, heraldry, nice short story

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining fantasy listening
A will written fantasy Sci-Fi short story by Perceval Landon. I listened to this short story as part of Classic tales of Horror - 500+ stories. I would recommend this novella to anyone looking for a quick read. Enjoy the adventure of books. 👻 2022