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The Trial For Murder
The Trial For Murder, written in 1865, is a short story by Charles Dickens. It is one of Dickens' ghost stories, and is perhaps the best known outside of "A Christmas Carol."
57 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 1865
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619 people want to read
About the author
Charles Dickens
13k books31.6k followersCharles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
November 1, 2022
Brillante historia sobre un juicio por asesinato en el que el protagonista acaba siendo el presidente del jurado y tiene en su mano el poder de decidir la inocencia o la culpabilidad del acusado.
Ocurren una serie de hechos previos que marcarán el desarrollo de la acción.
Relato corto para todos los lectores que disfruten de la escritura de Dickens.
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Brilliant story about a murder trial in which the protagonist ends up as the foreman of the jury and has the power to decide the innocence or guilt of the accused.
A series of events occur prior to the trial that will mark the development of the action.
A short story for all readers who enjoy Dickens' writing.
Ocurren una serie de hechos previos que marcarán el desarrollo de la acción.
Relato corto para todos los lectores que disfruten de la escritura de Dickens.
----------------------------
Brilliant story about a murder trial in which the protagonist ends up as the foreman of the jury and has the power to decide the innocence or guilt of the accused.
A series of events occur prior to the trial that will mark the development of the action.
A short story for all readers who enjoy Dickens' writing.
November 26, 2020
This is both a courtroom drama and a ghost story. Of course, the writing is beautiful, especially the first few pages. It's Charles Dickens, so what did I expect?
Prosperous very busy banker narrator watches through his window as a man across the way is being followed by a man with the complexion of wax. First man keeps looking over his shoulder, waxen looking man following close at his heels. Our narrator banker, opens the newspaper and reads an incredible story about a murder. He goes into his dressing room to change for they day and the waxen man appears at the door with his hand beckoning. Narrator tells us that he does not wish to repeat what he sees lest people think he's off his rocker. Before he knows it, narrator receives a summons for jury duty. It turns out that he is to serve on the trial of the murder he has read about in the newspaper. The jury is sequestered and narrator keeps seeing waxen looking apparition coming and going, fading in and out, beckoning him to different conversations among the jurors to make sure the murderer is found guilty. This jury tampering apparition is visible only to the narrator and he performs numerous antics to get his point across - until the verdict is rendered! I found this to be a very clever and humorous story.
Can be found free on the internet and libraries, and is included this month under Hoopla bonus books (does not count against monthly loan quota), if your library subscribes.
Prosperous very busy banker narrator watches through his window as a man across the way is being followed by a man with the complexion of wax. First man keeps looking over his shoulder, waxen looking man following close at his heels. Our narrator banker, opens the newspaper and reads an incredible story about a murder. He goes into his dressing room to change for they day and the waxen man appears at the door with his hand beckoning. Narrator tells us that he does not wish to repeat what he sees lest people think he's off his rocker. Before he knows it, narrator receives a summons for jury duty. It turns out that he is to serve on the trial of the murder he has read about in the newspaper. The jury is sequestered and narrator keeps seeing waxen looking apparition coming and going, fading in and out, beckoning him to different conversations among the jurors to make sure the murderer is found guilty. This jury tampering apparition is visible only to the narrator and he performs numerous antics to get his point across - until the verdict is rendered! I found this to be a very clever and humorous story.
Can be found free on the internet and libraries, and is included this month under Hoopla bonus books (does not count against monthly loan quota), if your library subscribes.
December 10, 2019
A first person narrator is appointed juror in a murder case. We hear about the murdered person and how the narrator came to know him. At the end there is a surprising twist. Sometimes I found this story a bit long winded and confusing. The end was quite good but overall a bit slow. Dickens was a judicial reporter and you absolutely see this in this story. The characters are well described but the story is not too eerie or compelling.
August 23, 2021
"The Trial for Murder" is a ghost story about revenge. The foreman of the jury narrates this tale about the ghost of the murder victim appearing to him, and also whispering in the ears of the jurors as they sleep at night. This seems to suggest that the jurors might not take their task seriously without the prompting of the ghost.
"The Trial for Murder" was first published with the title "To Be Taken With a Grain of Salt." It was a chapter of Doctor Marigold's Prescriptions in the Christmas 1865 volume of the literary journal "All the Year Round." In 1866, the story was published in Dickens' "Three Ghost Stories."
"The Trial for Murder" was first published with the title "To Be Taken With a Grain of Salt." It was a chapter of Doctor Marigold's Prescriptions in the Christmas 1865 volume of the literary journal "All the Year Round." In 1866, the story was published in Dickens' "Three Ghost Stories."
May 13, 2021
Juror Number 13 – Is Preternatural Help Needed to Make the Legal System Work?
Originally published as To Be Taken with a Grain of Salt in a Christmas volume of Dickens’s literary magazine All the Year Round, this rather creepy ghost story later became known as The Trial for Murder. Its unnamed narrator tells us about how when he became foreman of a jury in a trial for murder, he was haunted by the apparition of the murdered man, who tried to bring the criminal to justice.
The Trial for Murder is not a particularly spectacular story, at least not by Dickens’s own standards, and our narrator tells it in quite matter-of-fact and low-key a fashion, but it is especially the ending that made me feel a little shiver run down my spine. When you come to think of it, it is extremely unsettling from the narrator’s point of view since he is the only one who can actually see the ghost whereas his fellow-jurymen and other people in the court are only indirectly influenced by the spectre’s presence. In that respect, of course, the story is eerier than a tale of a ghost appearing to several people in that the narrator can never be quite sure as to what he perceives being more but a morbid figment of his own imagination. He must always ask himself the question whether he might not be slightly out of his mind, and he is characteristically shy of sharing this experience with his readers. One particularly haunting scene in which the effect of the supernatural is skilfully balanced between the perceptible and the imperceptible is when our narrator counts the jurymen and always ends up with the number thirteen on the whole, whereas a look at the individual jurymen will invariably give him a round dozen. When he asks one of the other jurymen to count his fellows, there is exactly the same effect. In the course of the trial, our narrator has similar strange details to account for.
The original title To Be Taken with a Grain of Salt might have been intended to imply some criticism on Dickens’s part with regard to the efficiency of the English legal system – a very popular topic with Dickens – in that the ghost of the victim had to make sure that the murderer was eventually found guilty. Our narrator repeatedly mentions three very obstructive jurymen who would always find fault with the evidence for the sake of finding fault – but who finally have to give in to the majority of their fellow-jurors (and to the influence of the spectre working on their minds).
All in all, I am in two minds on the question whether the rather sober style in which the narrator tells his story increases or diminishes the eerie effect of the tale, but – as I said – it is the ending which reconciles me with the entire story.
Originally published as To Be Taken with a Grain of Salt in a Christmas volume of Dickens’s literary magazine All the Year Round, this rather creepy ghost story later became known as The Trial for Murder. Its unnamed narrator tells us about how when he became foreman of a jury in a trial for murder, he was haunted by the apparition of the murdered man, who tried to bring the criminal to justice.
The Trial for Murder is not a particularly spectacular story, at least not by Dickens’s own standards, and our narrator tells it in quite matter-of-fact and low-key a fashion, but it is especially the ending that made me feel a little shiver run down my spine. When you come to think of it, it is extremely unsettling from the narrator’s point of view since he is the only one who can actually see the ghost whereas his fellow-jurymen and other people in the court are only indirectly influenced by the spectre’s presence. In that respect, of course, the story is eerier than a tale of a ghost appearing to several people in that the narrator can never be quite sure as to what he perceives being more but a morbid figment of his own imagination. He must always ask himself the question whether he might not be slightly out of his mind, and he is characteristically shy of sharing this experience with his readers. One particularly haunting scene in which the effect of the supernatural is skilfully balanced between the perceptible and the imperceptible is when our narrator counts the jurymen and always ends up with the number thirteen on the whole, whereas a look at the individual jurymen will invariably give him a round dozen. When he asks one of the other jurymen to count his fellows, there is exactly the same effect. In the course of the trial, our narrator has similar strange details to account for.
The original title To Be Taken with a Grain of Salt might have been intended to imply some criticism on Dickens’s part with regard to the efficiency of the English legal system – a very popular topic with Dickens – in that the ghost of the victim had to make sure that the murderer was eventually found guilty. Our narrator repeatedly mentions three very obstructive jurymen who would always find fault with the evidence for the sake of finding fault – but who finally have to give in to the majority of their fellow-jurors (and to the influence of the spectre working on their minds).
All in all, I am in two minds on the question whether the rather sober style in which the narrator tells his story increases or diminishes the eerie effect of the tale, but – as I said – it is the ending which reconciles me with the entire story.
February 15, 2016
As I'm currently reading "Great Expectations", one of Dickens' most famous works, I decided to take a look at one of his short stories, postponing my plans to read "A Christmas Carol" and instead focusing on this less popular story. I like Dickens' writing style a lot, but as I have to admit, it was somehow awkwardly applied here. Not only was the outcome of the story very predictable, but also did Dickens fail to raise the reader's interest for his protagonist's fate.
So, we read what the protagonist experiences, but how does he feel about it? I'd rather read about whether or not the character is frightened or afraid or curious about the new developments instead of merely reading what happens. Maybe it was my fault, because I do enjoy Dickens' writing style in general, but I wasn't able to get into this story.
My servant's back was towards that door. While I was speaking to him, I saw it open, and a man look in, who very earnestly and mysteriously beckoned to me. [...]
The figure, having beckoned, drew back, and closed the door. With no longer pause than was made by my crossing the bedroom, I opened the dressing-room door, and looked in. [...]
So, we read what the protagonist experiences, but how does he feel about it? I'd rather read about whether or not the character is frightened or afraid or curious about the new developments instead of merely reading what happens. Maybe it was my fault, because I do enjoy Dickens' writing style in general, but I wasn't able to get into this story.
August 22, 2021
A different sort of ghost story, combining a ghost and a murder trial.
August 18, 2021
The Trial for Murder is a short story with preternatural elements. Published in an 1866 collection of ghost stories, this story is narrated by a man serving on a jury of a murder case. This juror, the foreman, sees what others cannot. The outcome of the trial is steered by this preternatural presents.
What I have read by Dickens, I have liked, maybe even say loved. But the writing in this short story did not hold up to what I experienced in Great Expectations. The difference could not be excused as an early work; The Trial for Murder was published later than Great Expectations . What bothered me was excessive coma and parentheses usage. (This may just be peevish of me). It resulted in a convoluted way of relaying the tale. Of course, this led to frustration. Anyway, this felt like a much longer read than a mere 32 pages.
Nevertheless, I am not daunted. I know there must be a great Dickens short story out there. I’ve added The Signal-Man and To Be Read at Dusk to my list.
What I have read by Dickens, I have liked, maybe even say loved. But the writing in this short story did not hold up to what I experienced in Great Expectations. The difference could not be excused as an early work; The Trial for Murder was published later than Great Expectations . What bothered me was excessive coma and parentheses usage. (This may just be peevish of me). It resulted in a convoluted way of relaying the tale. Of course, this led to frustration. Anyway, this felt like a much longer read than a mere 32 pages.
Nevertheless, I am not daunted. I know there must be a great Dickens short story out there. I’ve added The Signal-Man and To Be Read at Dusk to my list.
August 24, 2021
A clever story of a man haunted by a murder victim which is then completely turned around by a final sentence that makes you wonder whether you’ve missed something.
July 12, 2025
3,0
(Audiobook)
(Audiobook)
September 29, 2018
I lost this review but what made me read this was after listening to an OTR (Old Time Radio) version. I think there are different versions of this short story in OTR but will include The Weird Circle's version.
April 30, 1944.
https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com...
April 30, 1944.
https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com...
October 12, 2020
অডিও শুনলাম। প্রথমে বোরিং লেগে যাচ্ছিলো, পরে গল্পে গতি এসেছে।
December 19, 2016
I wasn't expecting that! Dickens always surprising...
May 16, 2017
This was a good little creeper of a story.
January 4, 2024
স্লো স্টার্টিং, মাঝে মাঝে গল্পের দিক হারিয়ে যাচ্ছিল। তবে শেষের দিকে এসে গল্পটা কিছুটা উপভোগ্য হয়ে উঠেছিল।
February 18, 2021
Charles Dickens se ha convertido en uno de mis escritores favoritos, una de las cosas que más me gusta es su versatilidad, puede escribir novelas largas y también relatos cortos, aunque es más conocido por sus historias de huérfanos, crítica social y sarcasmo, aquí nos cuenta una historia sobrenatural.
Un caballero está sentado leyendo el diario, lee una noticia sobre un asesinato y de repente ve el dormitorio donde ocurrieron los hechos, esta visión le genera un escalofrío que lo hace acercarse a la ventana para respirar aire fresco, pero al voltear a la calle, ve a dos hombres distintos al resto, uno de ellos camina afligido mientras el segundo va detrás de él como regañándolo.
A partir de esto se desarrollan una serie de acontecimientos muy raros, contados de una manera detallada y sutil que busca hacernos sentir un escalofrío, y si eres capaz de meterte en la historia, imaginando cada detalle, podrás disfrutar un gran final.
Lo mejor de esta historia es que no te vende una cosa por otra, sino mantiene una congruencia en lo narrado, que se disfruta, un gran narrador era Dickens, manejaba las palabras de una forma muy inteligente.
Recomendado.
Un caballero está sentado leyendo el diario, lee una noticia sobre un asesinato y de repente ve el dormitorio donde ocurrieron los hechos, esta visión le genera un escalofrío que lo hace acercarse a la ventana para respirar aire fresco, pero al voltear a la calle, ve a dos hombres distintos al resto, uno de ellos camina afligido mientras el segundo va detrás de él como regañándolo.
A partir de esto se desarrollan una serie de acontecimientos muy raros, contados de una manera detallada y sutil que busca hacernos sentir un escalofrío, y si eres capaz de meterte en la historia, imaginando cada detalle, podrás disfrutar un gran final.
Lo mejor de esta historia es que no te vende una cosa por otra, sino mantiene una congruencia en lo narrado, que se disfruta, un gran narrador era Dickens, manejaba las palabras de una forma muy inteligente.
Recomendado.
August 4, 2020
Naletela sam na ovu priču i kao ajde, neka mi kratka forma bude prvi susret sa Dikensom, mada ovo nije ništa specijalno. Čekam neku "savršenu" zimu kada ću se nakaniti da pročitam bar neki njegov roman.
January 20, 2022
The Old Curiosity Club group read for May, 2021
Very enjoyable Dickens ghost story.
Read again Jan 2022 from the Christmas Stories volume of Dickens, this time under the title, To Be Taken With A Grain of Salt.
Very enjoyable Dickens ghost story.
Read again Jan 2022 from the Christmas Stories volume of Dickens, this time under the title, To Be Taken With A Grain of Salt.
December 30, 2018
Decent ghost story that is not scary but actually eerie.
December 22, 2016
Θα μπορούσε κανένας να ισχυριστεί πως ο Πόε που έγραφε ιστορίες μυστηρίου είναι διαφορετική οντότητα απ’ τον ποιητή Πόε; Θα μπορούσε να το πει για το Μπλακ που είναι Μπάνβιλ; Αν δεν είναι τελείως αναίσθητος ή βλάκας, σίγουρα όχι. Παρότι δε θεωρώ τον εαυτό μου τέρας αισθαντικότητας ή φοβερά έξυπνο, ωστόσο τη μαεστρία του Πόε που μου παγώνει το αίμα με λέξεις κάνοντας με να κοιμάμαι με τα φώτα αναμμένα και του ποιήματος για τις καμπάνες που απαγγέλλοντας το στα αγγλικά νόμιζα πως πραγματικά ακούω καμπάνες και τα αγγλικά μου είναι σε προνηπιακό επίπεδο, το αναγνωρίζω. Γιατί λοιπόν ο Ντίκενς να παύει να είναι ο Ντίκενς ασχολούμενος με φαντάσματα και στοιχειώματα;
ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ 1: The trial for murder
Έχω διαβάσει δεκάδες ιστορίες με ‘’ψυχοδέκτες’’, έχω δει εκατοντάδες σχετικά φιλμ, θα μπορούσα να έχω κάτσει όπως χθες βράδυ με τον τρόπο που μ’ αρέσει να απολαμβάνω μια ωραία ιστορία, με το ημίγλυκο λευκόκρασο μου, με τα πόδια πάνω στο τραπέζι, το αερόθερμο αγκαλιά και να έχω διαβάσει μόνο αυτή την ιστορία, να μην έχω παρακολουθήσει κανένα φιλμ και να είμαι απόλυτα ικανοποιημένος γενικά. Πληθωρικό γράψιμο και οικονομία λέξεων πάνε μαζί; Αν έχεις διαβάσει Ντίκενς φυσικά. Σου δημιουργεί την ατμόσφαιρα με άνεση και άπλετες λέξεις και μετά αφού έχεις χωθεί εκεί μέσα σε πυρπολεί με τακτικές οικονομικές ριπές, συντηρώντας την υπόσχεση πως δε θα σε βγάλει από ‘κει μέσα προτού τελειώσει η ιστορία. Έχει πολλά ευρήματα σαν ιστορία φαντασμάτων που να είστε σίγουροι έχω εντοπίσει σε αρκετές κατοπινές ιστορίες. Αυτό που εκείνος αναφέρει αεράτα, γρήγορα αλλά όχι επιδερμικά ( είπαμε ήδη μας έχει χώσει εκεί μέσα ), άλλοι γράφανε σελίδες επί σελίδων…
1 αστεράκι γιατί περίμενα κάτι παραπάνω.
ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ 2: The mortals in the house
Η ιστορία αφορά ένα στοιχειωμένο σπίτι ή όχι; Α βέβαια ο Ντίκενς δε στο κάνει εύκολο. Μπορεί να ήταν μια ιστορία που γράφτηκε για να διασκεδάσει, ωστόσο όμως δεν είναι μια γελοία ιστορία.
‘’Δε θα πω ότι όλα ήταν εντελώς συνηθισμένα, γιατί αμφιβάλλω αν μπορεί ποτέ να συμβεί αυτό, εκτός μόνο αν έχεις να κάνεις με συνηθισμένους ανθρώπους – κι αν το ακούσουν αυτό ξυπνάει η ματαιοδοξία τους’’
‘’Πέρα από αυτό, υπάρχει κάτι το τρομερό στο να μας περιβάλλουν γνωστά πρόσωπα κοιμισμένα. Είναι τρομερό να γνωρίζουμε ότι οι άνθρωποι που αγαπάμε πιο πολύ και που μας αγαπούν πιο πολύ δεν έχουν καμιά συναίσθηση της ύπαρξης μας, αλλά βρίσκονται σε μια παθητική κατάσταση που προοιωνίζεται εκείνη τη μυστηριώδη στιγμή προς την οποία τείνουμε όλοι. Το σταμάτημα της ζωής, τα σπασμένα νήματα του χτες, το άδειο κάθισμα, το κλειστό βιβλίο, η ημιτελής αλλά εγκαταλελειμμένη ενασχόληση, όλα αυτά είναι εικόνες θανάτου. Η γαλήνη αυτής της ώρας, είναι η γαλήνη του θανάτου. Τα χρώματα και το ψύχος αυτής της ώρας προκαλούν τους ίδιους συνειρμούς. Ακόμα και ένας ορισμένος αέρας που παίρνουν τα γνωστά αντικείμενα του σπιτιού όταν βγαίνουν για πρώτη φορά από τις σκιές της νύχτας το πρωί, η αίσθηση ότι είναι καινούργια, όπως ήταν πριν από πολύ καιρό, έχει το αντίστοιχο της στην αντικατάσταση, με το θάνατο, της φθαρμένης όψης της ωριμότητας, ή των γηρατειών από την παλιά νεανική έκφραση’’
Πάρε να ‘χεις! Είπες τίποτα; Είπαμε ο Ντίκενς έγραψε την Ιστορία δυο πόλεων, ο Ντίκενς έγραψε και το Θνητοί στο σπίτι!
Κι αφού προσπαθούν να οργανωθούν στο σπίτι και ψάχνουν τα αντικείμενα που διαθέτει, ακολουθεί η εξής φράση κι εγώ πνίγομαι στα γέλια, απλή, καθημερινή και χαρούμενη: ‘’Δεν υπήρχε πλάστης, δεν υπήρχε σαλαμάνδρα ( πράγμα που δε με εξέπληξε, γιατί δεν ήξερα τι είναι )’’
‘’…είχε απλωθεί ανάμεσα μας η μόλυνση της υποψίας και του φόβου, και δεν υπάρχει άλλη μόλυνση σαν κι αυτή…’’
Δαγκωτά τα 2 αστέρια, ειδικά αφού τελειώνει στακάτα, σπέρνοντας αμφιβολίες.
ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ 3: Hunted down
Αυστηρός και συνάμα δίκαιος όπως μας παρουσιάζεται σε όλα τα έργα του, έτοιμος πρώτος να αναθεωρήσει, ακόμη πιο αυστηρός με τα ‘’λεγόμενα του κόσμου’’, τις γενικεύσεις που είναι ικανές να συντρίψουν κάθε άνθρωπο που δε θα σταθεί λίγο παραπάνω, ή που δε θα ‘χει αποκτήσει την εμπειρία. Ξεκινάει το πρώτο κεφάλαιο με τον τρόπο που θα περίμενες να ξεκινήσει ένα αριστούργημα κι όμως πρόκειται για ένα απειροελάχιστο διήγημα, σχετικά με τη φυσιογνωμική και τις πρώτες εντυπώσεις. Προσωπικά μετά απ’ αυτό το κεφάλαιο αν ακολουθούσε αντί για τη συνέχεια της ιστορίας τεχνικό φυλλάδιο εγώ θα καθόμουνα και θα το διάβαζα με ευδαιμονία.
‘’Έχω ακούσει πάρα πολλές ανοησίες για κακούς ανθρώπους που δε σε κοιτάζουν καταπρόσωπο. Μην εμπιστεύεστε αυτή την τετριμμένη ιδέα. Η ανειλικρίνεια μπορεί να κοιτάξει την ειλικρίνεια καταπρόσωπο και να την κάνει να χαμηλώσει τα μάτια, αν έχει να κερδίσει κάτι απ’ αυτό’’
‘’Στεκόταν μπροστά στη φωτιά με καλοσυνάτα μεγάλα μάτια και μια συγκαταβατική έκφραση στο πρόσωπο του – και πάλι όμως, απαιτούσε ( σκέφτηκα ) να τον πλησιάζουν όλοι από τον προετοιμασμένο δρόμο που πρόσφερε και από κανέναν άλλο’’
Η σύλληψη με λέξεις ανθρώπων που σε όλους μας έχουν δημιουργήσει αυτή την εντύπωση, της επιτήδευσης, της πρόκλησης να ακολουθήσουμε το δρόμο που έχουν ορίσει για ‘μας ώστε να τους γνωρίσουμε μέσα από μια σειρά προετοιμασμένων ρωταποκρίσεων, είναι έξοχη. Όπως κι εν συνεχεία ο διακριτικός τρόπος με τον οποίο χειρίζεται τους επιφυλακτικούς ανθρώπους που έγιναν επιφυλακτικοί αν όχι καχύποπτοι λόγω εμπειριών και που στην πραγματικότητα δεν αποζητούν τίποτα περισσότερο απ’ τη ματαίωση της εντύπωσης τους για τον αριβισμό των άλλων. Η ζωή είναι τέτοια που όσο περισσότερο εύχεσαι ή απεύχεσαι κάτι στο στέλνει, ή τουλάχιστον έτσι λένε. Εσείς τι λέτε να γίνει σ’ αυτή την ιστορία; Πάντως φαντάσματα δεν συμμετέχουν…
Επειδή η ιστορία έχει το μυστήριο της αλλά τρέχει παράλληλα και σε μια άλλη συχνότητα κι επειδή λατρεύω τα διττά, 2 αστέρια.
ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ 1: The trial for murder
Έχω διαβάσει δεκάδες ιστορίες με ‘’ψυχοδέκτες’’, έχω δει εκατοντάδες σχετικά φιλμ, θα μπορούσα να έχω κάτσει όπως χθες βράδυ με τον τρόπο που μ’ αρέσει να απολαμβάνω μια ωραία ιστορία, με το ημίγλυκο λευκόκρασο μου, με τα πόδια πάνω στο τραπέζι, το αερόθερμο αγκαλιά και να έχω διαβάσει μόνο αυτή την ιστορία, να μην έχω παρακολουθήσει κανένα φιλμ και να είμαι απόλυτα ικανοποιημένος γενικά. Πληθωρικό γράψιμο και οικονομία λέξεων πάνε μαζί; Αν έχεις διαβάσει Ντίκενς φυσικά. Σου δημιουργεί την ατμόσφαιρα με άνεση και άπλετες λέξεις και μετά αφού έχεις χωθεί εκεί μέσα σε πυρπολεί με τακτικές οικονομικές ριπές, συντηρώντας την υπόσχεση πως δε θα σε βγάλει από ‘κει μέσα προτού τελειώσει η ιστορία. Έχει πολλά ευρήματα σαν ιστορία φαντασμάτων που να είστε σίγουροι έχω εντοπίσει σε αρκετές κατοπινές ιστορίες. Αυτό που εκείνος αναφέρει αεράτα, γρήγορα αλλά όχι επιδερμικά ( είπαμε ήδη μας έχει χώσει εκεί μέσα ), άλλοι γράφανε σελίδες επί σελίδων…
1 αστεράκι γιατί περίμενα κάτι παραπάνω.
ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ 2: The mortals in the house
Η ιστορία αφορά ένα στοιχειωμένο σπίτι ή όχι; Α βέβαια ο Ντίκενς δε στο κάνει εύκολο. Μπορεί να ήταν μια ιστορία που γράφτηκε για να διασκεδάσει, ωστόσο όμως δεν είναι μια γελοία ιστορία.
‘’Δε θα πω ότι όλα ήταν εντελώς συνηθισμένα, γιατί αμφιβάλλω αν μπορεί ποτέ να συμβεί αυτό, εκτός μόνο αν έχεις να κάνεις με συνηθισμένους ανθρώπους – κι αν το ακούσουν αυτό ξυπνάει η ματαιοδοξία τους’’
‘’Πέρα από αυτό, υπάρχει κάτι το τρομερό στο να μας περιβάλλουν γνωστά πρόσωπα κοιμισμένα. Είναι τρομερό να γνωρίζουμε ότι οι άνθρωποι που αγαπάμε πιο πολύ και που μας αγαπούν πιο πολύ δεν έχουν καμιά συναίσθηση της ύπαρξης μας, αλλά βρίσκονται σε μια παθητική κατάσταση που προοιωνίζεται εκείνη τη μυστηριώδη στιγμή προς την οποία τείνουμε όλοι. Το σταμάτημα της ζωής, τα σπασμένα νήματα του χτες, το άδειο κάθισμα, το κλειστό βιβλίο, η ημιτελής αλλά εγκαταλελειμμένη ενασχόληση, όλα αυτά είναι εικόνες θανάτου. Η γαλήνη αυτής της ώρας, είναι η γαλήνη του θανάτου. Τα χρώματα και το ψύχος αυτής της ώρας προκαλούν τους ίδιους συνειρμούς. Ακόμα και ένας ορισμένος αέρας που παίρνουν τα γνωστά αντικείμενα του σπιτιού όταν βγαίνουν για πρώτη φορά από τις σκιές της νύχτας το πρωί, η αίσθηση ότι είναι καινούργια, όπως ήταν πριν από πολύ καιρό, έχει το αντίστοιχο της στην αντικατάσταση, με το θάνατο, της φθαρμένης όψης της ωριμότητας, ή των γηρατειών από την παλιά νεανική έκφραση’’
Πάρε να ‘χεις! Είπες τίποτα; Είπαμε ο Ντίκενς έγραψε την Ιστορία δυο πόλεων, ο Ντίκενς έγραψε και το Θνητοί στο σπίτι!
Κι αφού προσπαθούν να οργανωθούν στο σπίτι και ψάχνουν τα αντικείμενα που διαθέτει, ακολουθεί η εξής φράση κι εγώ πνίγομαι στα γέλια, απλή, καθημερινή και χαρούμενη: ‘’Δεν υπήρχε πλάστης, δεν υπήρχε σαλαμάνδρα ( πράγμα που δε με εξέπληξε, γιατί δεν ήξερα τι είναι )’’
‘’…είχε απλωθεί ανάμεσα μας η μόλυνση της υποψίας και του φόβου, και δεν υπάρχει άλλη μόλυνση σαν κι αυτή…’’
Δαγκωτά τα 2 αστέρια, ειδικά αφού τελειώνει στακάτα, σπέρνοντας αμφιβολίες.
ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ 3: Hunted down
Αυστηρός και συνάμα δίκαιος όπως μας παρουσιάζεται σε όλα τα έργα του, έτοιμος πρώτος να αναθεωρήσει, ακόμη πιο αυστηρός με τα ‘’λεγόμενα του κόσμου’’, τις γενικεύσεις που είναι ικανές να συντρίψουν κάθε άνθρωπο που δε θα σταθεί λίγο παραπάνω, ή που δε θα ‘χει αποκτήσει την εμπειρία. Ξεκινάει το πρώτο κεφάλαιο με τον τρόπο που θα περίμενες να ξεκινήσει ένα αριστούργημα κι όμως πρόκειται για ένα απειροελάχιστο διήγημα, σχετικά με τη φυσιογνωμική και τις πρώτες εντυπώσεις. Προσωπικά μετά απ’ αυτό το κεφάλαιο αν ακολουθούσε αντί για τη συνέχεια της ιστορίας τεχνικό φυλλάδιο εγώ θα καθόμουνα και θα το διάβαζα με ευδαιμονία.
‘’Έχω ακούσει πάρα πολλές ανοησίες για κακούς ανθρώπους που δε σε κοιτάζουν καταπρόσωπο. Μην εμπιστεύεστε αυτή την τετριμμένη ιδέα. Η ανειλικρίνεια μπορεί να κοιτάξει την ειλικρίνεια καταπρόσωπο και να την κάνει να χαμηλώσει τα μάτια, αν έχει να κερδίσει κάτι απ’ αυτό’’
‘’Στεκόταν μπροστά στη φωτιά με καλοσυνάτα μεγάλα μάτια και μια συγκαταβατική έκφραση στο πρόσωπο του – και πάλι όμως, απαιτούσε ( σκέφτηκα ) να τον πλησιάζουν όλοι από τον προετοιμασμένο δρόμο που πρόσφερε και από κανέναν άλλο’’
Η σύλληψη με λέξεις ανθρώπων που σε όλους μας έχουν δημιουργήσει αυτή την εντύπωση, της επιτήδευσης, της πρόκλησης να ακολουθήσουμε το δρόμο που έχουν ορίσει για ‘μας ώστε να τους γνωρίσουμε μέσα από μια σειρά προετοιμασμένων ρωταποκρίσεων, είναι έξοχη. Όπως κι εν συνεχεία ο διακριτικός τρόπος με τον οποίο χειρίζεται τους επιφυλακτικούς ανθρώπους που έγιναν επιφυλακτικοί αν όχι καχύποπτοι λόγω εμπειριών και που στην πραγματικότητα δεν αποζητούν τίποτα περισσότερο απ’ τη ματαίωση της εντύπωσης τους για τον αριβισμό των άλλων. Η ζωή είναι τέτοια που όσο περισσότερο εύχεσαι ή απεύχεσαι κάτι στο στέλνει, ή τουλάχιστον έτσι λένε. Εσείς τι λέτε να γίνει σ’ αυτή την ιστορία; Πάντως φαντάσματα δεν συμμετέχουν…
Επειδή η ιστορία έχει το μυστήριο της αλλά τρέχει παράλληλα και σε μια άλλη συχνότητα κι επειδή λατρεύω τα διττά, 2 αστέρια.
August 24, 2021
A fun story. Eerie. Mysterious. Ghostly.
Dickens tells an entertaining story with, of course, a social commentary, this time on the Justice System.
Recommended for a light, fun read.
Dickens tells an entertaining story with, of course, a social commentary, this time on the Justice System.
Recommended for a light, fun read.
May 4, 2019
A murder victim appearing for the jury in the trial!
July 24, 2019
The ghost of a dead man makes appearances at his own murderer's trial to ensure he is justly punished. What's more! Our narrator, a member on the jury alone can see him.
May 24, 2021
It's my policy, when someone asks me how I like a book, to withhold comment until I've finished it. The ending can ruin an otherwise good book, or redeem a mediocre story. Such is the case with Dickens's "The Trial for Murder".
This little ghost story, while intriguing, was somewhat dry in the telling. The narration was almost journalistic. In fact, this seems to be a deliberate choice by the author. I think I would have preferred a more titillating delivery, but how would such an atmospheric change have impacted the surprise ending? I suppose we'll never know. As it is, "The Trial for Murder" is still compelling and will hold readers' attention until the closing curve ball is thrown.
"The Trial for Murder" is a story that I will go back and read a second time, now that I've been privy to the final revelation which, quite literally, gave me chills.
This little ghost story, while intriguing, was somewhat dry in the telling. The narration was almost journalistic. In fact, this seems to be a deliberate choice by the author. I think I would have preferred a more titillating delivery, but how would such an atmospheric change have impacted the surprise ending? I suppose we'll never know. As it is, "The Trial for Murder" is still compelling and will hold readers' attention until the closing curve ball is thrown.
"The Trial for Murder" is a story that I will go back and read a second time, now that I've been privy to the final revelation which, quite literally, gave me chills.
December 29, 2025
This book follows an anonymous narrator who is a juror in the trial of a murdered man whose ghost is constantly materializing before him.
I appreciated the information provided in parentheses; it truly made visualising the scenes much easier.
Despite the length of the book, it did not feel rushed. We were provided with the right amount of information from the trial and it felt neither overbearing nor underwhelming. The presence of the murdered man and the reactions of the court were well-written.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this book, but would've appreciated it if we were given insight into how the narrator felt after his first sighting of the murdered man. It almost felt as if he were accustomed to having a ghost in his presence, which doesn't seem very believable.
I appreciated the information provided in parentheses; it truly made visualising the scenes much easier.
Despite the length of the book, it did not feel rushed. We were provided with the right amount of information from the trial and it felt neither overbearing nor underwhelming. The presence of the murdered man and the reactions of the court were well-written.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this book, but would've appreciated it if we were given insight into how the narrator felt after his first sighting of the murdered man. It almost felt as if he were accustomed to having a ghost in his presence, which doesn't seem very believable.
July 18, 2016
'Mbah Dickens kalo bikin cerita hantu rata-rata kerasa "lucu" dan hantunya malah keliatan akrab gitu (≧▽≦)
Seperti Marley-dkk di Christmas Carol, juga Gabriel Grub di Pickwick Papers, di sini si hantu-tanpa-nama cuma kemunculan awalnya aja yang [agak] nyeremin, sisanya lebih terasa kayak temen aja~ jadi keinget hantu-hantu yang berkeliaran di asrama Hogwarts (╯✧▽✧)╯terutama si Nick karena hantu-korban-pembunuhan ini juga kepalanya nyaris putus.
Mungkin agak kurang greget untuk pembaca yang demen horor (^ ^) tapi aku nambahin 1 bintang untuk kalimat terakhir di ending-nya yang bikin kaget dan bertanya-tanya dan mulai bikin-bikin teori sendiri...
Seperti Marley-dkk di Christmas Carol, juga Gabriel Grub di Pickwick Papers, di sini si hantu-tanpa-nama cuma kemunculan awalnya aja yang [agak] nyeremin, sisanya lebih terasa kayak temen aja~ jadi keinget hantu-hantu yang berkeliaran di asrama Hogwarts (╯✧▽✧)╯terutama si Nick karena hantu-korban-pembunuhan ini juga kepalanya nyaris putus.
Mungkin agak kurang greget untuk pembaca yang demen horor (^ ^) tapi aku nambahin 1 bintang untuk kalimat terakhir di ending-nya yang bikin kaget dan bertanya-tanya dan mulai bikin-bikin teori sendiri...
October 2, 2021
3.25 Stars
rounded down to 3 Stars.
The Trial for Murder is a collaborative work published in 1866 in Three Ghost stories, written by Charles Dickens and Charles Allston Collins. It is a mystery story with the ghost of a murdered man haunting a juror (narrator) and the court of the trial of the accused murderer.
The Trial for Murder is a collaborative work published in 1866 in Three Ghost stories, written by Charles Dickens and Charles Allston Collins. It is a mystery story with the ghost of a murdered man haunting a juror (narrator) and the court of the trial of the accused murderer.
August 30, 2017
Audio narration was done well!
December 31, 2025
A great short ghost story by Charles Dickens. I always love reading Dickens and this short story is ideal reading in the cold womter evenings.
This is more like The Signalman in tone (although it doesn't quite match that as The Signalman is virtually a perfect story). It doesn't have any of the sentimentality that we often get with Dickens and much as I love his writing that can be a nice change.
The story is told in the first person and is about a man who's appointed foreman of a Jury in the trail of a man accused of murder and how he becomes "acquainted" with him. Enjoyable short read.
This is more like The Signalman in tone (although it doesn't quite match that as The Signalman is virtually a perfect story). It doesn't have any of the sentimentality that we often get with Dickens and much as I love his writing that can be a nice change.
The story is told in the first person and is about a man who's appointed foreman of a Jury in the trail of a man accused of murder and how he becomes "acquainted" with him. Enjoyable short read.
December 31, 2018
As always with Dickens' short stories.. the writing is wonderful..but I'm left with the impression I didn't understand it..like a joke that should make you laught but didn't and you can't stop wondering what went wrong.. anyway that doesn't happen with his full length books, that's fortunate since I really love Dickens..
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