The Missing Actress Sensation | A Max Carrados story by Ernest Bramah | A Bitesized Audiobook
63,808
Published 2023-01-24
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:
* Occasional/one-off support via Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/bitesizedaudio
* Monthly support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bitesizedaudio
* 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 YouTube, from $1 / £1 / €1 per month:
youtube.com/c/BitesizedAudioClassics/join
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:20 The Story begins
01:09:15 Credits, thanks and further listening
If you'd like to hear more stories featuring Max Carrados, I have a playlist in development, available here: • Max Carrados stories by Ernest Bramah
Or for a selection of other Victorian and Edwardian detective stories, do take a look at the "Rivals of Sherlock Holmes" playlist:
• Rivals of Sherlock Holmes | Victorian...
About the author: Ernest Bramah (1868–1942) was born Ernest Bramah Smith, probably in or near Manchester, where he attended grammar school. An intensely private man, very little information is known about his personal life. His early career included a stint as assistant to Jerome K. Jerome; his first success as a writer came as a contributor of humorous sketches somewhat in the manner of Jerome, to newspapers and periodicals, and he later became editor of one of Jerome's magazines. As an author he is best remembered for creating two characters: Kai Lung, a Chinese storyteller who appeared in a number of humorous stories from 1900; and Max Carrados, the blind detective, created in 1913. He also wrote science fiction, and his 1907 novel 'What Might Have Been' (also known as 'The Secret of the League') is a dystopian story which was acknowledged by George Orwell as a major influence on his own 'Nineteen Eighty-four'. Orwell was also a great admirer of the Max Carrados stories, bracketing them with Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Freeman's Dr Thorndyke as "the only detective stories since Poe that are worth re-reading". The character of Carrados appeared in more than 25 short stories and novels between 1913 and 1934, and by the 1920s was more popular than Sherlock Holmes (whose later cases appeared alongside Carrados in The Strand Magazine). His blindness proves no obstacle to his detective skills; indeed his other senses are heightened and he regularly outwits criminals and fellow detectives alike.
Ernest Bramah Smith died in June 1942, aged 74, in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. He was survived by his wife Lucy Smith.
‘The Missing Actress Sensation’ first appeared in The News of the World, on 14th December 1913. It was subsequently published in book form in 1923 as part of the second volume of collected Carrados adventures, 'The Eyes of Max Carrados'.
Some textual notes:
Mr. Enniscorthy makes reference to offering a witness a "Bradbury"; Bradburys were the nickname given to special £1 notes issued by the British Treasury at the beginning of World War I in August 1914. The notes were issued as part of the war effort in an attempt to help the Treasury preserve its stock of gold bullion; they were known as "Bradburys" after Sir John Bradbury, the then Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, whose signature appeared on the notes. Intriguingly, this story first appeared in the News of the World in December 1913, some eight months prior to the war and the introduction of Bradburys, which indicates the text of the story was revised by Bramah after the original publication. The text read here is from the 1923 volume 'The Eyes of Max Carrados', the second collection of his adventures published in book form.
There's a passing reference in the story to the Boadicea statue on the Thames Embankment. I've pronounced it as it was spelt in the published text, which was the predominant pronunciation at the time of the story, although it's now generally acknowledged that this spelling and pronunciation are incorrect due to a misreading of old manuscripts, and the name is now more commonly known (and pronounced) as Boudicca.
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2023
All Comments (21)
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Story begins at: 00:01:20 This story is one of a series featuring Max Carrados, the blind detective, whose adventures first appeared in 'The News of the World' in 1913. If you'd like to hear more Max Carrados stories, I have a playlist in development, available here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi95qAoufCZLjwoLUZBvPAF… Or for a selection of other Victorian and Edwardian detective stories, do take a look at the "Rivals of Sherlock Holmes" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi95qAoufCZL5tiXECltwXU… Some textual notes: Mr. Enniscorthy makes reference to offering a witness a "Bradbury"; Bradburys were the nickname given to special £1 notes issued by the British Treasury at the beginning of World War I in August 1914. The notes were issued as part of the war effort in an attempt to help the Treasury preserve its stock of gold bullion; they were known as "Bradburys" after Sir John Bradbury, the then Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, whose signature appeared on the notes. Intriguingly, this story first appeared in the News of the World on 14th December 1913, some eight months prior to the war and the introduction of Bradburys, which indicates the text of the story was revised by Bramah after the original publication. The text read here is from the 1923 volume 'The Eyes of Max Carrados', the second collection of his adventures published in book form. There's a passing reference in the story to the Boadicea statue on the Thames Embankment. I've pronounced it as it was spelt in the published text, which was the predominant pronunciation at the time of the story, although it's now generally acknowledged that this spelling and pronunciation are incorrect due to a misreading of old manuscripts, and the name is now more commonly known (and pronounced) as Boudicca. 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: * Occasional/one-off support via Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/bitesizedaudio * Monthly support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bitesizedaudio * 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 YouTube, from $1 per month with various benefits: youtube.com/c/BitesizedAudioClassics/join
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It has been said before, but there is nothing quite like coming home to find a new story from Simon and savoring the evening moments of listening to come once tasks are done, dog walked, glass poured, fire stoked and pipe lit 😌💚
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Simon. You are the most hardworking dedicated constant theatrical narrator by a long way! And it goes without saying. THE BEST. We adore you. Thank You
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One of my favorites! Bless your heart, Simon. We can't thank you enough for all the fantastic stories you give us.
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Oooh the bliss. 😊 Every new story is another treasure. Thank you. 😍
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Wonderfully done Simon! I have grown quite fond of Max Carrados and his remarkable powers of deduction. Perhaps I am but a bit biased but I can't help but believe that if the author were alive today to hear your narration of his tale, he would be very impressed with the care you give to all his characters. You keep them safe and make sure they are once again heard! And we, your faithful listeners, love you for it! ❤ Much thanks!
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Doggie and I are so happy to hear another Max Carrados story!
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Love listening to your wonderful voice reading these old, intriguing stories. Thank you, Simon!
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Besides all the other reasons for loving your site, your work in bringing to us the wonderful stories, your narration; you even give us textual notes. I love that. Your work is edifying. Thank you.
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Simon!!!!! You are the absolute best!!! And every time there is a new story, I feel such a calming peace!!! Thank you for all you do and for helping me feel some relief from anxiety at night before bed. Adoring you from across the pond!! 😊
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Excellent Narrator. I'm very happy to have discovered these great stories. I am 70 years of age and a great grandfather alone now
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Oh I'm so excited!! I was hoping you would do more Max stories! Thank you! 🤗❤️
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Thanks, Simon. I am so glad I found your channel. A gift to the listener is what you are!!!
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Splendid! A brand new story that I had never come across before! Thank you, Simon.
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My favourite Carrados story to date. Thoroughly engaging and intriguing. Well done you! ❤
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Absolutely wonderful - thank you so much as always, Simon. I shall be listening later tonight. I love the Max Carrados stories, he is such a superbly crafted character.
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So glad I found you. It’s been my favorite entertainment while working on my quilt projects. Although I’m a Californian I love all British literature and you have a delicious voice. Thank you
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a Max Carrados story to curl up with on a cold January night, could it get any better and cosier. Thank you Simon, I just love the Carrados stories so much
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Thank you Simon, I enjoyed every minute of your superb performance, I was transported to another time and place!
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Beginning to have a soft spot for this series. Thank you for another wonderful narration
