The Last Exploit of Harry the Actor | A Max Carrados story by Ernest Bramah | Bitesized Audiobook
62,065
Published 2023-07-27
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
* 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/
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00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:20 The Last Exploit of Harry the Actor
01:25:37 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 Last Exploit of Harry the Actor' first appeared under the title 'The Great Safe Deposit Coup' in The News of the World, on 5th October 1913. It was reprinted the following year – under the new title – as part of the first collection of Carrados stories to appear in book form, simply entitled 'Max Carrados (Methuen & Co., Ltd., 1914).
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2023
All Comments (21)
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The 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… 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 * 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
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I not a prude by any sense of the imagination but it is refreshing to listen to a storyline that avoids gratuitous violence, language or sex while still being thoroughly entertaining.
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Thank you Simon, I know we have a treat in store, much appreciated!
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I absolutely enjoy the blind detective. Thanks for another delightful bedtime story.
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Listening to these stories is like a pressure release valve for me, I can feel the tension leave my body as I sit back and let you work your magic! Ty ❤
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Thank you so much, Simon. A new story for my evening breather. I really need it right now. My brother lost his only child from a heart attack at 51. I was delighted to see this.
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Stanhope is a master of narration: an excellent audio acter with a wonderful voice.
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Thank you, Simon. Another perfect presentation. Blessings on you and yours.
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I love this story. it's surprisingly unique within it's own way of presentation. Everytime I think I got It! I'll go back and listen and be hit with a vividly missed clarification that brings the uniqueness of the story to a whole nother level of Interesting!
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It's always such a joy when you share your beautiful narrations with us, dearest Simon. I shall never grow weary of that golden voice you have been gifted with. Thank you ever so much! ❤
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Great story. “I was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.” An expat listening in S Florida.
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Nice long story is just what I need tonight ❤ thanks Simon
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This was a great story- but your portrayal of the numerous characters was truly amazing Simon! You can do SO many & SO very well! I have heard you do 2 or 3 but wow that was well over half a dozen & each 1 is fantastic. ♥️♥️♥️♥️🤷♀️✌️
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Yay! I have to listen when I'm not too tired, because your relaxing voice sometimes causes me to drift off. It's funny, a couple of times I have started dreaming with my earbuds still in my ears. I am walking around and doing things in my dreams, and I'm wondering where this voice is coming from. Oh, it's the TV. I turn the TV off, but I still hear the voice. It must be the radio, I find a radio and turn it off. Still hear the voice. Then I realize I'm wearing a headset. I take the headset off, still hear the voice!!! I pull earbuds out of my ears, still hear the voice!!! And the strangest thing is, it is clearly Simon's voice, but his words are non-sensical gibberish, like he's speaking another language. This has happened several times. I always have a laugh at myself when I wake up!!!! Anyhow, thank you for another story!!!!
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A highly enjoyable tale Simon, thank you. I had never heard the Max Carrados stories before but I'm glad I have now.
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The best Carrados story I've heard - this was marvellous
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Wonderful - I love the Max Carrados stories! This shall be my bedtime story tonight! Thank you so much as always, Simon.
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I do like these Max Carrados stories! Thank you for this!
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You are wonderful Simon. Always there with marvellous stories Thank You Carol
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Thank you Mr Stanhope. Another salve for the soul before bed. 😊
