Discover Most Popular Audiobooks in Classics, World Literature
Listen to this audiobook in full for free on http://hotaudiobook.com [http://hotaudiobook.com] Title: The Uttermost Farthing Author: Richard Austin Freeman Narrator: Ella Porter Format: Unabridged Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins Language: English Release date: 12-21-17 Publisher: Audioliterature Genres: Classics, World Literature Publisher's Summary: "The Uttermost Farthing" is a mystery by R. Austin Freeman. Excerpt: Humphrey Challoner was a great savant spoiled by untimely wealth. When I knew him he had lapsed into a mere dilettante; at least, so I thought at the time, though subsequent revelations showed him in a rather different light. He had some reputation as a criminal anthropologist and had formerly been well known as a comparative anatomist, but when I made his acquaintance, he seemed to be occupied chiefly in making endless additions to the specimens in his private museum. This collection I could never quite understand. It consisted chiefly of human and other mammalian skeletons, all of which presented certain small deviations from the normal; but its object I could never make out - until after his death; and then, indeed, the revelation was a truly astounding one. ©2017 Audioliterature (P)2017 Audioliterature Members Reviews: Macabre tale of obsession and revenge In this tightly plotted novel, we follow the bizarre career of a man who loathes criminals. Humphrey Challoner is a cultivated man and amateur scientist. His quiet happy life is destroyed one night when a burglar shoots and kills his young wife. For twenty years Humphrey hunts for the killer, in the process revenging himself on London's criminals class in a surprising and gruesome fashion. To say more would give too much away. Although both Humphrey and the plot have a narrow focus, the story is so full of lively incident, it held my interest throughout. Humphrey is amazingly resourceful and exhibits a delightfully macabre, donnish sense of humor. The writing style has an Edwardian flavor, although it was published in 1914 in the U.S. and in 1920 in Britain (under the title A Savant's Vendetta). Freeman was one of the greatest mystery writers, as demonstrated by his intricately plotted Dr. Thorndyke novels. This book feels like it was written as a diversion, just for fun. It also gives us a glimpse of how respectable people of the era felt about criminals, so it's of historic interest, as well as being quite entertaining. The moral dilemmas set forth invite discussion; you might want to share this book with a friend. The Resurrected Press edition has a very readable format, is nicely edited, and offers a short but informative introduction. I tend to favor this publisher's books over less reliable digital reprints.
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