Sardonicus

Sardonicus by Ray Russell is possibly the best Gothic horror story written in the 20th century. Ray Russell's mastery of language elevates this piece of genre fiction into literature. Russell's reading of character and masterful portrayal of dark nuances are evident. It is such quality even though the author wrote it for Playboy magazine. This tale is perfect for Halloween, but it's captivating all year long. It features a castle with a strange master, a beautiful woman in trouble, individuals, disfigurement, an isolated setting, and a perplexing plot that our protagonist must unravel. Ray Russell serves as a link between contemporary masters of the dark like Thomas Ligotti and classic goth favourites like Dracula. It was published in 1961 and adapted into the movie Mr Sardonicus the same year, showing that its quality was instantly recognised Sadly, little this gothic masterpiece is little read now, but Sardonicus deserves to be resurrected! #audiobook #freeaudiobooks #audiobooksfulllength #audiobooktube #booklover #audible Classic Ghost Stories Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tonywalker.substack.com