An Australian Ghost Story: A Strange Goldfield by Guy Boothby

I had wanted to do an Australian ghost story for quite a while. That's the good news. I talk a bit about Guy Boothby in the commentary at the end. The bad news is that I am practising my Australian accent, and you know I'm a pom.
My American accent has had a few outings. Scottish to come. But this is Australian. I have worked with a few Australians in the past and I did study the accent a bit on KZbin. You shall be the judge.

[@bethpemberton7980]

Oh, Tony, you amaze me.

[@scoutrifle6827]

Just got 'Cumbrian Ghost Stories' and 'London Horror Stories'---STRONGLY recommend them to fans of this genre. Tony's as a good a writer as he is a reader.

[@ClassicGhost]

Very lovely of you to say that

[@rheinhartsilvento2576]

Couldn't agree more. He's a great writer

[@terryjaenke238]

Great tale, and great titbit of history from my home ..what an amazing story...p.s you your accent was great thanks mate.

[@marilynmills2273]

I thought you’re Australian accent was very good, not that I personally speak with an Australian accent. Good story, thank you 🙏

[@janepeterson3016]

Well done Aussie accent. Great story and commentary.

[@rattyrachel4316]

Enjoyed very much! Please take all precautions against this modern day plague. We need you, Tony. May sound corny, but at 68 I’m allowed to be a little sentimental - you’re like a part of my little family - me, my cat, my dog and the Golden Orb Weaver in the rose bush outside my window. ( I dare say there are many others who feel the same.)

[@ClassicGhost]

Give them all my regards. I have had both my Pfizer vaccinations so I should be ok. I’ll keep on reading

[@Renfair333]

Australian actor here- your accent is incredible- especially the perfect placement and our ubiquitous schwa. I’m VERY jealous of your facility for them. Love your work.

[@ClassicGhost]

Oh wow. Praise indeed

[@wmnoffaith1]

Yes, your facility for accents is truly amazing. I appreciate it doubly because I am so terrible at accents. Even when married to a husband who was a French national, hearing the accent every day, and taking night classes, I still can't roll an R to save my life. I'm hopeless, lol. Your accents are genius, you switch from British to Scots to American seamlessly; and you don't make every American male character sound like an Ellery Queen detective like most do, or like a gangster. Truly impressive.

[@woah6958]

Sure!😄

[@lizbmusic11]

I'm a kiwi but I thought your Aussie accent was pretty good. Our goldfields could tell a few stories too. Have you seen The Luminaires? It's a TV series from 2020 with a supernatural theme running through it. About the Otago gold rush. Excellent series. Very spooky! What an incredible life that young author had!

[@ClassicGhost]

Yes I watched that it was good. NZ looks amazing

[@colemarie9262]

Well happy very belated birthday!! And entertainment is important to keep us all sane right now, because we basically have nothing else lol

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you!

[@blixten2928]

Wonderful, thanks, and I for one DID enjoy your Australian accent! Comments at the end informative, insightful and useful in understanding the piece, I do think they add a LOT to the reading. -- And thanks for your kind and sympathetic wishes at the end. Am sitting in Sweden and seeing a corona-disaster all around me. Really appreciate your reaching out to listeners.

[@peterbugg3943]

Aussie here- you did very well!

[@ClassicGhost]

thank you!

[@thresagraham8181]

Since I discovered your channel I am bingeing, first class👍🌸✌️

[@ClassicGhost]

Welcome aboard!

[@catznjam470]

Happy birthday! And thanks for all you do- very good shivery stuff lol

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you kindly! Makes it worth getting old :)

[@angeloofpalermo2612]

By jumping kangaroos that's a good one!! I would have just copied that certain Australian doctor who is a dab hand at solving murders

[@Tinyflypie]

I am amazed at your good Australian accent. It'd a very difficult one to reproduce and we get used to hearing them sound like a cross between cockney and a strangled chook. Great stuff!

[@ClassicGhost]

That’s great to hear. I listen to people on KZbin and try and copy them.

[@Renfair333]

Could you please do Fergus Hume’s The Sandwalker?

[@ClassicGhost]

Great idea!

[@Renfair333]

@@ClassicGhost I’d love to know where you think it’s set. Gartholm is said to be by the “German Sea” with sand dunes... Norfolk? The Fens? East Anglia? Please excuse my ignorant (Australian) questions. I’m inordinately obsessed with this story.

[@aliceheggli7248]

Happy birthday

[@Msunbird02]

These days, Killarney (Queensland) is rich pastoral country. 🐂🐑 Great accent btw. 🇦🇺

[@ClassicGhost]

;))))

[@Pattilapeep]

Your Australian is marvelous. Am completely enjoying all your readings. You can truly be proud of the quality of your work. Thank you so much for these tales. Cheers Pat in New Jersey.

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you, Pat.

[@susanmercurio1060]

The desert in California is a few hundred miles or more from the gold fields in northern Cali. In fact, the first nugget was found in a stream, on a farm. There was, at least, enough for people to eat and drink, even if it cost more than usual.

[@2476bunny]

ps most australians are pom decendense

[@2476bunny]

did i say that lol yep

[@2476bunny]

i want more it great,thanks for youre upload

[@davidbailey4404]

Somehow missed this one when it first appeared, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm American, but I have a nose for fake accents, and yours seem to me quite authentic -- all of them, and that's a lot. This gift you have with regional English speech makes you rara avis in the world of podcasts/KZbin -- most narrators don't even try, and from what I've heard that's a good thing. The US alone has so many -- several from the Eastern Seaboard, several from the South (including "N'awlins",) West, Midwest, California...and many have regional variants within their basic divisions. I've learned from listening to you that the English-speaking world has lots more accents than I'd realized. This, and your supplementary material, are a couple of reasons why I seek out your work. Anyway, thanks once more for sharing with us. I'll be listening...

[@ClassicGhost]

Lots and lots of accents. I need to keep away from most of them :)

[@martiwilliams4592]

How did I miss this one??? Love your presentation, Australian accent and informative commentary. Just finished your "More Cumbrian Ghost Stories"Can highly recommend it? Thank you!

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you kindly! Great!

[@gregnicholls8347]

Wonderful accent that keeps the story firmly anchored in Australia.

[@ClassicGhost]

I’m glad you think so

[@karensmith2204]

Nice reading 📚.....nice accent, although your natural is the best

[@ClassicGhost]

:). I've forgotten what my natural accent is.

[@Story-Voracious66]

I missed this the first time round, but glad it came up again. Pretty good Aussie accent, but different to mine, (Even Australia has regional differences and they change with time.). Tasmanians use even more shwa and flat 'a's as in 'at' (except in 'castle'. Why this is an exception I have no idea.). Loved the story, and hop all is well with you and yours. 🙋🏻🔻🇦🇺

[@ClassicGhost]

In New York. Very hot!

[@Story-Voracious66]

I guess that's why Americans have "vacations", to vacate the hot city and head North to the cool. Travel safe Tony.

[@janetcw9808]

Brilliant accents x

[@ClassicGhost]

Ha ha! Stage accents really

[@ImCarolB]

I enjoyed this story so much. It captures the scene perfectly and I was quite taken with your excellent Aussie accent and the worn and tired tone.

[@ClassicGhost]

The Aussie accent took some work. The worn and tired tone came naturally :)

[@medicalmisinformation]

If perchance someone happens to slap the "you tried to get into the locked drawer today" woman, I will buy him a beer.

[@martiwilliams4592]

Lots of thumbs up

[@melfreemans]

I like to walk around around at work and say "you tried to get into the locked drawer today, didn't you?" It baffles my coworkers.

[@ClassicGhost]

I think after extensive research by some listeners it’s actually “locked room”’but it sounds like drawer to me.

[@melfreemans]

@@ClassicGhost sure sounds like drawer, especially on other stories. Maybe it's locked door?

[@wizardmagic5524]

Brilliant

[@wizardmagic5524]

Brilliant

[@Paxtonparsnip]

Absolutely superb! Content, reading, everything about this. And seriously scary!

[@layali1]

Super ! I was just about to suggest this story

[@carolecole1641]

Enjoyed the story thank you.

[@rics440]

The accent is not good IMHO

[@ClassicGhost]

Fair enough, mate

[@possumaintdead]

I thought your accent was very good, as are all your accents imo. I have a flat-through-the-nose northern Ohio accent, and admire your voice very much. Liked the story as well, although the end was a bit abrupt.