The Comedy at Fountain Cottage | A Max Carrados story by Ernest Bramah | Bitesized Audiobook

Louis Carlyle regales his friend Max Carrados with the bizarre experiences of his niece Elsie in her new home: her quiet enjoyment of a brand new cottage is somewhat blighted by an anti-social neighbour who throws stewed kidneys over the garden fence. Max suspects there may be more to the neighbour's behaviour than meets the eye... The story starts at 00:01:20
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):
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00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:20 The Comedy at Fountain Cottage
01:02:47 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 b...
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 Hol...
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 Comedy at Fountain Cottage' first appeared in 'The News of the World' in November 1913. It was reprinted the following year 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 2024

[@binkie4940]

*gets into bed, scrolls through KZbin whilst cat is snuggling in*.... what's THIS?!!!! A new Max Carrados story?! Thank you Simon!!! 👌

[@samkennedy5554]

Same! Also with added cat 🐈 😂

[@rachels4848]

❤😂

[@binkie4940]

​@@samkennedy5554😺👍

[@ShirleeKnott]

ditto only have a couple of bernese mountain dogs......

[@christabedwin]

That's it !! This is how it works.

[@mariameere5807]

OMG Simon‼️ You are the best! We all love you and your work! So happy to see another Max Carrodos mystery, I love this author SO MUCH, his work is timeless and you act the character’s so very well, we should nominate you for an Oscar or a BAFTA‼️ You Simon, are a star 🌟 Many thanks and blessings ❤

[@BitesizedAudio]

Very kind of you to say so, thanks Maria!

[@marisadallavalle393]

Same here!

[@dominiqueshaw7359]

Ah yes my favorite way to spend an evening.

[@mfranssens]

Really enjoy the Max Carrados stories. I had never heard of him previously. You’ve introduced me to lots of great writers and characters. Thank you

[@barrycrump6189]

An hour of delight and escape from this otherwise miserable world. Thank you.

[@crazyrobotlady3391]

Yay! More Max Carrados stories! We have something in common. We are both blind. When you have enough of these, could you please make a playlist of them? I want to be able to follow this man’s adventures in chronological order.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Actually I've already created a Max Carrados playlist, there are seven at the moment and I'll add more as I record new ones - you can find it here: kzbin.info/aero/PLi95qAoufCZLjwoLUZBvPAFemYFKiqB7z Although in terms of chronological order, I'm not sure there is one really, other than the very first story, 'The Coin of Dionysius', introduces the characters. Other than that, I think they can be enjoyed in any order, rather like the Sherlock Holmes stories. Thanks for listening!

[@crazyrobotlady3391]

@@BitesizedAudio oh! Thank you. I don’t know how I missed this. Lol!

[@simoneclift3155]

The delight! Phone full of notifications, all ignored except the best one! Thank you Mr Stanhope for another dose of happy. 😊

[@BitesizedAudio]

You're most welcome!

[@sonsoffalstaff2600]

Always a pleasant surprise to find you've produced another one.

[@taliabee8661]

Ooh, I’m glad I stayed up now! Treatsies at midnight 😀♥️

[@nickybaker1338]

Me too 😊

[@adriennedunne1748]

Oh! The Max Carrados stories are my favourite, I believe, it's like finding a tenner in your jeans pocket when you thought you were broke!! Thank you so much Simon. You really do these stories justice. I hope your theatrical career takes off, but I also hope you keep on narrating these. You're so good at it.

[@eshanroveran7850]

Without this channel a rural southerner like myself wouldn’t take interest or enjoy some classic English culture Your work is amazing and helps spread these fantastic authors to people who may otherwise never read them!

[@tammyhanlon3057]

Well, hello, Simon. What a treat. I just listened to The Water Ghost again, it was just as wonderful as the first time. Thanks for all you do for us!

[@Shineon83]

I loved that one, too!

[@Shineon83]

“….You were scorning the services of a horticultural mercenary when I arrived”….Love the Carrados stories, Simon ❤ Gayle Loveland

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks Gayle. Yes, I enjoyed that line too!

[@stephaniealeman8522]

Thank you Simon! I wonder what Carrados would hear in your voice!? 💚

[@BitesizedAudio]

An intriguing question... I dread to think!

[@GingerTomMom]

Yay! A lovely surprise this evening: a new Bramah story, read by Mr. Stanhope! Thank you very!

[@ginabeena6757]

Another Max story!! I'm so happy, thank you Simon! ❤️

[@charlottehackett6389]

Thank you, Simon! What a marvelous way to end a bad day!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Sorry to hear you had a bad day, but glad if this helped a bit

[@patriciaramsey5294]

Your reading is SO MUCH BETTER than Librivox version. Wonderful! I noticed this involves a garden and you released this story in the Spring. One suggestion: Could you read 'the missing witness sensation', and release it in the Summer? In that, Max is kidnapped and held prisoner during a freak heatwave. Just a suggestion...

[@BitesizedAudio]

Noted, thank you! I have a few more Carrados tales on my list, and that's certainly one of them

[@user-xd7dk3oy3q]

No comparison!✊❤️

[@margarethughes3763]

Thank you for this story. I like ghost stories..

[@BitesizedAudio]

I have another M. R. James in the pipeline... coming soon

[@vbrooker1]

What? A new Max Carrados story? Oh, bliss on this cold, rainy evening. Thank you, Simon!

[@juanitamays1432]

Thank you for your wonderful readings. You bring a story to life.

[@gilllongano5360]

I see I am at the end of a large number of fans. The only supernatural/ghost story writer I can listen to. Well done sourcing and uploading. Thank you

[@sandrapeach4990]

Definitely one of the best channels on KZbin. A new Max Carrados story, what a great surprise and treat!! Thank you very much Simon. 😁. 😊

[@nickybaker1338]

Hoooooorrrrrraaaaaayyyyyy! Thank you Simon. I checked just in case you'd managed to post something, considering your computer headache....bingo! 😊😍

[@BitesizedAudio]

It's taken a while, but I'm just about there recovering/recreating what was lost

[@dahlrussell]

Unable to sleep, I went downstairs with my dog to wash dishes and clean the kitchen. I found this story- just the right length for my duties to tire me out. Simon delivers, reliably and reassuringly. Thank you.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Glad to help!

[@maryfeehan7896]

Thank you Simon for your wonderful readings ❤

[@sonjawells4265]

Thank you Simon! I love your readings. ❤❤❤❤

[@BitesizedAudio]

So glad to know that, thanks Sonja

[@januzzell8631]

Best EVER - another Max Carrados story read by Simon - Bliss

[@cuthbert2546]

Max Carrados stories always start off slowly but you know that interesting intrigue will ensue! I love his tales! Thanks for the excellent selection and excellent reading

[@mijiyoon5575]

Thank You *Simon* as always you are the best

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you kindly!

[@maxgc6413]

What a classy new intro you have sir, well worth the wait! I love the mystery stories with Max Carrados They have such a cozy atmospheric vibe that very few modern stories can replicate. Truly a gem of their time Thank you for your continuing work for this channel, seriously you are one of the underdogs on here. I mean that Until next time Max

[@BitesizedAudio]

Much appreciated, thanks Max

[@BitesizedAudio]

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. More information about the story and the author can be found in the video description. If you'd like to hear more Max Carrados stories, I have a playlist in development, available here: kzbin.info/aero/PLi95qAoufCZLjwoLUZBvPAFemYFKiqB7z Or for a selection of other Victorian and Edwardian detective stories, including Loveday Brooke, Dr. Thorndyke, Father Brown, Martin Hewitt, the Old Man in the Corner, and more, do take a look at the "Rivals of Sherlock Holmes" playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLi95qAoufCZL5tiXECltwXUI2QDDFrDHD

[@zednotzee7]

Splendid ! Another Max Carrados story. Just the thing for a bedtime listen tonight.

[@barbarascott3231]

Happy dance in progress❤ , thank you for the best lift to a rainy deary day

[@jaidebrooke5946]

Coffee and a reading by Simon. Perfect 😊

[@cantonhag]

Mr Stanhope, always a joy to see you again.😊

[@jilldwilliams9208]

Thanks, Simon!!! Love you❤

[@mariannwolf4889]

Thank you Mr. Stanhope for another enchanting mystery.

[@Lemma01]

You ARE Max Carrados, Simon! Each tale is a rare jewel, so it's wonderful of you to share. Thank you ❤

[@BitesizedAudio]

Very kind of you to say, thank you!

[@elizabethmerriman531]

Happy listening to each story in Texas. Thank you

[@saran.4001]

Thank you Simon, this was a treat.

[@pilferingapples1424]

Huzzah, more Max Carrados! I've listened to your existing playlist of them all SO many times, I just love this character. And this was another good one! a nice bright hour of the day. Thank you so much for all these tales!

[@thurayya8905]

That was a treat; thank you. Another wonderful Max Carrados and a happy ending.

[@wendyeader261]

Simon, your narration provides me a much needed respite from the worries of the world, thank you.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Glad to help!

[@elleeo1495]

This is a splendid story made all the better by your excellent narration, Mr. Stanhope. I do hope all is right with your computer & files once again. Thank you so very much for all your work. I think this Carrados story may be my favorite.

[@MsLisautube]

Thank you so much. What a nice surprise. My tea and throw are waiting.

[@paulacnote]

Anything you read makes me happy😊

[@maryjoglenn1731]

Love these Max Carrados stories! 😊

[@kimmccabe1422]

The more Max Carrado and warm nights the better😊

[@susanotway7875]

Quite a tale! A clever plot. Thanks Simon, as always.

[@PippaAT]

What a delightful story! Thankyou Simon. 😊

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

Thank you, Simon. This is really entertaining and lighthearted.

[@jacquelineharrod6386]

What an absolutely fascinating story! Thank you.😊

[@kayi9236]

Thank you so much Simon, excellent performance as always and one I've never heard before, much appreciated!

[@kpcraftster6580]

Splendid - a new, unfamiliar, Max Carrados, superbly narrated! Kidneys - a quarter century after the murder of Catherine Eddowes - how ominous? T.S. Eliot's "A Cooking Egg" also came to mind: "I shall not want Honour in Heaven / For I shall meet Sir Philip Sidney / And have talk with Coriolanus / And other heroes of that kidney." But that was published in 1919 - rereading it, wonder if Eliot had this story in mind, among other things...

[@supersoggycheese]

The Max Carrados stories are my favorites! Thank you Simon and please record more of them! ❤

[@BitesizedAudio]

Rest assured I have several more on my to-do list!

[@mariameere5807]

The 10 th of 10/ October is my birthday btw but I wasn’t born in 1910! I won’t say anymore incase of a spoiler alert but it will make sense after hearing it! I loved it like all of this author’s work! Thanks again Simon! ❤

[@stewrmo]

That was wonderful Simon, thank you so much.

[@purplecleo]

I thought I had heard or read all the Max Carrados stories. This one is new to me, and very nice!

[@davehopkins1970]

Ho Ho Ho just finishing work and a bonus get in! Thanks Simon

[@SpuktasticAudio]

How delicious. Thoroughly enjoyed this tale of coincidence run rampant. Oh, and that voice. The voice of an angel. ❤

[@BitesizedAudio]

You're very kind, Bob, thank you!

[@beverlyadams7205]

Hi Simon! I loved the story. And I am so happy that you have PayPal now! Makes it much easier for me to give back a bit for the joy you have brought to me. All the best, Beverly.❤

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks so much for your support, Beverly

[@Lillyburn]

Such comfort. Thank you Simon.

[@TwilightCreation]

Quite lovely!. Thank you Simon!

[@kimmyrick1950]

Oh thank you sir I saved this for my Drive to work this morning

[@nanphx2038]

Another charming story. Thanks!

[@williamhagen2792]

Stankop: Another fine narration.

[@itallia666]

🇬🇧 Oh Mr Simon Stanhope! I was thrilled to see an unheard story by Ernest Bramah! I absolutely adore Max Carrados tales, who in my opinion far outranks the great Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock is a wonderful character & is globally esteemed & loved for his eccentric & intellectual leanings & thanks to the incredible penmanship of his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, himself with the mind of Sherlock Holmes is the undisputed genius of mystery, intrigue & deduction. However with Max Carrados, a whole world away from Sherlock Is that enigma that a mind as sharp as a rapier became so keen, philosophical & logically brilliant, was due in part to his blindness. They do say when one is robbed of one of our 5 major senses then what remains ( im tempted to say .. and however improbable..) One of our other senses becomes super charged One can quite believe it in Max Carrados, his blindness has awakened his other senses & even tapped in to a hitherto unknown ability akin to a 6th sense. I did have a relative, who on first meeting you'd have sworn was fully sighted, had great confidence of movement, dexterity of a very keen sighted person & with that " 6th sense" that was vertually uncanny. Maybe its why i love Max Carrados so much. This was an excellent tale & so enjoyable, i listened twice! Also you do Max's character so awfully well, i even see him, what he looks like, a version of the old film star, Jack Warner when he was younger or even like another British actor, Eric Portman. ( i simply love the old black & white films) Somehow, i always see Parkinson His " driver" but more his right hand man, looking oddly like a not so ugly version of American actor Jack Elam. Thank you so much for your marvellous acting skills into bringing Max & Parkinson to life No one comes near to you for narration of these & other stories from those long ago times. Peace & Good Cheer to All 🇬🇧👧

[@andrewbeale6072]

There is a fun BBG radio adaptation of three Max Carrados stories, with the late Lionel Jeffries playing a Watson-like Parkinson to Simon Callow's Carrados. You might be able to find it here on YT.

[@itallia666]

@@andrewbeale6072 Thanks for the tip but did you mean BBC radio ? Ive not heard of BBG ? Cheers 🇬🇧👧

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment @itallia666 I'm very fond of this series too. It struck me with this one in particular that it felt quite Doylean in conception... a neighbour throwing kidneys over the wall struck me as an off-the-wall starting point very much in the tradition of a league of red-headed men, for example!

[@andrewbeale6072]

​@@itallia666I'm sorry... I meant BBC. I was getting it confused with a local acronym.

[@itallia666]

@@andrewbeale6072 I listened to this collection today I found it under the Old Radio channel. I didnt think they were the best 3 Max Carrados stories. The 1st one i didnt get at all & the 2nd story was mediocre & the 3rd was so so. Maybe its why Simon of Bite Size Audio hasnt narrated them. Still it hasnt put me off listening to them. Maybe Ernest Bramah wrote the above 3 stories early on in his career? Anyway thanks for the tip Peace 🇬🇧👧

[@kjaaroe196]

Yippee! A new one to listen to! Thank you so very much.

[@shelleymcafee8197]

Very entertaining; Thank-You, Simon!😄

[@ropeburnsrussell]

An annual dinner would have been nice. As an aside, i approve of any story featuring an uncle.

[@MacMcCaskill]

A marvellous tale. 😄

[@geridayao8924]

Thank you for sharing this story.

[@thoman1458]

Thanks Simon❤

[@snippycutwell9878]

That was a weird one! Thank you Simon!

[@janieromer2907]

Thanks a million ❤

[@rebelbecky276]

This is a lovely story. I would enjoy more stories like this.😊

[@BitesizedAudio]

More in this vein are certainly on my to-do list!

[@MoonLitChild]

Been waiting for this one!

[@user-ln3kh3ku4u]

Hurray I know what I listening to tonight .❤

[@gailhyde8522]

Love max and your reading is ssublime❤

[@baruchben-david4196]

Ernest Bramah is one of my favorite authors... Thank you for reading this.

[@BitesizedAudio]

You're most welcome. He's become one of mine too, I have several more Max Carrados stories on my list I'd like to read

[@cheriestolze]

This reminds me of the popular book/movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” the raining of meat and all.

[@leonorsantos9355]

Thank you!

[@jillianstokoe4697]

Excellent!

[@missying1115]

Very enjoyable story and as always, great delivery. I kind of think that Max is faking the blind thing. Ha ha JK.

[@marisadallavalle393]

Thank you!!!

[@BitesizedAudio]

You're welcome!

[@brendancoulter5761]

This was a goofy one if ever I heard. Good narration.

[@suitov]

Hold on! We never did find out why the stewed kidneys and not cold chicken! Max come back Max you've got to explain thE KIDNEYS MAX-- Ah, I love it when the detective goes all soft and goes out of their way to help a sweet young couple. Even Holmes wasn't immune to the vice.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Good point. Although, without going into spoilers, I think Max does make a suggestion about the kidneys fairly early on when talking to Mr Carlyle, and I presume he deduced correctly. You're right though, it's never explicitly cleared up!

[@lauragolub4228]

Beautiful reading, really delicious.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you Laura

[@shelleymarquis2887]

Difficult day with disagreeable neighbors. Not sure if this is an escape or not, yet.

[@libbyneves5457]

Thanks!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you kindly

[@leebennett1821]

Thanks

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you kindly

[@traceyearl9468]

Feeling dreadful hey fever Thanks Simon for feeling better after your Readings ❤ Australian listener appreciate the artistic changer’s ❤ classic artist❤

[@BitesizedAudio]

Appreciated, thank you! I hope you feel better soon

[@2msvalkyrie529]

@1.54. " glad to hear you are back from Tesco... " ?!?! 😂 ( Yes ! I know !! )

[@BitesizedAudio]

Indeed. Of course, back in 1913 they didn't do online shopping/home delivery, which I'm sure Max would have found very useful. Perhaps he used his Clubcard reward points to book his trip to the Scilly Isles...

[@TedaR]

❤ Carrados! ❤ Simon! ❤ BAC!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Lovely to hear from you @TedaR, I hope you're keeping well

[@TedaR]

@@BitesizedAudio ty! Same for yall Simon! God be with you & us all! ✅💯🙏🏼✝️🕊️💕

[@THEPAGEBURNER1979]

Agh Yes Sir Simon Stanhope the Master has graced KZbin with his Presence. You should fee lucky and Subscribe , like leave a comment.😂lol I 😂😂😂I hope all is well my friend. Things are to crazy in the world not to indulge in a movie for the mind😊

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks PB, appreciated. I hope you've recovered from the recent move!

[@heathermacdonald6404]

I'd love to hear you read Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat. :)

[@BitesizedAudio]

Interesting suggestion, thank you! I've a few longer pieces on my list for after 'Diary of a Nobody', will keep that one in mind

[@judikingsman6132]

A 🆕 Max ❤❤❤

[@2msvalkyrie529]

" transpontine "...?!? First time of hearing. Had to refer to dictionary. Not sure how I'll be able to work it into my next dinner party conversation....🤔