The Gardener by E F Benson

Hugh and Margaret Grainger rent a lovely old house near a golf course. At the bottom of the garden is a mysterious, well-kept thatched cottage that appears unoccupied. However, a visitor senses a strange presence within and occasionally sees lights or figures inside. Margaret, fascinated with communicating via planchette, starts receiving odd messages from an entity calling himself "the gardener."
He announces a desire to enter the main house, catapulting the Graingers into disturbing events. The empty cottage is not so empty after all, and the gardener's unseen presence brings terror to the once-idyllic home.
Through the planchette, Margaret has unlocked a portal between worlds, allowing a malevolent spirit access into the realm of the living.
Now the Graingers must confront the implications of meddling with forces beyond their understanding.
I was sent the anthology The Dead of Winter
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By profile books. The Gardener by E F Benson is one of ten classic winter ghost stories in that anthology edited by Cecily Gayford.
Thanks to Profile Books for the copy they sent me.
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[@kerrieross3425]

You have now become my reward, after finishing my assignments, which, unfortunately means I don't get to hear you much anymore, I better work harder and faster :D. It gives me something to work towards.

[@ClassicGhost]

You don’t have to wait though :)

[@deirdrelegg1160]

Wow. This reminds me of the stories we used to listen to on the radio as kids. I especially loved hearing a page being turned in the background and the words ! Classic writing was an art form so thank you. Food for the ears😊

[@AmandaLee-in2yl]

My weekend starts here thank you for all your hard work

[@jeanetteshaw4573]

It's always like Christmas when your stories pop-up! So excited🎉🎉🎉😊

[@allysonlewis1576]

I love EF Bensons writing. You bring these stories to life beautifully. Thank you

[@ClassicGhost]

My pleasure!

[@tracibrown6431]

Thanks!

[@ClassicGhost]

Sorry I didn't thank you immediately. Thank you very much! Thanks Traci

[@jessisage4708]

Oooh! Love Benson and you reading well anything!

[@wmritchey1101]

I've missed these books (I've never read but should have! ) thanks

[@reneelascala5050]

Just the thing to keep me at the moonlit evening’s efforts: mincemeat, orange curd, candied peel-all from scratch🎄🏡❤️With proper mixed spice too😊

[@RuthToddColorado]

Perfect timing! Thank you!

[@lunablue745]

Yea! A wonderful weekend gift! Still waiting for some snorkeling.🐾😁

[@PippaAT]

A 'budget' was a term for a large amount of writing, so I imagine she had a pile of letters to post. I enjoyed this story.

[@ClassicGhost]

I didn't know that! Thank you.

[@PippaAT]

It was also the name of a small leather bag, so a lady might say, "I have written an absolute budget of letters, and must needs get it in the mail."

[@ClassicGhost]

@@PippaAT very interesting!

[@DevonExplorer]

Ah, that's interesting. Thanks, PippaAT. I did think it might have been because, as the wife of a landowner, she would have the household accounts - or budget - to deal with. Great to learn something new. :)

[@GeorgeBletchly]

This was a great story, beautifully read. Thank you for all your hard work.

[@rzarco01]

Beautifully done, Tony, just beautifully done. You hit the nail on the head in your post narrative monologue when you describe the story as "cozy" with just enough Gothic chill to make it interesting. What a great choice and a lovely read!

[@ClassicGhost]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@martiwilliams4592]

Elegant, gripping also this time around. Again, Tony, Masterful. Thank you.

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks again

[@Westeross]

Beautifully read - thank you 👍🏻🇦🇺👍🏻

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you kindly!

[@TheCuttingBureau]

It was interesting to hear your thoughts on science, by the way. It's yet another example of how I appreciate you commentary.

[@michaelfagan1823]

Tony thanks very much for these downloads best wishes Micky F😎🙏☯️

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks Micky

[@veradennis7502]

Like Kitty below, it was great to hear a 'new' Benson story! Plus - that's a brilliant old photograph, and perfect for this tale.

[@joycebowen8958]

I am loving it ❤ Also... the thumbnail picture reminds me of Rasputin the mad monk.😆

[@shadownet3d]

Great reading as always. Thank you!

[@Thomas-wn7cl]

When I first listened to you channel, I was not too keen on the podcast aspect. Well, it has really grown on me and I enjoy both part quite bit. Thank you.

[@ClassicGhost]

Glad you do. Some people don't but that's fine too. I don't go round their houses and use tongs to force them to listen.

[@Thomas-wn7cl]

@ClassicGhost Your psychological, historical, philosophical, and social observations create a very articulate description of the world we inhabit.

[@snowysnowyriver]

Excellent! Thank you! You have a voice made for narration of classic tales. 😊

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you :)

[@stardust949]

I loved your description of a "cozy", not too horrifying---and the same, but slightly different. Pretty much, yes. Lately I've had to walk away from so many different shows because I can't withstand them, for whatever reason. This story was pretty good. The whole 'planchet' thing brought back memories of when I'd do Ouija board when I was young. Playing about with The UNKNOWN. *spooky laughter*

[@stewartlancaster6155]

cosy

[@cavecavecavecave5295]

Beautifully narrated, a joy to listen to.

[@lyndabrennan4560]

Nice, thank you x

[@TheCrone]

Oh yeah , perfect!

[@MartiWilliams-r2z]

Vivid,expressive narration, thank you, Tony. Much appreciated.

[@deegeraghty9426]

Thank you for this ghost story.😊

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks for listening

[@beckymartin1810]

Good story and the analysis was enlightening. Thanks Tony!

[@susanmercurio1060]

Okay, Tony, you deliciously terrified me! Thank you! I would rather have you read the stories to me than to read them from the book.

[@Michael-qm3xe]

Thanks Tony

[@annicoyne2983]

excellent narration, great story too.

[@lsb9073]

Thanks for the story Just a detail, around 3:29 InEXorably ✔️ InexORably X 😊

[@joannemorris4451]

I'm liking E.F. more and more. The picture is creeepy. Thanks

[@Seven-Planets-Sci-Fi-Tuber]

Hi, discovering your channel.. So many great stories and authors! Clark Ashton Smith and authors from Weird Tales magazine wrote great stories. I searched your vids for Seabury Quinn to no avail. If you don't know his stories, they're perfect for your channel. Another great source of stories is Alfred Hitchock's countless anthologies with silly names, but some stories are just excellent. Cheers!

[@susanotway7875]

A great one! Thanks Tony.

[@Cat_festation]

Highly descriptive and immersive; I truly enjoyed this one.

[@donaldmccleary9015]

Great story and narration! This story has Benson written all over it. Thanks!

[@MrsWilberforce2]

Loved this one! It was super creepy and super entertaining! Great choice! (All these exclamation points!)

[@leonaheraty3760]

Thank you Tony! 😊

[@katyvdb5993]

Very enjoyable, and I like the way the end is tinged with pity and compassion. I wonder if you are familiar with E F Benson's 'Lucia' novels? In those, he has a wonderful time being very, very funny at the expense of his characters who dabble in the occult, including the planchette ('Lucia in London'). A completely different approach from his many ghost stories!

[@paskj1]

Thanks

[@ClassicGhost]

Sorry I didn't thank you immediately. Thank you very much!

[@Robert-A-R]

This sounds like it’s gonna be a good un. Asante sana

[@geraldinestone2274]

What a wonderful discovery to find your channel. This is the first video I have listened to. I look forward to working my way through the other videos.

[@ClassicGhost]

Welcome!

[@connieohara7301]

I love ❤ your channels sooooo much. I can't get enough. I've listened to every story on every channel multiple times. Thank you for all of your hard work. Need more LATE NIGHT RADIO please. They're my favorite because it's just you talking.

[@Boogie_the_cat]

Oh yeah! This'll be tonight's bedtime story. I'm happy to hear another Benson story i was not familiar with.

[@roxyabrooks864]

This is an unexpected post-holiday treat! Thank you for your wonderful stories!

[@vanillasuncherries]

Excellent job Tony!!❤

[@violetfemme411]

Ohhhh yeah! 💜

[@babs675]

Do love your chat at the end of each story. ❤

[@angelaroberts2803]

Well read tony.Thank you.I enjoy your talk after.

[@gunners8487]

Fabulous reading, thanks for bringing this tale to life, Tony.

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks for listening

[@hughoxford8735]

Brilliant. Inexorably has the emphasis on the ex.

[@ClassicGhost]

:)

[@scottde-walden2760]

I can’t believe I’ve never seen your channel Tony ,wonderful work ❤ Couple I can’t find on your channel Canon alberics scrap book Rats ! A neighbours land mark All would be amazing with you reading them 🎉 Keep up the excellent work

[@ClassicGhost]

I haven’t done that one yet :)

[@dougalbutchy2596]

Most enjoyable, thank you!

[@lowrispooner2279]

Wonderful thank you so much

[@ClassicGhost]

Welcome!

[@kathleenellenford4816]

Beautifully done!

[@lisap.1826]

40K subscribers 🎉🎉🎉! Congrats Tony! ❤

[@ClassicGhost]

you noticed! i was asleep when it happened. i’m a bit dazed by it all

[@anjavonpfeil4312]

Nicely read. It sounded like you were relating your own story.

[@moviedude1850]

This one has the creepy factor. Absolutely love it!

[@BrendaBrennan-r4f]

Just joyened you all

[@ClassicGhost]

welcome

[@sujataorang9090]

Quality content + consistency, loving your channel ❤❤

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks very much!!

[@meese9140]

The old timey sexism KILLS ME 😂These dudes: we must not let Margaret know we suspect the house is haunted it would frighten her. Margaret, who communes with the dead nightly: you guys will never guess the fucked up murder suicide Lord Ashfield just told me about! Isn’t that crazy? You KNOW that were she alive today, she’d be one of those gals who eats lunch while watching forensics files 😂

[@robertcook2572]

Language

[@lisap.1826]

❤❤❤😂😂😂

[@ropeburnsrussell]

Just to aide your market research, i will listen to a chapter a week, but i wont invest 4 hours or more at a clip. Thats only me, of course. I liked this story, sort of standard script but quite well done. I will never use a planchette,ever.

[@ClassicGhost]

Fair enough!

[@KristinChoruby]

Oh no, Planchette returns!

[@ClassicGhost]

:)

[@THEPAGEBURNER1979]

Thanks Tony 😂

[@PathiosProductions]

The image really caught my attention

[@thurayya8905]

Margaret's budget may be for charity work and unpaid, as a good upper-class wife might dabble in for the thanks of the neighborhood. I'm not quite sure why Hugh doesn't want his wife to know what has happened. It can't be to protect her, as she has the best handle on the spirit world. It seems to me that he feels like it would give her the upper hand in the situation and he is more uncomfortable with that than the ghost.

[@SC-jh9qp]

I was expecting a Jump-Scare right at the end there.

[@Alkimza]

🎶Murder by the ocean, Murder by the sea, Murdering a black bird, Don't murder me! 🎶

[@Rickkennett143]

Hasn't Hugh Grainger turned up in other Benson stories?

[@SC-jh9qp]

The Bus Conductor.

[@EnCryptedHorror]

He's in a few I think. "And No Bird Sings" is also Hugh Grainger.

[@thurayya8905]

Thanks! His name sounded very familiar, but thought it was just me.

[@meganmcnelis7136]

I've only known a planchette to be moved without any kind of mechanical power, so it's interesting to hear him call it a "machine." Perhaps he's referring to it being "powered" by a supernatural force? 🤔

[@eleanorbacony]

the ghost doesn't talk because his cut throat prevents him?

[@ClassicGhost]

makes sense to me

[@ThomasAllan-up4td]

This stuff would bore anyone to a mind-numbing standstill..if not to death. Too wordy.

[@mrblaxto]

Reading is too cheerful for my taste, loses its creepiness for me. I feel it's a real pitfall of some narrators to inject too much personality into stories, I don't care for it.

[@ClassicGhost]

Noted. Thanks for popping by and sharing your opinions

[@JennyLane8666]

Thank you for introducing me to "old E. F.", he has become one of my favourites. That was Perfectly Splendid!

[@ClassicGhost]

Splendid. I dont think he’d go as far as spiffing

[@connieohara7301]

I love ❤ your channels sooooo much. I can't get enough. I've listened to every story on every channel multiple times. Thank you for all of your hard work. Need more LATE NIGHT RADIO please. They're my favorite because it's just you talking.

[@Su-Jo]

Same! I listen to Late Night Radio over and over again, it's that good!

[@scoutrifle6827]

Thanks!

[@ClassicGhost]

Sorry I didn't thank you immediately. Thank you very much!

[@Bebecat477]

Great story. I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you.

[@allisonjones3064]

Thanks!