The Shadow of a Shade | A Ghost Story by Tom Hood | A Bitesized Audio Production

When George Mason signs up for a voyage to the Arctic in search of Sir John Franklin's lost expedition, his fiancée Lettie is left with only his portrait to console her during his long months of absence...
A new, original recording of a classic public domain text, read and performed by Simon Stanhope for Bitesized Audio.
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Tom Hood (1835-1874) was a hugely prolific author of the mid-Victorian era, but he has fallen into comparative obscurity today. A son of the celebrated poet Thomas Hood, who died when Tom was 10 years old, he went on to establish a writing career in his own right, as a poet, playwright and journalist, composing countless magazine articles as well as children's stories and books on English verse. He was also an accomplished artist and illustrated some of his father's comic poems. He became the editor of the magazine 'Fun' in 1865, and also established 'Tom Hood's Comic Annual' in 1867. He died suddenly, at the age of just 39, in 1874.
'The Shadow of a Shade' was first published in 'Bow Bells Annual' for Christmas 1869, as part of a series entitled "Snowed In: A series of stories related in a snow storm".
The Franklin expedition of 1845-47, and the subsequent search for the missing crews of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, seized the public imagination in the mid-nineteenth century, and inspired several works of literature and art, including a play, 'The Frozen Deep' (1854), written by Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens, in which Dickens himself appeared. Public interest in the mystery has been maintained ever since: indeed, it was only in 2014 and 2016 that the wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror respectively were discovered by a Canadian exploration team.
The title card for this story includes a detail from 'The Search for Sir John Franklin in the Arctic', a public domain work of art, painted in 1850 by the Belgian artist François Musin (1820-1888). The ship in this picture is HMS Resolute, which led several search missions between 1850 and 1854, when she herself became trapped in ice and had to be abandonded by her crew. HMS Resolute was subsequently found and rescued by an American whaler, and returned to Britain. The timbers of the ship were later used to make the Resolute Desk, which was presented as a gift from Queen Victoria to US President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880. The desk has been used by almost every President since then, in various locations in the White House. It is currently in the Oval Office.
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2020.

[@richarddowney1972]

Late Victorian and Edwardian "ghost" stories are the very best. I am subscribed and enjoy listening to as well as reading these period pieces. Very professional narration. Well done.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you for listening and subscribing, it's greatly appreciated

[@foofy3406]

they’re my favorite too! i can’t seem to get enough of them, but there are only so many

[@john1653]

I greatly agree...heartily agree, Richard...

[@suecondon1685]

Listening to this tonight for some escapism, as life in England just gets grimmer...

[@shelleymarquis2887]

Not just England... condolences.

[@patriciaramsey5294]

Be patient. Things in England, and USA will get better

[@grahamturner1290]

Hence the expression : Go With The Ice Floe. ❄️❄️❄️

[@benlemrise5674]

I w the were weew😂wee Lol

[@benlemrise5674]

😅😂🎉

[@benlemrise5674]

I think

[@J.DeLaPoer]

I cannot thank you enough for these. I was an early and precocious reader, and "the supernatural" was my first love in literature. Still is. Most of my memories from around the ages of 7 to 11 were of working my way through my library's immense amount of such books, mostly from the 19th and early 20th centuries, plus a huge collection of c1930/40s "Unknown" magazines. Sadly in the name of "progress" and "modern tastes" all of these have disappeared: sold off by the mid to late 1990s only to be replaced by Stephen King etc. It's incredible to be reunited with so many of these tales I haven't read in 25+ years and whose names I couldn't recall. It's harder than you'd think to find story/author/book/anthology names and titles from that era with no more than vague childhood memories to go on (let alone trying to source the physical books themselves, most original editions of which seem to have become rare and/or expensive). This is an excellent channel, never doubt it!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you N. Reid, I had similar experiences as a developing reader, and it has been a real pleasure in starting this channel to rediscover some forgotten gems, and uncover new ones too. Your feedback is most appreciated.

[@olwens1368]

Stories of this era are so much more genuinely creepy. Think it's the restraint and precise language that lulls you into a false sens of security.

[@J.DeLaPoer]

@@olwens1368 Exactly so. It allows one's imagination to do the work, which is *always* going to be far superior to any words or visuals generated by someone else. Unlike much of today's horror that relies almost entirely on descriptions of "gross out" gore, sex, and some contrived monster which they always reveal far too much of, far too early. Movies now have the same issue; generally relying on buckets of blood and cheap jumpscares. As Lovecraft said, the oldest and greatest type of fear is that of the unknown. That's why these old writers like M. R. James et al. are considered masters who provide just the right balance to set the mind to work without going over the top and giving away too much. I would also argue it's because stories of this era tended to be written as memoirs, recollections, journal entries, etc. With or without frame-story, they're presented believably as accounts of ostensibly real events, recounted in plausible manner by 'real' narrators (the figure of the upstanding, serious and/or scholarly gentleman as a character archetype is much more believable than that of some modern Joe Everyman or teenager) vs. most of the popular horror writers of today such as Stephen King, Ramsay Campbell, etc. who rely on 3rd person omniscient narration. That has it's place, but for things to be believable and hence actually scary via the suspension of disbelief, it just adds another layer of remove between story and reader; a subconscious indication of its obvious falsity. Sorry for the wall of text...

[@leebrockbank5813]

N. Reid great points. I really enjoy a memoir/ journal type story. It somehow feels more intimate and allows the mind to expand its own atmosphere/ ambience that’s essential in ghost stories of this type. Have a great day and I hope you’re still enjoying these gems.

[@J.DeLaPoer]

​@@leebrockbank5813 Thanks Lee! I'm surprised anyone actually read my rambling there, but I do appreciate it; in any case it's nice to see others agree as these stories remain obscure and underrated today. Don't get me wrong I can appreciate some modern popular horror writers for their own merits as well, but if I'm looking for something that will have me considering leaving the light on while I sleep, the modern pop style and presentation just don't do it for me. Check out Susan Hill by the way, if you haven't discovered her yet, for a modern writer of the "vintage" style whom I cannot recommend highly enough. "The Woman in Black" deserves a place among the most venerated classics of the genre. Even the (1989, Robert Wise) short film version was excellent.

[@nancyworsley5057]

I have loved every one of these stories. Thank you!!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Glad to know that, thanks for listening

[@irenabevans3411]

Grieve certainly gave Letty a premeditated warning of his intentions, ...,still enjoyable after eleven month's of first hearing

[@BitesizedAudio]

Glad to know that, thanks for listening again!

[@tomsdottir]

Another atmospheric period piece, beautifully read. What a delight to be able to come back to these again on dark nights with the curtains drawn and branches tapping on the window. Thank you!

[@BitesizedAudio]

A very evocative image - thanks Barbara

[@mirandawatkins3001]

The power of suggestion. Good descriptions of fleeting deep virulent moments

[@Pattilapeep]

I am firmly addicted to your wonderful presentations. They are a joy to listen to. You have reallly enriched my life with your meticulous renditions of these exquisite tales.

[@mrs.cracker4622]

That was one of the best stories so far. Brilliant narration as always!🙂

[@emf49]

I enjoy these stories so much but the sad part is that I always fall asleep before I hear the ending and wake up again half way through the next one on the list!😅 (I have chronic insomnia so this is not meant as an insult to your reading abilities!) P.S. That photo insert reminds me of Rasputin!! 😄

[@WWZenaDo]

*That* was a ripping good ghost story!! The painting of the ship trapped in the ice and the men desperately setting off to find safety was an excellent backdrop, too.

[@BitesizedAudio]

@WWZenaDo Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, the story of the Franklin Expedition is a fascinating tale in its own right

[@WWZenaDo]

@@BitesizedAudio I've read some information about the explorers who attempted to reach both poles - Peary in the north, and I don't remember which explorers tried to reach the south pole.... Harsh conditions. Dangerous today, often deadly back then with the limited tools

[@janetrocha4367]

Thank you very much once more for narrating and sharing this tale. Your Scottish accent was very convincing. It was subtle and not overdone as is so often the case.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you!

[@karljunge]

i'm hoping some day to make a haunted or cursed painting. this is a very good story for the description and the how of making something haunted. ;p thank you so much for posting this story.

[@jerribee1]

I at first thought that it was Jared Harris reading this, it sounds so much like him.

[@BitesizedAudio]

I'm flattered, thank you!

[@yorkshirerose6334]

This will be my aid through the dark night this evening. Thank you so much.

[@waningmooncancer9628]

I don't mean to be intrusive, it sounded like you were having a hard time. In any case, I wish you well and The Peace that surpasses all human understanding.

[@geoffreyraleigh1674]

Excellent stuff! Many thanks.

[@cruisepaige]

BSA, you are a dream! I have a massive affinity for “held fast in the ice” stories and other seafarin’ tales like O’Brien and anything Napoleonic. This is gonna be a real treat!

[@BitesizedAudio]

This does indeed sound like the perfect story for you!

[@fernpearlsfriend4842]

Have you read the book The Terror by Dan Simmons? Really good stuff.

[@madwitch9977]

another beautiful story from 1st rate narrator...always lovely to listen to you dear friend Gx

[@mijiyoon5575]

👍👍👍👍👍👍Had to listen again

[@esterherschkovich6499]

Settling down to listen 😇Thank you.

[@thedativecase9733]

I believe this author was the son of the poet Thomas Hood - author of The Song of the Shirt (look it up folks)

[@BitesizedAudio]

He was indeed. Though primarily a comic poet, Hood senior also produced some serious social commentary, of which that poem is an example

[@thedativecase9733]

@@BitesizedAudio That's why I mentioned that particular poem. Though I love his comic poetry. Thanks for this short story.

[@foofy3406]

i appreciate this channel

[@Captain-ln3vh]

When you’re re-listening to Bitesize Audio stories, you know they’re good. Give credit where it’s due. Arizona,USA.

[@KiKiabout]

Excellent... Thank you!

[@toekafrank6998]

Therapeutic. Thank you for this. Greatly appreciated.🙏🕯️

[@pesnevim1626]

Pre woke literature, and all the better for it. Great narration. Thank you.

[@J.DeLaPoer]

So many modern/popular writers (I won't name names...) get too full of themselves and start injecting their ideology into their work, where it has no place. I read fiction for entertainment; not because I want a thinly-veiled story of social justice with anti-gun rhetoric or whatever the issue of the day is. Also, the currently mandatory multi-kulti cast of diverse characters, strong women saviours, anti white/male sentiment etc. in every piece of media... Not to say you can't have a story starring a woman or whatever, that's great, but it's all so forced and ham-fistedly agenda driven now. As a wiser man than I once said: Get your politics out of my entertainment!

[@foofy3406]

oh i couldn’t agree more!!!

[@jjbentley9]

Are these real Victorian ghost stories thanks seems very interesting. 😁👻💀

[@BitesizedAudio]

They're real in the sense that they were written in the Victorian era, although they weren't based on real events (that I know of)... except they do reference real life events sometimes, for example the Franklin Expedition in this particular story is a true historical event; I've put a bit of info about it in the video description but worth looking up if you're interested. Thanks for listening!

[@jjbentley9]

@@BitesizedAudio oh cool thanks I definitely well. And that's very cool there from that era. Such a interesting time in mans history.

[@kimberlyhendrick8803]

This was one of the best stories I've heard. Many thanks!

[@dmx5439]

Just found ya ....subscribed 😊

[@BitesizedAudio]

Excellent. Thank you - and welcome!

[@bluegreenglue6565]

I'm most thoroughly enjoying catching up on all of these chilling tales. Thanks so much!

[@BitesizedAudio]

You're most welcome. Yes I see you're listening to some of the older uploads. Thanks for your support!

[@jackiewhite4204]

Nicef one, Simon! Whatever happened to 'brain fever' ? Seems to have gone out of medical fashion.

[@mijiyoon5575]

Maybe this is the story for this terribly cold & miserable day as a winter storm blows through the US...the storm that's been in the news all week...that storm; icicles look like teeth

[@jpmonkman]

Love these stories,I hope they dont get taken away.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you John. I hope so too! So long as KZbin lets me keep my channel, they'll be here! Glad to know you enjoy them

[@granny13ad33]

Wonderful! Much fun! Love ghost stories, especially a ghost who set things right!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks Granny 13AD, glad you enjoyed it

[@granny13ad33]

@@BitesizedAudio You are welcome! Thanks you for your work posting these.

[@WadeWeigle]

Very good to hear one e Volvo good the frozen north expeditions that ere so popular in those days. Great story. Thank you kindly for sharing it.

[@rheinhartsilvento2576]

She was her brother's "little housekeeper" and then his wife's constant companion..Wow! How fulfilling! Gotta love the life options women had up until the beginning of the 20th century 😂😖🤨. So happy we live in a different time...

[@rheinhartsilvento2576]

@Matt Miller In a general sense, I feel quite similarly (about the advantages to women of living in such a society). The same can be said of women in contemporary traditionalist/patriarchal societies. Nevertheless, it bears remarking that, already a very short time later (actually already in the 60'sand 70's, and certainly the last quarter of the 19th century), women in British society were already beginning to express wider aspirations. As for judging another epoch by our "loose morals", are you saying that women having the same opportunities and freedoms as me have always had is "loose"? If so, then it very much seems that your judgment is coming from another time, ie: you are judging our time from a Victorian perspective. Fair enough, but i prefer to refer to the time frame i'm living in. And to have the advantages that our ancestestresses fought for.

[@janetrocha4367]

@@rheinhartsilvento2576 I would suggest that you watch the Paul Watson video 'No eggs' for a realistic portrayal of the life of the 'emancipated woman' Working class women have always worked on the family farm . When I was a child even working class men were able to afford for their wives to stay at home and buy a house. When women entered the workforce, to the great delight of the corporations, men's wages were slashed and houses became more expensive as two incomes were taken into account for the purposes of getting a mortgage and that caused an explosion in credit, inflation in house prices and now it takes at least two incomes to afford a house. Women can't stay at home even if they want to.

[@ericdoran24]

@@janetrocha4367 Well said , all of us both men and women are now slaves to the banksters.

[@janetrocha4367]

@@ericdoran24 We have been slaves to the bankers ever since the Protestant reformation and the legalization of Usury and the privatisation of the emission of currency when the Bank of England was established in 1694. I believe that the only two countries left with a central bank not controlled by private interests are Iran and Syria.

[@yorkshirerose6334]

There is nothing wrong with happiness in domestic pursuits. I came ‘home’ after 30 years in healthcare to look after my son and his home as he completes studies at university. He has been diagnosed with an autoimmune illness which makes life hard, both physically and emotionally, for him. I have found a lot of joy in so caring for a loved one. I have the same illness and was delighted to discover that I also am a lot better in a domestic environment rather than the stress of modern day competition.

[@borneoorchid]

Listening to these narrations is far more enjoyable than watching some of the contemporary dramas. Thank you.

[@pegallen6983]

That was so good! Thank you Simon for your wonderful narration

[@BitesizedAudio]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Peg

[@hereticsaint100]

A very interesting way of decribing a murder in the Arctic without having the main characters there to describe it. A fitting ending too.

[@mleslielesliechiplis3648]

Very good. A great pleasure to listen to this story. Thank you

[@lindamoser6317]

Great story.

[@davidcartwright7127]

Excellent narration of a very good short story

[@BitesizedAudio]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks David

[@esterherschkovich6499]

Good story,sad though.

[@babybooandherhumandeb3188]

Thank you

[@irenabevans3411]

Superb as ever

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

I've read a lot of these stories, but you bring them to life. Nicely done. Thank you!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Kind of you to say so, thank you - glad you enjoyed them

[@margaretcoates8094]

Simon, you are a treasure!

[@TealCheetah]

Poor Letty

[@budahbaba7856]

I am 48, and this story hits me at home. When i was five years old my girl was pulled away from me.

[@BitesizedAudio]

@Budahbaba I'm sorry to hear that. Best wishes to you

[@budahbaba7856]

@@BitesizedAudio Thank you so much. I am typically very liquid when i admit that. It sounds so ridiculous, i honestly don't expect any one to understand it. I really don't. But it was real to me.

[@JakeHkd2]

Thanks for uploading, I found this story somewhat predictable ,but stilly enjoyed it. Excellent narration as always.

[@fernpearlsfriend4842]

Another great story!

[@elizabethmerriman531]

You don't know how much I enjoy your channel. No way I can express in words how much I appreciate all you do. All I can say is, Thank you! I listen to these old stories all day long as I complete my indoor/outdoor chores. I go to sleep at night listening to you. In the morning, I replay those stories again so I don't miss anything while I slept. Thank you so very much from TX. You are very appreciated!

[@ireneanderson7699]

That was fantastic!!!

[@johnga911]

Great stuff as always.

[@shelleymarquis2887]

I love these stories. I have sworn never to have a portrait hanging in my home for fear of the "following eyes" phenomenon. The only image of a human face I have displayed is my and my late husband's wedding picture. It's an amateur snapshot. I can't make out the eyes from across the room. Whew. 😉

[@maryeckel9682]

I appreciate your description of the painting and the story of the Resolute (and the desk) in the description.

[@thewoodlandspirit3395]

Simon, this was fantastic. The perfect accompaniment to my commute home. Thank you 🙏.

[@stevecausey545]

I really enjoyed this tale. Your presentation as always, is wonderful. The artwork was excellent as well. Thank you.

[@spacehound3355]

Strange story. 👻

[@tesshiva]

Every reading is wonderful; you seem to put so much emotion into your telling of the story and they become so vivid! Many Thanks!

[@mjrchapin]

It's too bad the U.S. does not have the ghost story at Christmas tradition, as your country does. We make do with retellings of Scrooge and even there Alistair Sim's Scrooge is the best version ever.

[@ruthhase-gutierrez9830]

I do love when the villains are haunted into executing justice on themselves. I know it is unforgiving of me, and I recognize it as a flaw in my own character, but I just like the idea of a spirit haunting the man who has no conscience to haunt him.

[@Kojoanna]

Great stoty😊

[@tonicastel5933]

It’s so bizarre to find this story. I have been listening to your wonderful stories then I found this one. I have been on a binge reading everything about the Franklin Expedition which was a nightmare story, itself!

[@BitesizedAudio]

How serendipitous. Yes, a tragic but compelling story indeed. Thank you for listening, and for your kind comments

[@tomcurran1538]

Check out the late Canadian folk singer Stan Rogers' "Northwest Passage."

[@johnmilonas9143]

Proliant, thank you.

[@nickybaker1338]

Thank you. Wonderfully narrated & gripping from start to finish

[@judithl.morton9178]

Thank you

[@crystalclear6864]

Hurrah. I found this older one i haven’t listened to🎉

[@Charles-oo8bq]

"Strange but not all together unfamiliar " ..my life

[@Kojoanna]

Good job, good story

[@BitesizedAudio]

Appreciated, thank you Kojoanna

[@FF-so3su]

I blew it with 'the one' , believe me, you never get over it

[@northernlights8126]

Superb story and narration.

[@sonjawells4265]

Thank you.❤

[@mijiyoon5575]

So scary & good

[@nefelidemetriou7254]

So looking forward to this tonight. Thank you

[@granny13ad33]

I bet you were not disappointed!

[@possumaintdead]

Excellent narration as always. I am so glad I found this channel. This is a story I am not familiar with and I thought I had read them all! Thank you.

[@BitesizedAudio]

I'm glad you found your way here too. Yes this one is quite a rarity, not sure why it hasn't found its way into many anthologies. More to come in the months ahead, including some other fairly obscure pieces...

[@possumaintdead]

I will look forward to it!