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At Chrighton Abbey
The footman disappeared into the back regions, and presently eappeared with Mrs Marjorum, a portly dame, who, like Truefold the huller, had been a fixture at the Abbey in the time of the.present Squire's father. From her I received the same cordial greeting, and by her I was led off up staircases and along corridors, till I wondered where I was being taken.
36 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1871
1 person is currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Mary Elizabeth Braddon
1,047 books385 followersMary Elizabeth Braddon was a British Victorian era popular novelist. She was an extremely prolific writer, producing some 75 novels with very inventive plots. The most famous one is her first novel, Lady Audley's Secret (1862), which won her recognition and fortune as well. The novel has been in print ever since, and has been dramatised and filmed several times.
Braddon also founded Belgravia Magazine (1866), which presented readers with serialized sensation novels, poems, travel narratives, and biographies, as well as essays on fashion, history, science. She also edited Temple Bar Magazine. Braddon's legacy is tied to the Sensation Fiction of the 1860s.
She is also the mother of novelist W.B. Maxwell.
Braddon also founded Belgravia Magazine (1866), which presented readers with serialized sensation novels, poems, travel narratives, and biographies, as well as essays on fashion, history, science. She also edited Temple Bar Magazine. Braddon's legacy is tied to the Sensation Fiction of the 1860s.
She is also the mother of novelist W.B. Maxwell.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 14, 2021
Listened to the audio. It was okay.
January 3, 2024
A Jane Austen like example of English country-house life!
A poorer relative (Sarah Chrighton) is returning home from working abroad in St. Petersburg.
She was previously raised at Chrighton vicarage with her parents and a brother.
Sarah visits her distant cousins at neighboring Chrighton Abbey during the Christmas season -
Frederick and Fanny Chrighton and their three children, Edward, Sophy and Agnes.
Edward is engaged to another neighbor, Julia Tremaine (of Old Court, near Hayswell), with whom there are some family tensions.
The story's events tie into Edward's behavior towards his Julia, which is unaccountably fraught with misunderstandings.
Hunting, dinner parties and a New Year's Eve ball are part of the family's holiday entertainment.
Like Jane Austen's stories, the more frivolous characters are set along side of more serious ones.
Mr. Chrighton likes to read in his library. His daughters are delighted with the dancing preparations.
True worth is depicted in the characters of Sarah and Fanny who experience genuine family concern for the events that shape up from the appearance of a ghostly hunting party in the old stables.
Likewise, his betrothed, Julia, demonstrates distress at her fiance's actions, and empathy for the village poor, despite first appearances of a haughty demeanor.
Servants are depicted in a solid fashion demonstrating loyalty to the family - Mrs. Marjorum in the house-keepers room listening to Sarah's fearful depiction, and Mr. Truefold, the old butler, initially welcoming Sarah with warmth to the family reunion.
Reminds me of Charlotte Bronte's story of family life but without the brooding passions (Jane Eyre).
Lacks some of Jane Austen's social commentary and is more accepting of the social order.
Sarah's brother is in the Indian Civil Service but there is no critique.
However, Jane Austen's Fanny Price becomes a vicar's wife (Edmund); but Jane Austen too, may well seem to be leaving to one side, some of the social implications of colonial profits to other writers.
Other stories by Mary Elizabeth Braddon: The Cold Embrace, The Shadow in the Corner, Good Lady Ducayne, Eveline's Visitant.
Read these stories free on line.
A poorer relative (Sarah Chrighton) is returning home from working abroad in St. Petersburg.
She was previously raised at Chrighton vicarage with her parents and a brother.
Sarah visits her distant cousins at neighboring Chrighton Abbey during the Christmas season -
Frederick and Fanny Chrighton and their three children, Edward, Sophy and Agnes.
Edward is engaged to another neighbor, Julia Tremaine (of Old Court, near Hayswell), with whom there are some family tensions.
The story's events tie into Edward's behavior towards his Julia, which is unaccountably fraught with misunderstandings.
Hunting, dinner parties and a New Year's Eve ball are part of the family's holiday entertainment.
Like Jane Austen's stories, the more frivolous characters are set along side of more serious ones.
Mr. Chrighton likes to read in his library. His daughters are delighted with the dancing preparations.
True worth is depicted in the characters of Sarah and Fanny who experience genuine family concern for the events that shape up from the appearance of a ghostly hunting party in the old stables.
Likewise, his betrothed, Julia, demonstrates distress at her fiance's actions, and empathy for the village poor, despite first appearances of a haughty demeanor.
Servants are depicted in a solid fashion demonstrating loyalty to the family - Mrs. Marjorum in the house-keepers room listening to Sarah's fearful depiction, and Mr. Truefold, the old butler, initially welcoming Sarah with warmth to the family reunion.
Reminds me of Charlotte Bronte's story of family life but without the brooding passions (Jane Eyre).
Lacks some of Jane Austen's social commentary and is more accepting of the social order.
Sarah's brother is in the Indian Civil Service but there is no critique.
However, Jane Austen's Fanny Price becomes a vicar's wife (Edmund); but Jane Austen too, may well seem to be leaving to one side, some of the social implications of colonial profits to other writers.
Other stories by Mary Elizabeth Braddon: The Cold Embrace, The Shadow in the Corner, Good Lady Ducayne, Eveline's Visitant.
Read these stories free on line.
September 10, 2018
I Loved this little novella. Just the perfect little ghost story for an unusually cool September day as I drank warm Chai tea and sat on my chilly porch this cold late afternoon. The tale of disappearing footmen and spooky silence and the residence of a lonely abbey inviting a spinster into it's home. LOVE IT!!!
December 24, 2022
Spooky Victorian Christmas story. I enjoyed it.
October 16, 2024
It was okay really. Just not much substance.
November 28, 2025
ts pmo
July 4, 2015
At Chrighton Abbey was on a list of the top ten antiquarian and/or victorian ghost stories, and I read it from that perspective. It was not the first I had read, and I am a fan of the genre, so the pace seemed fine for me, though I expect as with all of these types of stories, there will be some who disagree. The characterizations seemed good given the length. If one subscribes to the notion that all characters important enough to speak must have a fully realized backstory and go through an arc, one might be satisfied here. The arcs may not be lengthy, but the journeys are there, if brief.
The actual supernatural element to the story is almost not the main focus and serves as a signpost underlining the main tragedy of the story. This had the effect, to me, of making the scene all the more 'realistic'.
Satisfying!
The actual supernatural element to the story is almost not the main focus and serves as a signpost underlining the main tragedy of the story. This had the effect, to me, of making the scene all the more 'realistic'.
Satisfying!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews