Foxholme Hall and Other Tales by William Henry Giles Kingston AUDIOBOOK

First published in the nineteenth century, William Henry Giles Kingston’s "Foxholme Hall and Other Tales" epitomizes the warmth, camaraderie, and lively traditions of an old English country house at Christmastide. The collection begins with the adventures of two brothers, faced with the choice between the bustling entertainments of London and the more rustic, spirited holiday at Foxholme in the New Forest. For the brothers, the decision is clear, and their journey unfolds in evocative detail—from the brisk road to Southampton and the changing coaches to the welcoming halls of Foxholme, presided over by the dignified Sir Hugh Worsley and his welcoming family.

Kingston’s narrative animates the classic themes of homecoming, kinship, and seasonal festivity, drawing vivid portraits of a host of memorable figures: kindly relatives, spirited cousins, jovial retainers, and eccentric local characters such as Sam Barnby, the multi-talented gamekeeper and confidential companion to the young visitors. The tale’s atmosphere weaves together gleaming coach rides, the anticipation of winter sports, and the peculiar blend of merriment and mystery found in candlelit corridors and snow-draped woods. There is a strong undercurrent of nostalgia for the fading world of landed estates and rural tradition, made poignant by Kingston’s attentive rendering of character, ritual, and setting.

Kingston’s style is marked by lively dialogue, quiet humor, and subtle observation. He introduces a sense of both the familiar and the uncanny—the comfort of fireside gatherings juxtaposed with the eerie shadows of the forest and unsettling encounters on frostbitten roads. This volume, read aloud, invites enjoyment through its episodic charm, affectionate characterization, and a world where stories and family bonds are at the heart of the holiday.

Listeners are transported to a bygone era of English hospitality, tradition, and gentle intrigue, in prose that celebrates both the spirit of the season and the enduring pleasures of the tale well told.

Audiobook time & format : 8h52m15s, OPUS, 414 Mo
Audiobook free extract time & format : 5m (see below to listen), WAV
Instant Access After Checkout - Professionally Generated Audio

More William Henry Giles Kingston audiobooks