The Familiar Audiobook By Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu cover art

The Familiar

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Familiar

By: Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Narrated by: Walter Covell, Walter Zimmerman
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $7.95

Buy for $7.95

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu was one of the major figures of 19th-century supernaturalism. He helped move supernaturalist fiction away from the gothic's emphasis on external sources of terror and toward a focus on the effects of terror, thus helping to create the psychological basis for supernaturalist and horror literature that continues today. "The Familiar" is one of his most terrifying tales.

Public Domain (P)1984 Jimcin Recordings
Fiction Literary Fiction Short Story
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Editorial reviews

19th-century Irish novelist Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu helped shaped the Victorian ghost story. His 1872 story The Familiar showcases his ability to create chilling tales in which the supernatural is only one possible explanation.

The Familiar tells the story of navy captain James Barton, who is pursued by a demon named "The Watcher". Hearing voices, Barton begins to fixate on his fiancée’s pet owl, which may or may not be real.

Using mid-Atlantic accents, Walter Zimmerman and Walter Covell bring restraint and tension to their performances of this spooky tale of madness and paranoia.

What listeners say about The Familiar

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Beware

The story is what it is. The narration is well done. The recording is atrocious and better can be found elsewhere.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Skip it.

The narrator combined incorrect pronunciation with a bland voice and poor audio quality. Mediocre ghost story. Spend your time elsewhere.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful