The Mysteries of London Vol. II


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.3 stars; 20 reviews)

The Mysteries of London was a best-selling novel in mid-Victorian England, published in four volumes. This is the second volume. Initially serialized in weekly installments, they were the forerunners of today's soap operas. Known as "Penny Dreadfuls", they had no claim to literary brilliance but offered readers entertainment and excitement in the form of vice, poverty, wealth, virtue, mystery and scandal in every combination and reached a mass audience. - Summary by Lynne Thompson (23 hr 27 min)

Chapters

Rat's Castle 20:20 Read by Lynne T
A Public Functionary 19:03 Read by Lynne T
The Confidence 16:52 Read by Evan
Incidents in the Gipsy Palace 16:38 Read by Jaiden
The Subterranean 12:05 Read by Jeremiah Sutherland
Gibbet 12:38 Read by Jeremiah Sutherland
Morbid Feelings 16:57 Read by Jeremiah Sutherland
The Unfinished Letter 17:29 Read by Lynne T
Hypocrisy 12:14 Read by Lynne T
The Bath - The Housekeeper 20:26 Read by Honnha Newberry
The Rector's New Passion 20:26 Read by Honnha Newberry
The Old Hag's Intrigue 15:56 Read by jftocanada
The Masquerade 16:12 Read by Lynne T
Mrs. Kenrick 18:55 Read by Jude Somers
A Mysterious Deed 18:34 Read by Jude Somers
The Death-Bed 17:25 Read by Jude Somers
Proceedings in Castelcicala 15:05 Read by Lynne T
Reflections - The New Prison 18:21 Read by Honnha Newberry
Patriotism 14:31 Read by Honnha Newberry
The Decision 11:49 Read by Honnha Newberry
The Trial of Catherine Wilmot 25:02 Read by Honnha Newberry
A Happy Party 19:30 Read by Kate Follis
The Interview 21:08 Read by Kate Follis
The Rector in Newgate 17:12 Read by Kate Follis
Lady Cecilia Harborough 26:59 Read by Kate Follis
The Bequest 15:35 Read by Kate Follis
The Zingarees 21:26 Read by Kate Follis
The Executioner's History 35:11 Read by Kate Follis
The Trace 13:46 Read by Kate Follis
The Thames Pirates 21:03 Read by Kate Follis
An Arrival at the Wharf 10:19 Read by Lynne T
The Plague Ship 19:26 Read by Kathi Reynolds
The Pursuit 18:34 Read by Lynne T
The Black Veil 16:27 Read by jenno
Mr. Greenwood's Dinner-Party 15:21 Read by Layla Montipay
The Mysteries of Holmesford House 25:31 Read by jenno
The Adieux 17:58 Read by Lynne T
Castelcicala 24:34 Read by Dan Gurzynski
Montoni 25:02 Read by Atyourservice
The Club-House 22:03 Read by Dan Gurzynski
The History of an Unfortunate Woman part 1 57:53 Read by michelekilpatrick
The History of an Unfortunate Woman part 2 57:12 Read by michelekilpatrick
The Tavern at Friuli 23:49 Read by Doug Fajardo
The Journey 14:42 Read by Kate Follis
The 'Boozing-Ken' Once More 27:15 Read by jenno
The Resurrection Man Again 19:26 Read by Lynne T
Mr. Greenwood's Journey 16:49 Read by Lynne T
Kind Friends 18:39 Read by Andee
Estella 32:00 Read by jenno
Another New-Year's Day 18:38 Read by Andee
The New Cut 20:08 Read by Andee
The Forged Bills 26:43 Read by jenno
The Battles of Piacere and Abrantani 43:23 Read by Kate Follis
The Battle of Montoni 19:25 Read by Kate Follis
Two of our Old Acquaintances 17:16 Read by Kate Follis
Crankey Jem's History 1:00:11 Read by Kate Follis
The Mint - The Forty Thieves 47:33 Read by Kate Follis
Another Visit to Buckingham Palace 28:43 Read by Kathleen Moore
The Royal Breakfast 21:44 Read by Kathleen Moore
The Aristocratic Villain and the Low Miscreant 18:11 Read by Kate Follis
The Old Hag and the Resurrection Man 19:29 Read by jftocanada
Ellen and Catherine 16:51 Read by jenno
A Gloomy Visitor 21:45 Read by Kate Follis
The Orphan's Filial Love 29:17 Read by Kate Follis
A Maiden's Love 28:46 Read by Kate Follis
The Handsome Stranger - Disappointment 17:34 Read by Kate Follis
The Princess Isabella 24:19 Read by Kate Follis
Ravensworth Hall 17:38 Read by jenno
The Bride and Bridegroom 13:55 Read by Kathi Reynolds
The Breakfast 18:11 Read by Kathi Reynolds
The Patrician Lady and the Unfortunate Woman 19:31 Read by Kathi Reynolds
The Husband, the Wife, and the Unfortunate Woman 20:35 Read by Kathi Reynolds
The Resurrection Man's House in Globe Town 19:15 Read by Lynne T
Alderman Sniff - Tomlinson and Greenwood 25:14 Read by Lynne T
Holford's Studies 23:37 Read by Mike Manolakes
The Deed 14:28 Read by Mike Manolakes
The Examination at the Home Office 10:24 Read by Mike Manolakes
The Tortures of Lady Ravensworth 21:56 Read by VfkaBT
The Duellists 20:29 Read by VfkaBT
The Voices in the Ruins 22:28 Read by VfkaBT
The Progress of Lydia Hutchinson's Vengeance 32:19 Read by VfkaBT
The Prisoner in the Subterranean 18:31 Read by VfkaBT
The Veiled Visitor 18:59 Read by Mike Manolakes
The Murder 14:09 Read by Mike Manolakes
The Effect of the Oriental Tobacco 18:53 Read by Mike Manolakes
The Return to England 23:29 Read by Mike Manolakes
The Arrival at Home 22:28 Read by Mike Manolakes
The Marriage 19:16 Read by Mike Manolakes
Mr. Banks's House in Globe Lane 23:56 Read by Mike Manolakes
The Old Hag's History 49:55 Read by Mike Pelton
The Marquis of Holmesford 32:30 Read by Linda Johnson
Coldbath Fields' Prison 13:48 Read by JasonIvey
A Desperate Achievement 25:36 Read by John Demetre
The Widow 28:02 Read by Linda Johnson
Bethlem Hospital 26:04 Read by Linda Johnson
Mr. Greenwood and Mr. Vernon 15:20 Read by Linda Johnson
Scenes at Ravensworth Hall 19:27 Read by Linda Johnson
A Welcome Friend 12:02 Read by Ruby
A Midnight Scene of Mystery 21:00 Read by Lynne T
Plots and Counterplots 29:19 Read by Lynne T
Woman as She Ought to be 24:03 Read by Kalynda
The Jugglers 25:07 Read by jenno
The Performance 41:24 Read by jenno
The Resurrection Man's Return Home 10:28 Read by jenno
A New Epoch 26:26 Read by jenno
Crockford's 25:50 Read by jenno
The Aunt 19:05 Read by Lynne T
The Fight - The Ruined Gamester 21:57 Read by Linda Johnson
The History of a Gamester part 1 49:22 Read by Linda Johnson
The History of a Gamester Part 2 42:51 Read by Linda Johnson
The Excursion 36:23 Read by Mike Manolakes
The Party at Ravensworth Hall 25:33 Read by Mike Manolakes
The Stranger Who Discovered the Corpse 14:55 Read by Kalynda
An Unpleasant Exposure 28:04 Read by Dan Gurzynski
The Resurrection Man's Last Feat at Ravensworth Hall 20:07 Read by Dan Gurzynski
Egerton's Last Dinner Party 38:02 Read by ABFries
The Obstinate Patient 20:03 Read by Lynne T
Death of the Marquis of Holmesford 18:43 Read by Linda Johnson
The Ex-Member for Rottenborough 31:45 Read by Linda Johnson
Further Misfortunes 17:14 Read by Linda Johnson
Gibbet at Markham Place 14:30 Read by Linda Johnson
Eliza Sydney and Ellen - The Hospital 21:48 Read by Lynne T
The Revenge 25:50 Read by Kate Follis
The Appointment Kept 31:08 Read by Mike Pelton
Conclusion 7:29 Read by Larry Wilson
Epilogue 4:48 Read by Larry Wilson

Reviews

I'm Markhamized!


(4 stars)

Mysteries of London is a fascinating weave of sub plots involving a large cast of characters. Carried through volume one, and into volume two George Reynolds tells a riveting, albeit sensationalized account of life in London in the 1840s, with a big emphasis on the inequity of conditions existing between the wealthy aristocracy and the struggling lower class. The hero of the story has become my hero. Mr. Richard Markham exemplifies the finest attributes of human goodness. Though he's fictitious, I was inspired by this character's acts of kindness and graciousness. To me, he's a wonderful role model, and will live in my mind as someone I want to be like. Despite the darkness of the storyline, or maybe because of it, Richard Markham's character stands out like a beacon of light. If for no other reason, I'll never regret having listened to this long and amazing story.

Great! Listen to Vol I first


(4 stars)

Very fine Penny Dreadful English novel continuation by a fine author. Chapter reading uneven/some sound problems in parts,but action moves right along. Suggest, for full flavour--though each volume stands alone--that listeners start with Vol I. Vol I Part I accessible at https://librivox.org/the-mysteries-of-london-by-george-w-m-reynolds/. If you cannot retrieve in archive.org. With later Part III of series, other authors involved in the novel serialisation, so tempo changes. Hard to believe this long novel production started well before 1850, given recognisable 'modern'/universal themes explored.

Markhamized!


(4 stars)

The hero of this story is so inspiring to me that I have come to think of him as a role model, despite his being ficticious. A fascinating, albeit sensationalized adventure through the intrigues on both sides of the social divide in mid- 19th century London. Thanks very much to the readers for their dedication in delivering us this massive work! I enjoyed it!

LOVED IT!


(5 stars)

I have been waiting quite a while for volume 2 to be recorded by the wonderful LibriVox volunteers and I am not disappointed! The book is amazing and filled with all of the evil and the beauty that resides in all of us. It explores the absolute height of humanity and the very depths of depravity and everything in between. Sad it's over.