"The Horla" is the most frightening story I have ever read. Fear is a reaction based solely in the mind, and this is truly a mans day by day descent into hell. A hell in his own mind and of his own making. A madness he refused to accept in the beginning but once apparent, he cannot fight. It is by far the best offered from a proficient author. Seriously.
Anxiety and sleep paralysis would be the modern names, leading to psychosis. Without any understanding or help for what's going on, that's a living nightmare. This poor guy.
Ironic that the narrator is stalked by an unseen monster, and yet in his effort to destroy it, he forgets the unnoticed servants who attend him every day.
I was listening to an older video the other day and he read, "You fool!" in the middle of the story and I was thrown off when it wasn't followed by "Warren is dead." 😅
This was a really good story. I love ideas of the supernatural, elves, fairies, ghosts and the like. I really liked the monk’s explanation for spirits being like the wind too. Felt, heard, acting and yet unseen. Truly marvelous!
I used to love reading this author, as my parents had a collection of his stories. Thanks for producing what I assume will be another great adaption :)
What a thrilling story. I asked ChatGPT for some 19th and 20th century horror stories with vampiric themes. It suggested me this work immediately. And I'm amazed by writing of Guy de Maupassant. Also very well reading from HorrorBabble. The dramatic reading, combined with acting clearly gives the emotions of the POV character. Good job HorrorBabble.
Literature at it's best in short story form, Guy de Maupassant what a talent, and the pleasure of listening to you Sir, retell the haunting tale...Bravo!!!🙏👏😎
Once again, kudos to another excellent narration and production, Ian and Jennifer. I have loved GdM ever since I was tasked to narrate one of his popular short-stories, The Necklace, back in lit class during college. He was such a prodigious writer, a paragon of French psychological realism. Looking forward to hearing narrations of more of his works as well as other female horror writers. Thank you so much.
Thank you for this wonderful reading! I actually had to do a grammar exercise and I used this short story as the center pieced. I was surprised we both completed at the same time. I had a great time listening; thank you!
You are a truly gifted narrator. Your story telling dramatic is never too much and never too little, rather nothing short of elegant perfection. Your affect and cadence, also meticulous perfection. I subscibe to many story channels, and you are my absolute favorite narrator. Thank you for being the familial comforting voice that closes out my day, everyday. Happy Horridays!
I loved this one, Maupassant is one of my fave. authors. I find HorrorBabble perfect listening for gardening and housework! thank you for all your readings.
This Guy is a really good writer. He can fire off some amazing metaphors. And he obsessives over the correct preoccupation. Strangely, nearly lost to time.
I heard it on Mystery Theatre a few days ago, and it scared the poop out of me, so I looked up the original. Thanks for the post; it will inspire my own stories.
I recently came across this in a vampires across cultures series. Never thought of The Horla as a vampire story until this collection I recently read. Now I can’t unsee it as a vampiric entity.
Guy de Maupassant is one of those authors I never remember the name of but I always remember the stories. "Who Knows?" is one of the oddest stories in weird fiction but I have never forgotten it. I'm looking forward to this one--I have only just heard of it today from your 'The Theater Upstairs' and knew you had to have this story knocking around in your back catalogue somewhere!
If it drinks milk and water, it can probably be poisoned. Note to the poor protagonist, feeling for him indeed. This is a true masterpiece by an author of well-deserved world renown.
I read this many years ago whilst sleeping rough in the back of a car.. It was a winter night, I had parked in a country lane on a perfectly dark & quie eveningt.. no smartphones back then and all I had was a few books.. one was a compilation and this was in it.. It freaked me out then on that bleak night, and has stayed with me ever since .. for many years I forgot the name of the story , so it's amazing to find it again. Many thanks
One reason I love this story so much is that the reader can never be sure whether the narrator is gradually going insane and imagining it all, or whether it is a genuine haunting. The uncertainty is intriguing.
Yes, and the character is interesting enough for us to care about him. The Paris interlude was really fun, too. And one can really imagine that armchair that he's stuck in, and his having to go and pick and eat some strawberries... so strange and so tangible!
@@blixten2928 Exactly! Interspersing the horror with little moments of "normalcy" makes it so much more interesting. And I most certainly feel sorry for the narrator, whether he's going mad or being victimized.
@@aliceofspades I agree. All the best horror and detective writers do that, I think: give you a tangible sense of place, intersperse the material parts of life. And some get so symbolic. How many films have we not seen that feature gentlemen in a large (I imagine, for some reason, in this case, green-brocade and beige) armchair, a step away from the otherwise eternally-used four-poster bed as a scene of suddenly unexpected, deeply dismaying discomfort and horror?
Am I missing the "Great God Pan" recording? You have some of the greatest horror stories here and "Great God Pan" would be a fantastic addition. Thank you for your work.
There's a brilliant film adaptation of this story in 'Diary of a Mad Man' (also another story title by Guy de Maupassant) starring Vincent Price made in 1963; available to watch on TH-cam. I think we've all got Horlas to varying degrees, I know I have.
I'm intrigued by the strange parallels between the evil forces in this story, as well as some others that you've read recently (like the last Russian story and it's malicious, gray sprite), and the modern accounts of 'alien' abduction. I wonder if we're only rediscovering some force of / within the mind that people in the 19th century and earlier were well aware of, but too afraid to really discuss outside of fiction. If you read the story 'Rip van Winkle,' for example, it's eerie how similar it is to an abduction account. Any thoughts?
You should also look into some ov the accounts from people while intoxicated on dmt and other hallucinogenic plants & fungi. Some ov the things and entities they see are very interesting when you look back thru historical accounts ov the fae-folk or Nature Spirits (and then demons, angels and now aliens).
Being a complete slave of 21st century distractions, media and what not, i can't imagine what would be to live in the 19th century, with no electricity, radio, not even movies in theaters, the Guy De Maupassant wikipedia page show that like the protagonist was also a single, bachelor (maybe living alone wyth no pets) in the height of mesmerism and spiritualist Séances is unimaginable to me!
There is absolutely nothing like a creepy gothic horror story written by the old masters. Ambrose Bierce is another one. The Body Snatchers by Robert Louis Stevenson is one if my favorites.
Can someone recommend me a paperback version? From what I was told there is the short story and the novel? But can't seem to find the novel version in English
I haven't, which probably means he's a living author and his works aren't in the public domain! (We live mostly in the distant past here at HB...!) Ian
One of my very favorites too, Brucey! Wouldn’t it be sublime to hear Ian read “Under the Crust” or “Climbing Down From Heaven”? My daughter’s favorite of his is “Two Returns”...what about you? :)
@@gforgojira2579 Actually. Ian's' own stories reminded me of Lamsley's. Small world that you have heard of this person. You either really love to read short horror fiction or your from Derbyshire or something.
Thanks for listening, folks! Here's a link to our Guy de Maupassant playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLeNNKRLWxwoPxWKmMFQlq1FTwDn049iQc.html
"The Horla" is the most frightening story I have ever read. Fear is a reaction based solely in the mind, and this is truly a mans day by day descent into hell. A hell in his own mind and of his own making. A madness he refused to accept in the beginning but once apparent, he cannot fight. It is by far the best offered from a proficient author. Seriously.
I don't know if Ian has done "The hostelry", but that's also very good.
Anxiety and sleep paralysis would be the modern names, leading to psychosis. Without any understanding or help for what's going on, that's a living nightmare. This poor guy.
In the Champagne region, the Seine is clear, shallow and the place to bathe after an evening on the real local bubbly! Fantastic experience!
Ironic that the narrator is stalked by an unseen monster, and yet in his effort to destroy it, he forgets the unnoticed servants who attend him every day.
Yep namely the horla.
Spoke to Warren last night, he was peeved at the reports of his demise.
I KNOW, he was beyond livid!!!
that gets stuck in my head all day “you fool! warren is dead!”
Don’t answer - that’s how they get you!
I was listening to an older video the other day and he read, "You fool!" in the middle of the story and I was thrown off when it wasn't followed by "Warren is dead." 😅
@@sarahstardust hehe I love it.
Finally one by a non-lovecraft author that also is one of my favs. Your voice is so good you need to read as much gothic horror as possible.
Guy de maupassant has always been one of my fav authors.
He is one of the few done by Ian who is in the literary canon, even though Lovecraft and others are not considered literary, but are just as good.
This was a really good story. I love ideas of the supernatural, elves, fairies, ghosts and the like. I really liked the monk’s explanation for spirits being like the wind too. Felt, heard, acting and yet unseen. Truly marvelous!
I used to love reading this author, as my parents had a collection of his stories. Thanks for producing what I assume will be another great adaption :)
What a thrilling story. I asked ChatGPT for some 19th and 20th century horror stories with vampiric themes. It suggested me this work immediately. And I'm amazed by writing of Guy de Maupassant. Also very well reading from HorrorBabble. The dramatic reading, combined with acting clearly gives the emotions of the POV character. Good job HorrorBabble.
Literature at it's best in short story form, Guy de Maupassant what a talent, and the pleasure of listening to you Sir, retell the haunting tale...Bravo!!!🙏👏😎
And just in time for bed. Really appreciate your readings!
I read this 20 odd years ago
Brilliant!❤
It scared the crap out of me in 1974, and still does today!
Once again, kudos to another excellent narration and production, Ian and Jennifer. I have loved GdM ever since I was tasked to narrate one of his popular short-stories, The Necklace, back in lit class during college. He was such a prodigious writer, a paragon of French psychological realism. Looking forward to hearing narrations of more of his works as well as other female horror writers.
Thank you so much.
That was my experience exactly.
Our English teacher read it out loud to us and managed to shake up this once fifteen- year - old.
@@trishbirchard1270 Thank you for sharing 🧡
Thank you for this wonderful reading! I actually had to do a grammar exercise and I used this short story as the center pieced. I was surprised we both completed at the same time. I had a great time listening; thank you!
keep posting! this channel gets me through the lonesome, sleepless nights of late. i never tire of these stories.
Probably my favorite weird tale. Really glad you decided to do this one.
Yes! I've been hoping for this one! 😄 I'm so excited and can't wait to listen 😄
You are a truly gifted narrator. Your story telling dramatic is never too much and never too little, rather nothing short of elegant perfection. Your affect and cadence, also meticulous perfection. I subscibe to many story channels, and you are my absolute favorite narrator. Thank you for being the familial comforting voice that closes out my day, everyday. Happy Horridays!
Thanks for the kind words, Michelle.
"YOU FOOL! Warren is dead."
Classic!
I loved this one, Maupassant is one of my fave. authors. I find HorrorBabble perfect listening for gardening and housework! thank you for all your readings.
This Guy is a really good writer. He can fire off some amazing metaphors. And he obsessives over the correct preoccupation. Strangely, nearly lost to time.
I am surprised you offered up such a great story so early!
This is why you DON'T play leapfrog with ghosts, no matter how epic your mustache is!
Finally someone recognizes Guy de Maupassant. I had a very old 3-book set of his stories as a kid and it was creepy AF!
I first read this at 14, in a paperback collection of horror stories. I have loved it ever since! Good old Guy DE Maupassant
When it begins with extensive nature descriptions you know it's going to be a good one
Good old story and narration!
Thanks!
I heard it on Mystery Theatre a few days ago, and it scared the poop out of me, so I looked up the original. Thanks for the post; it will inspire my own stories.
Nice one Ian! this is a pure classic !! :)
Great voice acting! Really enjoyed this story
I recently came across this in a vampires across cultures series. Never thought of The Horla as a vampire story until this collection I recently read. Now I can’t unsee it as a vampiric entity.
Guy de Maupassant is one of those authors I never remember the name of but I always remember the stories. "Who Knows?" is one of the oddest stories in weird fiction but I have never forgotten it. I'm looking forward to this one--I have only just heard of it today from your 'The Theater Upstairs' and knew you had to have this story knocking around in your back catalogue somewhere!
This one is very dark, but very good. Thanks for finally doing it :)
If it drinks milk and water, it can probably be poisoned. Note to the poor protagonist, feeling for him indeed. This is a true masterpiece by an author of well-deserved world renown.
I read this many years ago whilst sleeping rough in the back of a car..
It was a winter night, I had parked in a country lane on a perfectly dark & quie eveningt.. no smartphones back then and all I had was a few books.. one was a compilation and this was in it..
It freaked me out then on that bleak night, and has stayed with me ever since .. for many years I forgot the name of the story , so it's amazing to find it again. Many thanks
Well done and many thanks. I hope you perform, 'The Upper Berth' in the near future as it was the following tale in my collection.
An EXCELLENT reading, really made this story come alive. THANK YOU, a really welcome change from the Anglo-Saxon stuff!
One reason I love this story so much is that the reader can never be sure whether the narrator is gradually going insane and imagining it all, or whether it is a genuine haunting. The uncertainty is intriguing.
I so agree! It’s like James’ “Turn of the Screw” in that respect, isn’t it? Potentially unreliable narrators are the most interesting of all..
@@gforgojira2579 Yes! I love unreliable narrators (and potentially unreliable narrators)!
Yes, and the character is interesting enough for us to care about him. The Paris interlude was really fun, too. And one can really imagine that armchair that he's stuck in, and his having to go and pick and eat some strawberries... so strange and so tangible!
@@blixten2928 Exactly! Interspersing the horror with little moments of "normalcy" makes it so much more interesting. And I most certainly feel sorry for the narrator, whether he's going mad or being victimized.
@@aliceofspades I agree. All the best horror and detective writers do that, I think: give you a tangible sense of place, intersperse the material parts of life. And some get so symbolic. How many films have we not seen that feature gentlemen in a large (I imagine, for some reason, in this case, green-brocade and beige) armchair, a step away from the otherwise eternally-used four-poster bed as a scene of suddenly unexpected, deeply dismaying discomfort and horror?
Am I missing the "Great God Pan" recording? You have some of the greatest horror stories here and "Great God Pan" would be a fantastic addition.
Thank you for your work.
We have indeed recorded that one: th-cam.com/video/GW2q07Z8qeo/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for listening! :)
I requested this years ago! Thank you
YES! Thank you! I've been waiting for this! :D
Another great story and narration Thanks
As a French, I love that book!
As long as some horror is involved I'm here.
Your stories comfort me like an open fire
Le horla is a mix of a few words, Hors meaning outside, and la meaning there. The word is kinda like saying "the out there".
Another great reading-love it!
Excellent! 😈👍
Wonderful rendition!
I remember reading a translation of thus story decades ago. Stuck in my mind ever since!
Still one of the best horror stories I’ve ever read.
Your voice is wonderful Thank you so much
I haven't heard this story since the seventh grade... One of my favorites
There's a brilliant film adaptation of this story in 'Diary of a Mad Man' (also another story title by Guy de Maupassant) starring Vincent Price made in 1963; available to watch on TH-cam. I think we've all got Horlas to varying degrees, I know I have.
Yes, what a beautiful voice!You must have made a deal with the Sea Witch !
I'm intrigued by the strange parallels between the evil forces in this story, as well as some others that you've read recently (like the last Russian story and it's malicious, gray sprite), and the modern accounts of 'alien' abduction. I wonder if we're only rediscovering some force of / within the mind that people in the 19th century and earlier were well aware of, but too afraid to really discuss outside of fiction. If you read the story 'Rip van Winkle,' for example, it's eerie how similar it is to an abduction account. Any thoughts?
Before “I saw aliens!” It was “I saw angels/demons!” And before even that it was “I saw the Fae!”
I see the fae every time I eat amanita mushrooms.
Helps a little.
You should also look into some ov the accounts from people while intoxicated on dmt and other hallucinogenic plants & fungi.
Some ov the things and entities they see are very interesting when you look back thru historical accounts ov the fae-folk or Nature Spirits (and then demons, angels and now aliens).
Being a complete slave of 21st century distractions, media and what not, i can't imagine what would be to live in the 19th century, with no electricity, radio, not even movies in theaters, the Guy De Maupassant wikipedia page show that like the protagonist was also a single, bachelor (maybe living alone wyth no pets) in the height of mesmerism and spiritualist Séances is unimaginable to me!
Love how nobody is outraged at the doctor for implanting such a distressing suggestion in the narrators poor cousin.
Always loved Guy de Maupassant.
This guy has a fancy name. I'll give the story a try.
Lol. He's considered one of the French masters of the short story, prolly him and Balzac. As far as names go...
@@orangeiceice12 Most Guys have a Balzac
I read it as the narrator says Guy with the french accent. This "ghee" has a fancy name.
He is a classic author of French literature.
Knew I recognized this one. Saw the Vincent Price movie based on this book called The Diary of a Madman. Not a bad adaption of the story.
Excellent
There is absolutely nothing like a creepy gothic horror story written by the old masters. Ambrose Bierce is another one. The Body Snatchers by Robert Louis Stevenson is one if my favorites.
Great recording, well done.
"I forgot the servants"! Oh well...
Right? It's not like they're, you know, human beings or anything. Just get some more, whatev.
Oops, the servants. Damned gentry.
🍃🍀Thank you very much.💚🍃
After the newest story I had to come hear this one again lol....
Can someone recommend me a paperback version? From what I was told there is the short story and the novel? But can't seem to find the novel version in English
It's simillar to the story "What Was It" by Fitz-James O'Brien but more interesting.
Oh my.
👑
What just happened at the end
Very well described, written and read. Especially human body. As I would say: "Designed in Germany/Made in China"
Hi Ian. You ever heard of Terry Lamsley?
I haven't, which probably means he's a living author and his works aren't in the public domain! (We live mostly in the distant past here at HB...!) Ian
One of my very favorites too, Brucey! Wouldn’t it be sublime to hear Ian read “Under the Crust” or “Climbing Down From Heaven”? My daughter’s favorite of his is “Two Returns”...what about you? :)
@@gforgojira2579 Actually. Ian's' own stories reminded me of Lamsley's. Small world that you have heard of this person. You either really love to read short horror fiction or your from Derbyshire or something.
Lil bit o pyromania going on there , ya seen that thing in fires ,wonder more pyros arnt running amuck.
@Mike Marley lol
Warren: I´m gonna rip your lungs out!!!!!
Not only are you generating memes, but you're self-referencing them. A new era of horror and babble has begun.
I luv guy
Actual horror.
The basis for Predator.
😳😳😳☠️
it’s called depression with anxiety lol
Diary of a madman ozzy osbourne
Sleep paralysis is a bitch.
my name is warren im alive haha,what bus aaarrghhh
Has anyone here read him in French?
This story is so confusing
Yawner of an ending killed the buzz from an otherwise enjoyable listen.
I remember this great 5 part vampire stories you narated. Could you do more please