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Benighted (Valancourt 20th Century Classics)
Benighted (Valancourt 20th Century Classics) | John Boynton Priestley, J B Priestley
9 posts | 7 read | 5 to read
A torrential downpour forces Philip and Margaret Waverton and their friend Roger Penderel to seek shelter in an ancient, crumbling mansion inhabited by the strange and sinister Femm family. Determined to make the best of the circumstances, the benighted travellers drink and talk to pass the time while the storm rages outside. But as the night progresses and tensions rise, dangerous and unexpected secrets emerge. On the house's top floor are two locked doors: behind one of them is the mysterious, unseen Sir Roderick Femm, while the other conceals something terrifying and deadly . . . Benighted (1927), a classic 'old dark house' story of psychological terror, was the second novel by one of the most prolific and beloved British authors of the 20th century, J. B. Priestley (1894-1984). This edition includes an introduction by Orrin Grey, who discusses the connections between the novel and its film adaptation, James Whale's The Old Dark House (1932).'There are none too many stories comparable with this one.' - The New York Times'Priestley is one of the finest and most popular storytellers of the last hundred years.' - Margaret Drabble'J.B. Priestley is one of our literary icons of the 20th century. And it is time that we all became re-acquainted with his genius.' - Judi Dench
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review
Bookwomble
Benighted | J. B. Priestley, Orrin Grey
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Pickpick

There's a lot more going on in "Benighted" than I caught the first time I read it. This time, beneath the gothic elements I was previously distracted by, and which still work marvellously, is an allegory on English post-war society, the rottenness of the class system and the aristocracy, coupled to a demonstration of the levelling and humanising effect of meeting others openly and honestly.
I upped my rating to 5 well-deserved stars.

quote
Bookwomble
Benighted | J. B. Priestley, Orrin Grey
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"Gin is saddening," Penderel admitted, "but it's not so saddening as no gin." ?

blurb
Bookwomble
Benighted | J. B. Priestley, Orrin Grey
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'Tis a dark and stormy night at Bookwomble Towers, so just the right atmosphere to settle down with a whisky and re-read Priestley's classic old, dark house chiller 💀

review
khooliha
Benighted | J. B. Priestley, Orrin Grey
Bailedbailed

I came here from the movie with one motivating question: what's Morgan's Deal?? But this book kept throwing ableism and racism at me and doesn't even look to have the good grace to answer my damn question! I'm outta here!

blurb
khooliha
Benighted | J. B. Priestley, Orrin Grey

Right now this hateful bunch of people are playing the world's boringest game, Truth, which is Truth or Dare without the dare.

khooliha Everyone hates each other for basically no reason and I kind of can't stop laughing about it. 5y
3 likes1 comment
review
Tamra
Benighted (Valancourt 20th Century Classics) | John Boynton Priestley, J B Priestley
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Mehso-so

🤔 I can see how this was a thriller in 1927, but it doesn‘t hold up today. It had a very promising atmospheric start and even up to the last third there were intriguing elements, but the end felt contrived, winding itself out without adding any depth to the house characters or storyline. Death, dawn, and the end.

In my mind‘s eye this plays as a classic black & white film with screams and wide eyed close ups. All that affected drama.

LeahBergen Well, darn it! 5y
Tamra @LeahBergen there was definitely character development, but not of those you want to know more about about. I am picky about endings and this felt more like a convenience. It really has to be read in light of the era. (edited) 5y
62 likes2 comments
quote
Tamra
Benighted (Valancourt 20th Century Classics) | John Boynton Priestley, J B Priestley
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😆👍🏾

blurb
LeahBergen
Benighted | J. B. Priestley, Orrin Grey
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@vivastory has come up with a great new riff on the #7Days7Covers tag... #HorrorCoverCrush.

I‘m using this as an opportunity to remind myself of what I have on my shelves (and what to add to my October TBR)!

Consider yourself tagged and play along.

Day One.

👻👻👻

batsy Love that cover! And this sounds fun and spooky. 5y
anu9131122317 i love it 5y
Bookwomble That's a good cover. I hope you enjoy it once it gets to the top of your TBR pile. I thought it was fab 🧟‍♂️ 5y
See All 8 Comments
vivastory This sounds great! Sounds a bit like 5y
LeahBergen @batsy I prefer my scary reading to be of the old-fashioned sort. 😄 5y
LeahBergen @Bookwomble I bought it because of your review! 👍🏻 5y
LeahBergen @vivastory Ooo, I‘m off to check that one out now. 👏🏻 5y
84 likes2 stack adds8 comments
review
Bookwomble
Benighted | J. B. Priestley, Orrin Grey
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Pickpick

I bought this book because I enjoyed the James Whale film adaptation, "The Old Dark House". Atmospheric and amusing as the film is, the book (naturally) is better. There are no gruesome shocks in the way of modern horror but, if you let your imagination put you in the shoes of the lonely travellers who find themselves stranded in the strange old Femm house, it is really creepy and horripilating. ????

Bookwomble Priestley is able to go inside his characters thoughts and history in much more depth than Whale was able. Also, the ending is much darker than the Hollywood version (though the introduction to my edition says that Whale shot Priestley's ending, but the studio made him change it).

I first read "Benighted" during a week of Autumnal rains and storms: a perfect read, providing you're safely indoors with a hot cup of tea and a biscuit.
7y
LeahBergen This sounds like just my sort of read. 7y
Tiyas7 @Bookwomble Sounds Chilling😨 Need to try it 7y
15 likes1 stack add4 comments