The Box Tunnel

by Charles Reade

Charles Reade (1814-1884) was an English novelist and dramatist, best known for The Cloister and the Hearth.

"The Box Tunnel" tells the story of a bet between two soldiers, travelling on a train across Britain, in the spring of 1847, that one of them will not manage to kiss one of the two other ladies travelling in the carriage. One of these ladies is pretty, the other rather unattractive.

The young soldier takes up the bet, and when the train reaches the box tunnel, just after Swindon, he commits the outrage on the delicious young Miss Haythorne. This ungentlemanly conduct cannot be allowed to go unpunished, and Miss Haythorne takes a most unexpected revenge.

Genres: Audiobook

Audiobook

First published January 1, 1857

About the author

Charles Reade was an English novelist and dramatist, best known for The Cloister and the Hearth. He fell out of fashion by the turn of the century - "it is unusual to meet anyone who has voluntarily read him," wrote George Orwell in an essay on Reade - but during the 19th century Reade was one of England's most popular novelists. He was not highly regarded by critics.

Reviews

[Christopher Riley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Flat, jumping around in perspective, mixed up in it's own self-importance. In other words, rather Victorian.

[Kayley Declue · Rating 1 out of 5]

May be the most "men writing women" I've ever seen. Ridiculous.

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly stupid, but blessedly short.
Still, there was a bit of charm there, so two stars.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Reade's descriptions, which set the scene immediately. The Box Tunnel is an odd little tale, but a well paced one. I would certainly not be averse to encountering some of his other work in future.