The Body Snatchers and Other Stories

by Robert Louis Stevenson, Roy McMillan (Narrator)

A dark night, a graveyard and the suspicion of murder... The Body Snatchers is one of Robert Louis Stevenson's most chilling tales. After many years, a chance encounter between two former medical students forces them to recall their sinister past and foul play that was better left buried. Perfect for long winter nights, these stories have been specially selected to create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. Read by Roy McMillan, with Naxos AudioBooks's trademark of carefully chosen music. Other stories: The Bottle Imp The Poor Thing

Genres: Audiobook, Short Stories, Classics, Horror

3 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 1896

About the author

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, and a leading representative of English literature. He was greatly admired by many authors, including Jorge Luis Borges, Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling and Vladimir Nabokov.

Most modernist writers dismissed him, however, because he was popular and did not write within their narrow definition of literature. It is only recently that critics have begun to look beyond Stevenson's popularity and allow him a place in the Western canon.

Reviews

[Susy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Body Snatchers: ⭐️⭐️✨
The Poor Thing: ⭐️
The Bottle Imp: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't love "Body Snatchers," but "The Bottle Imp" was somewhat reminiscent of O. Henry with a bit of Aladdin thrown in... It was the most interesting story in this short collection. I'm glad to have the exposure to Stevenson, but nothing mind-blowing here.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

One story was predictable. The one in verse was not my style. The other was OK, though told in many variations through many cultures.

[Kristel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reason Read: ROOT, TIOLI July 2023
Robert Louis Stevenson is listed as an atheist. This set of short stories included
The Body Snatchers: a story of grave robbers and murderers supplying medical school with cadavers.
The Poor Thing: a tale of a horse shoe that leads to marriage,
The Bottle Imp: this reminds me of the Monkey Paw in that it is about a bottle that can grant your every wish. The problem is that if you own it when you die then you will go to Hell. You must sell it and you must sell it for less than you paid and the person buying it must know what he is getting in exchange for his money.

These were all a bit creepy and show a certain dread of death and perhaps Stevenson may have claimed atheism he also had a fear of death.

[Mary Havens · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's only three short stories here so it was a quick listen.
My listening of "The Body Snatcher" was interrupted so I felt like I didn't get the best experience but it seemed like a great short story.
I didn't get "The Poor Thing" at all.
I really liked "The Bottle Imp" and the whole "Gift of the Magi" type vibe associated with it.
I'm digging Stevenson's work.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the short stories included in this collection.  They were really well written and quite ominous.  I don't have a ton to say, but overall I was quite pleased with this collection.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really good stories.

[Toni FGMAMTC · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 - 3 stars

These stories weren't bad but weren't anything special really either. I liked the Bottle Imp the most.

[Mh Weyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another freebie. The body snatchers was as expected quite disturbing. The middle story forgettable but the “Bottle Imp” was a tender story of avarice and sacrifice.

[Jill Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed 'the bottle imp.' Tales of Gothic horror and the supernatural. Stevenson is a great storyteller.

[Myra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title story and The Bottle Imp were quite good. Classic, creepy short stories. Sure, you might see where they are going, but they are well-written with good pacing.

The Poor Thing was meh.

[Jdub Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

See “April’s” review.