Breakfast in the Bankes household is enlivened by news that a notorious jewel thief is believed to be living nearby under an assumed name, not least because Mrs. Bankes is the owner of a valuable emerald necklace. The new lodger at Smith the bee-keeper’s farm seems to be an obvious suspect. As robbery develops into murder, luckily Smith’s friend Father Brown is on hand to investigate…
Narrated/performed by Simon Stanhope, aka Bitesized Audio. If you enjoy this content and would like to help me keep creating, there are a few ways you can support me (and get access to exclusive content):
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00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:20 The story begins
00:54:47 Credits, thanks and further listening
Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936) was an English author, theologian, philosopher and critic, who produced a wide-ranging output of fiction, poetry and journalism. His writing covered a wide variety of subjects, ranging from crime fiction to Christianity. His most famous novel is probably the “metaphysical thriller” ‘The Man Who Was Thursday’ (1908), but his most famous fictional creation is surely Father Brown, the Catholic priest-detective who featured in more than 50 short stories published episodically between 1910 and 1936. A complete contrast to his (near) contemporary Sherlock Holmes, Father Brown is quiet, unassuming and solves crimes with instinct, intuition and a deep understanding of human nature.
‘The Man With Two Beards’ first appeared in the April 1925 edition of Cassell’s Magazine, London (issue No.157), and in Harper’s Magazine (in the USA) in the same month. It was subsequently published in the fourth collection of stories featuring the priest-detective, ‘The Secret of Father Brown’ (Cassell & Co., 1927).
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2023
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What a beautifully written story! Thank you so much Simon! You've injected some sunshine into a very cloudy and stormy weekend in the Philadelphia suburbs! All my best from across the pond!
Thank you for a new story! It helps cap off my weekend. Bravo to your excellent reading. 💯
What a treat! Your phrasing and pacing is superlative and your acting talents really bring stories to life. Thank you so much as always, Simon. I have loved the Father Brown stories ever since I was a young teenager. I had attended an RC primary school and was intrigued by the illustration on the Penguin copies in my local library!
Father Brown stories are fantastic! Cheers❤
Great to hear another Father Brown story…Chesterton is a master 👍 I remember the first I read was 'The Absence Of Mr Glass' and I was hooked
Thank you so much Simon! I won’t forget this! Really and truly, you are a kind man!☮️💜☯️
A new Father Brown!! ❤️😍 Thank you! There are a lot of Father Brown audiobooks, but you bring him to life in the best way possible!
Oh Simon, you are the joy, the beauty in my life. ❤
Just really beginning to truly appreciate this wonderful and meaningful challenge.
Great CONTENT.
…and well-curated, and exceptionally well-read.
Love Chesterton, love Father Brown.
Thank you, sir!
Thank you Mr Stanhope. Another beautiful bedtime story. X
Love these, but some of them scare me.
Thank you so much for providing these excellent audios. ❤
Thanks!
Just found your channel. Love your narration. Too many have good intent but lack the voice or execution. You have both. I will be listening to a lot more of your stories on my ramblings or late at night if I can't sleep. Thank you for the pleasure you give up myself and many other listeners.
🎬📽⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you, Simon. Lovely to hear your voice.
I like the Father Brown stories, but this one stretched incredulity beyond the limit! 😂
I thoroughly enjoy Father Brown. What a character.
Thanks so much
Thanks
Thank you Simon. I love Father Brown stories. ❤
I always know that anything written by G K Chesterton is good!! Thank you mate!
An excellent story by a very wise man whose wisdom comes through every line, read professionally and well! Bravo for the choice of story and for your wonderful , sensitive performance!
My first Father Brown story. : ) Thanks very much!!
Joy. Love Father Brown tv series with Mr Weasley!😂 And this is great. Thanks
Thank you, Simon. ♥️
Simon you have a fabulous voice for this medium, and many others. Thanks for the wonderful vignettes 👏
Thank you for your creativity. I love all forms of Father Brown and Anne Perry portrayals of William Pitt and Daniel Pitt. Thank you again.
Thank you Simon ❤
Anytime I listen to one of your stories you narrate, I am transported to another time. If I listen to them at bedtime and I drift off to sleep, when I wake up, I back up and start listening again so I do not miss anything of the story. Sometimes I replay the same story to make sure I did not miss anything. Happily listening in Texas
Charming story.
Another bravura performance, cher Simon. What a STAR you are! ❤
Thanks Simon. Quite a clever plot. Enjoyed very much.
Thank you so much for doing another Father Brown piece! I enjoy them very much.
2 mega thumbs up this one hell of a channel I love it
Thank you. I had saved this to listen to on my birthday. It made perfect ending for the day.
I love Father Brown, thanks for this
Thither?! Ha ha! Oh the Brits use so much more of the English language in different forms. Quite delightful actually.
I've always found it amusing that Brits say clark, and they are referring to a clerk's position. There are so many different pronunciations in the British vernacular. Why our American English got so harsh and clipped, I truly don't know.
Thank you, Simon. Another great story.