FREETo Be Read at Dusk
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
"To Be Read at Dusk" by Charles Dickens is a haunting short story written during the late 19th century, a time characterized by the Victorian literary tradition. The narrative falls within the gothic genre, as it weaves themes of mystery, the supernatural, and psychological tension, exploring the inexplicable and the nature of belief in ghosts. The story emphasizes the engagement of different characters with their fears and uncertainties, particularly revolving around strange occurrences and their interpretations. The plot revolves around a group of couriers gathered outside a convent in the Swiss Alps, discussing eerie experiences and encounters with the supernatural. As they converse, one courier recounts the tale of a newly married English lady who becomes haunted by a dream of a mysterious man’s face, which deeply unsettles her even as she settles into her new life. The arrival of the enigmatic Signor Dellombra—a man strikingly similar to the figure from her dreams—exacerbates her fears, leading to a tragic conclusion as she disappears under his influence. Throughout the story, Dickens plays with the interplay of reality and the supernatural, leaving the reader to question the boundaries between the two. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Automated conservative edition review 2026-10-20T13:09:00.394Z (historical-original-en-v2), Philippines scope. English historical author Dickens, Charles, died 1870; original-language author allowlist, matching sole EPUB/catalog creator, no credited contributors, no extra artwork, no flagged editorial/translation/copyright cues in isolated text. US public-domain source label and retained Gutenberg license; EPUB CRC passed. This is rule-based screening, not a worldwide rights opinion or a claim of manual review. Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/924; Philippine term reference https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/copyright/. EPUB SHA256 f740c66c67c4fb761c32d5f77414683fede9b3942233b6248f3cd43d3ee24d30; RDF SHA256 13ca7eabd01c02cb0410bbd6054f9aab13bccdb0ed8c1915861bc2611809c810.
View source & edition information ↗