Title: The Upper Berth

Author: F. Marion Crawford

Narrator: Jonathan Dunne

Original Publication: 1886

Public Domain: Yes

Series Placement: Number 31 in the Timeless Terrors series

Description:

The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford is one of the most chilling ghost stories ever set upon the sea — a tale of isolation, disbelief, and a horror that defies explanation. A seasoned traveler boards an Atlantic steamer and takes lodging in a cabin known for its peculiar reputation. When strange noises, cold drafts, and unexplainable presences begin to disturb the night, curiosity turns to terror — and the truth behind the “upper berth” is revealed in a climax of pure dread.

Crawford’s mastery lies in his restrained realism and his ability to build unbearable tension from the ordinary. What begins as a skeptical sailor’s anecdote becomes a haunting confrontation with something that refuses to stay beneath the waves.

Narrated by Jonathan Dunne, this performance channels the claustrophobic suspense and mounting fear of Crawford’s maritime masterpiece. While the text itself is in the public domain, this narration is an original performance and copyright © 2025 Jonathan Dunne.

Part of Timeless Terrors, a series devoted to resurrecting the dark legends of classic horror, The Upper Berth remains a cornerstone of the ghost story tradition — a tale where disbelief drowns in the face of the uncanny.

Prepare for a voyage into the unknown — where the sea is not the only thing that stirs at night, and the upper berth waits for its next occupant.

Classics