Title: The Diary of a Madman

Author: Guy de Maupassant

Narrator: Jonathan Dunne

Original Publication: 1885

Public Domain: Yes

Series Placement: Number 14 in the Timeless Terrors series

Description:

The Diary of a Madman by Guy de Maupassant is a chilling study of psychological horror and the fragility of sanity. First published in 1885, it presents the private writings of a respected judge whose outward civility hides a dark descent into obsession and cruelty.

Told through the intimate form of diary entries, the story reveals the gradual unraveling of a mind — a voice both rational and terrifyingly unhinged. Maupassant strips away the veneer of normalcy to expose the horrors lurking within the human psyche.

This recording, narrated by Jonathan Dunne, captures the eerie intimacy and creeping dread that defines Maupassant’s tale. While the text is in the public domain, this performance is an original work and copyright © 2025 Jonathan Dunne.

This audiobook is part of Timeless Terrors, a dedicated series bringing classic horror back to life — stories from the great masters of the macabre, narrated afresh to haunt a new generation.

Listeners should be prepared for an unsettling exploration of madness, hidden violence, and the shadows that dwell in ordinary men.

Short Stories