The King in Yellow
Linked stories about a play that drives its readers mad. Chambers never lets you read the play, which is precisely why it has haunted readers for over a century.
Things worth knowing
- The first half is five weird tales tied together by an imaginary play that drives its readers mad; the last four stories turn away from the weird into romance in the Parisian art world.
- Chambers took most of the names and allusions in his invented mythology from the stories of Ambrose Bierce.
Checked against source.
Listen, or read along
Every chapter has the recording and the same chapter as text. Open both if you like: the text is the words you are hearing.
-
1 Cassilda's Song 49 sec
-
2 The Repairer of Reputations, Part One 16 min
-
3 The Repairer of Reputations, Part Two 21 min
-
4 The Repairer of Reputations, Part Three 24 min
-
5 The Mask, Part One 8 min
-
6 The Mask, Part Two 5 min
-
7 The Mask, Part Three 11 min
-
8 The Mask, Part Four 6 min
-
9 In the Court of the Dragon 16 min
-
10 The Yellow Sign, Part One 9 min
-
11 The Yellow Sign, Part Two 18 min
-
12 The Yellow Sign, Part Three 6 min
-
13 The Demoiselle Five Hundred Ys, Part One 12 min
-
14 The Demoiselle Five Hundred Ys, Part Two 16 min
-
15 The Prophets’ Paradise 5 min
-
16 The Street of the Four Winds 11 min
-
17 The Street of the First Shell, Part One 12 min
-
18 The Street of the First Shell, Part Two 24 min
-
19 The Street of the First Shell, Part Three 15 min
-
20 The Street of the First Shell, Part Four 9 min
-
21 The Street of Our Lady of the Fields, Part One 5 min
-
22 The Street of Our Lady of the Fields, Part Two 6 min
-
23 The Street of Our Lady of the Fields, Part Three 13 min
-
24 The Street of Our Lady of the Fields, Part Four 24 min
-
25 The Street of Our Lady of the Fields, Part Five 7 min
-
26 The Street of Our Lady of the Fields, Part Six 12 min
-
27 Rue Barr E, Part One 8 min
-
28 Rue Barr E, Part Two 6 min
-
29 Rue Barr E, Part Three 5 min
-
30 Rue Barr E, Part Four 10 min
-
31 Rue Barr E, Part Five 10 min
Where this comes from
US public domain: first published 1895, before the 1930 cutoff. Author d.1933, so also clear in life+70 jurisdictions.
Cover image: Book cover design by the author Robert W. Chambers, first edition 1895.
Narration: text-to-speech.
Want a copy for your bookshelf?
Enjoyed this audiobook? Add a printed copy to your personal library, or share the experience by gifting one to a friend or family member.
Open Ear Books earns a commission on purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.