A to Z Challenge: A is for After Dark by Wilkie Collins

Welcome to this year's A-Z Challenge where I will be taking the month of April to discuss some of the creepy classic stories known as Victorian era's penny dreadfuls.  For the letter "A", I am writing about a classic collection of works called "After Dark" written by by Wilkie Collins and first published in 1856.  For the purpose of my penny dreadful "A" theme post, I'm focusing on one of the first short stories in the collection, called "The Traveller's Story of a Terribly Strange Bed."

"The Traveller's Story of a Terribly Strange Bed."

This quick tale was a pleasant and easy read about an artist who in his youth traveled to Paris where he enjoyed the nightlife with his friends.  One night they decide to go a gambling house where the guy wins big and suddenly becomes the interest of bizarre onlookers.  As he celebrates his winnings with his new friends, he finds himself drugged and nearly killed by a strange looking bed.  The story was well told and held my curiosity to the very end.  It certainly leaves one feeling that the debauchery of one night scared our hero onto a straighter or better way of life.  I won't tell you any more because you'll just have to read it yourself.  I will say this...out of all the tales within this book, the only reason why I wanted to read this book was to learn more about the "Terribly Strange Bed."  I mean, why was it so terrible and strange?  The title had me from the start and I had to know more.  I liked it.  

Where can I get a copy of After Dark by Wilkie Collins?

I picked mine up from Amazon for free!  Woot.  See why I love Classics?  Click the link here and you can get yours' too.

Have an awesome day!

Mina Burrows