Audiobooks Horror & Supernatural Fiction The String of Pearls
The String of Pearls

The String of Pearls

by UNKNOWN ( - )

The tale of Sweeney Todd has had many incarnations, most famously the stage and movie musical by Stephen Sondheim. But it all started in 1846 with a serialized telling of the story titled “The String of Pearls” in the weekly magazine “The People's Periodical and Family Library”. Called by some a romance, by others a horror story, it is one of the earliest murder mysteries. In “The String of Pearls”, Sweeney Todd is less sympathetic than in some of his later incarnations – a perfect villain, totally self-seeking with no redeeming qualities. How the deeds of Todd are uncovered and how he is brought to justice make a most intriguing tale, but one probably not suited for the very young and certainly not for the squeamish. (Summary by John Lieder).


01 - The Strange Customer at Sweeney Todd's

02 - The Spectacle Maker's Daughter

03 - The Dog and the Hat

04 - The Pie-shop in Bell Yard

05 - The Meeting in the Temple

06 - The Conference, and the Fearful Narration in the Garden

07 - The Barber and the Lapidary

08 - The Thieves' Home

09 - Johanna at Home, and the Resolution

10 - The Colonel and His Friend

11 - The Stranger at Lovett's

12 - The Resolution come to by Johanna Oakley

13 - Johanna's Interview with Arabella Wilmot, and the Advice

14 - Tobias's Threat, and its Consequences

15 - The Second Interview between Johanna and the Colonel in the Temple Gardens

16 - The Barber Makes Another Attempt to Sell the String of Pearls

17 - The Great Change in the Prospects of Sweeney Todd

18 - Tobias's Adventures During the Absence of Sweeney Todd

19 - The Strange Odour at St. Dunstan's Church

20 - Sweeney Todd's Proceedings Consequent upon the Departure of Tobias

21 - The Misadventure of Tobias. The Mad-House

22 - The Mad-House Cell

23 - The New Cook to Mrs. Lovett's Gets Tired of his Situation

24 - The Night at the Mad-House

25 - Mr. Fogg's Story at the Mad-House to Sweeney Todd

26 - Colonel Jeffery Makes Another Effort to Come at Sweeney Todd's Secret

27 - Tobias Makes an Attempt to Escape from the Mad-House

28 - The Mad-House Yard, and Tobias's New Friend

29 - The Consultation of Colonel Jeffery with the Magistrate

30 - Tobias's Escape from Mr. Fogg's Establishment

31 - The Rapid Journey to London of Tobias

32 - The Announcement in Sweeney Todd's Window. Johanna Oakley's Adventure.

33 - The Discoveries in the Vaults of St. Dunstan's

34 - Johanna Alone. The Secret. Mr. Todd's Suspicions. The Mysterious Letter

35 - Sweeney Todd Commences Clearing the Road to Retirement

36 - The Last Batch of the Delicious Pies

37 - The Prisoner's Plan of Escape from the Pies

38 - Sweeney Todd Shaves a Good Customer. The Arrest

39 - The Conclusion.