The other Bed by E.F. Benson (1924)
"The Other Bed" by E.F. Benson is a supernatural tale centered around a man who travels to a Swiss hotel, expecting a serene winter getaway. Instead, he encounters relentless storms that disturb his peace. Upon settling into his room, which contains two beds, he experiences a series of unsettling events, including a dream of his servant attempting self-harm and a growing dread associated with the unoccupied bed. As the days pass, his anxiety intensifies, fueled by strange occurrences and a sense of an unseen presence. He becomes increasingly fixated on the other bed, convinced it is haunted. Despite his rationalizations, he cannot shake the feeling of being watched or the fear that someone—or something—has occupied the other bed. The climax occurs when he discovers a newspaper article detailing the suicide of a previous guest, who had cut his throat in the very room he occupies. The story culminates in a terrifying encounter with the ghostly figure of the deceased, leading to a shocking revelation about the nature of his fears and the reality of his situation. The narrative explores themes of psychological disturbance, the impact of environment on mental state, and the haunting nature of unresolved trauma.
By E.F. Benson · First published 1924 · Genre: Horror, Psychological Thriller, Gothic Fiction · 4,915 words
First lines
I had gone out to Switzerland just before Christmas, expecting, from experience, a month of divinely renovating weather, of skating all day in brilliant sun, and basking in the hot frost of that windless atmosphere. Occasionally, as I knew, there might be a snowfall, which would last perhaps for forty-eight hours at the outside, and would be succeeded by another ten days of cloudless perfection, cold even to zero at night, but irradiated all day long by the unflecked splendour of the sun.
What this Textopian page supports
The other Bed is listed on Textopian as a short story by E.F. Benson, dated 1924 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: E.F. Benson
- Date: 1924 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Psychological Thriller, Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Literary Fiction
- Length: 4,915 words
- Structure: 1 section, 49 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The other Bed by E.F. Benson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The other Bed?
- How does this short story by E.F. Benson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Cherchez La Femme by O. Henry
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- La Grande Breteche by Honore De Balzac
Genres
- Horror — The story revolves around themes of fear, the supernatural, and psychological terror, culminating in a haunting experience.
- Psychological Thriller — The protagonist's mental state deteriorates as he grapples with his fears and paranoia, creating a tense atmosphere.
- Gothic Fiction — The setting in a remote hotel, the presence of a mysterious other bed, and elements of the uncanny align with gothic conventions.
- Mystery — The narrative builds suspense around the unexplained occurrences and the identity of the 'other' presence.
Tags
Comedy · Satire · Social Commentary · Marriage · Relationships · Family Dynamics · Class Differences · English Countryside · Upper Class · Middle Class · Love Triangle · Infidelity