The Man Who Went Too Far by E. F. Benson - Audiobook

"The Man Who Went Too Far" features allusions to Greek mythology in Pan, the god of nature and rustic music. Its titular character, Frank, is an English gentleman, who connects with nature through a rejection of Christian orthodoxy and embracing of neopaganism. His spiritual journey is defined as a denial of pain and a search for joy: by connecting with nature and rejecting ideas of self-denial and painful asceticism, Frank's body is rejuvenated. He is granted a measure of control over and kinship with the flora and fauna which surround him. However, this path leads him into danger when he encounters a strange spirit, believed by Frank to be Pan, in the woods near his home.

The story is told by an unnamed narrator repeating a story told to him by Frank's artist friend, Darcy, who witnesses the ultimate, terrifying climax of Frank's revelation. It is set in a village that is richly described by the narrator, including in the opening section, which introduces the village where Frank lives and its particular environment.