Who Knows? by Guy du Maupassant

Fri, 10 May 2024 20:00:00 -0000

Prepare to delve into the haunting world of Guy de Maupassant's "Who Knows?", a chilling tale that blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural. Join the narrator as he recounts his unsettling experiences with his beloved furniture, which seems to take on a life of its own. As the story unfolds, you'll find yourself questioning the narrator's sanity and the true nature of the events that unfold. Is it a case of mental instability, or are there truly otherworldly forces at play? Immerse yourself in this atmospheric masterpiece and unravel the mystery that lies at the heart of "Who Knows?". Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) was a French writer who made significant contributions to the development of the short story genre during the latter half of the 19th century. Born on August 5, 1850, in Tourville-sur-Arques, France, Maupassant was influenced by the literary circle of Gustave Flaubert, who became his mentor. He began his literary career in 1880 with the publication of his famous short story, "Boule de Suif." Over the next decade, Maupassant produced a prolific body of work, including over 300 short stories, six novels, three travel books, and a volume of poetry. His stories, such as "The Horla" (1887) and "Qui Sait?" ("Who Knows?") (1890), often explored themes of madness, the supernatural, and the darker aspects of human nature. However, Maupassant's life was cut short by the effects of syphilis, which he had contracted in his youth. After a suicide attempt in 1892, he was committed to a mental asylum in Paris, where he died on July 6, 1893, at the age of 42. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Daemon Lover by Shirley Jackson

Fri, 03 May 2024 20:00:00 -0000

In this haunting and enigmatic short story by Shirley Jackson, an unnamed woman eagerly awaits her wedding day, only to find herself plunged into a nightmarish search for her missing fiancé, Jamie Harris. As she navigates the city streets and encounters a cast of indifferent, jaded characters, the protagonist's quest for love and connection takes on an increasingly surreal and desperate edge. Through masterful prose and subtle psychological insight, Jackson weaves a tale that blurs the lines between reality and illusion, exposing the fragility of human relationships and the ways in which societal expectations can shape and distort our perceptions. "The Daemon Lover" is a masterpiece of ambiguity and unease that will leave listeners pondering the nature of identity, desire, and the elusive search for meaning in a world that often feels isolating and uncertain. Join me as we delve into the unsettling depths of Shirley Jackson's unforgettable story. #ShirleyJackson #TheDaemonLover #PsychologicalHorror #LiteraryFiction #ShortStory #Storytelling #AudioNarration #UncannyTales #SurrealFiction #HumanCondition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Warning To The Curious by M. R. James

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 11:09:00 -0000

M.R. James's "A Warning to the Curious" (1925) is a seminal ghost story that explores the consequences of disturbing ancient artifacts and the enduring power of folklore. Set in the fictional coastal town of Seaburgh, based on Aldeburgh, Suffolk, where James had strong personal connections, the story follows Paxton, an amateur archaeologist who unearths one of three legendary crowns believed to protect England from invasion. The story draws upon a rich tradition of magical artifacts in British folklore, such as the Glastonbury Thorn and the buried head of Bran the Blessed, situating itself within a larger cultural narrative of Britain's magical defenses. James's deep knowledge of East Anglian history and folklore is evident in his vivid descriptions of Seaburgh's landmarks and his reference to the crown of Redwald, an ancient East Anglian king, foreshadowing the 1939 discovery of the Sutton Hoo treasure. As a work of folk horror, "A Warning to the Curious" explores the clash between modernity and the lingering presence of the past, with Paxton encountering the vengeful ghost of William Ager, the crown's guardian. The story resonates with other works in the genre, such as H.R. Wakefield's "The First Sheaf" (1922), highlighting the dark side of rural traditions and the supernatural. The story's post-World War I context adds depth to its themes, reflecting the profound impact of the war on British society. Paxton's tragic fate, with his broken jaw and mouth filled with sand, evokes the horrific injuries suffered by soldiers in the trenches, serving as a metaphor for the lost potential and unfulfilled promises of a generation scarred by war. Derrida's concept of hauntology and Mark Fisher's extension of these ideas provide a compelling lens for analyzing the story. The ancient crown and Ager's spectral presence embody the past's disruption of the present, while the story's pessimistic tone reflects the post-war zeitgeist and the haunting of society by the specters of war and lost futures. "A Warning to the Curious" showcases James's mastery of the ghost story genre, weaving together folklore, history, and the supernatural to create a haunting tale that continues to resonate with readers, reminding us of the enduring power of the past to shape our present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Casting The Runes by M. R. James

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 11:09:00 -0000

M.R. James (1862-1936) was an English author, medievalist scholar, and provost of King's College, Cambridge. Best known for his ghost stories, which are widely regarded as among the finest in the genre, James redefined the traditional ghost story by abandoning many of the formal Gothic clichés of his predecessors and using more realistic contemporary settings. His stories often reflect his academic background, with the protagonist being a scholar or antiquarian. "Casting the Runes" is a short story by M.R. James, first published in 1911 as part of his collection "More Ghost Stories." The story tells the tale of Edward Dunning, a researcher who crosses paths with a vindictive occultist named Karswell. Karswell seeks revenge by cursing Dunning with a slip of paper containing runic symbols, which will cause his death unless he can pass the curse back to Karswell. The story has been adapted several times for television and film, most notably as the 1957 movie "Night of the Demon" (released in the US as "Curse of the Demon"), directed by Jacques Tourneur and starring Dana Andrews and Niall MacGinnis. The structure of "Casting the Runes" is somewhat unconventional, with the narrative shifting focus between various characters and events. The story begins with a series of letters, followed by a conversation between the Secretary and his wife about Karswell. The lunch scene where Harrington's death is mentioned serves to introduce the main protagonist, Dunning. The spotlight then shifts to Henry Harrington, the brother of the deceased, as he aids Dunning in understanding the curse. The Secretary makes another appearance before the climactic scene on the train, where Dunning manages to pass the rune back to Karswell. This uneven structure contributes to the story's sense of unease and unpredictability. Many have noted the similarities between the fictional character Karswell and the real-life occultist Aleister Crowley (1875-1947). Both were deeply involved in the study and practice of the occult, had a reputation for eccentricity and mischief, and authored numerous works on alchemy and magic. While James never explicitly stated that Crowley was the inspiration for Karswell, the physical description of Karswell in the story bears a resemblance to photographs of Crowley from the early 20th century. It has been suggested that James, who was at Cambridge during Crowley's time there, might have met or been aware of the young occultist. Crowley enrolled at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1895, during James' tenure at King's College. Although there is no direct evidence of a meeting between the two, it is plausible that James, who was known to interact with students, might have encountered or heard about the flamboyant and controversial Crowley. At its core, "Casting the Runes" is a story about the consequences of offending a narcissist and the lengths to which such an individual might go to exact revenge. Karswell's fragile ego and vindictive nature are the driving forces behind the curse he places on Dunning, who unknowingly slighted him by criticizing his work. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of crossing those with inflated senses of self-importance and the potential for seemingly minor actions to have far-reaching and deadly consequences. James' masterful storytelling and his ability to create an atmosphere of mounting dread have solidified "Casting the Runes" as a classic of the horror genre, one that continues to resonate with readers over a century after its publication. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Smoke Ghost by Fritz Leiber

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 20:00:00 -0000

Fritz Leiber (1910-1992) was an influential American writer of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is best known for his sword-and-sorcery stories and his novel "Conjure Wife" (1943). Leiber's works often combined elements of fantasy, horror, and science fiction, and he coined the term "sword and sorcery." He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in modern speculative fiction. "The Smoke Ghost" (1941) is a key example of urban weird fiction, blending horror, fantasy, and social commentary. The story explores themes of urban alienation and the horrors of modernity, as seen in other works like H.F. Arnold's "The Night Wire" (1926) and Leiber's "The Girl with the Hungry Eyes" (1949). These stories tap into the sense of disconnection and vulnerability that people experience in the face of rapid urbanization and technological change. Leiber's background in psychology and interest in Carl Jung's works are evident in "The Smoke Ghost." The titular entity can be interpreted as a manifestation of the Jungian Shadow archetype, representing the repressed aspects of the protagonist Catesby Wran's psyche and the collective unconscious of modern urban society. The climax of the story, in which Wran accepts the smoke ghost's dominion, can be seen as a twisted individuation process. "The Smoke Ghost" shares similarities with M.R. James's ghost stories, featuring a protagonist haunted by a supernatural entity embodying his deepest fears and anxieties. Both Leiber and James suggest that even rational individuals are not immune to the lure of the supernatural. However, Leiber's story is firmly rooted in the modern urban landscape, reflecting the anxieties of a rapidly changing world. Leiber's story also bears the influence of H.P. Lovecraft and cosmic horror. The smoke ghost can be seen as a manifestation of the cosmic horror lurking beneath the surface of modern urban life, defying easy categorization and understanding. The story's bleak ending echoes the cosmic pessimism in Lovecraft's work. However, Leiber brings the horror into the heart of the modern city, creating a kind of urban cosmic horror that transplants Lovecraftian themes into the gritty, mid-20th century metropolis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Topley Place Sale by A. N. L. Munby

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 20:00:00 -0000

Alan Noel Latimer Munby (25 December 1913 – 26 December 1974) was a distinguished English librarian, bibliographical scholar, and book collector, noted for his contributions to the study of rare books and manuscripts. Additionally, he gained recognition as an author of ghost stories, influenced by the style of M. R. James. Munby was born in Hampstead, the son of architect Alan E. Munby and Ethel Greenhill. He received his education at Clifton College and later attended King's College, Cambridge, where he acquired the nickname "Tim." Munby's career encompassed various roles in the antiquarian book trade, including positions at Bernard Quaritch Ltd. and Sotheby & Company. During World War II, he served in the British Army and was later held as a prisoner of war. Following the war, he assumed the role of Librarian at King's College, Cambridge, and was subsequently appointed as a fellow. He held esteemed positions such as the J.P.R. Lyell Reader in Bibliography at the University of Oxford and the Sandars Reader in Bibliography at the University of Cambridge. Munby was also a co-founder of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society and served as President of the Bibliographical Society until his passing in 1974. Munby's scholarly works include a comprehensive study of the eccentric nineteenth-century book collector Sir Thomas Phillipps, as well as a series of Sale Catalogues of Libraries of Eminent Persons. He collaborated posthumously on a union list of British Book Sale Catalogues, 1676–1800, with Lenore Coral. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Munby authored a collection of ghost stories titled "The Alabaster Hand." Three of these tales were written during his internment in Oflag VII-B, a German prisoner-of-war camp, and were featured in the prison-camp magazine, Touchstone. The stories, namely "The Topley Place Sale," "The Four Poster," and "The White Sack," received acclaim for their subtle yet chilling narrative style, reminiscent of the tradition established by M. R. James. "The Alabaster Hand" was published in 1949 by Dennis Dobson Ltd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cairn on The Headland by Robert E. Howard

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 21:00:00 -0000

Robert E. Howard (1906–1936) was an influential American author primarily known for his contributions to the genres of fantasy, horror, and adventure fiction. He is best remembered as the creator of Conan the Barbarian, a character who has become an iconic figure in popular culture. Born in Peaster, Texas, Howard demonstrated a keen interest in storytelling from a young age. He began writing fiction in his teens, and by his early twenties, he had already begun to make a name for himself in the pulp magazine market. Howard's stories were published in a variety of popular magazines of the time, including "Weird Tales," "Strange Tales," and "Fight Stories." Howard's most famous creation, Conan the Barbarian, first appeared in the story "The Phoenix on the Sword," published in "Weird Tales" in 1932. Conan, a fierce and cunning warrior from the fictional Hyborian Age, quickly captivated readers with his adventures in a world filled with sorcery, monsters, and intrigue. The character's popularity endured long after Howard's death and has inspired countless adaptations in various media, including books, comics, films, and video games. In addition to Conan, Howard created numerous other memorable characters and settings, such as Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn, and the mythical land of Hyperborea. His writing style was characterized by vivid descriptions, fast-paced action, and a knack for creating atmospheric settings. Tragically, Howard's life was cut short when he took his own life at the age of 30. The reasons behind his suicide remain the subject of speculation, but it is widely believed that personal struggles, including his mother's failing health and financial difficulties, contributed to his decision. Despite his untimely death, Robert E. Howard's legacy endures through his influential body of work. His stories continue to entertain and inspire readers, and his impact on the fantasy genre remains profound, cementing his place as one of the most significant writers of speculative fiction in the 20th century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Judge's House by Bram Stoker

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Abraham "Bram" Stoker was born on November 8, 1847, in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland. He was the third of seven children born to Abraham Stoker and Charlotte Mathilda Blake Thornley Stoker. Stoker spent much of his early childhood bedridden due to an unknown illness, during which he entertained himself with stories and books. Despite his illness, he eventually made a full recovery and went on to study at Trinity College Dublin, where he excelled in athletics and graduated with honours in Mathematics. After graduation, Stoker pursued a career in civil service while also working as a freelance journalist and theatre critic. His passion for writing led him to become the manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London, where he met and formed a close friendship with the renowned actor Sir Henry Irving. Stoker's association with Irving greatly influenced his literary career and provided inspiration for some of his most famous works. Although Stoker wrote numerous novels, short stories, and non-fiction works, he is best known for his Gothic horror masterpiece, "Dracula," published in 1897. The novel, which tells the story of Count Dracula's attempt to move from Transylvania to England in order to spread the undead curse, has become a timeless classic of English literature. "Dracula" introduced many of the vampire conventions still prevalent in contemporary culture, including the portrayal of vampires as charismatic and aristocratic beings with a thirst for blood. Despite the success of "Dracula," Stoker struggled financially throughout much of his life. He continued to write prolifically, producing several more novels and short stories, but none achieved the same level of success as his iconic vampire tale. Stoker passed away on April 20, 1912, in London, at the age of 64. While he did not live to see the full extent of "Dracula's" enduring legacy, his creation has since become one of the most iconic and influential figures in popular culture, inspiring countless adaptations, sequels, and reimaginings in literature, theatre, film, and television. Bram Stoker's contribution to the horror genre and his enduring legacy as the creator of one of literature's most iconic monsters continue to be celebrated by readers and scholars alike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Vampyre by John Polidori

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 21:00:00 -0000

John William Polidori, an Italian-English physician and writer born in 1795, was a notable figure associated with the Romantic movement. As the eldest son of Gaetano Polidori, an Italian scholar, and Anna Maria Pierce, a governess, Polidori was exposed to intellectual pursuits from a young age. He received his medical degree from the University of Edinburgh in 1815 at the remarkably young age of 19. Polidori's literary talents and connections led him to serve as personal physician to the renowned poet Lord Byron, embarking on a European tour with him in 1816. During their travels, Polidori found himself in the company of other literary luminaries, including Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley. It was during this time, at the Villa Diodati by Lake Geneva, that the idea for "The Vampyre" took shape. Inspired by a fragment of a story by Lord Byron, Polidori penned his own tale, which would go on to become the first vampire story in English literature. Originally published in April 1819 in the New Monthly Magazine, "The Vampyre" was falsely attributed to Lord Byron, likely to capitalize on his fame. This misattribution persisted for years, causing confusion over the true authorship of the story. Polidori's "The Vampyre" introduced several key features of the vampire archetype that would influence vampire literature for generations to come. Notably, his portrayal of Lord Ruthven, the titular vampyre, departed from the traditional folkloric depictions of vampires as grotesque creatures. Instead, Polidori's vampyre was an aristocratic figure, seductive and charming, preying on high society. Lord Ruthven's aristocratic allure, coupled with his predatory nature and mysterious aura, set the template for the modern vampire, ushering in a new era of vampire fiction characterized by sophistication and allure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ghostly Rental by Henry James

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 21:00:00 -0000

Henry James (1843–1916) was an American author renowned for his contributions to literature, particularly within the realm of psychological realism. Born in New York City, James spent much of his life traveling between Europe and the United States, which greatly influenced his cosmopolitan worldview and writing style. Known for his intricate character studies and keen exploration of human psychology, James's works often delved into themes of social conventions, personal freedom, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships. Throughout his prolific career, he authored numerous novels, short stories, and essays, earning him recognition as one of the foremost literary figures of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James made a special contribution to the ghost story genre through his unique blend of realism and supernatural elements. His ghost stories are characterized by their vague, psychological qualities, featuring unreliable narrators and a chilling mixture of realism and romantic suggestiveness. James challenged conventional notions of what constitutes a ghost, exploring the haunting power of guilt and remorse alongside more traditional supernatural elements. His works, including "The Turn of the Screw" and "The Ghostly Rental," continue to captivate readers with their rich prose, intricate character portraits, and haunting themes. "The Ghostly Rental," first published in Scribner's Monthly in September 1876, exemplifies Henry James's exploration of themes within the ghost story genre. This tale revolves around a grad student's fascination with an old soldier who visits an abandoned mansion to collect rent from his supposed ghostly daughter. Themes of guilt, redemption, and the blurred lines between reality and imagination permeate the narrative, as James challenges readers to ponder the nature of truth and the power of perception. Through its atmospheric setting and complex characters, "The Ghostly Rental" remains a timeless exploration of the human psyche and the haunting effects of past misdeeds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Black Widow by John Glasby

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:21:00 -0000

John Stephen Glasby (23 September 1928 – 5 June 2011) was a British author born in East Retford, Nottinghamshire. Trained as a research chemist and mathematician, Glasby's early career saw him balancing his scientific pursuits with a burgeoning passion for writing. His literary journey began in the 1950s and 1960s, during which he emerged as a prolific figure in the pulp publishing industry. Despite his scientific background, Glasby's literary ambitions led him to explore a wide array of genres, from speculative fiction and romance to westerns and spy thrillers. His ability to seamlessly transition between genres showcased his versatility as a writer, earning him a dedicated readership across various literary circles. Throughout his career, Glasby's output was characterized by both quantity and quality. Under numerous pseudonyms and house names, including "A. J. Merak," "John E. Muller," and "Chuck Adams," Glasby penned over 300 novels and short stories. His imaginative storytelling and attention to detail captivated readers, while his scientific acumen lent authenticity to his speculative works. Notably, Glasby's foray into speculative fiction produced enduring classics such as "Project Jove," showcasing his ability to blend scientific concepts with compelling narrative arcs. Additionally, his contributions to genres like westerns, romance, and espionage underscored his versatility and adaptability as an author, cementing his reputation as a multifaceted literary talent. Despite the commercial constraints of the pulp publishing industry, Glasby's literary legacy endured beyond his prolific output. His works continue to be celebrated for their enduring appeal and cultural significance, reflecting the diverse interests and talents of a writer who defied categorization. Beyond his literary contributions, Glasby's dedication to both scientific inquiry and creative expression left an indelible mark on the literary landscape, inspiring generations of readers and writers alike. With a career spanning decades and genres, John Stephen Glasby remains a revered figure in British literature, remembered for his prolific output, imaginative storytelling, and enduring impact on the world of letters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Tarroo-Ushtey by Nigel Kneale

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 12:21:00 -0000

Nigel Kneale was a highly acclaimed British screenwriter and novelist, best known for his pioneering work in the science fiction genre, particularly the creation of the iconic character Professor Bernard Quatermass. Born on April 28, 1922, in the Isle of Man, Kneale began his career as a journalist before transitioning to writing for radio, television, and film. He was brought up in Barrow-in-Furness. His breakthrough came in the early 1950s with the BBC television series "The Quatermass Experiment," which introduced audiences to the brilliant and enigmatic scientist Professor Bernard Quatermass. This character, portrayed as a determined and sometimes morally conflicted scientist, became an enduring figure in British popular culture. Kneale continued to develop the Quatermass character in subsequent television series, including "Quatermass II" (1955) and "Quatermass and the Pit" (1958-1959), each exploring themes of science, technology, and the supernatural. These productions were praised for their intelligent storytelling and social commentary, earning Kneale a reputation as a master of speculative fiction. In addition to his work on Quatermass, Kneale penned numerous other scripts for television, including adaptations of classic novels and original dramas. He also wrote several acclaimed novels and contributed to feature films. Throughout his career, Kneale's writing was characterized by its thought-provoking themes, sharp dialogue, and innovative storytelling techniques. He was a key figure in establishing science fiction as a serious genre in British television and film. Nigel Kneale passed away on October 29, 2006, leaving behind a rich legacy of groundbreaking work that continues to influence writers and filmmakers to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Shadow on The Moor by Stuart Strauss

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 21:00:00 -0000

Stuart Strauss remains an enigmatic figure in the world of weird fiction, with scant information available about his life. He is known for a limited body of work, including "The Shadow on The Moor" (1928), "The Soul Tube" (1928), and "The Clenched Hand" (1934). The use of a pseudonym and language suggesting potential unfamiliarity with British culture has led to the assumption that Strauss might be an American author. "The Shadow on The Moor" is a tale that first appeared in the February 1928 issue of "Weird Tales." Its republication in the 2023 British Library anthology "Circles of Stone: Weird Tales of Pagan Sites and Ancient Rites," edited by Katy Soar, attests to the lasting intrigue and relevance of Strauss's work. The story captures a sense of foreboding in the British countryside, with standing stones taking on a malevolent presence. Strauss's work, including "The Shadow on The Moor," reflects thematic elements akin to the cosmic horror pioneered by H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft's influence is discernible in the eerie atmospheres and otherworldly entities that often pervade Strauss's narratives. Additionally, Strauss, like Lovecraft, explores the theme of ancient cults in remote villages, inhabited by seemingly backward rural characters. The fusion of cosmic horror and folk-horror themes creates an unsettling and atmospheric reading experience. The thematic exploration of ancient cults in Strauss's work aligns with Margaret Murray's witch-cult hypothesis, a theory that suggests accusations against witches in Europe were rooted in a clandestine pagan religion. Published in Murray's "The Witch-Cult in Western Europe" (1921), the hypothesis posits the existence of a pre-Christian religion centered around a horned god, symbolizing the cycle of seasons and harvests. The horned god's representation on Earth through chosen individuals, ritual sacrifices, and the preservation of this religion through secret covens are central elements of Murray's theory. Strauss's incorporation of such themes in "The Shadow on The Moor" aligns with the broader cultural fascination with ancient rites and mysterious practices. The narrative, enveloped in cosmic horror and folk-horror, echoes the anxieties of a bygone era, reflecting the convergence of literary imagination and anthropological speculation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wake Not The Dead by Ernst Raupach

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 21:00:00 -0000

Ernst Benjamin Salomo Raupach, born on May 21, 1784, in Straupitz, Silesia, was a prominent German dramatist of the 19th century. His literary career was marked by a diverse range of works, and his influence extended beyond his homeland. After studying theology in Halle, Raupach ventured to St Petersburg in 1804, where he immersed himself in various pursuits, including writing tragedies and delivering sermons. Later, he settled in Berlin in 1824, dedicating the remainder of his life to writing for the stage. Raupach's impact on Prussian theatre during the early-to-mid 19th century solidified his place in German literary history. He passed away in Berlin on March 18, 1852. "Wake Not The Dead" ("Laßt die Todten ruhen"), a short story by Ernst Raupach, published in Minerva magazine in 1823, stands as one of the earliest contributions to vampire literature. This tale, exploring the macabre theme of the undead, showcases Raupach's ability to evoke suspense and mystery. The story follows the Gothic tradition, intertwining elements of horror with a narrative that predates the popularization of vampire motifs in the English-speaking world. Despite its significance, "Wake Not The Dead" faced misattribution, being erroneously credited to Ludwig Tieck in English translations. Raupach's work emerged during a period of heightened interest in Gothic literature and vampire themes in Europe. In the early 19th century, vampire hysteria and fascination with the supernatural were prevalent. This context, coupled with Raupach's travels and exposure to different cultures, likely influenced the creation of "Wake Not The Dead." The 18th-century vampire hysteria, marked by incidents in the Habsburg Monarchy and Eastern Europe, played a role in shaping the Gothic atmosphere of the story. The publication of the story in 1823 places it within a historical continuum of the exploration and popularization of vampire narratives in European literature, contributing to the broader evolution of the Gothic genre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Beast In The Cave by H. P. Lovecraft

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 12:09:00 -0000

This is a reading of H. P. Lovecraft's The Beast In The Cave. "The Beast in the Cave" is a short story written by H. P. Lovecraft, a famous American horror fiction writer. He first came up with the initial version in the Spring of 1904, and by April 1905, at the age of fourteen, he completed the final draft. The story was initially published in June 1918 in The Vagrant, a publication similar to today's well-edited fanzines. It's essential to note that this tale is considered part of Lovecraft's early works, often referred to as juvenilia, which means it was written during his youth. In the 1930s, Lovecraft would sometimes share a copy of the story's typescript with his promising young correspondents. He did this to showcase what he had accomplished at their age and to provide them with an initial exercise in rewriting. This served as a way for him to assess their creativity and potential. I came to read this story because I was contacted by Todd Thyberg of angelbomb.com who is a fine press producer. He's a graphic designer and artist who produces high-quality editions of his own work, but also that of classics in the sci-fi and horror genres such as you might have found in the pulp magazines of the early to mid 20th Century. Todd produces such finely crafted work that when he sent me a copy of his chapbook of The Beast In The Cave, I was minded to read it and interview him too. The second part of this episode is my interview with Todd Thyberg. His work can be accessed at his website: Angel Bomb, a Book Arts Studio https://www.angelbomb.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three Miles Up by Elizabeth Jane Howard

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 21:00:00 -0000

Elizabeth Jane Howard, born on March 26, 1923, in London, England, was a distinguished English novelist known for her versatile literary contributions. Howard began her career as an actress and model before venturing into writing in 1947. Throughout her prolific career, she penned 12 novels, with her most acclaimed work being the five-volume family saga, 'The Cazalet Chronicles.' Her narrative prowess was not confined to family sagas, as exemplified by her collaboration with Robert Aickman on the collection 'We Are For The Dark: Six Ghost Stories,' published in 1951. Although she gained widespread recognition for her family sagas, Howard's foray into the supernatural, as evidenced by 'Three Miles Up' and other stories, showcased her ability to masterfully blend genres and explore the complexities of human relationships. Elizabeth Jane Howard was secretary of the Inland Waterways Association. Ghost stories and the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) share a curious connection, intertwining literature and the preservation of Britain's canal  heritage. This connection is particularly evident through notable figures such as Robert Aickman, L. T. C. Rolt, and Elizabeth Jane Howard, each leaving a unique mark on both realms. Elizabeth Jane Howard's creative collaboration with Robert Aickman resulted in the publication of 'We Are For The Dark,' a collection that marked a significant departure from both authors' conventional works. Released in 1951, the anthology features six ghost stories, three contributed by each author. Notably, the book was published during their romantic relationship. Robert Aickman describes her as “one of the most brilliant [of women]” and a bit of a looker “so beautiful that continuous problems arose, especially when, at a later date, she joined the Association’s Council. Little in the way of completely normal business was possible or sensible, when she was in the room. … By merely existing, she promoted loves and hates which, through no fault of hers, left some who felt them, fevered and wasted”. My reading of Three Miles Up is that it is a modern fairy story where Sharon represents one of the fae and leads them into The Perilous Realm. Fairyland is not always a beautiful alluring place, it can be a place of horror and strangeness. We cannot trust the Good People, no matter how fair they seem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Second Passenger by Basil Copper

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 21:00:00 -0000

Basil Copper, born on February 5, 1924, in London, and passing away on April 3, 2013, was an English writer who initially pursued a career in journalism and newspaper editing before transitioning to full-time authorship in 1970. Beyond his literary pursuits, Copper cultivated diverse interests, including swimming, gardening, travel, sailing, and collecting historic films. Notably, he established the Tunbridge Wells Vintage Film Society and actively participated in esteemed film organizations in London. Basil Copper spent a significant portion of his life in Sevenoaks, Kent, and he was survived by his wife Annie, with whom he entered matrimony in 1960. Basil Copper's literary journey embarked with his inaugural short story, "The Curse," published at the age of 14. His professionally published debut, "The Spider," emerged in the Fifth Pan Book of Horror Stories in 1964. Venturing into novels, Copper made his mark with the Mike Faraday series, beginning with "The Dark Mirror" in 1966. Widely recognized for his series of Solar Pons stories, paying homage to Sherlock Holmes, Copper's association with editor August Derleth resulted in publications through Arkham House. Among his notable works are "Necropolis" (1980), a crossover between Victorian Gothic and detective fiction, and "The Great White Space" (1975), a novel influenced by Edgar Allan Poe and Lovecraft. Copper's macabre tales, including "The Academy of Pain" and "Beyond the Reef," underscored his mastery in horror fiction. His significant contributions earned him a Locus Award nomination in 1981, and in 2009, "Basil Copper: A Life in Books," a biographical work, received the British Fantasy Award for Best Non-Fiction. Basil Copper's literary impact endures, resonating through the realms of horror and detective fiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Premonition by Lewis Darley

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 21:00:00 -0000

Lewis Darley is a copywriter and illustrator living in Nottingham. He contacted me early in 2023 about an animated film he was making for his story The Premonition. This horror story is set in Bristol around 8 years ago. We agreed, I would record the audio and he would then do the long, hard work of animating the film. I said that I thought listeners would be interested in the story and then in him telling us about the project, so seven months after our first contact, we managed to record an interview. The delay was solely down to me, I should say. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the story and the interview afterwards: The Premonition by Lewis Darley Here are some links to Lewis's work Here's some links to my social pages and website: Website: https://www.lewisdarleyillustration.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darleymakesart/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Darleymakesart Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darleymakesart Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Red Lodge by H R Wakefield

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 12:09:00 -0000

Herbert Russell Wakefield (1888 – 2 August 1964) was a distinguished English writer known for his multifaceted contributions to literature. Born in Sandgate, Kent, he was the third child of Henry Russell Wakefield, a clergyman who later became the bishop of Birmingham. Educated at Marlborough College and University College, Oxford, Wakefield exhibited a broad range of talents, achieving second-class honours in Modern History while excelling in sports such as cricket, golf, hockey, and football. His World War I service with the Royal Scots Fusiliers, where he attained the rank of captain, and advocacy for the use of Chinese workers reflected his engagement with global issues. Wakefield's life encompassed roles as a secretary, publisher, and civil servant, and he navigated the complexities of relationships, experiencing divorce and entering into a second marriage with Jessica Sidney Davey. H. R. Wakefield's literary legacy is particularly distinguished by his mastery of ghost stories. As a short-story writer, novelist, and publisher, Wakefield crafted tales that often drew inspiration from his experiences, notably his tenure as chief editor for William Collins, Sons and Co. One of his notable works, "Messrs Turkes and Talbot," exemplifies his ability to infuse the mundane with eerie elements, drawing from the peculiarities of the publishing world. Wakefield's stories, characterized by their atmospheric prose and psychological depth, remain enduring contributions to the supernatural fiction genre. "The Red Lodge," a captivating story by H. R. Wakefield, was featured in his debut short story collection, "They Return at Evening" (1928). Set in a somewhat jaunty 1920s style, the narrative follows a protagonist who rents The Red Lodge, a seemingly charming country house, with his family. Wakefield expertly weaves an unconventional tale, blending social commentary with supernatural elements. The story takes unexpected turns as the protagonist, discontented with the landlord, resolves to expose the house's sinister nature through a consumer complaint. The inclusion of psychic perception, strange occurrences, and a dark history adds depth to the narrative. "The Red Lodge" stands as a testament to Wakefield's ability to transcend conventional ghost story tropes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Irtonwood Ghost by Elinor Glyn

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 21:00:00 -0000

Elinor Glyn, born Elinor Sutherland on October 17, 1864, in Jersey, Channel Islands, was a prominent English novelist and scriptwriter during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She belonged to a wealthy and well-connected family, and her early life was marked by privilege and education. Glyn began her literary career with the publication of her first novel, "The Visits of Elizabeth," in 1899. However, she gained widespread recognition and success with her scandalous and sensational novel, "Three Weeks," published in 1907. The book, which depicted a passionate love affair between a young English aristocrat and an exotic Balkan queen, caused a considerable stir and established Glyn as a controversial figure in literary circles. Throughout her career, Elinor Glyn continued to write novels that explored themes of love, romance, and societal expectations. Some of her other notable works include "Beyond the Rocks" (1906), "Man and Maid" (1922), and "It" (1927). Her writing often delved into the complexities of human relationships, and her characters were known for their sophistication and sensuality. In addition to her literary pursuits, Glyn ventured into Hollywood, where she found success as a screenwriter during the silent film era. She worked on several film adaptations of her own novels, collaborating with renowned actors of the time. Elinor Glyn's impact on popular culture extended beyond her literary achievements. She was recognized as a style icon and a socialite, known for her wit and charm. Despite facing criticism for the perceived risqué content in her novels, Glyn remained a popular and influential figure, contributing to the changing landscape of literature and entertainment during the early 20th century. Elinor Glyn passed away on September 23, 1943, leaving behind a legacy as a trailblazing novelist who challenged societal norms and captured the imaginations of readers with her provocative and romantic storytelling. Her works continue to be studied and appreciated for their contribution to the literary and cultural landscape of her time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Story Of The Goblins Who Stole A Sexton by Charles Dickens

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 13:00:00 -0000

Certainly! "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton" is a short story written by Charles Dickens as part of his collection titled "The Pickwick Papers." The narrative follows Gabriel Grub, a grumpy and ill-tempered sexton (grave digger) in a small village. Gabriel despises Christmas and all its festivities, choosing instead to revel in his solitude. One Christmas Eve, while digging a grave in the churchyard, Gabriel encounters a group of goblins who emerge from the ground. The goblins, led by their king, force Gabriel to join them in their underworld festivities. In this fantastical realm, Gabriel witnesses scenes from his past and present, highlighting his callous behavior and the impact it has had on those around him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Strange Christmas Game by Charlotte Riddell

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 21:00:00 -0000

Charlotte Riddell, born Charlotte Cowan in 1832, was a prolific and accomplished British writer during the Victorian era. She was recognized for her contributions to the literary landscape, particularly in the genres of Gothic fiction and supernatural tales. Riddell began her writing career in the mid-19th century, initially publishing under the pseudonym F. G. Trafford. Her early works demonstrated a keen interest in the mysterious and the macabre, drawing inspiration from the popular Gothic tradition of the time. One of her notable early works is "The Moors and the Fens," a collection of supernatural tales published in 1879. However, it was under her own name that Riddell gained widespread recognition. Her most well-known works include novels such as "George Geith of Fen Court" (1864) and "The Race for Wealth" (1865). These novels explored themes of finance, social class, and the changing landscape of Victorian society. Riddell's literary career was not limited to novels; she was also a prolific short story writer. Her short stories often delved into the eerie and uncanny, earning her a reputation as a skilled writer of ghost stories. Notable collections of her short stories include "Weird Stories" (1882) and "The Uninhabited House" (1875). Beyond her success as a writer, Charlotte Riddell faced the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated literary world. Despite these obstacles, she managed to establish herself as a respected author and editor. Riddell's contributions to the literary landscape of her time were acknowledged, and she became a notable figure in the Victorian literary scene. In addition to her writing, Riddell was involved in editorial work. She co-edited the St. James's Magazine, demonstrating her commitment to fostering literary talent and contributing to the cultural discourse of the era. Charlotte Riddell's literary career spanned several decades, and her works continue to be studied and appreciated by scholars of Victorian literature. Her exploration of the supernatural, combined with astute observations of society, has left a lasting legacy in the realm of 19th-century British literature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bone to His Bone by E. G. Swain

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 21:00:00 -0000

Edmund Gill Swain, born on the 19th of February 1861 in Stockport, Cheshire, was a respected English cleric and author known for his contributions to the ghost story genre. Educated at Manchester Grammar School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Swain pursued Natural Sciences. Ordained as a deacon in 1885 and a priest in 1886 at Rochester, he served as a curate in Camberwell before assuming the role of chaplain at King's College, Cambridge, alongside the notable scholar and author M. R. James. The two shared living quarters within the college, fostering a collegial relationship that extended beyond their professional roles. Swain's duties included teaching at the college's choir school, showcasing his multifaceted engagement in academic life. His literary legacy reached a notable point with the 1912 publication of "The Stoneground Ghost Tales," a collection that demonstrated his skill in the supernatural and positioned him as an early imitator of James, leaving a lasting imprint on the genre. Within the collection, "Bone to His Bone" stands out as a quietly intriguing narrative. Set on a Christmas Eve, the story follows Reverend Bachtel, seeking matches in the dark, only to encounter a mysterious book on gardening. This spectral tome, once owned by a long-departed rector, subtly guides him to a specific spot in the garden. The unfolding events, marked by an understated approach to bibliomancy, reflect Swain's ability to handle hauntings without sensationalism. "Bone to His Bone" quietly underscores Swain's finesse, blending a touch of gentle humor with the supernatural, presenting a nuanced exploration of the ghostly that avoids overstatement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Couching At The Door by D K Broster

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 21:00:00 -0000

Dorothy Kathleen Broster, known by her pen name D.K. Broster, stands as a notable but often overlooked figure in literature, recognized for her exceptional talent in crafting short horror stories. Despite her relative obscurity in contemporary discussions, her contributions to the genre, particularly with works like "Couching at the Door," showcase her prowess in weaving tales of the supernatural. "Couching at the Door," although reprinted numerous times, may not be considered her magnum opus by some. Instead, stories like "Clairvoyance," "The Window," and "From the Abyss" are hailed as hidden gems, overlooked yet deserving of greater recognition. These tales, according to enthusiasts, have stood the test of time, maintaining their eerie allure even in the present day. Born in England in 1877, D.K. Broster led a multifaceted life. Her experiences as a Red Cross nurse during World War I added depth to her writing, and she gained acclaim for her historical novels. However, it is her foray into the supernatural short story genre that captivates readers seeking tales of the macabre. "Couching at the Door" (1933) unfolds the unsettling narrative of a poet haunted by a mysterious fur boa, a spectre from his past misdeeds. The story delves into the psychological realm, employing dream imagery to enhance the eerie atmosphere. The protagonist's desperate attempts to transfer this spectral presence to another add a layer of suspense and intrigue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Gardener by E F Benson

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Hugh and Margaret Grainger rent a lovely old house near a golf course. At the bottom of the garden is a mysterious, well-kept thatched cottage that appears unoccupied.  However, a visitor senses a strange presence within and occasionally sees lights or figures inside. Margaret, fascinated with communicating via planchette, starts receiving odd messages from an entity calling himself "the gardener."  He announces a desire to enter the main house, catapulting the Graingers into disturbing events.  The empty cottage is not so empty after all, and the gardener's unseen presence brings terror to the once-idyllic home.  Through the planchette, Margaret has unlocked a portal between worlds, allowing a malevolent spirit access into the realm of the living. Now the Graingers must confront the implications of meddling with forces beyond their understanding. I was sent the anthology The Dead of Winter https://profilebooks.com/work/the-dead-of-winter/ By profile books. The Gardener by E F Benson is one of ten classic winter ghost stories in that anthology edited by Cecily Gayford.  Thanks to Profile Books for the copy they sent me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Horror Under Penmire by Adrian Cole

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 21:00:00 -0000

Adrian Christopher Synnot Cole, the celebrated British author, was born in Plymouth, England, on July 22, 1949. His early years were shaped by a family sojourn in Malaya due to his father's military service, which instilled in him a passion for the fantasy and science fiction genres. Influenced by literary classics like Tarzan and King Solomon's Mines, as well as cinematic marvels such as "Earth versus the Flying Saucers" and the original "Classics Illustrated War of the Worlds," and the works of Algernon Blackwood, Lovecraft, and Dennis Wheatley, he developed a deep-rooted love for the extraordinary. Adrian Cole's literary journey began when he discovered "The Lord of the Rings" while working in a public library in Birmingham. This masterpiece inspired him to craft his own epic, the "Dream Lords" trilogy. His writing career expanded to encompass ghost stories, horror, and fantasy, leading to the publication of four novels in England. Notably, his captivating tales received recognition in prestigious collections, and his editorial talents shone through in curations. Beyond his literary pursuits, he held various professional roles, including that of a librarian and an educational administrator. Among his many literary contributions, one particularly intriguing story, "The Horror Under Penmire" (1974), stands out. In this chilling tale, the protagonist, Phil, embarks on a quest to locate the mythical town of Penmire in remote Cornwall, following a plea for help from his friend Roy. However, upon his arrival, he finds Roy missing, and the locals deny any knowledge of his whereabouts. Unfazed, Phil stumbles upon Roy's mysterious notations, one of which alludes to the ominous name "Dagon," a reference that resonates profoundly with fans of H.P. Lovecraft's work. This narrative weaves a web of suspense and Lovecraftian intrigue, adding another layer to Adrian Cole's multifaceted literary career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Haunted Haven by A. Erskine Ellis

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 21:00:00 -0000

Arthur Erskine Ellis, born on October 1, 1902, in Bangalore, British India, was a distinguished British biologist and author known for his remarkable contributions in two distinct realms. On the one hand, he was a dedicated scientist who left a lasting legacy in the field of malacology, particularly in the study of non-marine mollusks. His extensive body of work in this area, including numerous publications, established him as an authority in British non-marine malacology. From 1919 to 1961, he also demonstrated his passion for botany by contributing specimens of spermatophytes to various herbariums in Britain. His scientific pursuits reflected his deep appreciation for the natural world and his commitment to preserving its biodiversity. On the other hand, Arthur Erskine Ellis showcased his creative talents as an author, specializing in ghost stories. Notably, one of his notable works, "The Haunted Haven," delves into the supernatural with a chilling narrative set in Ticlas Haven, a fishing village off St. Brides Bay. This story revolves around three surly brothers who commit a heinous act – drowning their parsimonious uncle during a storm at sea in the hopes of inheriting his fortune. However, their plan takes a sinister turn as, within three months of the murder, each brother meets a tragic end. Subsequently, their vengeful, zombie-like spectres terrorize the villagers by embarking on eerie, ghostly journeys in their wrecked fishing smack after dark. The village doctor and innkeeper are compelled to intervene and put an end to the ghostly capers, but the spectres, resentful of interference, continue to haunt the South Haven, creating a chilling and suspenseful tale that is a testament to Ellis's prowess as a writer in the realm of the supernatural. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was a renowned Irish playwright, poet, and author known for his exceptional wit, flamboyant style, and profound contributions to late 19th-century literature. Born in Dublin, Wilde attended Oxford University and soon established himself as a prominent figure in London's literary and social circles. His works, including "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "The Importance of Being Earnest," are celebrated for their clever dialogue, social satire, and exploration of the human condition. Wilde's unique blend of comedy, satire, and poignant commentary on Victorian society made him one of the most influential figures of his time. Unfortunately, his career took a tragic turn when he was convicted of "gross indecency" for his homosexuality, leading to his imprisonment and eventual death in Paris."The Canterville Ghost" is a classic novella penned by Oscar Wilde, first published in 1887. This humorous and haunting tale tells the story of the Otis family, Americans who move into Canterville Chase, a grand old English manor said to be haunted by Sir Simon, a ghost from centuries past. The novella is an exemplary demonstration of Wilde's wit and comedic genius, as he contrasts American pragmatism with British aristocracy and tradition. Wilde's sharp observations and clever humor in "The Canterville Ghost" provide a refreshing take on the traditional ghost story genre, injecting it with a delightful blend of satire and hilarity.Published during Wilde's literary peak, the novella garnered critical acclaim for its innovation and wit, positioning it as a unique departure from the conventional ghost stories of its era. Its humorous exploration of the clash between the Old World and the New World captivated readers. While it did not receive as much attention as some of Wilde's other works, "The Canterville Ghost" remains a cherished piece of literature and a testament to his enduring influence on the literary world. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Horror at Chilton Castle

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Joseph Payne Brennan (1918-1990) was an American writer renowned for his contributions to horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he nurtured his passion for writing from a young age and later pursued his love for literature at Yale University. Brennan's career as a librarian and researcher allowed him to immerse himself in the world of storytelling. In the 1950s and 1960s, he made a significant impact in the speculative fiction realm with his supernatural and psychologically gripping tales.Brennan was a prolific writer, known for his association with the Cthulhu Mythos, a shared universe created by H.P. Lovecraft and others. His works, such as "The Slime," "Levitation," and "The Feaster from Afar," showcased his mastery of eerie atmospheres and profound understanding of the human psyche. As an editor, he co-founded the influential magazine "Macabre" and also pursued his talents in poetry. Even after his passing in 1990, Joseph Payne Brennan's legacy endures, as his vivid storytelling and terrifying narratives continue to captivate and inspire fans of horror and fantasy literature. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back From The Grave by Robert Silverberg

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Robert Silverberg, born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 15, 1935, is a highly esteemed author known for his significant contributions to the world of speculative fiction. With a career spanning several decades, Silverberg's journey into the literary world began in his early teenage years when he started submitting stories to science fiction magazines. He graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature in 1956, all while crafting stories that would earn him recognition as the "best new writer" with his first Hugo Award that same year. Notably, Silverberg's prolific output during the 1950s and 1960s, with an average of five published stories per month, established him as a prominent figure in the genre.However, in the late 1950s, Silverberg diversified his writing efforts to other genres due to changes in the science fiction market. This period saw him prolifically producing works under various pseudonyms, including a substantial collection of erotic novels published as "Don Elliott." His transition to exploring more literary themes began in the 1960s, a shift marked by his association with the "New Wave" movement and a renewed focus on character development and social depth. Later in his life, after experiencing personal challenges, he retired from writing in 1975 but returned with renewed vigor in 1980 with the acclaimed "Lord Valentine's Castle." In 2005, he received the prestigious title of SFWA Grand Master from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, cementing his legacy in the genre.During this period, Silverberg produced a string of critically acclaimed novels, including "To Open the Sky," "Downward to the Earth," "To Live Again," "The World Inside," and "Dying Inside." These works showcased his ability to merge profound themes with gripping narratives and garnered him multiple Hugo and Nebula Award nominations and wins. His return to writing in 1980 with "Lord Valentine's Castle" marked the beginning of the beloved Majipoor series, known for its intricate world-building and rich character development. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Graveyard Rats by Henry Kuttner

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 23:00:00 -0000

"The Graveyard Rats" stands as a testament to Henry Kuttner's exceptional storytelling prowess. This eerie tale, originally published in the March 1936 issue of Weird Tales, immerses readers in the haunting atmosphere of ancient Salem cemeteries. Kuttner expertly crafts a narrative that blends elements of horror and the supernatural, skillfully intertwining the unsettling presence of abnormally large rats with whispered legends of subterranean, inhuman entities. As readers venture deeper into the story's dark recesses, they are drawn into a world where the boundary between the natural and the supernatural blurs, evoking an eerie sense of foreboding and eldritch horror.Henry Kuttner, the creative genius behind "The Graveyard Rats," was a prolific American writer celebrated for his contributions to the science fiction and fantasy genres during the mid-20th century. Born in 1915 in Los Angeles, California, Kuttner's literary career began in the 1930s, coinciding with the Golden Age of Science Fiction. His versatility as a writer allowed him to excel in a wide range of speculative fiction sub-genres, from space opera to supernatural horror. Kuttner is particularly renowned for his collaborations with his wife, C.L. Moore, under various pseudonyms, producing a remarkable body of work that left a lasting impact on the world of speculative fiction.While Henry Kuttner's life was tragically cut short at the age of 42 in 1958, his legacy endures through his imaginative storytelling and thought-provoking themes. His work continues to captivate and inspire both fans and scholars, cementing his place as a revered figure in the history of speculative fiction. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Beast of Averoigne by Clark Ashton Smith

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Clark Ashton Smith (1893–1961) was an American writer and artist known for his unique contributions to literature and art. - Born on January 13, 1893, in Long Valley, California, Smith came from a family of English and New England heritage.- He spent most of his life in Auburn, California, where he lived in a cabin built by his parents, Fanny and Timeus Smith.- Due to psychological disorders, Smith's formal education was limited, and he was taught at home after attending eight years of grammar school.- Smith was an insatiable reader with an extraordinary eidetic memory, and he read voraciously, including works by Edgar Allan Poe, Hans Christian Andersen, and others.- He even read the entire 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica twice.- Smith's early literary efforts included fairy tales and imitations of the Arabian Nights, which he began writing at the age of 11.- He sold several tales to "The Black Cat," a magazine specializing in unusual stories, at the age of 17.- Smith's poetic talents blossomed, leading to acclaimed volumes like "The Star-Treader and Other Poems" and "Odes and Sonnets."- He was mentored by San Francisco poet George Sterling and gained international acclaim for his poetry.**Weird Fiction Phase: 1926–1935**- Smith transitioned to weird fiction during this period, possibly influenced by H.P. Lovecraft.- He created a plethora of imaginative creatures and wrote stories set in various fictional lands like Averoigne, Hyperborea, and Zothique.**Sculpture Period: 1935–1961**- Smith's interest in fiction waned, and he turned to sculpture, primarily using soft rock materials like soapstone.**Notable Literary Friendships:**- Smith was a part of the Lovecraft circle and had a lasting literary friendship with H.P. Lovecraft.- He corresponded with fellow writers like Robert E. Howard and E. Hoffmann Price.**Legacy and Unique Contributions:**- Clark Ashton Smith's work is celebrated for its rich vocabulary, cosmic perspective, and sardonic humor.- His weird fiction has been compared to the Dying Earth sequence of Jack Vance.- Smith's writing style aimed to captivate readers by using a variety of stylistic resources, akin to incantations.**Later Life and Marriage:**- In 1954, at the age of 61, Smith married Carol(yn) Jones Dorman, a woman with experience in Hollywood and radio public relations.- They lived in Pacific Grove, California, and Smith continued sculpting during this period.**Passing and Legacy:**- In 1961, Smith passed away quietly in his sleep at the age of 68.- His ashes were buried near his childhood home, and plaques recognizing his contributions have been erected in Auburn, California.Clark Ashton Smith's life was marked by a fascinating blend of artistic pursuits, from poetry and weird fiction to sculpture. His imaginative worlds and unique style continue to captivate readers and stand as a testament to his enduring legacy in the realms of literature and art. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good Lady Ducayne by M E Braddon

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Mary Elizabeth Braddon (4 October 1835 – 4 February 1915) was a renowned English novelist of the Victorian era, celebrated for her sensational works. Her most famous creation, "Lady Audley's Secret," published in 1862, achieved both literary acclaim and multiple adaptations on stage and screen.Born in Soho, London, Braddon received a private education. Her parents, Henry and Fanny, separated when she was just five years old due to her father's infidelity. At the age of ten, her brother Edward Braddon departed for India and later became the Premier of Tasmania. To support herself and her mother, Mary worked as an actress for three years, befriending Clara and Adelaide Biddle during this period. Although they had minor roles, acting provided her with a means of livelihood until her growing interest in writing novels led her away from the stage.In April 1861, Mary met John Maxwell (1824–1895), a publisher of periodicals, and moved in with him. However, Maxwell was already married to Mary Ann Crowley and had five children with her. While Mary and Maxwell lived together as a couple, Crowley resided with her family. In 1864, Maxwell attempted to legitimize their relationship by publicly claiming they were married, but this was refuted by Richard Brinsley Knowles, Mary's brother-in-law, who revealed that Maxwell's true wife was still alive. Mary acted as a stepmother to Maxwell's children until 1874 when Maxwell's wife passed away, and they were finally able to marry at St. Bride's Church in Fleet Street. Together, they had six children: Gerald, Fanny, Francis, William, Winifred Rosalie, and Edward Herry Harrington.Fanny Margaret Maxwell, their eldest daughter, married the naturalist Edmund Selous in 1886. In the 1920s, they resided in Wyke Castle, where Fanny established a local branch of the Woman's Institute in 1923 and served as its first president.The second eldest son, William Babington Maxwell, went on to become a novelist in his own right, leaving his mark in the literary world.Mary Elizabeth Braddon passed away on 4 February 1915 in Richmond, then in Surrey, and was laid to rest in Richmond Cemetery. Her former residence, Lichfield House, situated in the town center, was replaced by Lichfield Court, a block of flats, in 1936. A plaque in Richmond parish church commemorates her as "Miss Braddon." Additionally, several nearby streets are named after characters from her novels, as her husband was involved in property development in the area. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hand of M R James by Sarah Tolmie

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 23:00:00 -0000

It's been a long time since I’ve read a story by a living author. This story, “The Hand of M. R. James,” was written by Canadian author Sarah Tolmie, and it deals with a very strange occurrence—you may call it a haunting—that happens to an academic during the COVID pandemic. After the story, I ask Sarah about herself, about this story, and about her book Sacraments for the Unfit, from which collection, The Hand of M. R. James is taken. You can learn more about Sarah from her website Sarah Tolmie http://sarahtolmie.ca/ You can read reviews of the the book Sacraments For The Unfit and find links to buy it via this link http://sarahtolmie.ca/sacramentsReviews.html New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Crimson Weaver by R. Murray Gilchrist

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Robert Murray Gilchrist, born on November 29, 1867, in Sheffield, England, was a Victorian writer whose literary contributions remain an intriguing enigma within the realm of Gothic and Decadent fiction. Educated at Sheffield Royal Grammar School and privately tutored, Gilchrist's inclination toward reclusiveness and introspection shaped his literary style. Despite publishing 22 novels and around a hundred short stories, his work, set predominantly in the early 1700s, reflects a unique blend of Gothic, Decadent, and weird sensibilities.An Analysis of "The Crimson Weaver" Story Through the Lens of Jungian Archetypal Psychology"The Crimson Weaver," one of Gilchrist's haunting tales, can be analyzed through the lens of Jungian archetypal psychology, revealing the story's hidden depths. The story's archetypal elements align with Carl Jung's concepts of the collective unconscious and its symbols. The Master and the servant, symbolizing conscious and unconscious aspects of the psyche, embark on a journey into the unknown, entering the Domain of the Crimson Weaver. The old woman's warning echoes the archetype of the wise crone, guiding them toward a confrontation with the Shadow—a dark, repressed aspect of the self.The Crimson Weaver herself embodies the anima archetype, representing the feminine and intuitive aspects of the unconscious. Her seductive allure and her weaving of lives on a loom point to her role as a life-giving and life-taking figure, reflecting the anima's dual nature.The setting, including the Domain and the enchanted land, symbolizes the liminal space between conscious and unconscious realms, akin to the archetypal threshold where transformation occurs. The strange beasts and grotesque creatures evoke the presence of the Shadow, embodying repressed fears and desires.The Master's lost love that he keeps as a shrine in his heart appears to be a kind of sacrifice. Is it this hankering that the Crimson Weaver feeds on???The Master's disappearance and the servant's encounter with the Weaver can be interpreted as a confrontation with the anima's transformative power. The Master's forgotten memory echoes the loss of the conscious ego in the face of the unconscious. The final union with the Weaver and the image of the vulture-legged woman signify a symbolic death and rebirth—a transformation of the ego through embracing the anima's influence.In "The Crimson Weaver," Gilchrist weaves a narrative that taps into the profound archetypal currents of the human psyche. His story becomes a tapestry of psychological symbols, inviting readers to explore the deeper layers of their own unconscious and engage with the universal themes that lie beneath the surface of the narrative. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lost Room by Fitz James O'Brien

Sat, 23 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0000

Fitz James O'Brien (1828 – April 6, 1862) was an Irish-American writer, best known for his works in the genre of science fiction and fantasy. Born in Cork, Ireland, he migrated to the United States in 1852 after squandering his inheritance. O'Brien settled in New York City and began his writing career which took off with his contributions to Harper's Magazine and the New York Saturday Press. He quickly gained popularity for his strange and imaginative stories. His most recognized works include "The Diamond Lens" and "What Was It? A Mystery", both of which are considered early contributions to the science fiction genre. While O'Brien's literary career was on the rise, the American Civil War broke out. He joined the Union Army in 1861 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Despite his talents as a writer, his military career was short-lived. In February 1862, he was injured in a skirmish and contracted tetanus from his wounds. He died on April 6, 1862, leaving behind a significant body of work that continues to be admired for its innovative and imaginative qualities. Visit us here: www.ghostpod.org Buy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker If you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcud Music by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Struwwelpeter by Tony Walker

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 23:00:00 -0000

People have been asking for more of my own stories, so here's one. However, I have to warn you that I use the f-word in it and it is rather dark. It's possibly as dark as my Whitehaven Bodysnatcher, plus it has swearing (though it is necessary for the character I feel). So, if you prefer my sweeter stories, or don't like that word being used, I would avoid this one. It all starts with a man going walking in the Black Forest in Germany... New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Werewolf by Eugene Field

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Step into the mysterious realm of Eugene Field's short story "The Werewolf." 🌕 This narrative unfolds a tale of love and lycanthropy, revolving around a haunting love triangle. The characters of Harold, Alfred, and the captivating Saxon maiden Yseult are entwined in a complex dance of emotions. Harold, cursed to carry the lineage of a werewolf, traces his ancestry back to the legendary Siegfried. With a unique twist on the traditional werewolf motif, Field's story takes us on a journey through love, curses, and the eerie legacy of lycanthropy.Meet the creative mind behind "The Werewolf," Eugene Field. 🖋️ Renowned as an American writer, Field's artistic journey flourished from his St. Louis roots. A master of children's poetry and humorous essays, he left an indelible mark on literature. Field's life led him through the realm of journalism, where his wit shone in his articles. His legacy extends beyond his words, with statues, parks, and institutions honoring his influence. Join us in exploring the life of Eugene Field and his captivating tale of "The Werewolf."#EugeneField #TheWerewolf #LoveTriangle #Lycanthropy #SiegfriedLegacy #AmericanWriter #LiteraryLegacy #CreativeMind #LiteraryTale #LoveAndCurses New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whitewash and The Empty Berth by Rose Macauley

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Thank you to Jay Rothermel for suggesting I read these stories. You can read his take on them here:[https://jayrothermel.substack.com/p/two-stories-by-rose-macaulay-1881]Dame Emilie Rose Macaulay, born on August 1, 1881, in Rugby, Warwickshire, England, emerged as a distinctive figure in 20th-century literature. The daughter of George Campbell Macaulay, a classical scholar, and Grace Mary Conybeare, her upbringing was imbued with a scholarly aura that would lay the foundation for her intellectual pursuits. She attended Oxford High School for Girls before studying Modern History at Somerville College, Oxford University.Macaulay's literary journey was marked by a remarkable transformation. From her early struggles with depression, she transitioned into a prolific novelist known for her incisive commentary on society and relationships. This transition is especially fascinating when considered alongside her complex relationships, her private life, and her evolving religious and philosophical beliefs.Macaulay's religious journey was far from linear. Her exploration of faith went beyond the boundaries of traditional Christianity, reflecting a mystical sense of the Divine. While her spiritual convictions evolved, she did not return to the Anglican church until 1953. This complex relationship with religion is reflected in her works, where themes of Christianity often intertwined with skepticism and satire. Her novels, including "Potterism" (1920) and "Keeping Up Appearances," demonstrated her ability to dissect societal norms, often with a satirical edge.Her personal life was marked by a clandestine affair with Gerald O'Donovan, a lapsed Irish priest and fellow novelist. This intricate relationship spanned over two decades and remained a secret from many, even her closest friends. Macaulay's own ambivalence toward her sexuality added another layer of complexity to her identity, influencing her writing and the themes she explored.Macaulay's relationships within literary circles were equally captivating. She fostered connections with prominent writers such as Rupert Brooke and Elizabeth Bowen, often leaving her imprint on their narratives. Her role as a patron and supporter of emerging talents showcased her nurturing spirit, even as her own literary prowess continued to grow.Her impact extended to journalism, where she contributed to magazines like Time & Tide and the Spectator. Her engagement with contemporary issues, including her support for the League of Nations, underscored her commitment to global harmony.Macaulay's work often grappled with the tension between individual freedom and societal responsibilities. Her novel "The World My Wilderness" (1950) exemplified this theme, as it navigated war-torn landscapes and internal struggles. The contrast between private introspection and public involvement became a defining motif in her literary explorations.Dame Emilie Rose Macaulay's legacy is a testament to the interplay of faith, identity, and relationships in shaping artistic expression. Her intricate journey through religious and philosophical landscapes, her intricate relationships with other literary figures, and her prolific body of work continue to captivate readers and scholars alike. As a figure who wove threads of complexity into the fabric of literature, she s New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Schalken The Painter by J Sheridan Le Fanu

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 20:00:00 -0000

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-1873) was an Irish writer and one of the leading ghost story writers of the 19th century. Born into a literary family in Dublin, he studied law and became a journalist. Le Fanu's first published story appeared in 1838. In 1844, he married Susanna Bennett and had four children. Following his wife's death in 1858, Le Fanu withdrew from society for a period of time. However, during the 1860s and 1870s, he produced his most notable supernatural fiction, including the acclaimed short story collection "In a Glass Darkly" (1872) and the vampire novella "Carmilla" (1871). Le Fanu's ghost stories, such as "Green Tea," "The Familiar," and "Mr Justice Harbottle," earned him admiration from fellow writers like M.R. James. Although he also wrote novels, journalism, and poetry, Le Fanu's reputation predominantly rests on his chilling tales of the supernatural. He passed away in Dublin in 1873 at the age of 58. Today, Le Fanu is regarded as one of the pioneers and masters of supernatural horror fiction. His work greatly influenced subsequent writers, including Bram Stoker, who drew inspiration from Le Fanu's vampire story, "Carmilla."Schalken The Painter Analysis In "Schalken The Painter," Vanderhausen can be seen as a representation of the shadow archetype, embodying the dark, repressed, and sinister aspects of the characters Douw and Schalken. The shadow is a psychological concept in Jungian theory that represents the hidden, suppressed, and often undesirable aspects of the psyche. It holds the unacknowledged fears, desires, and weaknesses that individuals may project onto others.Full analysis and links herehttps://www.ghostpod.org/2023/07/15/schalken-the-painter-by-j-sheridan-le-fanu/ New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House of The Dead Hand by Edith Wharton

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Edith Wharton was born Edith Newbold Jones on January 24, 1862, into a wealthy New York family. She was a prolific writer, known for her insightful and critical portrayal of the American upper class. Her most famous works include "The Age of Innocence," "Ethan Frome," and "The House of Mirth." Wharton was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1921. She was also a keen designer, traveler, and a dedicated supporter of French efforts during World War I, for which she was awarded the French Legion of Honor.The Story and Its Context: "The House of the Dead Hand" was published in 1904, a time when Wharton was beginning to establish herself as a serious writer. This was a period of significant personal and social change for Wharton. She was beginning to question the constraints of her privileged New York society, and these themes of societal constraints and personal freedom are evident in the story. The story also reflects Wharton's love for Italy and her deep knowledge of art and culture. "The House of the Dead Hand" by Edith Wharton is a compelling exploration of power dynamics, personal freedom, and the enduring influence of the past. The story centers around Miss Lombard, a woman trapped by her father's control and his obsession with a Leonardo da Vinci painting. Even after her father's death, she remains ensnared by his influence, symbolized by the painting she cannot sell. This narrative can be seen as a critique of patriarchal control, reflecting Wharton's own questioning of societal constraints. From a Freudian perspective, Miss Lombard's complex relationship with her father can be interpreted as a manifestation of the Elektra complex. The story also incorporates elements of Jungian psychology, with the painting serving as a powerful symbol of the unconscious. Wharton's narrative structure effectively builds tension, foreshadows dramatic events, and delivers a chilling twist, leaving a lasting impression of Miss Lombard's despair and entrapment. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New Catacomb by Arthur Conan Doyle

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Arthur Conan Doyle's "The New Catacomb" is a chilling exploration of the themes of revenge, betrayal, and obsession, all set against the haunting backdrop of Rome's ancient catacombs. With its strong atmospheric build-up and a shocking climax, the story delivers a compelling narrative, though it falls short in terms of character development and narrative clarity.Conan Doyle masterfully employs the theme of revenge, manifest in Burger's calculated plot against his friend and rival Kennedy. It's an example of karma, with Kennedy becoming the victim of the same callous behavior he displayed towards Mary Saunderson, Burger's fiancée. Burger's obsession with his revenge plot, which he meticulously executes under the guise of archaeological discovery, adds another layer of complexity to his character.Betrayal is a constant undercurrent in this tale. Kennedy's betrayal of Mary Saunderson and, by extension, Burger, sets the stage for the dramatic climax, while Burger's act of leaving Kennedy alone in the catacomb is a striking mirror image of this betrayal. The irony of Kennedy, the heartbreaker, accusing Burger of mistreating Mary Saunderson is not lost on the reader and adds an interesting dynamic to the plot.The story excels in creating a palpable sense of claustrophobia and tension within the catacomb's dark confines. However, the intricacies of the catacomb's layout can become confusing, causing disorientation and detracting from the overall narrative experience.One of the strengths of this story lies in the surprising revelation about Mary Saunderson's engagement, which adds a twist to the narrative. This unexpected element of surprise showcases Conan Doyle's ability to keep readers on their toes.The characterization, however, leaves room for improvement. While Kennedy is convincingly portrayed as an obsessed but callous archaeologist, his motivations remain unclear, making him a less sympathetic protagonist. Similarly, Burger's vengeful rigidness, though compelling, could benefit from additional depth.The ending, while providing a neat closure with Burger's false newspaper story, also seems to tie the narrative too abruptly. Further exploration of Mary Saunderson's perspective would have added a valuable dimension to the story.In conclusion, "The New Catacomb," while not Conan Doyle's most nuanced work in terms of character development, remains an engaging short story. Its gripping narrative, marked by an atmospheric setting and a plot filled with revenge, betrayal, and irony, ensures an entertaining read. The story's major strengths lie in its sense of atmosphere and suspense, while its character development and narrative clarity could use some refinement. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All Hallows by Walter de La Mare

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Walter de La Mare (1873-1956) was an English poet, novelist, and short story writer known for his imaginative and evocative works. Born on April 25, 1873, in London, de La Mare began writing poetry and short stories during the 1890s while working as a bookkeeper. Despite not being a regular churchgoer, he held strong cultural Christianity and drew upon biblical themes and imagery in his writing.De La Mare's literary career took off with the publication of his first major work, the poetry collection "Songs of Childhood" in 1902. This collection showcased his romantic sensibilities, emphasizing intuition, deep emotion, and spiritual truths often associated with childhood. His poetic style was marked by rich imagery, lyrical language, and a sense of mystery. De La Mare's work gained recognition for its exploration of the supernatural and the depths of the human psyche. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An Account of Some Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street by J S Le Fanu

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Prepare for a chilling journey as we delve into the eerie world of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's "An Account of Some Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street." This Victorian ghost story, set in a haunted house in Dublin, is a masterclass in suspense and terror. Two medical students move into an old house, only to be plagued by nightmares and haunted by the apparition of a cruel old man. As the terror escalates, they must confront the sinister legacy that lingers within the house's walls. Le Fanu's ghost is not a typical Victorian specter seeking justice, but a malevolent entity that continues to inflict harm even after death. This departure from the norm adds a unique twist to the tale, making it a standout in the genre. Le Fanu's view of the world as chaotic and unpredictable is reflected in his portrayal of the supernatural. In his universe, the supernatural is not a force for justice or equilibrium, but a source of further chaos and violence. Join us for a captivating narration of one of the most compelling ghost stories of the Victorian era. Will the students escape the horrors of Aungier Street? Tune in to find out.LinksMy new book: The Poisoned Rose (affiliate)https://amzn.to/3ro9StDTourlough Conmee's Dublin Dialect Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@dublindialect3168My Late Night Sleep Radio Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCprCE02DXiC1f3chbtnZFqQ New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Negotium Perambulans by E. F. Benson

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Prepare to be captivated by E.F. Benson's haunting tale, 'Negotium Perambulans.' Join us as we journey into the depths of a mysterious fishing village in West Cornwall, where supernatural forces lurk in the shadows. In this chilling story, a young man's return to his childhood home unearths dark secrets and encounters with a malevolent creature known as 'Negotium Perambulans.' With elements of Gothic horror and psychological suspense, this atmospheric narrative explores themes of sin, punishment, and the blurred boundaries between the natural and the supernatural. Join us for a spine-tingling reading that will leave you questioning the nature of evil itself.  New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Horror of The Heights by Arthur Conan Doyle

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a renowned British writer and physician, best known for creating the famous detective character Sherlock Holmes. He was born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh, Scotland, to Charles Altamont Doyle and Mary Foley Doyle. Doyle's early education took place at the Jesuit preparatory school of Hodder Place and Stonyhurst College. Later, he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and graduated in 1881. After completing his medical studies, Conan Doyle worked as a ship's doctor on various voyages, including a whaling expedition to the Arctic. He also served as a surgeon on a British steamship traveling to West Africa. These experiences provided him with a rich source of inspiration for his future writing. Conan Doyle's career as a writer took off when he began publishing short stories and novels. His most notable creation, Sherlock Holmes, made his first appearance in the novel "A Study in Scarlet" in 1887. The character of Holmes, with his keen powers of observation and deductive reasoning, quickly became immensely popular among readers. Sherlock Holmes' popularity led Conan Doyle to write numerous stories and novels featuring the detective and his loyal companion, Dr. John Watson. The adventures of Sherlock Holmes, including classics like "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," made Conan Doyle one of the most widely read and celebrated authors of his time. Despite his success with the Sherlock Holmes stories, Conan Doyle felt constrained by the detective's popularity and wished to focus on more serious literary work. In an attempt to distance himself from Holmes, he famously killed off the character in the story "The Final Problem." However, due to public outcry and popular demand, Conan Doyle eventually resurrected Holmes in later stories. Apart from his detective fiction, Conan Doyle also wrote historical novels, science fiction, plays, and non-fiction works on a variety of subjects. He was a prolific writer, producing over fifty books, countless short stories, and numerous articles throughout his career. In addition to his literary pursuits, Conan Doyle was deeply interested in spiritualism and the supernatural. He became a prominent advocate for spiritualism, even participating in seances and investigating alleged paranormal phenomena. This interest often brought him into conflict with skeptics and critics. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's contributions to literature and popular culture were widely recognized during his lifetime. In 1902, he was knighted by King Edward VII for his services as a volunteer army doctor during the Boer War. Conan Doyle passed away on July 7, 1930, at the age of 71, leaving behind a rich legacy of detective fiction and captivating storytelling that continues to captivate readers worldwide. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Room In The Tower by E F Benson (2023 Recording)

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 15:00:00 -0000

I've done this terrifying story by E F Benson before, but that was in 2019 and the sound wasn't great. Thanks to my supporters, I have much better sound equpiment now and I hope I'm a better narrator. I hope you like itIn this edge-of-your-seat episode, Tony Walker plunges into the sinister world of E.F. Benson's haunting story. Our protagonist, an unnamed young man, is plagued by an eerie recurring nightmare. In his dream, he visits a friend's foreboding home, inhabited by an ever-changing roster of silent and grim figures. Foremost among them is the unsettling Mrs. Stone, who persistently assigns him a room in the tower - a room that fills him with an indescribable dread. As the characters in the dream grow older and more bizarre over time, the terror continues to twist and turn. But the real question remains: What truly lurks in the room in the tower? Why does it inspire such fear? New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Deadfall by Ted Hughes

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Thanks to Gavin Critchley for sponsoring this episode!Ted Hughes (1930-1998) was an English poet and writer who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential poets of the 20th century. He was born on August 17, 1930, in Mytholmroyd, Yorkshire, England. Hughes had a deep connection with nature from an early age, which played a significant role in his poetry. He attended Mexborough Grammar School and later won a scholarship to study English at Pembroke College, Cambridge. During his time at Cambridge, he met fellow poet Sylvia Plath, whom he married in 1956. In 1957, Hughes' first collection of poetry, "The Hawk in the Rain," was published to critical acclaim. The collection established him as a major poetic voice and set the tone for his subsequent work. His poetry was often marked by its visceral and powerful imagery, exploring themes of nature, myth, and the human experience. Hughes and Plath had two children together before their marriage ended in separation in 1962 and later in divorce in 1963. Tragically, Plath took her own life in 1963. The events surrounding their relationship and Plath's suicide deeply affected Hughes and became a central theme in his work. Hughes served as the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1984 until his death in 1998. Throughout his career, he published numerous collections of poetry, including "Wodwo" (1967), "Crow" (1970), and "Birthday Letters" (1998), which explored his relationship with Plath. His work often drew inspiration from mythology, folklore, and the natural world, and he had a distinctive and powerful voice that resonated with readers and fellow poets. In addition to his poetry, Hughes also wrote plays, prose, and children's literature. His most famous children's book is "The Iron Man" (1968), which has been adapted into various forms, including a stage play and an animated film. Ted Hughes received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1974 and the T. S. Eliot Prize for Poetry in 1998. His contribution to English literature continues to be celebrated, and his poetry remains influential to this day. Sadly, Ted Hughes passed away on October 28, 1998, in London, England, but his legacy as one of the most significant poets of the 20th century lives on. Regenerate response New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Golden Bough by David H Keller

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 23:00:00 -0000

David H. Keller was an American author known for his contributions to science fiction and pulp magazines during the early 20th century. He was born on December 23, 1880, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Keller pursued a career in medicine and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a medical degree in 1903. He worked as a general practitioner, specializing in the treatment of mental disorders. Despite his medical profession, Keller had a strong passion for writing. He began his literary career by submitting stories to various pulp magazines, where he gained recognition for his unique blend of science fiction, horror, and fantasy elements. Keller's writing often explored psychological and sociological themes, displaying his background in medicine and his interest in human behavior. In 1928, Keller published one of his most famous works, a novella titled "The Revolt of the Pedestrians." The story depicted a future society where automobiles ruled, and pedestrians were marginalized. It was highly regarded for its social commentary and futuristic vision. Keller continued to write and publish numerous short stories, novelettes, and novellas throughout his career, earning him a dedicated following. One of Keller's notable contributions to the science fiction genre was his series of short stories featuring the character T.H.E. Cat. T.H.E. Cat, an acronym for The Human Electro, was a scientist with the ability to transfer his consciousness into different bodies. These stories often explored ethical and philosophical questions related to identity and consciousness. Keller's writing career slowed down in the 1940s and 1950s as he faced personal and financial challenges. He struggled with health issues and experienced difficulties in finding publishers for his work. Despite these setbacks, Keller's influence on the science fiction genre remained significant, as his stories often delved into psychological and societal aspects that were ahead of their time. David H. Keller passed away on July 13, 1966, in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, leaving behind a legacy as an early pioneer of science fiction and a writer who explored the human condition through his imaginative tales. While his work may have been overlooked by mainstream literary circles, Keller's contributions to the genre continue to be appreciated by science fiction enthusiasts and scholars who recognize his unique voice and forward-thinking ideas. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ringing The Changes by Robert Aickman

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Robert AickmanRobert Aickman was a British author best known for his highly influential and distinctive contributions to the genre of supernatural fiction. Born on June 27, 1914, in London, England, Aickman spent much of his life exploring his passion for writing and exploring the depths of the human psyche through his unique brand of storytelling.Aickman's early life was marked by a fascination with the strange and macabre. As a child, he developed an interest in ghost stories and the supernatural, which would later become significant themes in his works. He attended Highgate School in London and went on to study law at Cambridge University, although he eventually chose not to pursue a legal career.Instead, Aickman became deeply involved in various literary endeavors. He co-founded the Inland Waterways Association, an organization dedicated to preserving Britain's canal systems, and served as its chairman for many years. This passion for the waterways and their mysteries would find its way into some of his stories, where canals often serve as eerie and unsettling settings.Aickman's writing career began in the late 1940s, and he initially focused on non-fiction. He worked as a critic, reviewer, and editor, writing for magazines such as the London Mercury and the Times Literary Supplement. During this time, he became acquainted with many prominent literary figures, including J.R.R. Tolkien, who became a friend and a source of inspiration.However, it was in the realm of short stories that Aickman truly made his mark. His first collection, "We Are for the Dark," was published in 1951, followed by several other collections over the years. Aickman's stories are characterized by their atmospheric prose, subtle psychological horror, and an emphasis on the uncanny and the unknown. His tales often feature ordinary characters thrust into extraordinary and unsettling situations, where the line between reality and the supernatural becomes blurred.Aickman's writing gained critical acclaim and a devoted following, particularly among fellow authors and aficionados of weird fiction. His unique style and narrative approach set him apart from other writers of his time. His works have been praised for their ability to evoke a sense of unease and disquietude, exploring the hidden fears and desires lurking beneath the surface of everyday life.Although Aickman's writing career was relatively short-lived, spanning roughly three decades, his impact on the genre cannot be overstated. He received numerous accolades for his contributions, including the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1981. Despite this recognition, Aickman's work remained somewhat underappreciated during his lifetime, but his reputation has grown steadily in the years since his death.Robert Aickman passed away on February 26, 1981, in London, leaving behind a rich legacy of unsettling and enigmatic tales. His stories continue to captivate readers with their haunting atmosphere, intricate subtleties, and exploration of the strange and inexplicable. Aickman's unique vision and distinctive voice ensure his enduring place as one of the most original and influential authors in the realm of supernatural fiction. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House With The Brick-Kiln by E. F. Benson

Thu, 25 May 2023 23:00:00 -0000

n this classic ghost story by E.F. Benson, two friends rent an idyllic country house for a month of fishing, only to find themselves haunted by a malevolent presence. As the strange occurrences escalate, they begin to uncover the dark secrets of the house and its former occupants. This eerie tale will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Narrated with audiobook quality, this reading of "The House With The Brick-Kiln" is perfect for fans of classic horror and ghost stories. Sit back, relax, and let the haunting tale unfold in your ears. Hashtags:#horror #ghoststory #audiobook #classicliterature #EFBenson #hauntedhouse #spooky #creepy #reading #narration #horrorfiction #audiobooks New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Madam Crowl's Ghost by J S Le Fanu

Thu, 18 May 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu was an Irish writer born on August 28, 1814, in Dublin, Ireland. He was the third son of a Protestant family with French origins. Le Fanu received his early education at Trinity College, Dublin, but left before finishing his degree to pursue a career in journalism. He quickly established himself as a successful writer, publishing stories in various magazines and newspapers. In the 1840s, Le Fanu began to focus more on fiction writing, and his works began to gain wider recognition. His most famous novel, "Uncle Silas," was published in 1864 and is considered a classic of Victorian Gothic literature. Other notable works include "In a Glass Darkly" and "Carmilla." Le Fanu's writing style was characterized by a strong sense of atmosphere and suspense, often incorporating supernatural elements. He was known for his ability to create vivid and memorable characters, particularly his strong female protagonists. Despite his success as a writer, Le Fanu's personal life was marked by tragedy. He lost his wife and infant daughter to childbirth complications, and his health began to decline in the late 1860s. He died on February 7, 1873, at the age of 58, leaving behind a legacy as one of Ireland's most important literary figures. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Voice In The Night by William Hope Hodgson

Thu, 11 May 2023 23:00:00 -0000

This episode features an audiobook reading of William Hope Hodgson's classic horror story, "The Voice in the Night." The story is set on a small sailing vessel in the North Pacific Ocean and centers around a mysterious voice calling out from the darkness. The audiobook reading is filled with suspense and tension, as the characters encounter strange and unsettling occurrences on a deserted island. Listeners will be transported to a world of terror and horror as they follow the story to its chilling conclusion.  #TheVoiceInTheNight, #horrorstory, #audiobook, and #WilliamHopeHodgson. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Honeysuckle Cottage by P. G. Wodehouse

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 23:00:00 -0000

P. G. Wodehouse Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, popularly known as P. G. Wodehouse, was a British humorist and author who was born on October 15, 1881, in Guildford, Surrey, England. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest comic writers in English literature and is best known for his humorous and cleverly written novels and short stories featuring the characters of Jeeves and Wooster, Psmith, and Blandings Castle. Wodehouse was the son of a British judge who worked in Hong Kong. His mother was a talented writer who encouraged his love of reading and writing. Wodehouse was educated at Dulwich College and later at the University of Oxford. However, he left the university without completing his degree and decided to pursue a career as a writer. Wodehouse started his writing career as a journalist and humorist for various magazines and newspapers, including Punch and The Strand Magazine. His first book, The Pothunters, was published in 1902, and he went on to publish over 90 books, including novels, collections of short stories, and plays. In 1914, Wodehouse moved to the United States, where he continued to write and became a popular figure in the literary and social circles of New York. During World War II, Wodehouse was living in France, and he was taken prisoner by the Germans. He spent several months in a detention camp and was later released, but the controversy surrounding his imprisonment caused him to leave England and move permanently to the United States. Throughout his career, Wodehouse's writing was celebrated for its wit, humor, and impeccable comic timing. His characters, such as the hapless Bertie Wooster and his valet Jeeves, became iconic figures in popular culture and are still widely recognized today. Wodehouse was awarded numerous honors during his lifetime, including knighthood in 1975, but he is perhaps best remembered for his contributions to the world of humorous literature. Wodehouse continued to write until his death on February 14, 1975, at the age of 93. Today, his works are still beloved by readers around the world and are considered timeless classics of English literature. Despite his immense popularity as a writer, Wodehouse was not immune to controversy. In particular, his decision to continue writing and publishing works during World War II while living in France was criticized by some as being unpatriotic. This controversy led Wodehouse to leave England and move permanently to the United States. Despite this controversy, Wodehouse continued to write and remained a prolific author throughout his life. He was married twice in his life, first to Ethel Wayman in 1914 and later to Ethel's former secretary, Edith de Selincourt, in 1947. It's true that P.G. Wodehouse never officially divorced Ethel Wayman, but after they separated in 1921, they essentially lived separate lives. In 1947, Wodehouse married his second wife, Edith de Selincourt. Ethel Wayman was still alive at the time of their marriage, but she had been living in a psychiatric hospital for several years and was reportedly unable to communicate.  In 1914, Wayman married P.G. Wodehouse, who was working as a lyricist for musicals at the time. The couple had a turbulent marriage, and they separated in 1921, but they never officially divorced. After their separation, Wayman continued to work as an actress, appearing in films and on stage. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Francis Marion Crawford was an American author and journalist who lived from 1854 to 1909. He was born in Bagni di Lucca, Italy, to a family of art connoisseurs and spent much of his childhood traveling throughout Europe. Crawford attended Harvard University for a year before leaving to pursue a career in writing.Crawford began his writing career as a journalist, working for several newspapers and magazines such as the New York Tribune and the Boston Evening Transcript. He wrote travel books and essays about his experiences living in Italy, and these early works were well received.In 1882, Crawford published his first novel, "Mr. Isaacs," which was a critical and commercial success. He went on to write over 40 novels, as well as numerous short stories, essays, and plays. Many of his works were set in Italy and drew on his experiences living there, including some of his best-known novels such as "Saracinesca," "Sant' Ilario," and "Casa Braccio."Aside from his success as a writer, Crawford was also descended from a long line of artists and writers. His grandfather, William Crawford, was an American portrait painter, and his great-grandfather, Gilbert Stuart, painted George Washington's portrait. Crawford's father, Thomas Crawford, was a successful sculptor who created several prominent public sculptures in the United States, including the statue of Freedom on top of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.Crawford's novels explored complex themes such as love, betrayal, and social class, and his characters often struggled with their own personal demons, making them relatable to readers across time and place. Crawford was considered one of the leading writers of his day and was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He was awarded several honorary degrees from universities in the United States and Europe.Despite his success, Crawford was known for his private nature and his avoidance of public appearances. He was married twice and had four children. Crawford died in Sorrento, Italy, on April 9, 1909, at the age of 54. His works continue to be read and enjoyed today for their vivid depictions of Italian society, their engaging characters, and their ability to transport readers to other times and places.The Upper Berth"The Upper Berth" is a horror story by F. Marion Crawford, first published in 1886. One of the strengths of "The Upper Berth" is Crawford's ability to create a suspenseful and eerie atmosphere. He builds tension throughout the story, gradually revealing more and more about the strange happenings in Brisbane's cabin. The descriptions of the creaking ship, the eerie silence of the night, and the mysterious noises from the upper berth all add to the story's creepy atmosphere.However, one of the flaws of "The Upper Berth" is its reliance on clichés and stereotypes. The story includes many of the standard tropes of horror stories, such as the lone traveler in a strange place, the creepy sounds in the night, and the mysterious disappearance of previous passengers. Additionally, the story relies on stereotypes of sailors as rough and superstitious, which can be off-putting to modern readers.Overall, "The Upper Berth" is a well-written horror story that effectively creates a sense of suspense and unease. While it may rely on some clichés and stereotypes, it remains a classic example of the genre and is worth readi New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Terribly Strange Bed by Wilkie Collins

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Step back in time to Victorian Paris, a city of mystery and intrigue, where danger lurks around every corner and secrets are hidden behind every closed door. In this podcast episode, you will be transported to the heart of the City of Lights, where a thrilling tale of suspense and intrigue awaits."A Terribly Strange Bed" is a little gem of a story, published in 1852 by the master of suspense himself, Wilkie Collins. The story follows the protagonist, who is bored of his usual respectable haunts and decides to venture into a low down gambling den, where he begins to win, and win, and win. However, as the night wears on, our protagonist finds himself caught up in a web of danger and intrigue that he could never have imagined. The stakes become higher and higher, until he finds himself in a situation where his very life is at risk.So, if you're in the mood for a thrilling tale of danger and intrigue, look no further than "A Terribly Strange Bed." This little gem of a story is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat, and remind you why Wilkie Collins is considered one of the greatest writers of the Victorian era. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Repairer of Reputations by Robert W. Chambers

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 23:00:00 -0000

In this episode, we delve into the dark and unsettling world of Robert W. Chambers' short story "The Repairer of Reputations." Join us as we explore the mind of an unreliable narrator, Hildred Castaigne, and his delusional quest for power and revenge. As we uncover the secrets of Castaigne's dystopian world and his belief in a cursed play called "The King in Yellow," we confront the disturbing and thought-provoking themes of madness, manipulation, and the fragility of reality. Buckle up for a journey into the unknown, as we dissect one of Chambers' most iconic and haunting stories. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Mysterious Bride by James Hogg

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0000

ames Hogg (1770-1835) was a Scottish poet, novelist, and essayist known for his work in the Romantic literary movement. He was born in the small village of Ettrick in the Scottish Borders, and his upbringing was marked by poverty and hardship. Hogg's father was a shepherd, and Hogg himself worked as a shepherd for much of his youth. However, he had a passion for literature and began writing poetry and prose at an early age. Despite his lack of formal education, Hogg was a talented writer, and he began to gain recognition for his work in the early 1800s. His first major publication was "The Mountain Bard" (1807), a collection of poems that celebrated the rural life and landscape of Scotland. This was followed by his most famous work, "The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner" (1824), a novel that explored themes of good and evil, religious fanaticism, and psychological horror. In addition to his writing, Hogg was known for his eccentric personality and his love of Scottish folklore and tradition. He was a close friend of other Scottish writers such as Walter Scott and Robert Burns, and he was a frequent visitor to literary salons and gatherings in Edinburgh. Despite his literary success, Hogg struggled with financial difficulties for much of his life. He continued to write and publish until his death in 1835, and he is remembered as one of Scotland's most important writers of the Romantic period. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Feathered Friends by Philip MacDonald

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Join The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast for a thrilling reading of 'Our Feathered Friends' by renowned British author Philip MacDonald. Originally published in 1931, this haunting tale takes place on a blistering hot summer's day, when a young couple ventures into the cool shade of an isolated forest and encounters an unexpected and terrifying phenomenon. The story's unexpected twists and turns are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat as you experience one of the masters of detective and mystery fiction at work. Don't miss this gripping short story, which hints at something unusual and chilling lurking within the depths of the forest. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Tractate Middoth: A Chillingly Haunting Ghost Story by M.R. James

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0000

M. R. James's The Tractate Middoth is a classic ghost story  first published in 1911. This short story takes place in a library and is about a mysterious book called the Tractate Middoth. The book holds the key to righting a family wrong, but the evil deceased  has made it as difficult as possible to prolong the agony of his heirs.Follow the main character, a librarian, as he becomes obsessed with finding out the secrets of a book and is pulled deeper and deeper into a dark and scary world. Listen to "The Tractate Middoth" audiobook episode today on The Classic. Ghost Stories Podcast and get lost in the creepy atmosphere of this masterful work. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House and the Brain by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Join Tony as we explore Edward Bulwer-Lytton's classic short story, 'The House & The Brain'. This captivating tale, first published in 1859, follows a narrator as he investigates the strange occurrences in a haunted house. The story is notable for its suspenseful atmosphere, its examination of the power of the human mind, and its timeless themes. This is an engaging listen for those interested in the Gothic horror genre." New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Mistress in Black by Rosemary Timperley

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Rosemary Timperley was born in 1920 in North London and died in November 1988. Her father was an architect and her mother a teacher. Timperley went to her local girls school and became a teacher herself.  She taught English and History in a state school. Her pupils said she was a very dramatic figure (she ran the drama club) and wore long swirling black dresses with long drop or hoop earrings. In 33 years, she published 66 novels and several hundred short stories. However, her ghost stories are the ones that people remember the most.  She was editor of various editions of the Pan Ghost Book, including the 5th. This story The Mistress In Black was taken from that book published 1969. Many of her short stories were published in magazines such as The New Yorker, Harper's Bazaar, and The Atlantic Monthly. Timperley's work often dealt with supernatural and paranormal themes, and she was considered a master of the ghost story genre. She also wrote several non-fiction books and articles on subjects such as writing and the supernatural. Timperley passed away in 1988. While she was a teacher she began to submit her stories to magazine and they began to be accepted. She became a staff writer and agony aunt on the magazine Reveille. She lived in Richmond, Surrey  for many years. Many of her stories are set in London. During the Second World War she worked at the Citizens’ Advice Bureau in Kensington, London. She got married to a Physics teacher in 1952 and they lived in Essex just outside London. They separated in the early 1960s according to some sources, but they appear to have been officially married until his death in 1968. Timperley managed to travel widely across the world despite her hectic writing schedule, visiting Italy (a number of her works are set in Venice), Morocco, Belgium, Russia, and Greece.  Timperley's publisher, Robert Hale, stated that her first-hand knowledge of other nations and diversified work experience inspired her novels, plays, and short tales. Indeed, Timperley is believed to have worked as a waitress, a counter assistant in a police canteen, a typewriter, and an artist's model before becoming a freelance writer. Timperley had to spend several months in the hospital in 1964 because of a serious illness.  Timperley began working as an auxilary nurse in a Surrey hospital shortly after this life-changing encounter. Her time in this industry surely influenced works such as The Tragedy Business (1969), The Haunted Garden (1966), and The Washers-Up (1967). (1968). She was also inspired by her experience as a teacher, as evident by the fact that children play a significant role in most of her work. Furthermore, the background of her first two novels is thought to have been inspired by her own childhood experience at Hornsey High School.  Timperley spent much of her life in the London suburb of Richmond, and many of her stories are set there. Timperley was well-versed in London, and her novels, in particular, contain numerous references to various locales in the city. Reading her anecdotes, it's clear that Timperley travelled by tube and bus a lot, avoiding the use of a car  and, while being city born and bred, loved open landscapes and desired to live an uncluttered, "carefree" existence. In 1961 she mentions she is living in an old-fashioned flat and living on coffee, pink-gin and cigarettes.  She lived a quite, reclusive life until her death New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Afterward by Edith Wharton

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Edith Wharton's "Afterward" is a haunting and evocative audiobook. It is about a young woman named Mary Boyne, who moves with her husband into an old house at Lyng and jokes about whether or not it has a ghost. It does, her friend admits, but you won't notice it for a long time. The narrator's voice will immerse you in the story, adding to the eerie atmosphere, making it an unforgettable listening experience. Don't miss out on this classic ghost story from the pen of one of America's greatest authors, and experience the story like never before in its audiobook form. I must admit that ChatGTP wrote the last two paragraphs. It wrote a lot of nonsense about the story being about a ghost of a maid who died in a fire and it got the heroine’s name wrong, but otherwise it was fun. ChatGTP has my back. It wrote: "Calling all ghost story enthusiasts!  Are you looking for a spook-tacular way to support your favorite narrator and gain access to an ad-free library of nearly 200 stories?  Look no further! By signing up for my Patreon, you'll not only be supporting my work, but you'll also be gaining access to exclusive perks such as a member's only audio story every month, the ability to join the Classic Ghost Stories podcast chatroom on Discord and the chance to talk to me on the fortnightly book club.  But that's not all, you'll also be joining a community of like-minded ghost story lovers who share your passion.  Don't miss out on this hauntingly good deal. Sign up for my Patreon today, and thank you to all my supporters who already have!" New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Zombie of Paraño Alto by W. Stanley Moss

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Despite the title, this is not a supernatural story. It was requested by Leigh Grieveson, one of my patrons.  I struggled to find a copy so in the end, he photographed his and sent the pictures to me and I read the story from the jpeg files.It’s a story in the vein of Boomerang, in that it is the 1940s tale of white Europeans out in the jungle of the colonies. There is a zombie but it’s not what you think.W Stanley Moss, or Billy Moss was a colourful figure who died of alcoholism aged only 44 in Jamaica. He was born in Japan the son of a white Russian countess and a British businessman. He lived a life of adventure and exploration, joining the British army and then the covert sabotage unit SOE, under whose auspices he captured a Nazi general in Crete.He lived in a mansion in Cairo while in SOE and his and his Polish countess wife entertained the spies and special forces. He was a friend of kings and noblemen.After the war he researched what had happened the Nazi gold and undertook expeditions to Antarctica and Tahiti.He was a sort of Ian Fleming-James Bond-Patrick Leigh Fermor-Ralph Fiennes type chap and wrote very competent rip-roaring adventures for boys. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lonesome Place by August Derleth

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Thank you to Steven Shipman for recommending this story.The Lonesome Place was published by August Derleth in 1962 in a collection known as Lonesome Places.You can still find copies but they are expensive.I read the story and then say how great I thought it was followed by various rambles into barely related subjects. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Shadow by E. Nesbit

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 21:00:00 -0000

The Shadow by E Nesbit is a masterful story of an apparition that signifies death. It is set in a large house with servants in England at the end of the 19th or beginning of the 20th Century.  A Christmas party was held in the old manor house, the men have gone to billiards and left a group of young women to tell ghost stories. Then Miss Eastwich, the housekeeper is invited in and tells a real ghost story of her own.E. Nesbit was a famous and prolific woman writer for children who had a sideline in creepy ghost stories.The Shadow is a great story for Christmas or any other time. I really enjoyed reading it for you. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Chimes by Charles Dickens

Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0000

Dickens's second Christmas story is called "The Chimes." The main character in this story is an old messenger Toby Veck who has lost hope in people. He is drawn to a church's bell tower, where he meets the ghosts of the bells and the goblins who help them. He learns through a series of visions why he shouldn't give up hope that people can change for the better.Though called a Christmas Story, it actually happens on New Year's Eve and a big theme of the story is closing off the business of the New Year and looking forward with hope to the new one.Again, Dickens's sympathies lie with the impoverished working classes whom he paints (on the whole) as kind to each other and human as opposed to the wealthy who are seen as shallow, hypocritical and cruel.Buy my A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Audiobook! New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0000

Frederick McCarthy Forsyth CBE is an English author and journalist. He was born on August 25, 1938. A former RAF pilot and investigative journalist, created the modern thriller when he wrote The Day of The Jackal He is best known for thrillers like The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan, The Cobra, and The Kill List. Forsyth's books are often on lists of the best-selling books, and more than a dozen of them have been made into movies. By 2006, more than 70 million copies of his books had been sold in more than 30 languages. The Shepherd tells the story of a De Havilland Vampire pilot who is going home on Christmas Eve, 1957. On the way from RAF Celle in northern Germany to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England, his plane loses all of its electricity. He gets lost in fog over the North Sea and is almost out of gas when he runs into a De Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber that seems to have been sent up to "shepherd" him in. The main themes of the story are how he is guided to a safe landing and how he tries to find the pilot who saved him. Forsyth wrote this original piece as a Christmas present for his first wife Carrie, who had asked him to write her a ghost story. The story was written on Christmas Day, 1974, and came out around the same time the next year. The idea came to the author when he was trying to think of a setting that wasn't a haunted house and saw planes flying overhead. Many people have thought that the references were to old RAF stories. Even though Forsyth is a former RAF pilot and could have heard and changed such a story (whether on purpose or not), no references or personal stories have been given to back up such claims. Since 1979, the story has been told on the Canadian news show As It Happens on CBC Radio One. It is always read by Alan Maitland and is always on the last episode, which is always on or before Christmas Eve. As it Happens had a 50th anniversary special in 2018, and Carol Off, Michael Enright, and Tom Power read lines from The Shepherd to honour the tradition. On December 14, 2014, in London, at St. Clement Danes, the Central Church of the Royal Air Force, actor Nigel Anthony put on an original version of The Shepherd by Amber Barnfather, complete with music and sound effects. Frederick Forsyth opened the show, which raised money for the RAF Benevolent Fund. David Chilton was in charge of the sound, and the Saint Martin Singers sang a cappella pieces. John Travolta confirmed in 2022 that he is making a movie version of The Shepherd right now. Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Audiobook If you like my voice and want to support my work, get my narration of this Christmas Classic herehttps://theclassicghoststoriespodcast.bandcamp.com/album/a-christmas-carol-by-charles-dickens New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ghosts of Christmas Past by Tony Walker

Sat, 24 Dec 2022 20:00:00 -0000

One of my own stories, specially written for Christmas 2022. It’s a very personal story, and you may find it a little sentimental, but it is my Christmas present to those listeners who are happy to receive it from me. New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Green Holly by Elizabeth Bowen

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0000

Get the Book that this story comes fromhttps://amzn.to/3Uu4kGX (affiliate link)A most wonderful Christmas Ghost story. I know I tend to over-enthuse, but Green Holly by Elizabeth Bowen is, for me, one of the best ghost stories in English from the mid-20th Century.Bowen removes ghosts from their history of clanking and scaring and contrasts them with the ordinary world or ordinary importance (the war effort in 1944) and suggests that our aspirations for romance and glamour are phantasms, which nevertheless we prefer to real life.See what you think.Elizabeth Bowen (1899 to 1973-Dublin). Bowen believed in ghosts and other strange things. Her stories about England during World War I. Bowen did not just sit back and watch the war. She was an air raid warden. When bombs fell, she walked her route to make sure people were in shelters and had turned off their lights. When she was writing her stories, it wasn't at all clear who would win the war. Bowen later said that she had never felt more alive than when the blitz was going on.Download my narrations of some stories at my Bandcamp sitehttps://theclassicghoststoriespodcast.bandcamp.com/ New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ghost of Jerry Bundler by W W Jacobs

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0000

The Ghost of Jerry Bundler by W. W. Jacobs is Jacob's second most famous supernatural fiction short story after The Monkey's Paw. It's a Christmas Ghost story set in the bar of an old coaching inn in an English country town just a few days short of Christmas. A group of travellers find themselves having to stay over Christmas at the haunted inn and begin to entertain and ultimately terrify themselves.A spooky little story for Christmas ghosts with a twist at the end that deserves its place on any podcast that reads out classic horror audiobooks.Check out my Bandcamp sitehttps://theclassicghoststoriespodcast.bandcamp.com/Remember I have members only stories too! New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Fall of Snow by James Turner

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0000

A Fall of Snow by James Turner is a beautifully written and poignant story about a childhood visit to his uncle and a mysterious happening that stayed with him for the rest of his life. The story is set in a large house at Christmas, which is situated in the English County of Suffolk. It is a tale about family, loss, love, and friendship, and it is told in Turner's trademark lyrical style. It is an excellent read for anyone who loves atmospheric stories that explore the human condition.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HerePlease, buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker, Or join as a Patron for members only stories for $5 a month: https://www.patreon.com/barcudCheck out my Audiobooks on my Bandcamp StoreAudio | The Classic Ghost Stories PodcastSubscribe to my Haunted Place channel hereBefore you continue to YouTubeMusic By The Heartwood Institute https://bit.ly/somecomeback***  New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Magic Shop by H G Wells

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0000

The Magic Shop by H G Wells was published in 1903. "The Magic Shop" is a fantasy short story about a little English boy named Gip who wanted his father to take him into a magic shop they found while walking. They don't know that what they're about to see in the magic shop will permanently change both of their lives.A whimsical story on a similar theme to a previous story we read out on The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast: The Door In The Wall. H G Wells is saying that there is a world of magic and wonder that is always present and can be seen with those who have innocent and wondering eyes and hearts. But our ability to see it gets duller as we get tied up with the necessities of modern living and so we may miss our chance at wonder. A perfect bedtime story.A sweet and lovely audiobook story with only a tiny bit of horror and not much sci fi (science fiction)#audiobook #magicshop #ToyShop #FullAudiobook #Fantasyfiction New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0000

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving is the classic Halloween story. It appears to be a ghost story, but is it? It was published in 1819 and has some classic features of later horror stories and contemporary Gothic tropes.   In summary, a hapless, awkward, greedy, and self-opinionated schoolmaster fancies he has a chance with the coquettish 18-year-old daughter of a local landowner. He wants to marry her as much for the monetary rewards and food as for her own charms.  But this Ichabod Crane had to contend with a headless horseman in this earliest of spooky tales. It's a book in itself, albeit a short one, and the tale is very well written by author Washington Irving, who injects wry humor and who clearly was a great observer of human character and failings.  It was made into a scary movie by Tim Burton New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dead by James Joyce

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0000

The Dead is is the last story, and the longest from James Joyce's 1914 short stories collection: Dubliners. It is longer than the rest, being more like a novella. It is considered one of the classics of Irish literature, and possibly the best literary short fiction in the English language.Dubliners is a rich and generous story and though Joyce was considered a pioneer of modernist literature, with his 1922 novel Ulysses and especially with Finnegans Wake in 1939.Joyce left Ireland in 1904 and lived abroad in Trieste, Switzerland and Paris and never really lived in Dublin again but his books and all his writing are set among the people and places he grew up amongst.See a full analysis and summary here: https://www.ghostpod.org/2022/11/05/the-dead-by-james-joyce-analysis/This audio book reading is by Tony Walker of The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast.  It was made into a film in 1987, by John Huston starring Anjelica Huston and Donal McCann. Download my narrations of some stories at my Bandcamp sitehttps://theclassicghoststoriespodcast.bandcamp.com/Visit the Website For Story Noteshttps://www.ghostpod.org/2022/11/05/the-dead-by-james-joyce-analysis/ New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Company Of Wolves by Angela Carter

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0000

The Company of Wolves by Angela Carter is a work of genius. There, I've said it.The Company of Wolves by Angela Carter is a short story from her collection The Bloody Chamber published in 1979 that was made into the 1984 film called, surprisingly The Company of Wolves, by Neil Jordan and starring, amongst others, Angela Lansbury.In summary, the story is a version of the Little Red Riding Hood folk story or fairy tale but with a modern, possibly feminist, certainly gothic twist. It's no secret that it involves werewolves, the threatening kind not the Kindle book kind, of which no more shall be mentioned. There is also a grandmother who gets eaten. A simmering of a young girl's sexual awakening underlies Angela Carter's story, but it's all done in the best possible taste (unlike the Kindle werewolf books of which I promised I would say nothing)Here is a short analysis of The Company of Wolves.The story begins by setting up the milieu: a peasant community in a north European forest that struggles to survive in the winter and has to guard itself against the common predators. Not only are there common predators but there are werewolves too which are the worst combination of the savage wolf and the savage man . The worst wolves are hairy on the inside.The Little Red Riding Hood avatar, a cocky, spoiled young girl goes walking through the dangerous wood. She is savvy enough to carry a knife and keep to the path. Unlike in the myth of Little Red Riding Hood where the Huntsman and the Wolf are separate figures, in this story they are one. The girl is in the cusp of womanhood but still intact. Even so she has an interest in such things as kissing. She has a bet with the Huntsman about who will arrive first at Granny's cottage. If she loses she has to give him a kiss so she dawdles so that she will deliberately lose.He is a hungry wolf and has already not been able to resist snacking on his pheasant. The old granny is no match for him. An old woman at the edge of death, she cannot seduce him so he eats her.It is clear that his initial interest in all these women is culinary not sexual: he wants to eat them only.Red Riding Hood arrives next. She soon guesses that this is the wolf and that he has eaten her granny and that she is in real danger of him doing the same to her.I think Carter had three options here: 1. Little Red Riding Hood as weak woman victim who has to be saved by a man. As someone writing feminist literature, it's not surprising Carter didn't choose this.2. An all men are evil feminist version where the woman kills the wolf herself3. Or far better ending she did choose. Our Little Red Riding Hood is brave and competent and she knows the power she has over werewolves, which is the power she has over the male part of the beast. She knew she was no one's meat and with her seduction, she charms the violence of the male through the realisation and use of her power as a woman. And so the beast is tamed through the Savage WeddingIn this vision, the best relationship between man and woman is one of partnership, and that violence has no place within their loving and physical relationship.However, violence might be needed outside the home where it is proper to protect the people and the community.#AngelaLansbury #NeilJordan #LittleRedRidingHood New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Witch Door by Ray Bradbury

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0000

 Ray Bradbury wrote "The Witch Door" in 1995.The main characters live in a dilapidated New England farmhouse. They've come to escape from the totalitarian Government and collapsing cities. One night, one night, they hear a hammering on the Witch Door in their house.The witch door dates back to 1680 when people used it to hide witches from the Salme Witch Trials.The noises grow louder and a woman bursts out of the tiny room behind the door and woman dashes out into the night.   Set in the future, The Witch Door is that mixes science fiction and dystopian futures with a witch thrown in to make the point.A woman friend of theirs who is on the run from the Government, arrives and asks the to hide her.They put her in the room beyond the Witch Door.#fullaudiobook #books #bradbury #raybradbury #audiobook New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Stalls Of Barchester Cathedral by M R James

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 13:00:00 -0000

The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral by M R James was published in 1910. It is one of Montague Rhodes James's most famous and best loved, or most feared, stories. As often with M R James, these are not just comforting cuddly ghosts — the ghost cat is decidedly disturbing — but there is something scary and demonic about the stalls themselves. Thanks to Gavin Critchley for sponsoring this Halloween 2022 episode of The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast. It's not the first he has sponsored but his kindness has allowed me to do this for all of you. Thank you, Gavin. The stalls are the wooden seats in a cathedral where the clergy and other officials of the church sit.  Not for the first time either do I see something decidedly folk horror in James's work with reference to the old tree that was used for unspeakable old folk things being the substances of the stalls.  The BBC did a well-loved ghost story for Christmas of The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral, but this is my audio book version for you. Get All Episodes Ad Free! $1 a month for the whole back catalog of episodes on Patreon. Download at your leisure.  https://www.patreon.com/barcud Buy Dracula Audiobook for Download Buy it directly from me at a knockdown price £4.99.   https://ko-fi.com/s/a7a5c648b8 If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here Buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker,  or join as a Patron for members only stories for $5 a month:  https://www.patreon.com/barcud Late Night Talk Radio Listen to my other podcast! Here  https://link.chtbl.com/late_night New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Whitehaven Bodysnatcher by Tony Walker

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 23:00:00 -0000

Happy Halloween! A disturbing and scary tale that will be performed live in Whitehaven this Halloween as part of our Eerie Cumbria programme.I hope you will be suitably disturbed by it, even it you don't live in Whitehaven.You can listen to my version of Dracula free on Bandcamp (you get to play each chapter 3 x before you have to pay a cent) if you need more Halloween vibes.https://theclassicghoststoriespodcast.bandcamp.com/album/dracula-by-bram-stoker New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sardonicus By Ray Russell

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 23:00:00 -0000

Sardonicus by Ray Russell is possibly the best Gothic horror story written in the 20th century.  Ray Russell's mastery of language elevates this piece of genre fiction into literature.  Russell's reading of character and masterful portrayal of dark nuances are evident. It is such quality even though the author wrote it for Playboy magazine. This tale is perfect for Halloween, but it's captivating all year long. It features a castle with a strange master, a beautiful woman in trouble,  individuals, disfigurement, an isolated setting, and a perplexing plot that our protagonist must unravel. Ray Russell serves as a link between contemporary masters of the dark like Thomas Ligotti and classic goth favourites like Dracula. It was published in 1961 and adapted into the movie Mr Sardonicus the same year, showing that its quality was instantly recognisedSadly, little this gothic masterpiece is little read now, but Sardonicus deserves to be resurrected!#audiobook #freeaudiobooks #audiobooksfulllength #audiobooktube #booklover #audible New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Basil Netherby By A C Benson

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 23:00:00 -0000

Basil Netherby is a masterpiece of brooding supernatural fiction. This unabridged audio book style story narrates a ghost story or a story of possession. Basil Netherby has many of the elements of gothic literature. It was written by Arthur or A.C. Benson, the brother of E. F. Benson. It has elements of M. R. James, who was a personal friend of A C Benson and is even reminiscent of H. P. Lovecraft at times in the idea of immense supernatural forces that cannot be beaten. Or can they?#ClassicHorror #SupernaturalFiction #HorrorAudiobook #ArthurChristopherBenson #GothicHorror #GhostStory #OccultLiterature #shortStory #GothicLiteratureGet All Episodes Ad Free!$1 a month for the whole back catalog of episodes on Patreon. Download at your leisure. https://www.patreon.com/barcudBuy Dracula Audiobook for DownloadBuy it directly from me at a knockdown price £4.99.  https://ko-fi.com/s/a7a5c648b8If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereBuy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker, or join as a Patron for members only stories for $5 a month: https://www.patreon.com/barcudLate Night Talk RadioListen to my other podcast! Here https://link.chtbl.com/late_night Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brickett Bottom by Amyas Northcote

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 23:00:00 -0000

Brickett Bottom by Amyas Northcote is about a mysterious house deep in the woods that no one but lonely young girls can see. There is a dark secret to this house in the forest, as you will discover. Amyas Northcote was the son of an English aristocratic family. This story was published in his one collection of ghost stories: "Ghostly Company". Though it was published in 1921, I think there is something genuinely eerie and even scary about the fate of the girl. Northcote has been compared to M R James but this story reminded me more of Arthur Machen and Algernon Blackwood's The Man Whom The Trees Loved. Brickett Bottom by Amyas Northcote Jay Rothermel’s blog Easily Distracted Buy Dracula Audiobook for Download Buy it directly from me at a knockdown price £4.99. https://ko-fi.com/s/a7a5c648b8 If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here Buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker, or join as a Patron for members only stories for $5 a month: https://www.patreon.com/barcud Subscribe to my Haunted Place channel here Before you continue to YouTube Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One, Two Buckle my Shoe by Nugent Barker

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 23:00:00 -0000

This story by Nugent Barker comes from his anthology Written By My Left Hand, which I guess is a pointer to the fact that they deal with things that emerge from the night side of the mind, the subconscious. It is a story about the Devouring Mother told in a dream-like way. It's horror for sure. It's short and leaves you scratching your head, yet it is told in a familiar way from ghost stories where gentlemen are sitting in their study around a blazing fire sipping whiskey toddies while they swap scary stories. The content of the story is less than straightforward though. You have the benefit of my thoughts afterwards. Just for you, here's a link to this whole book online as a PDFhttps://s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/luminist/EB/B/Barker%20-%20Written%20With%20My%20Left%20Hand.pdf## Get All Episodes Ad Free!$1 a month for the whole back catalog of episodes on Patreon. Download at your leisure. https://www.patreon.com/barcud## Buy Dracula Audiobook for DownloadBuy it directly from me at a knockdown price £4.99.  https://ko-fi.com/s/a7a5c648b8## If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here You could buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker or join as a Patron for members only stories for $5 a month: https://www.patreon.com/barcud)## Late Night Talk RadioListen to my other podcast! Here [Classic Ghost Stories Episodes – The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast](https://link.chtbl.com/late_night)#audiobook #horroraudiobook #freeaudiobook #horror #classicghoststoriesThe story is reminiscent of Robert Aickman or Bruno Schulz for its uncanny unnerving weirdness.#freeaudiobooks #weirdtales #horror  Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Birds By Daphne Du Maurier Audiobook

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 23:00:00 -0000

The Birds by Daphne du Maurier was adapted into the 1963 horror thriller movie The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock. Daphne du Maurier wrote horror and mystery and crime stories and the birds can be considered science fiction. She was a master of storytelling and character building in English literature. The Birds concerns a bird attack in a horror story version of the near future when nature has been twisted by humankind – a kind of pandemic. Her two other most famous stories which were made into films were Rebecca (also directed by Alfred Hitchcock) and Don't Look Now by Nicolas RoegThis unabridged audio book version is narrated by Tony Walker of The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast with an analysis and summary at the end. #AudioDrama #RadioDrama #TheBirds If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here  You could buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker or join as a Patron for exclusive content here: https://www.patreon.com/barcud) And you can join my mailing list and get a  free audiobook:  https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire Music By The Heartwood Institute https://bit.ly/somecomeback*** New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Outcast by E F Benson

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:00:00 -0000

The Outcast by E F Benson First we are introduced to Mrs Bertha Acres through the eyes of Tony and his wife Madge. The initial incident is her husband shooting himself due to detesting her. That is the first sign we have that this lady is to be the subject of the story and it is enough to make us prick up our ears and raise questions about her.  (If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here - You could buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker or join as a Patron for exclusive content here: https://www.patreon.com/barcud) We next have the description of the domestic scene in the little home and little village and here we see the wit of the humorist of upper middle-class social situations that came to the fore in the famous Mapp and Lucia series that made his name.  The theme of reincarnation is set by the brother-in-law Sir Charles Alington, particularly that a reincarnated spirit  can inhabit a male or female body. Then we are told the evil history of the Gate House and that one brother betrayed his brother for being a Catholic and then repented. Remember the end takes place around Easter, Judas Iscariot is mentioned. Benson’s father was a vicar and his brother a priest. Are these hearkenings to the Easter story: betrayal, sin and reincarnation an intentional inversion?   The body is in the water three days (note three, surely not a coincidence?) and no corruption has come to it.  It’s like an antichrist or Judas figure.     The end, the purging by fire may represent the expiation of the sin of betrayal by this spirit who was forced to live again and again and wander without rest. The Flying Dutchman, the Wandering Jew.   In terms of style, it seemed to me that the story is made up of two. There is the witty social commentary (that we also find in The Pallinghurst Barrow by Grant Allen) poking fun at the haut bourgeois, and then a masterfully creepy horror story. Benson is unequalled I think it writing these scenes. First the body in the sack that tumbles over and follows Made (though that was reminiscent of Oh Whistle and I’ll Come to You)  New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pallinghurst Barrow by Grant Allen

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 23:00:00 -0000

Pallinghurst Barrow by Grant Allen A horror story about spirits who linger in old places in the English countryisde. Published 1892. Suggested by Susan Tudor-Coulson If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here - You could buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker or join as a Patron for exclusive content here: https://www.patreon.com/barcud Grant Allen Charles Grant Blairfindie Allen was born in 1848 on Wolfe Island in Ontario in Ca nada and died in Haselmere in Surrey aged 51. His father was from Dublin and he was a protestant minister. He was educated at home and then when he was 13, his family moved to the USA, then to France then to Britain. He was educated at King Edward’s School in Birmingham (where Tolkien later went amongst other famous alumni) and then at Merton College in Oxford. He went to teach in Brighton and in Jamaica. He returned to Britain from Jamaica and began to write professionally. He was most famous for his scientific essays. But he also wrote science fiction.  He was an atheist and socialist. He was married twice. He died of liver cancer in 1899. He was a friend and neighbour of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Chanctonbury Ring, Old Weird Albion The Old Weird Albion | Justin Hopper || Landscape, Memory & MythI mention how much I enjoy the work of Justin Hopper.  Chanctonbury Rings – a spoke word and music album made with folk artist Sharron Kraus and Ghost Box Records co-founder The Belbury Poly (Ghost Box).  Long Barrows were the product of a late Stone Age civilisation with additions from Bronze Age folk. They are particularly to be found in Wessex and the south and west of England. But of course megalithic structures of similar types can be found all over Atlantic Europe. Nobody would suggest that the so-called Picts created them. Theosophists & Madam Blavatsky The Theosophical Society was created mainly by Madame Helena Blavatsky who had a background in Spiritualism. This was a time of religious change with a huge upsurge in Spiritualism. The first lodge was in Scotland. There were influences from western Occultism, but also Hinduism and Buddhism and they talked about the ascended masters. These ascended masters included Abraham, Moses, Solomon, Jesus but also the Buddha, Confucious and Lao Tzu but also Mesmer, Bohme and Cagliostro.  Theosophy has evolved into the New Age. Mrs Bruce (the esoteric Buddhist) seems to be one of these. Ghosts The story reports that we only see the ghosts from periods within our knowledge.  But of course this is not true. Many ghosts are not really identifiable at all.  Flint and iron This is an old piece of folklore Cannabis Indica Indeed. No wonder he saw visions. Fiddlers Green, Clint Marsh Fiddler’s Green Peculiar Parish Magazine I love this 'zine. As the Clint Marsh says, *Fiddler’s Green Peculiar Parish Magazine was born of a languid afternoon of conversation on a sunny tavern lawn. Taking its name from the pleasant afterlife dreamed into being by sailors, cavalrymen, and other adventu New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Doll by Daphne du Maurier

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 16:00:00 -0000

The Doll by Daphne du Maurier Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning was born in 1907 in London in 1931 and died in 1989 in Cornwall. She is a famous novelist with such best-sellers as Rebecca, Frenchman’s Creek, The Birds and the novella Don’t Look Now. This story is taken from a collection of short stories written before her famous novels. She was clearly fond of the name Rebecca for the dark-spirited anima-like femme fatale. I did a recording of Don’t Look Now, which has proved to be my most popular recording on Youtube.(If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here - You could buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker or join as a Patron for exclusive content here: https://www.patreon.com/barcud) Her father was an actor and theatre manager who was knighted for her services to the arts.  Her mother Muriel Beaumont was also an actress.   Daphne’s sister Angela was also an author and an actress and her other sister Jeanne who was part of the painter colony in St Ives Cornwall.  Daphne and her sister Jeanne look very like their mother in the photographs on the internet.  Their cousins were the inspiration for the children in J M Barrie’s Peter Pan.  Her great-great-grandmother was mistress of Frederick Augustus, Duke of York and Albany.  She was born when the family were living in a rather grand house on Cumberland Terrace on the eastern side of Regent’s Park in a house that is now a grade I listed building designed by the famous architect John Nash. Her father’s success made this possible.  She was born in a house Daphne du Maurier became more reclusive as she got more famous and spent her time n her beloved Cornwall. As she grew, the family had two houses — one in Hampstead, north London ( a grade II listed building from 1720) and a house in Fowey, Cornwall, where they lived exclusively during the Second World War.  She got married to a prominent soldier and had three children, of whom both girls married prominent soldiers.  The Wiki notes that her marriage was somewhat chilly and she herself could be distant from her children. Her husband died in 1965, when she was 34.  She moved permanently to Kilmarth, Cornwall. She was made a dame (equivalent of a knight) in 1969 but was very reticent about mentioning it and never made much of it. After she died in 1989, biographers discussed whether she was a lesbian. Her sister Jeanne had a close relationship with another woman. She notes that her father always wanted a son and so she was a tomboy. Her children denied that she was a lesbian. When she died of heart failure aged 81, her body was privately cremated.  In her obituary, Kate Kellaway said: “Du Maurier was mistress of calculated irresolution. She did not want to put her readers’ minds at rest. She wanted her riddles to persist. She wanted the novels to continue to haunt us beyond their endings.” The Doll This story was published in 1937, that is two years after the death of her husband, and one year before the publication of Rebecca.   Apparently she was only 21 when she wrote The Doll. And you can join my mailing list and get a  free audiobook:  https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire Music By The Heartwood Institute https://bit.ly/somecomeback*** New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Pair of Muddy Shoes by Lennox Robinson

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 23:00:00 -0000

A Pair of Muddy Shoes by Lennox Robinson Lennox Robinson was an Irish author, poet, dramatist and theatre produce who was born in Westgrove, County Cork, Ireland in 1886 the son of a Protestant clergyman, who had previously been a stockbroker. Lennox (fully Esme Stuart Lennox Robinson) was often ill as a child and educated by private tutor and at a Church of Ireland (that is the Protestant Anglican Church) School.  He became interested in drama when he saw a production by W B Yeats and Lady Gregory at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin when he was 21. (If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here - You could buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker or join as a Patron for exclusive content here: https://www.patreon.com/barcud) His play Cross Roads was produced at the Abbey in 1909 and he became manager there the same year. He resigned in 1914 after a poorly reviewed tour of the USA, but came back in 1919 and was appointed to the theatre’s boar din 1923 and served there until his death in 1958. It is said that he was an alcoholic and often depressed.    He was Anglo-Irish but was committed to the Irish nationalist cause (like Yeats and Lady Gregory).  His wife’s mother was a spiritualist.  A Pair of Muddy Shoes is written in a very naturalistic, conversational style which was fun to read and very different from some of the other things we’ve been reading out recently (Poe, I’m looking at you).  It’s all fun, and I like both styles. The story is written from an Irish woman’s voice and I read it as an English man. You will know I debate with myself whether I should do accents (which I enjoy) or read a woman ’s voice. The second I have few problems with to be honest, the first is more of a problem because though I enjoy doing the accent there is always someone who’s ear is so finely tuned that it jars and spoils the story.  So, I decided to do this in my native voice.  The story is about a possession but it’s unusual and fresh in its setting in rural Ireland (I thought of Craggy Island and the big priests’ house looming up from the middle of a bare field, no garden, no path, no nothing leading to it). The spirit of the murderer remains very wicked and his pleasure in the crime infects the shy young woman who is speaking. There is something about weird juxtapositions like the white cat with the narrator’s face and then when she goes into the house, the victim says that she has the face of a girl, but the hands of a rough man.  And you can join my mailing list and get a  free audiobook:  https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire Music By The Heartwood Institute https://bit.ly/somecomeback*** New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ghost Ship by Richard Middleton

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 08:00:00 -0000

The Ghost Ship by Richard Barham Middleton Richard Barham Middleton was born in 1882 in Staines then in Middlesex, but since 1965 part of Surrey. It calls itself Staines upon Thames now.  I checked the 1864 map and then it was a small town surrounded by fields and woods. Even now looking at the satellite, though I see is is a much bigger urbanisation there is still some nice green land around it. But I digress. He died in 1911 in Brussels by suicide (If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here - You could buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker or join as a Patron for exclusive content here: https://www.patreon.com/barcud) He was educated at Cranbrook school and then went to work as a bank clerk between 1901 and 1907 but lived, the Wiki says ‘affected’ a Bohemian lifestyle at night and joined a club called The New Bohemians. He knew Arthur Machen who much admired his work and wrote a preface to the collection of stories in which I found The Ghost Ship. It’s available on Gutenberg for free. He became a magazine editor but really wanted to be a poet. He met Raymond Chandler who was put off writing almost because Middleton was so talented and he thought he’d never match it. His most famous poem is The Bathing Boy which is a paean to a beautiful young man swimming.  He made very little money as a writer and lived in poverty. He moved to Brussels and aged only 29, he killed himself by drinking chloroform just after his birthday.  We have done his winter ghost story, On Brighton Road which is short but good. The Ghost Ship is his most famous ghost story and, unlike On Brighton Road is humorous.  In his biography by Henry Savage, Middleton is said to have claimed he had a pirate for an ancestor who was hanged at Port Royal. But Savage notes that Middleton was not diligent with facts. If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here You could buy me a coffee  https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/barcud And you can join my mailing list and get a  free audiobook:  https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire Music By The Heartwood Institute https://bit.ly/somecomeback*** New Patreon Request Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Milk White Child of Ravenglass by Tony Walker

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Milk-White Child of Ravenglass by Tony Walker, is one of mine. As I explain in the notes, this is one of my More Cumbrian Ghost Stories book. You can purchase the full book or audiobook (just saying, if you were so inclined, and you liked this one, well maybe you'd like the rest?)Check out the Ko-Fi link. I think it's there. I'm giving you this because I'm off on my hols soon so I will schedule this to come out while I'm away.Yes, there's a Romantic theme to it. Yes it includes the good people. So I'd been reading Wordsworth and Arthur Machen at the time. I was all Romanticked up. I like stories of the fey, fae, whatever you call them. Do I believe in them? That would be telling.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a  free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Entrance by Gerald Durrell

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Entrance by Gerald DurrellGerald Durrell was born in Jamshedpur which was then part of British India, in 1925 and died in St Hellier, Jersey in 1995, aged 70. This story, The Entrance was published in his collection The Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium in 1979. This title was renamed The Picnic and Other Inimitable Stories though I suspect that someone who didn’t understand the word pandemonium would struggle with inimitable too. But that’s marketing for you.  His family’s life has been the subject of a popular TV series “My Family & Other Animals” taken from the title of one of his books. He was a prolific writer, usually of light, comic fiction and autobiography and a life-long animal lover who set up the Jersey Zoo.  Those of you who read these notes will probably predict offended comments about animals being hurt in The Entrance and how zoos are bad. My only comments are: it’s fiction. There were no animals, and; attitudes change over times. I don’t think he set up a zoo because he was a wicked man who wanted to hurt animals. Zoos were uncontroversial once. Those who don’t make comments on videos expressing their hurt and offence probably won’t read the notes.Durrell’s famous siblings is the author and poet Lawrence Durrell. In his early years, as his family were middle class and British, he had an Indian nurse called an ayah. He ascribes his lifelong love of animals to a visit to a zoo when he was small in India. The family moved to the Crystal Palace area of London (with its concrete dinosaurs) and he avoided going to school by pretending to be ill. In 1939 the family moved to Corfu, Grreece and Durrell began to build his menagerie. This period of his life was an inspiration of his many books.Because of the Second World War, the family moved back to England and he ended up working in an aquarium and a pet store. He was not medically fit to be a soldier but ended up working on a farm. After the war he went to work at Whipsnade Zoo. After that, he got a job collecting animals for zoos by visiting Africa and South America. He was known for treating his animals well, which caused him financial difficulties .He founded his own zoo in Jersey in 1959.The EntranceThe Entrance was recommended to me by Alison Waddell. It is a frame story and thus hearkens back to the classic ghost story tales which are often told as frames and often feature old, occult manuscripts. Gerald Durrell goes to meet his charming, slightly comic friends in Provence. They hand him a manuscript they found in Marseilles that belonged to a strange man called Dr Le Pitre. Dr Le Pitre is another layer to the story that seems quite unnecessary to me, but I might be missing something. The manuscript dated as March 16th 1901 features a lengthy set up of a Victorian (the old queen died  on 22 January 1901, but her influence lingered a few months at least) antiquarian book dealer (very M R James) who is stalked by a strange foreigner  on a foggy night in London (so far so trope, and I suspect that Durrell was doing this to play with the genre). He gets a mysterious warning from his friend about the family, but becomes great mates with this aristocratic frenchman. Ultimately we see that this was a grift and Durrell drops a few ominous sentences along the lines of “If I knew then what I know now”. “That was my gravest mistake” which sort of spoilt the surprise of the twist at the end. But it’s full Gothic. Alone in an ancient chateau in terrible weather, cut off by snow with a lurking monster in the mirrors. Instead of strange old servitors he has some friendly animals. Again he can’t help himself intruding the comic parrot and Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Nameless Offspring by Clark Ashton Smith

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 18:00:00 -0000

Clark Ashton SmithClark Ashton Smith was an American writer born in Long Valley, California in 1893 who died in Pacific Grove, California in 1961, aged 68.  They are actually four hundred and twenty eight miles apart which is longer than the whole of England.  For comparison I have only made two hundred yards from the place I was born to the place I now live. He lived most of his life in the small town of Auburn, California. He was madly neurotic, agoraphobic and as with Lovecraft, the existential unease he no doubt felt in life, intrudes into his stories, giving them their unsettling quality, I would guess.Because of his nerves, he was educated at home and was intelligent with a fantastic memory and educated himself by reading, including The Encyclopaedia Britannica all volumes cover to cover more than once.He taught himself French and Spanish and translated poetry from those languages, including Baudelaire’s The Flowers of Evil. Naturally.Clark was a weird poet and one of the now defunct West Coast Romantics. I can see him playing guitar for Mazzy Star (if he’d been spared). He was one of the ‘big three’ authors of Weird Tales, the others being Robert E Howard and H P Lovecraft. As a teen (though in those days I wouldn’t have been familiar with that word) I lapped up all three, though I preferred Ashton Smith. There is something more poetic and less rude about his style than either the barbarous, muscle-bound stories of Howard and the off-kilter, prolix and baroque tales of H P.  Though, as I say, I read them all, aye. All.We have done an Ashton Smith story before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSkA3Hq8qIU (The Maker of Gargoyles).This story: The Nameless Offspring is another tomb story. We seem to have done a run of these recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pSp2_ZPOyA (The Catacomb), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC9epxbb-JU (The Secret of The Vault). And previously we did The https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC-kCEb_oTE (Fall of the House of Usher).It was published in Strange Tales in 1932, and in those days publishing in these pulp magazine was the standard process.  Many of the writers of pulps purveyed Cosmic Horror. Of course the primary voice here is H P Lovecraft and his  taste seems to have stamped itself on his followers and his approval, given them a significant advantage. Lovecraft was a great admirer of Ashton Smith.You will recall that to write a classic story in this period: first set it somewhere obscure either in time or distance from your average reader> Make the weather bad. Have a gothic edifice: a castle, though in this case and old (Cornish from the name) Manor House will do. Have an aged retainer, an obscure history that is not fully discussed, an aristocrat, poor light then you just need a monster and you’re on. This tale has it all. And let’s face it what Hollywood producers say (though not to me) ‘We want more of the same, but different.”  This is what we have. Smith is great with descriptions. I prefer his prose to Lovecraft. IT was the fashion to use obscure words and lots of them, but he does it in a less awkward way than Lovecraft and one that is not as open to parody.The story begins with a little background that makes sense of what is to follow along with a warning that he never foresaw the terrible truth, etc. he goes on a trip and inadvertently comes across the evil Tremoth Hall. How likely is that actually? The place receives few visitors in common with nearly every Manor House in all the stories we have read. None of them are open to the National Trust. I read one recently by Sarah Perry (author of Melnoth the Wanderer and the Essex Serpent) iSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan PoeThe Masque of the Red Death was published in 1842 by Edgar Allan Poe in Graham’s Magazine.  He was paid $12 for it. There is an app on the internet to tell you the value of money today and that calculates $12 in 1842 is worth $482 today.  That is £353 Sterling, or £4,236 Scots.  Good money in anyone’s book for a 16 minute story.It was made into a film in 1964, starring Vincent Price.  As any brief study will tell you, it follows the conventions of Gothic fiction: it’s set in a castle (in fact a castellated abbey so two for the price of one)At the time of the story, Poe’s wife was suffering from tuberculosis and would be coughing blood most likely, and this image may have inspired (if that is a suitable word) the imagery of the story. People have wondered what the actual disease was - bubonic plague or tuberculosis or maybe Ebola virus, but in fact I think it’s most likely he just made it up.There have been many attempts at understanding why there were seven rooms and the meaning of the colours. It may be because he liked the imagery, but of course why did he like the imagery? What subconscious needs and desires do the colours represent. Discuss at your leisure. The story is about how even kings may not escape death, despite their pride and majesty and as such it reminds me of Oxymandias by Shelley and the Dog In Durer’s Etching story we did  by Marco Denevi.It’s a very neat story structure.  Introduce Red Death, introduce Prospero. He retreats from the world, describe the abbey. Now the Masquerade Ball. Now entry of Death. Now he’s dead. Finish. 16 minutes.What’s with the Ebony Clock? Perhaps counting down like a drum roll to increase suspense? Who knows?If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a  free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Eye of The Cat by Ruskin Bond

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Ruskin BondRuskin Bond was born in 1934 in Kasauli in Punjab, India. His first novel was published when he was 22, A Room on the Roof and it won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. He specialised in short stories of which he wrote more than five hundred. He lives in Mussoorie. Bond was born when India was part of the British Empire.. His father taught English to the Indian princesses of the Indian princely state of Nawanagar and bond lived with his family at the palace when he was a boy.  At the beginning of the Second World War, his father Aubrey Alexander Bond joined the Royal Air Force. When Ruskin was only eight his father left his mother Edith Clarke and married an Indian, Hindu woman called Hari. (In the story, which has lots of autobiographical details, he says it was his mother who married an Indian man after his father died). His father arranged for him to come to New Delhi where he was posted and Ruskin was happy there and describes his childhood as magical. But his father died during the War when Ruskin was only 10. He went to an English style boarding school in Shimla and won a number of writing prizes when he was there. After finishing at Shimla he went to the Channel Islands (close to the French Coast but a possession of the English Crown) because his aunt lived there. He then went to London and worked in a photo studio. When his first novel was a success he used the money to pay his fare back to India. He worked as a writer there and has been a writer ever since.Despite his British ancestry he feels India. He has said about being Indian that race did not make him one, religion did not make him one, but history did. Most of his works deal with small town India, particularly the hill stations where he grew up. He has described small town India as his India. If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a  free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Most of Ruskin’s stories aren’t ghost stories though he admits a fondness for the work of Lafcadio Haearn, an Irish writer who settled in Japan via the USA and specialised in ghost stories with a Japanese background.  Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Night on the Borders of the Black Forest by Amelia B Edwards

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Amelia B EdwardsBorn in 1831 in London and died in 1892 aged 60 in Weston Supermare at the seaside near Bristol. She was a novelist, traveller and enthusiastic amateur Egyptologist. Her mother was Irish and her father had been an officer in the British Army and then became a banker.  She was married, but her emotional attachments were with women and she lived with and was apparently in love with Ellen Braysher, widow, and Ellen Byrne a school inspector’s wife.A Night on The Borders of the Black Forest was recommended by Nadia Astorga in May 2022This is the third story by Amelia B we’ve done, the other’s being The Phantom Coach and Salome. This is the first of hers that is less a ghost story (if fact not a ghost story at all) and more an adventure.  The collection of stories is also entitled A Night On The Borders of the Black Forests and was published in 1890.For comparison Le Fanu’s Carmilla set in Styria in Austria was published in 1872 and Stoker’s Dracula was published in 1897. Elizabeth Gaskell’s The Grey Woman was published in 1861. It reminded me most of The Grey Woman because it is set in the border area of France and Germany at about the same period and there are brigands in the woods in both.It’s a definite nod to the Gothic but also a right rollicking adventure story and so reminds of The Grey Woman but also the Scottish set  A Journey of Little Profit by John Buchan from 1896, because it is also a tale of wanderings on foot and George Borrow’s Wild Wales was published in 1862, which deals with supposedly true wanderings in the Wild.Mary Braddon’s The Cold Embrace and Hoffman’s The Sandman also have people tramping all over Germany and venturing into France and the Netherlands. It must have been busy on the roads. Wordsworth had an edition of the Prelude out in 1850. This thrilling love for mountainous wild places titillated the middle class urban readers on a trivial level while Wordsworth was aiming for the spiritual, but each to their own indeed.The story structure: Neat. Enjoying the milieu as much as anything. The tramping over the countryside. On his own, meets up with Gustav, on to the village, the coach trip, wandering at night, the inn, suspicions mount.  The innkeeper won’t drink the wine. It tastes bad. It smells funny as does the coffee.Burned! Why not set the dogs on them? Why not just poison them dead rather than drug them with a soporific?  I think that’s a plot hole. And if they don’t sell the stuff they steal (it’s in the granary) what’s the point of murdering strangers? But a good read and nicely written, easy to narrate. A sprinkling of German terms for colour. Gustav shows too much interest in the slow-witted peasant girl Annchen for my liking. After all, he’s got a madchen at home.  She won’t drink the wine either. The beer seems fine though. The landlord checks how much Gustav as drunk. If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a  free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Catacomb by Peter Shilston

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Catacomb by Peter Shilston was recommended by one of my Patreons but it was hard to get hold of. It was published in the early 1980s in a fanzine for lovers of M R James's stories who wrote stories in a similar vein. This home-produced magazine was called More Ghosts and Scholars and is very hard to get hold of. Then it was reprinted in Best of Ghosts and Scholars and Best Horror Volume 9 edited by Karl Wagner. These are collectors items and expensive so I despaired of getting hold of the story but wanted to because it was so highly recommended. Eventually I bit the bullet and shelled out (see what I did there?) for More Ghosts & Scholars on Ebay. It arrived. I read it. I hope you like it. It is followed by my thoughts about the story which in now typical fashion degenerates into random related thoughts.I hope you enjoy my rendition. You could consider supporting my efforts by buying me a coffee one off or signing up as a Patreon. This latter includes members only readings and early access to regular podcast episodes.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou can become a Patreon of the show for exclusive members’ only stories:https://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And if you want to thank me (think of a busker’s hat) then you can get me a coffee via http://www.ko-fi.com/tonywalker (www.ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Join my mailing list and get a download: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback (https://bit.ly/somecomeback)————————Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Middle Toe of the Right Foot by Ambrose Bierce

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Middle Toe of the Right Foot by Ambrose Bierce is a ghost story set in the late 19th Century in the American south-west. A tightly crafted tale with at least three twists, even though it's short.Thanks to 23Split23 for recommending it, and Dewayne Hayes for recommending Bierce in general. Amazed it's only the second Bierce story I've done. Well worth it though.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a  free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mean Mr Mullins by Cathu Sahu

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Mean Mr Mullins by Cathu Sahu is an original story by a living author: Cathy Sahu. A tale of a nasty man set in small-town America (at least I think it's small town, maybe suburban). For the post-story discussion, I read out notes sent in by Cathu and ramble a bit on the general themes.Cathy Sahu's book Ghosts & Other Unpleasantries can be found https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghosts-Other-Unpleasantries-C-S-Sahu/dp/0997578505/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?crid=1AVFQU3Z2PLKC&keywords=cathy+sahu+ghosts&qid=1653129438&sprefix=cathy+sahu+ghosts%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-2-fkmr0 (here)This is Amazon UK link, but you should be able to hop to Amazon USA and all the other Amazons from it.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a  free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Secret of the Vault by J Wesley Rosenquest

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Secret Of The Vault by J Wesley RosenquestRecommended by Mary Ware in August 2021. Published in Weird Tales, May 1938J WESLEY ROSENQUEST or Rosenquest was an American Sci-fi writer.  That's all we know about him. Unless you have a lead?If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a  free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Call of Cthulhu by H P Lovecraft

Fri, 27 May 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Call of Cthulhu by H P Lovecraft was commissioned by Gavin Critchley for me to read for all of you. Thanks to Gavin!The foundation story of Cosmic Horror and the Cthulhu Mythos. Get a cup of tea, sit comfortably and be prepared to go insane at the revelation of monstrous fate that awaits us all. ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou can become a Patreon of the show for exclusive members’ only stories:https://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And if you want to thank me (think of a busker’s hat) then you can get me a coffee via http://www.ko-fi.com/tonywalker (www.ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Join my mailing list and get a download: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback (https://bit.ly/somecomeback)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They Bite by Anthony Boucher

Fri, 20 May 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Anthony BoucherAnthony Boucher known as was the pen name of William Anthony Parker White and he was known at Tony. He was born in 1911 in Oakland California and died aged only 56 in Oakland of lung cancer. I guess he liked it there.  He graduated from Pasadena High in 1928 and went to the University of Southern California and did his masters at University of California, Berkely. Boucher is to rhyme with Voucher rather than the French bouche. Boucher was close to his grandfather who had been a steel worker in Glasgow and got free passage to America after signing up to fight in the Civil War. He couldn’t have afforded the passage otherwise. It’s said that the grandfather who made a big impression on Boucher was a rake and a rogue. He was a sickly child with asthma and other illnesses and this made him a voracious reader and later writer. Boucher was a professional writer of fiction who wrote mystery novels, short stories, science fiction and radio dramas. His story Nine Times Nine was voted the best locked room master of all time. He edited anthologies of science fiction and was a translator from Spanish, being the first to translate Jorge Luis Borges (I must do one of his stories). Boucher founded the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and edited it from 1949 to 1958.  He was a friend and mentor of Philip K. Dick. In addition to other things he was a keen poker player, a sports fan and a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. He collected records of early operatic singers. Apparently he was a friend of the occultist Jack Parsons who also lived in PasadenaHis first story was published in 1927 in Weird Tales when he was 15. It was entitled “Ye Good Olde Ghost Storie”. They BiteThis story was suggested by many many people. I watched a couple of videos on how to do Western accents, but I think I have not succeeded very well and hope that doesn’t detract from the story.This is a classic folk horror story albeit set in the American West, though it references Sweeny Bean a Gaelic cannibal from Galloway.  Boucher’s grandfather was from Scotland. The story is similar to Samantha Hick’s story: Back Along The Old Track, though I don’t think Sam’s story was consciously modelled on this. The similarity is in the trope. Also similar is Lovecraft’s Dreams In The Witch House. It isn’t clear to me why Tallant is climbing the rocks all day or has come here at all. He makes notes of what he sees of the glider training school. Perhaps he is going to sell what he sees to the highest bidder – some sort of freelance spy.Some of the characters I don’t get. The old man who warns Tallant and whose dog is killed by the Carker. The young man with the beard who is a stranger, the Flight Sergeant on the pinball machine and the construction worker being fleeced at poker. I don’t get those, apart from Boucher’s real life love of poker. He only needs one Warner and the bartender really.  He is planning blackmail but I don’t get how the Carker story will help that. I wasn’t surprised when he killed Morgan. I think the dream of him being a superman king narcissist type let me know he was not a bloody good bloke. But it is Morgan’s murder that leads to Tallant’s doom. It is his fiendish plan to attribute Morgan’s death the the Carkers that leads him inside their tumble down adobe.    It has an unreliable narrator. Remember Boucher was a mystery writer and the unreliable narrator became a staple after Agatha Christie. There is no hint that Tallant is a blackmailer. In a sense he is like the Crakers who have come to Oasis opportunistically in search of prey — as has Morgan, a fellow blackmailer. There is a hint to Tallant’s shady pastSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Crown Derby Plate by Marjorie Bowen

Fri, 13 May 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Crown Derby Plate by Marjorie Bowen is a classic ghost story and much requested. It has a ghost, a remote haunted house, windswept Essex marshes, a set of china and a naive and rather pushy heroine. A fun story that I enjoyed reading out.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereA good was is to to spread the word about the podcast!You could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a  free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Fear Departed The Long Gallery by E F Benson

Fri, 06 May 2022 07:00:00 -0000

E F BensonEdward Frederic Benson was born in 1867 at Wellington College, where his father was headmaster,  in Berkshire just outside London and died at University College London at the age of 72. His father went on to be Bishop of Truro, and Cornwall features in both his and his brothers’ stories, and then Archbishop of Canterbury, the highest ranking of the Anglican Church. He was the fifth child. His illustrious brother A C Benson wrote the words to Land of Hope and Glory, a patriotic English song and some fine ghost stories, although probably not as good as EF’s. His other brother also wrote ghost stories but he was a committed Catholic and RH Benson’s stories often contain religious lessons rather than being merely fun.His sister Margaret was an amateur Egyptologist and author. Two other siblings died young.E F Benson was educated at Marlborough College and then went to King’s College Cambridge.  His first book was Sketches from Marlborough and he was most famous in his lifetime for the Mapp and Lucia comic novel series. Arguably however his ghost stories are his greatest legacy.  Some of these including this one How Fear Departed The Long Gallery have comic elements, particularly the kind of humour that observes and gently satirises the social class he moved in — otherwise known as the idle rich. A status I aspire to myself, and with your help will one day reach.How Fear Departed The Long GalleryThe story starts with a rather comic picture of a genteel English county family who live in a long occupied ancestral house full of quirky ghosts. Then after the comedy we are told about the scary ghosts: the murdered children, murdered quite horribly by Dirty Dick.  It was one of those murders like Richard III, motivated by a desire to wipe out the line and inheritI think the scariness of children is if I may say like that of a doll. It’s the uncanny valley. They are both like and unlike adults. They look like us, but we cannot be sure they think like us or what they will do. Who is hiding behind the eyes of the child. Anne Rice does this with her child vampire Claudia and there was a child vampire in Skyrim too. Just saying.The servant who first sees the toddlers dies. Then Miss Canning, the great beauty and friend of Voltaire mocks th twins and gets a horrible lichen disease. E F wrote a few horror stories that feature diseases, notably Caterpillars. Colonel Blantyre shot at the poor ghosts. Miss Canning told them to get back into the fire.  When Madge wakes in the Long gallery after dark and gets lost in the furniture and disorientated that’s like the Blind. Man’s Buff story we did. Lighten Our Darkness indeed, and figuratively by mercy.  So it’s a story about redemptionIf You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereIf You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a  free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hounds of Tindalos by Frank Belknap Long

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Hounds of Tindalos by Frank Belknap LongFrank Belknap  Long was born in 1901 in Harlem, New York (not the Netherlands) and died in 1992 aged 92 in Manhattan.He was a horror and science fiction writer and is most famous for his contribution to the stories of the Cthulhu Mythos.The Cthulhu Mythos begins with H P Lovecraft, but many other authors have contributed towards the corpus of stories that the faithful call ‘The Canon’.   It was his 1921 story The Eye Above The Mantel that caught Lovecraft’s eye. That story was a pastiche of Edgar Allan Poe and I have elsewhere commented on that histrionic overblown prose that contains many screaming crazy dudes and occult blasphemous horrors which is found first and best in Poe, then Lovecraft and here in this lovely story.Frank and Howard maintained a long correspondence. Lovecraft was famous for his lengthy and multiple pen friendships as he sat shut up and nervous in his room. He became a mentor to Frank. Frank contributed to the pulp magazinesThe Hounds of TindalosChalmers. Prefers illuminated manuscripts to adding machines and leering stone gargoyles to automobiles. Who doesn’t?  He has a long nose and slightly receding chin. His bookcase has medieval pamphlets about sorcery, witchcraft and black magic (surely triple tautology)  but again, what’s not normal in any of this? Although I think that Frank is setting it up for the norms so they get the idea that Chalmers is a bit weird. He has the same name as the Australian Philosopher David Chalmers who famously came up with the term ‘the hard problem’ to describe how in a materialist way of thinking, matter can give rise to subjective experience. It’s as hard a problem as how cows make lollipops. We simply can’t figure either of them out.So, Frank is using ‘modern science’ in the guise of Einstein to undermine the self-confident materialists, particularly regarding time. He throws this is in like spice. He lets us know that Einstein is relative: we each have our own versions.  Our interlocutor is our avatar. Think how hard it would be to write a story with one character? You need two to bring out the exposition. Anyway, on we go, getting more and more theatrical with each sentence. But this idea about curves and angles seems original and it is quite weird. Like Lovecraft’s Colour Out of Space, an abstract idea like a colour or an angle can be jarringly weird. Weird is all about juxtapositions that should not be, and taking things out of context because they are juxtaposed with other, odd contents.It sort of reminded me of H G Wells’ The Time Machine particularly the 1950s film version. The Hounds of Tindalos was the first Cthulhu story written by anyone else than Lovecraft and we have references to Dholes and the Elder Races. Other than that, there is no clear connection, unless a Mythos buff can correct me. The Hounds of Tindalos are not actual dogs in this story. Other Mythos writers like Ramsey Campbell, Lin Carter, Brian Lumley and Peter Cannon reference the Hounds.  The the name Tindalos sounds Greek and there are references ‘The Greeks had a name for them, ‘ I don’t think Tindalos means anything.The name Halpin is one I have only come across before in the work of Ambrose Bierce The Death of Halpin Frayser . Perhaps it is a common name in America, but I’ve heard in speech here. 20lb of plaster of Paris seems a lot. Despite the plaster of Paris smoothing out the corners of the room (I should have liked to have seen that), the Hounds find a way in by causing an earthquake which causes the plaster to fall and thus angles are created…A hopeless maniac. I could tell you about those.   With the lSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Sandman by E T A Hoffman

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Ernst Theodor Amadeus HoffmanE T A Hoffman, as he is known, was born in 1776 in Konigsberg, East Prussia, Germany and died in Berlin, Germany of syphilis, which was extremely prevalent. He was only 46.  He was a romantic author of fantasy and Gothic horror as well as being a composer, music critic and artist. He wrote the Nutcracker and the Mouse King which was the basis of Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker and Offenbach’s opera The Tales of Hoffman is based on E T A Hoffman’s works.His parents separated when he was 12. He remained with his mother and aunts. He was very fond of his aunts. He started work in 1796 for his uncle as a clerk. He visited Dresden and was impressed by the paintings in the gallery there.  He lived and worked for his uncle in Berlin from 1798. From 1800 he lived and worked away from home and took to a dissolute lifestyle. He was promoted and got a job in Warsaw in 1804. He was happy in Warsaw, but went back to Berlin which was occupied by Napoleon’s armies. In 1808 he got a job in Bamburg as a theatre manager. He was given to falling in love, once with a young music student Julia Marc and another time with a married woman 10 years old who had six children.  He also appears to had challenges with alcohol most of his adult life. The SandmanThe Sandman is Hoffman’s best loved and most influential story. It was a favourite of Sigmund Freud and we might see some influence of this story on Tim Burton’s films. M. Grant Kellermeyer on his great ghost story site says that the Sandman exists to sow suffering and everything he touches. Coppelius as the Sandman wants to throw hot coals and sparks into the eyes, not the soporific sand.The story begins with a series of letters. This was a common convention and later Hoffman steps in as the author and discusses different ways he had thought of beginning the story. One can’t help think that he was amusing himself with this story as he seems to be satirising certain classes of people, notably Romantics.  The Romantic Movement grew up towards the end of the 18th Century and lasted into the 19th Century, dated to end at the crowning of Queen Victoria in England in 1837.I think the first letter from Nathanael setting out his horrified fantasies about the Sandman Coppelius is to establish him as a credulous and impressionable boy given to neurotic terrors. He seems incapable of distinguishing truth from his fantasies and believes his inward passions rather than objective facts. Again, I think Hoffman is poking fun at Romanticism.There is some theme of eyes. Coppelius seems to want to steal Nathanael’s eyes, and eyes and optics crop up again and again. When Coppelius and Nathanael’s father are working as alchemists, they seem to be building automata. Clara’s letter establishes her (a woman) as level headed and logical and not given to fancies. They are at odds in this and I feel that Hoffman is making fun of the brooding romantics who believed that nature should lead over thinking.  Clara is endlessly forgiving and devoted to Nathanael despite him not really deserving it as he is moody and unfaithful with a robot and then tries to kill her. In the end, we hear that she has found someone more worthwhile to love and have children with.Amusingly, when Clara doesn’t love his gloomy poem he calls her a lifeless automaton. The story is filled with little jokes like this.Nathanael does not believe in free will. Clara does. Nathanael believes that we are controlled by mighty powers greater than ourselves. Clara denies this and says we are fooled by our own fancies if we think this. Ironically, that is what kills Nathanael and drives him mad.SomSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Out of the Deep by Walter de la Mare

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Walter de la MareWalter de la Mare is most famous as a poet. He was born in 1873 in Charlton in south-east London not far from Greenwich. It was then part of the county of Kent but has now been gobbled up by Greater London. He was offered a knighthood twice but declined.De La Mare died in 1956, aged 83, in Middlesex.   He had a heart attach in 1947 and was left unwell until his death of another in 1956. He was highly regarded as a poet and  T. S. Eliot wrote a poem for his funeral service. His ashes are buried in the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral.  His writings were a favourite reading matter of H P Lovecraft and admired by Robert Aickman and Ramsey Campbell.His family were originally French, from the Protestant Huguenots who fled persecution by the Catholic King of France. His ancestors had been silk merchants, but his father was a banker and his mother was the daughter of a Scottish naval surgeon.He disliked the name Walter and his friends called him Jack.When he was 17, he went to work for Standard Oil in the statistics department, but he was already writing and his first volume of work was published when he was twenty-nine.He married his wife, who was impoverished after meeting her the amateur dramatic society of which they were both members. They lived in Anerley, where I once lived, a rather nondescript part of South London next to the more famous Crystal Palace. They were apparently great entertainers and hosted many parties.Most of the fiction he wrote was supernatural fiction.His style is elegant but his sentences are complex with lots of sub-clauses making him nearly has hard to read out as Henry James. This is a story written to be read rather than read out, I think.Out of The DeepThe story unfolds slowly. Jimmie, an orphan boy has not been ill-treated by his uncle and aunt from what we hear, but he disliked their characters and was tormented by their butler Soames. It appears, though were are not told, that after he became a man, he left them and the hated house where he had been so unhappy and was reluctant to go back even after he inherited the house. As well as the physical torment of his time in the attic he had memories of things coming out of the wardrobe and the crab patterned paper that came alive. (Like the Yellow Wallpaper). He seems to have hated everything about his boyhood, including going to church, fatty meat and the ugly old-age of his relatives.  We learn from his aunt that he’s always suffered from anxiety and is timid. There is some tension between him wanting to be good little boy and feeling he never quite managed it. Although in his adulthood, he doesn’t seem to do much that’s bad. He seems to do his best. But he never rises above the pointless misery of the house. It’s all miserable and suffuses the story.He lies awake thinking like a fountain. He has little human company and appears to have cut off what friends he had before moving into the house as he if knew he was preparing for his death.He has his charwoman Mr Thripps who considers the house unpleasant and doesn’t want to sleep a night there for a plate of sovereigns, even though she would out of duty to Jimmie. I warmed to Mrs Thripps and though Victorian and Edwardian writers mostly portray the working-classes as idiots, thugs and criminals, there is a warmness to Mrs Thripps that makes her more likeable than Jimmie, though Jimmie does nothing to offend us really. I don’t know whether De La Mare intended that.Jimmie uses his witty speech to deflect from the deep despair and unhappiness in him.  He is quite nice to the tradespeople he meets and gives the impression of wanting to be cheerful and good tSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Music of Erich Zann by H P Lovecraft

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Music of Erich Zann by H P Lovecraft. I recorded it ages ago and I can't believe I never posted this before!Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thirteen At Table by Lord Dunsany

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron DunsanyEdward John Moreton Draw Plunkett, or Lord Dunsany was known to his friends as Eddie. Lord Dunsany was born in 1878 in London England and died in 1957 in Dublin Ireland.  Though born in England, he was heir to the oldest inhabited house in Ireland: Dunsany Castle near Tara. In County Meath.He worked to support the Abbey Theatre in Dublin with W B Yeats and Lady Gregory. In addition he was chess and pistol champion of Ireland. He was also a great traveller and, as you can tell from this story: he was a habitual hunter with horse and hounds.He was a prolific writer produced over ninety volumes of fiction, essays, poems and plays. His most famous book is possibly The King of Elfland’s Daughter and he is thought to be the first fantasy writer who set out the later genre that produced the Narnia books and The Lord of the Rings and ultimately Game of Thrones. Thirteen At TableThis story was suggested by Mike Jenkins. We have a beautiful description of the Kent countryside on a spring evening as they follow the fox. This is indeed a fox hunt and may not be to everyone’s taste but is part of the story. I like the idea that a gentleman at hounds may request a bed from any other gentleman who has a gentleman’s house.It’s s simple tale thereafter. We have host, Sir Richard Arlen, who says he has lived a wicked life. What he has done to this succession of women that means he has to dine with them every night for the past fifty years is not explained. But we understand he has wronged them and we guess perhaps he was somewhat of a rake.As the dinner goes on. It is explained that Mr Linton drinks a lot as he is dehydrated. He is also tired. He starts off by humouring the guest and then takes to his story of his wonderful twenty point hunt. The best hunt that ever was and a tale that grows in the telling. I am thinking this is a good humoured dig at huntsmen and their stories. And as he feels the need for an audience to tell his tale, slowly the ghosts become visible to Mr Linton and he begins to treat them as real people rather than as figments of his imagination. It is so slowly and delicately done that it is very effective and smooth. In the end he offends the ghosts by something he said. They are clearly very sensitive and collect slights. He is mortified, but the host is supremely grateful. There is a happy ending in that Sir Richard ArlenIt’s a humorous and pretty story. I haven’t read much Dunsany, but I’m keen to read more now.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereIf You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Crowd by Ray Bradbury

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0000

A man in a car crash starts wondering how come the crowds gather so fast, and then he wonders why they all look so familiar. He researches the answer and is about to go to the police...A short weird tale by the prolific master of the weird tale, Ray BradburyIf You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou can become a Patreon of the show for exclusive members’ only stories:https://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And if you want to thank me (think of a busker’s hat) then you can get me a coffee via http://www.ko-fi.com/tonywalker (www.ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Join my mailing list and get a download: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback (https://bit.ly/somecomeback)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SO311. The Man Whom The Trees Loved by Algernon Blackwood

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0000

A tale of the New Forest in England where Mr and Mrs Bittacy settle after years abroad. A painter with a certain talent for painting trees awakens something in the old man and he takes to wandering deep in the forest. Mrs Bittacy with her strong, Christian values is appalled by the ancient woodland spirits that her husbands seems to seek out. She loves him and wants to protect him from the ancient force of the forest. But will her love and faith be enough? Algernon Blackwood was a man of many talents and is known still for his disturbing ghost and horror stories. The Man Whom The Trees Loved is one of his classics.If you'd like to support my ongoing work and make free audiobooks like this possible, consider a one off donation via www.ko-fi/tonywalkerOr become a Patreon for ongoing support and members only stories. https://www.patreon.com/barcudSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S03010 The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapters 16-20

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Picture of Dorian Gray is now done. Hooray. That's it done. The commentary at the end is slightly nutty because I was tired and slightly manic. Make sure to listen to the very end.Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0309 The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapters 13-15

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Picture of Dorian Gray. Here's the latest. For those of you who are loving it, I hope you continue to enjoy this episode. For those of you who aren't into it so much, don't worry, it will soon be over.Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0308 The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapters 10-12

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Picture of Dorian Gray. I have had one of those Mandela Effect mind blips. I have thought and continued to write" A Portrait of Dorian Gray when it was published in 1880 as A Picture of Dorian Gray.In this Dorian goes to the bad. He will get worse, and this is just the beginningSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0307 The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Chapters 7-9

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Picture of Dorian Gray. Dorian is rather unpleasant and comes home to see his portrait knows what he's done. More wit and malice from Oscar WildeSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0306 The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Chapters 4-6

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Here's another hour of Dorian Gray in which Dorian is very excited, Lord Harry is languid, Basil the Painter disapproves, Sibyl Vane is ecstatic, her mother ashamed and her brother cross.Get a pencil and paper. You will want to write down some of Lord Harry's wisdom to deploy yourself when you're speaking to your neighbours.Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0305 The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (Chapters 1-3)

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The beautiful story of a beautiful man living a beautiful life that starts in a beautiful garden and ends this week at a rather splendid lunch with a duchess and a few lesser nobles not giving a fig for the lower orders but enjoying themselves immensely. Beautifully witty and beautifully camp. I hope you enjoy it.This is the first part of Oscar Wilde's famous novel. It has chapters 1-3. Nuff said.Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0304 Beyond The Door by J. Paul Suter

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Beyond the Door is a story of a haunting. A man is haunted by visions of something coming out of the well in his cellar and by the scratching sounds in the passages of his old house.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In here you could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Beyond The Door by J. Paul SuterThis story was recommended by Terry Illikainen and this version was from Weird Tales volume 01 number 02, 1923-4.Jospeh Paul Suter wrote pulp tales during the early to middle part of the 20th Century for the magazines that specialised in genre fiction. He wrote mystery, detective, and supernatural stories. He was prolific and had more than two hundred stories published in these magazine.He was an American author born in 1884 who died in 1970. And that’s about all I can find about him.Beyond the DoorIt seems to me that Beyond The Door is one of those stories that leaves it up in the air whether the narrator is insane or haunted. In this it is like The Yellow Wallpaper or The Horla or The Beckoning Fair One. It’s a common sub-type of the ghost story genre. My feeling is that this eccentric driven, bookish man who is focused on his interests in the scientific study of insects cannot tolerate deviation from his routine. He sees the love interest of his Australian lady as a threat to his work, and the anxiety thus provoked drives him to hill her and throw her down the well.If I was meeting him today, I would probably think he had Asperger’s Syndrome and that he couldn’t remember his murder due to dissociation. Clues to the fact it’s a murder not a haunting are that he keeps having visions of a dog and he comments how she nuzzled his hand like a dog. No one else sees or hears anything supernatural, though the freaky house decorated with bugs dose unsettle them. The body is bruised again supporting the coroner’s theory that the stone slab of the well came down on him when his guilt just wouldn’t let him leave the crime scene alone. The coroner’s theory that the slab somehow paralysed him is a nasty end for anyone. Apparently the stone caused an injury that left him paralysed for two days, head down the well and thus he died. He screamed, but no one heard.Suter wrote a whole bunch of crime thrillers, so perhaps he preferred a criminal to a supernatural explanation in this story too.Although listening it again, it seems that the girl killed herself, but then entomologist blamed himself for her death because he had refused to marry her. I don’t think it’s his fault. He apparently covers her up with dirt at the bottom of the well. Out of guilt? The coroner talks about people rarely being punished accurately for his sins, though the entomologist was.I still think it’s a lot to blame him for her suicide. Ghosts however are often the agents or retribution and the paying out of sins. So even if this is a ghost that only appears mentally, it still has the same role. Not supernatural retribution but some psychological expression of karma. As well as the pulp genre, this story reminds me strongly of Edgar Allan Poe, particularly The Tell-Tale Heart, where the subconscious pressure of a crime won’t let the criminal rest until a confession comes out.It is told as is very common in older stories through a frame: we don’t hear the protagonist themselves, but have the story related through a witness or documents. This is much less fashionable these days: I don’t think Steven King or Neil Gaiman for example use this structure, but it was very common in older stories and lots we’ve read on The Classic Ghost S tories Podcast follow this pattern: The Turn of The Screw. H G Well’s Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0303 Number 13 by M R James

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Number 13 by M R JamesNumber 13 by M R James is a spooky story of a missing room and its missing inhabitant. Including old churches, musty documents, secrets, the occult and bookish blokes rummaging aroundUnlucky for some, but not really for Mr Anderson though it gave him quite a shock. This story was commissioned by Gavin Critchley who kindly has allowed me to broadcast it to you all.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereIf You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Babylonish Church. I wonder whether this was James’ own view or he is merely representing the view of his character. James was an Anglican and the protestant view of the Catholic Church was not and in some circles remains not wholly tolerant or kind. I read an article arguing that because James was so drawn to the medieval period that he must be in possession of a Catholic sensibility, in which the whole world is in some sense sacred. I am not sure this correctly represents Catholic dogma or the Medieval European World View. But it’s fun to read about such things.James leaves things out. For example the red light, the dancing figure that might be a man or a woman. I think he deliberately leaves unresolved threads. I think he does the same in Story of a Disappearance And an Appearance in which we have to try to reconstruct the narrative ourselves to figure out what actually went on, rather than James spoon-feeding us the rational explanation (rational though perhaps also supernatural. The two things aren’t exclusive). In this again I think he is a little like David Lynch who allows images to emerge from his subconscious and uses them leaving us to try and make sense like a Rorschach image. I’m not against, this, and I might be wrong.In the end, we might walk away from this story wondering: eh?The dancing, singing androgynous spirit, the portmanteau that vanishes and then reappears with apparently no significance. I think he just throws this weird stuff in to unsettle us. This is eerie (by Mark Fisher’s definition) in that it has an agent who has a purpose, but both are obscure to us therefore unsettling us.The weird arm that reaches out is one of a string of weird arms: Grendel’s arm in Beowulf, the arm that takes the baby Pryderi in the tale of Pwyll in the Mabinogi. I also heard via Jon Gower about some farmers in Carno who believed there was a house where a monstrous arm appeared.The number of windows is a clue. I take from this that there was a Room 13, but that Room 12 and Room 14 were enlarged to gobble it up. Perhaps because of its bad reputation. Nicholas Francken is a bit of a red herring. He is an occultist and I’ve said elsewhere that James’s interest in the occult suggests he knew more about it than he lets on in common with his contemporaries, Arthur Machen, W B Yeats etc who were members of the Golden Dawn. But he leads us to believe that we are going to find Francken’s body buried below the planks and then we just find some kind of occult document that no one can read. Another unresolved riddle. Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0302 The Earlier Service by Margaret Irwin

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 07:00:00 -0000

The Earlier Service by Margaret IrwinThe Earlier Service is a tale of what happens in a remote English church late at night. A Listener suggested I record The Earlier Service by Margaret Irwin. I hunted it down via the internet and found it in an anthology called Bloodstock, published in 1978 by Ian Henry Publications in 1978. I believe the collection was initially published in 1953.Bloodstock is split into three sections: Stories From Ireland (five stories here); Uncanny Stories (four stories) and two ungrouped stories: Mrs Oliver Cromwell and Where Beauty Lies. Margaret Irwin doesn’t include any biographical information in this book so I had to go looking elsewhere.As usual, Wikipedia came up trumps and I gave them $2 for their great work. Margaret Irwin was born in Highgate, London in 1889, and she died in 1967 in London also. Her father was an Australian from Perth and her mother was English and her mother’s father was a colonel in the 16th Lancers, a British Cavalry regiment. She was brought up by her uncle in Bristol after her father died.She started writing professionally in the 1920s and specialised in historical fiction, particularly the Elizabeth and early Stuart periods. As well as historical novels she did ghost stories and two fantasy novels, one about a time slip and the other about a wizard’s daughter.She married a book illustrator who did the covers for some of her books.  The Earlier ServiceThe story seems to hark back to a different England: a rural England of evensong and churchgoing that no longer exists. We have examples from the work of R H Malden and M R James of country vicars going about their business in rural parishes where they and the doctor and the solicitor are the only educated and literary people but where they service and minister to the illiterate throng. Most country churches now in England are dead or dying and this therefore is a picture of a world that once was and is no longer.The story begins with the rector’s family going to church. It’s dad’s job so it is the daughters’ duty to go to each service. The younger daughter Jane has developed an irrational fear of the church, though at the beginning, neither she nor we know why. There is some hint that that gargoyles on the church spire are stretching out their necks to get into her room, but that is not what’s happening and is just a little spooky detail thrown in to create atmosphere rather than foreshadowing proper.In the same way the bits of dried black stuff on the church door is said to be the skin of flayed heathens. Imagine torturing people just because they don’t think the same things you do. How awful. I’m glad we’re not like that now.When I was young, I used to collect plastic figures of crusaders. In films they were great heroes, but apparently they are the bad guys now. In any case, the crusader is a great defender in this story. I’ve been to lots of churches with tombs in them with knights and ladies in relief. There was a chapel near Chilingham Castle that I used to take my ghost tours to, usually in the middle of the night. It was always so cold and it was easy to believe in that quiet, chill atmosphere, that they might come back to life. But of course this is a witchcraft/satanism story. In the old days the two were thought to be the same thing. Of course this is what happened to the old pagan gods—they became demons.Jane sees the little dark man with the sharp object in his hand. Of course this is the old Giraldus atte Welle who was defrocked for demonism back in the day. It seems her mother gets a hint of it, but doesn’t see it as clearly as Jane. This is probably because she is not thSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0301 The Fair Family by Tony Walker

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 07:00:00 -0000

A timid man and his worried wife take a trip through Wales. The weather is awful and they worry they will be late for a Christening. That is the least of their worries. A story of the fairy folk and the Welsh gods and the Welsh weather. One of my own. In the afterword I reveal that this whole podcast was a trojan horse to get you to buy my stories. But hang on.... this one's free. My plan failed! Never mind.Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E64 The Pleasure Pilgrims by Ella D'Arcy

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 07:00:00 -0000

The Pleasure Pilgrims by Ella D’ArcyThe Pleasure Pilgrims can be seen as a love story, a murder tale or a sort of Christmas Story (though it’s not set at Christmas). But most of it all it is a story that lays bare the differences between British and Americans. They speak the same language, but they mean different things and seem incapable of understanding what the other really means.We’ve done another of Ella D’Arcy’s stories on The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast: The Villa Lucienne. That too deals with the wealthy elite who skipped around Europe staying in grand houses. There is a ghost in that story, there is one in this too—ultimately.Observations as we go along are that the hosts, the Ritterhausens, and Germans in general don’t make much of an appearance in The Pleasure Pilgrims. They add a little local colour. The setting of a grand old German castle near Hamelin with its pied piper is delightful set-dressing. Ella D’Arcy really brings this out with the snowy train journey, the old bridge choked with ice floes, the German servant in the horse-drawn carriage in his second-best livery. The main character, Campbell is a successful novelist. However, he is a bit of an innocent. He has some funny ideas about the purity of love and we wonder whether he has ever kissed a girl. D’Arch makes two remarks on the British character, one at the beginning when Campbell is forced to share the carriage with the two American girls. They only ride with him out of kindness to the German servant to stop the man making two trips. Campbell is, like most British people, shy, D’Arcy says. Then at the end, when the deed is done, she refers to the ‘cold, complacent British unresponsiveness’. I don’t think this pairing at the beginning and the end is accidental. In fact, the whole story is a study of British versus American character, and the British don’t come out of it so well. Campbell has his cynical second Maynes, who won’t believe a single good thing about Lulie and when Campbell himself starts to relent, Maynes is always there to convince him she’s putting it all on. Campbell comes over was a cold-hearted, vain, prig, and Maynes as simply a monster.D’Arcy gives us a short passage where she explains that Maynes really did think Lulie was putting it on and that he wasn’t just an evil pig. At the end, she also explains that Lulie has led the loveless, homeless life of a poor little rich girl. Rich people are people too, you know in case you are ready to dismiss her suffering as not being as valuable as the suffering of a poor person.  Lulie also has her second, Nannie Dodge who appears to be complicit in Lulie’s shameless seduction. If we believe Maynes’s version of the story.Throughout, Lulie’s ostentation and lack of reserve are emphasised, from her flamboyant and luxurious clothes to her persistent warmth and affection.I was reminded of the case of the English nanny Louise Woodward. There is a great article herehttps://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1997/11/24/here-and-there-3 (Here and There | The New Yorker)Woodward was never seen to cry. In court she sat, hunched, deferential, submissive, lowered eyes and voice. This was seen apparently by American eyes as indicating her guilt. However, this deference and submission in an English court is exactly what would show her innocence. The writer makes the point that in America if you are telling the truth, you meet your questioners eyes, you throw your shoulders back, you have nothing to hide. The the British Woodward was appropriately modest and self-effacing as she should be in court being judged by a judge, who might well be a lord. In America, she was shifty andSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E61 The Piano by Tony Walker

Sat, 25 Dec 2021 07:00:00 -0000

A short Christmas Ghost story. A couple move into an old house, a house whose foundations go back centuries. Once in there they begin to suspect it's haunted. A short, sweet ghost story for Christmas where a couple get an opportunity to remember things that have been forgotten.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereIf You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E60 Surprise View by Tony Walker

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 07:00:00 -0000

A man who has lost everything goes to a remote part of the country for Christmas. In that beautiful landscape it seems the air is full of spirits: both of nature and of those long gone. A heart-warming ghost story for Christmas.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereIf You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E63 Thrawn Janet by Robert Louis Stevenson

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Thrawn or Twisted Janet is a tale of devilish possession written in broad Scots. A chilling tale, if you can understand it. My commentary at the end has very little to do with Thrawn Janet, but does go on at length about the sound 'r'. Fascinating.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereIf You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback*** (https://bit.ly/somecomeback***)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E62 Sir Gawain & The Green Knight

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Sir Gawain & The Green KnightSir Gawain and The Green Knight is the original Christmas Ghost Story. Or technically a supernatural story set at Christmas in the kingdom of Logres ruled by King Arthur. It's pretty gothic.This is a prose translation of a Middle English poem called Sir Gawain and The Green Knight. The translation by Jessie Weston was published in 1898 and though it is certainly not Middle English she has left enough archaic words in to keep that flavour.Jessie Weston herself was born in 1850 in Surrey, England, the daughter of a tea merchant. When she was young the family moved to Bournemouth off England’s south coast and she began writing there. She studied in Hildesheim in Germany and in Paris and at the Crystal Palace School of Art in South London.  She was most famous for her studies of Arthurian romances and the Grail legend where she put forth the ideas that the material was actually pre-Christian and pagan in origin. T S Eliot’s The Wasteland was influenced by Weston’s Arthurian studies. The Green Knight as it stands was composed no later than the end of the 14th Century (the date of the manuscript) and may be much older. The language is Mercian influenced Middle English, probably from Lancashire. The boundary between Mercian and Northumbrian Old English runs through Lancashire and its dialect is influenced by both, but South Lancashire and Cheshire have Midlands’ such as pronouncing the ‘g’ in ‘king’ and ‘thing’.If you’re interested in Old English dialects, check out Simon Roper’s Youtube Channel for a real treat. The poem shows signs of oral storytelling with the rich, detailed descriptions that run in sequences and would probably delight an audience as they were elaborated. The themes are of honour and courage, as befitted the courtly audience, but also of love and fashion, which traditionally interest ladies. Tricky subject these days, but that was the established view for centuries. Things change. I for one embrace change, while I mourn what it lost. I’m a bit like the VoiceOver by Galadriel at the start of the Fellowship of The Ring movie.There are folkloric features which Weston perhaps emphasis because she was interested in them: He bears a holly bough to symbolise life and rebirth. He pole vaults over water as fairies can’t normally cross running water. The bargain is for a year and a day which is in all good fairy tales. The motif of the talking head appears again and again in Celtic stories: Bran the Blessed, and Bricriu’s Feast from the Ulster Cycle where the beheading challenge is seen. Of course the severed head is seen on a platter in the Perceval/Parsifal/Peredur Stories.The old lady in the castle is the famous with Morgana La Fee.“I trow” is “I think” or “I believe”“In sooth” is “truly”, “really” ‘fo sho’“Wit, wot, witen’ are ’to know’ . So “ I wit” is cognate with the German “Ich weiss” or the Dutch “ek weet”“List” is “like” or “please” “As he may list”  “As he pleases”“Welkin” is sky.“Hearken” is “hear, or listen to”Going through the recording as I edit, it strikes me that perhaps the green lace on the axe is the one that Gawain later gets from the lady and transpires to have been the knight’s. It was the magic of this lace that allowed him to survive the blow. Not sure why I didn’t figure that before. This is just what a modern author would be: place an item and bury it in detail so its significance isn’t grasped until much later.It’s mainly showing not telling too. We get some insight into Gawain’s thinking, but mostly the situations are simply described and we infer internal motivations and ruminations from what we hear. Described.I also think it’s Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E59 Harry by Rosemary Timperley

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Harry by Rosemary TimperleyThank you to Steve Cuff for suggesting I read this story. Rosemary Timperley was born in 1920 in North London and died in November 1988. Her father was an architect and her mother a teacher. Timperley went to her local girls school and became a teacher herself. She taught English and History in a state school. Her pupils said she was a very dramatic figure (she ran the drama club) and wore long swirling black dresses with long drop or hoop earrings. While she was a teacher she began to submit her stories to magazine and they began to be accepted. She became a staff writer and agony aunt on the magazine Reveille. She lived in Richmond, Surrey (a well-heeled suburb of London now) for many years. Many of her stories are set in London.During the Second World War she worked at the Citizens’ Advice Bureau in Kensington, London. She got married to a. Physics teacher in 1952 and they lived in Essex just outside London. They separated in the early 1960s according to some sources, but they appear to have been officially married until his death in 1968.In 1961 she mentions she is living in an old-fashioned flat and living on coffee, pink-gin and cigarettes. In 1964 she became seriously ill and had a long spell in hospital. I’m not surprised hearing about her diet. She was very prolific and was the author of 66 novels as well as radio plays and short stories. She was also editor of the 5th to the 9th Ghost Books. Harry has been filmed several times. She described herself as a recluseIf You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereYou could buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)And you can join my mailing list and get a free audiobook: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback (https://bit.ly/somecomeback)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E58 Taig O'Kane and The Corpse by Douglas Hyde

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 07:00:00 -0000

An Irish story told by Douglas Hyde, first president of Ireland and the craoibhinn aobhinn himself. I thought it was about time we did an Irish story and this is hits all the targets.A wastrel boy compromises the reputation of a local girl and when he goes out on the road to think, he meets a party of the fairy folk and they give him something to carry, and something to bury.Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E57 Whatever Happened to Corporal Cuckoo? by Gerald Kersh

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Gerald KershFirstly, I need to thank Gavin Critchley who commissioned me to record this for his birthday in August and then very generously allowed me to broadcast it to you all on the podcast.Gerald Kersh was born in Teddington (just outside Central London) in 1912. He was born into a poor Jewish family and during his life had to turn his hand to many jobs to survive. These included being a cinema manager, body guard, cook in a fish and chip shop, French teacher, travelling salesman, night club bouncer and professional wrestler. It is said he began to write when he was only eight and did all the other jobs to keep him going while he tried to make a living as a writer. His first book was autobiographical and a family member sued him for libel so he withdrew it. His third novel was his most famous one. This was Night And The City which was published in 1938 and made into a film twice. Robert de Niro played the main role in the 1992 film.Kersh joined the British Army during the Second World War and went into the Coldstream Guards but ended up working for the army film unit. He was discharged from the Army in 1943 after having both his legs broken in a bombing raid. While in France, after the liberation that many of his Jewish relatives had died in the Nazi concentration camps.Kersh wrote in a variety of genres after the war and he moved to the USA because he disliked the British tax system which he felt took too much money. He became an American citizen in 1958. He died in New York in 1968.His biography on the Villancourt Books site states:Kersh was a larger than life figure, a big, heavy-set man with piercing black eyes and a fierce black beard, which led him to describe himself proudly as “villainous-looking.” His obituary recounts some of his eccentricities, such as tearing telephone books in two, uncapping beer bottles with his fingernails, bending dimes with his teeth, and ordering strange meals, like “anchovies and figs doused in brandy” for breakfast. Kersh lived the last several years of his life in the mountain community of Cragsmoor, in New York, and died at age 57 in 1968 of cancer of the throat.Whatever Happened to Corporal Cuckoo?This is a story of immortality. If we think of the alchemists who spent their lives, their fortunes, their reputation and their health to find the Elixir of Life and historical figures such as Emperor Rudolf II who, in Prague, funded lots of alchemists to produce such a tincture, then in Whatever Happened To Corporal Cuckoo, we see all of this is turned upon its head.Cuckoo gets the Elixir of Life by accident, it is invented by accident by the French surgeon who treats him. Ambroise Pare was a real military surgeon from this time.After becoming immortal, Cuckoo then spends the rest of eternity looking for get rich quick schemes in order to fund his buying what sounds like a low rent clip joint with girls and booze for low rent customers. He squanders every gift that eternity could have given him, not least by saving a little of his pay (and putting into attacker account as Warren Buffet would have you do). His answer when asked, is that he can’t be anything other than he is. He will do what his character makes him do. This is his dharma. This Indian term means duty but has come in some circles in the West to mean that what you do and can do no other. I often reflect on this these days. Could I be anything other than I am? I think within a limited circle of actions I can change the way I am, but like Cuckoo that is severely limited by my circumstances and my physical, mental and temperamental make up.I ramble about this and more in the audio notes to thisSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E56 The Beast of Blanchland by Rowan Bowman

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 20:30:00 -0000

A man driving home on a winter's night thinks he sees a big cat stalking the moor. He crashes his car and then the weirdness really begins. An original story by Northumberland author Rowan Bowman.#audiobook #horror #northumberland #blanchlandFurther notes sent me by Rowan after our discussion:Influences in my writing:Raymond Chandler. He writes as a film director, intent on the reader seeing the view clearly in front of them.Daphne du Maurier. Partly because of her sense of place, but also because of the subtlety of the ghosts in some of her stories, Rebecca in particular, the writing is haunted by the melancholy of the nameless narrator, and the actual haunting, the influence that Rebecca has from beyond the grave, is superbly handled. Mandalay was based on du Maurier's own house. I often set books in or around houses I have known intimately.Shirley Jackson. The best writer of mad protagonists and unreliable witnesses in my opinion.Favourite authorsThe first proper ghost story I ever read was A Christmas Carol, I think that's where a lot of people start. As a teenager I suffered from terrible nightmares and took solace in Poe and Lovecraft and progressed to Ray Bradbury (Something Wicked This Way Comes still gives me the shudders). Then I went on to James Herbert, Shirley Jackson and lots of crime stories and thrillers, anything that confirmed it's normal to be scared and okay not to be okay. Life sorted itself out and I was busy raising my children. The nightmares eased and I read anything I could reach while doing something else. Danielewski's The House of Leaves was the first book in years to actually scare me. I still enjoy Robert Harris thrillers and the Cormoran Strike novels, but I'm back in this stage of my life to seeking out the weird and scary.Dan Simmons is always a good read, I recommend Drood. The atmosphere is intense and like most of his stories the landscapes suck you in. I enjoyed Michelle Paver's Thin Air, but prefer Dark Matter as a supernatural horror, again the landscape is one of the characters, the real horror in Thin Air comes from mundane self-interested cruelty which rather overshadows the supernatural element for me. The landscape in The Loney is brilliantly evoked. There have been several novels since set around the area, but none capture it in the same way.My favourite China Meiville novel is The City and The City, its fantastical landscape is so well drawn that it seems more real than room you are sitting in.The best book I've read since the start of Lockdown has been Piranesi. I loved Johnathon Strange and Mr Norrell; this is very different, but equally good. The reader understands what is going on just before it is revealed, set in a fantasy world that is so well drawn that it's utterly convincing. If you've ever been asked, 'What is wrong with you?' when admitting to a love of the macabre or frightening, then I recommend Noel Carroll's accessible The Philosophy of Horror (1990) and Lovecraft's collection of essays Supernatural Horror in Literature. Hope this may be of some interest.Thank you for reading The Beast of Blanchland. All the best,RowanSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E55 The Haunting of Unit 409 by Tony Walker

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 21:00:00 -0000

The Haunting of Unit 409 is an original horror story by me, Tony Walker and will be part of my forthcoming More Cumbrian Ghost Stories collection. This is a taster, a teaser, an early release. I hope you like it and enjoy your Halloween listening!If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In HereHate watching me? Listen to audio only versions of my podcast:  https://bit.ly/vurbl (https://bit.ly/vurbl)Get my audiobooks at an insane deal. London Horror Stories https://mailchi.mp/tonywalker/london-horror-stories (https://mailchi.mp/tonywalker/london-horror-stories)If you want to say thank you for all the stories please don’t buy me a coffee (I’m wired enough), buy a book! Get an ebook here: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-haunting-of-tullabeg (https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-haunting-of-tullabeg)Get a paperback here: https://www.bookdepository.com/Haunting-Tullabeg-Tony-Walker/9798736978946 (https://www.bookdepository.com/Haunting-Tullabeg-Tony-Walker/9798736978946)Join my mailing list and get a download: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback (https://bit.ly/somecomeback)————————Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E54 The Girl With The Hungry Eyes by Fritz Leiber

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 20:30:00 -0000

The story of a female vampire, a femme fatale, a girl who just one day walks into a photographer's studio and wants to do some modelling.Get my audiobooks at an insane deal. London Horror Stories https://mailchi.mp/tonywalker/london-horror-stories (https://mailchi.mp/tonywalker/london-horror-stories)If you want to say thank you for all the stories please don’t buy me a coffee (I’m wired enough), buy a book! Get an ebook here: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-haunting-of-tullabeg (https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-haunting-of-tullabeg)Get a paperback here: https://www.bookdepository.com/Haunting-Tullabeg-Tony-Walker/9798736978946 (https://www.bookdepository.com/Haunting-Tullabeg-Tony-Walker/9798736978946)Join my mailing list and get a download: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Music By The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback (https://bit.ly/somecomeback)Fritz LeiberFritz Reuter Leiber Jr was born in 1910 in Chicago, Illinois and died in San Francisco, California in 1992 when he was 81. His parents were actors and when he was a child he toured with them when they were acting. He got his degree in 1932 in psychology and then after graduating went to be a minister in the Episcopal Church. But didn’t finish and went back to do postgraduate studies in philosophy.He is best known for his fantasy, horror and science fiction stories but he was also a chess master. He was one of he fathers of the Sword & Sorcery genre along with Robert E Howard and Michael Moorcock and it was Leiber who coined the term.His early career was as an actor, following in his parents’ footsteps. But he did write some stories. His literary career seems to have been spurred on when he entered into correspondence with H P Lovecraft in 1936 (Lovecraft died in 1937) and he published his first Fafhrd and The Gray Mouser sword and sorcery story in 1939 in a pulp magazine. He had been a pacifist but when the Second World War broke out he was convinced that the struggle against fascism was worth fighting and he went to work for Douglas Aircraft corporation but still wrote fiction.He married Jonquil Stephens in 1936 and she died in 1969. Leiber had a life-long battle with alcoholism and long period of addiction to barbiturates was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Despite the success of his novels he was extremely poor and lived in a down at heel hotel surrounded by bookshelves with a manual typewriter. Things looked up towards the end of his life when he began to get royalty checks from TSR who were the publishers of the successful Dungeons & Dragons games and who had licensed his work.Leiber died in 1992 of a stroke but he married Margo Skinner in the last year of his lifeThe Girl With The Hungry EyesLieber published this story in 1949 and it was made into an episode of The Night Gallery in 1972 and has been made into a film twice, once in 1967 and then in 1995. It was also the title of a. Son by Jefferson Starship in 1979 on their album Freedom at Point Zero.Our protagonist is a down at heel commercial photographer when The Girl seeks him out. Is this an act of philanthropy? In fact as deadly as she is to all other men who covet her she seems to have a soft spot for our photographer and let’s him live, repeatedly rebuffing his attempts to engage in fatal lovemaking. This seems a very male story. It is uncomfortable to read after the #MeToo revelations because it suggests that slapping the chops off The Girl would be an appropriate and even positive thing to do and that making a pass at a girl in an empty office is exactly what all men would and should do.She is the only female in the sSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E53 Laura Silver Bell by J Sheridan Le Fanu

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 07:00:00 -0000

A dark fairytale set in the wild moors of the North of England. A foolish girl falls in love with a tall, dark handsome stranger who stepped out of the woods these days. He says he's a fine lord, and she sees his golden sash and his silver sword and his black velvet jacket. An old wise woman warns her not to take a gift from him, nor eat a morsel of his food, nor yet cross running water to stand beside him. But will she listen?Get a great discount on my Horror Stories For Halloween audiobook & ebook bundlehttps://spirit.ghostpod.org/horror-stories-for-halloween#audiobook #horrorpodcast #shortstories #literature***Merchandise https://my-store-5618003.creator-spring.com (https://my-store-5618003.creator-spring.com)Get my audiobooks at an insane deal. London Horror Stories https://mailchi.mp/tonywalker/london-horror-storiesBuy me a coffee to show appreciation: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker )You can get a free ebook and audiobook:https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire)Listen to audio only versions of my podcast:https://bit.ly/vurbl (https://bit.ly/vurbl)It is all greatly appreciated.#classicghoststories #classicstories #horrorpodcastSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SO2E52 The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 07:00:00 -0000

In the Backwoods, they do Bad Things. or "Be A Sport, Tessie!"My reading and analysis of The Lottery by Shirley JacksonJackson's 1948 masterpiece of naturalistic horror gone bad. Small town America shows its horrific side. Folk Horror before there was folk horror. The Purge before there was The Purge. Listen, enjoy, understand and come along with me on the journey. Meet Jack too.If you want to download my own audiobooks at an insanely discounted price that ensure no cut goes to the big boys (you know who they are) and you support my work, then check out Horror Stories For Halloween by Tony Walker: https://spirit.ghostpod.org/horror-stories-for-halloweenBy the by, if you want to sign up as a Patreon, that would be good. https://www.patreon.com/barcudIf you want to just buy me a coffee to keep me awake (though these days I don't need much help to do that) then hit here: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerGet a free audiobook and ebook here: https://bit.ly/dalstonvampireSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E51 The Pomegranate Seed by Edith Wharton

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Get a great discount on my Horror Stories For Halloween audiobook & ebook bundlehttps://spirit.ghostpod.org/horror-stories-for-halloween (https://spirit.ghostpod.org/horror-stories-for-halloween)The Pomegranate SeedThe pomegranate seed is a reference to the myth of Persephone and Demeter. Winter and Spring and the Lord of the Underworld. In a sense Mother and daughter are the same, and one aspect of the woman spends time in the world of the dead, while the other walks the world of the living.Kenneth disappears to see about ‘their passages.’ It is clear that it is his passage over the river Styx to the underworld that he finally arranges. He has been so attached to the ghost of his late wife, that he cannot escape her as she dominated him in life. He wants to escape, he wants to live with his new wife and have new experiences, but he is simply not strong enough to make it so.Charlotte represents the living, mortal world while Elise Ashby represents death. In that sense it is a story about a choice that all of us have to make: to live in this world and be of it and do what work it sets before us or spend our time dreaming of the underworld whence we came and to which we shall return. Deep for a Monday morning, I feel.However, Wharton’s skill as an observer of human behaviour also shines in this story, and for most of the time it is the skilful chronicle of that commonplace (sadly) or married life—the suspicion that our lover’s heart is tethered elsewhere. Trivial, but profoundly upsetting. Charlotte spends a lot of time arguing this when then that way that her husband is having an affair, trying to convince herself in a way that rings very true.Old Mrs Ashby plays the role of the mother goddess who loses her son in this case to the Underworld. This doesn’t totally fit. But she is on the side of life, despite her age, and she supports Charlotte and regrets her son’s attachment to his late wife.In construction there are four parts. We begin with a scene of Charlotte’s unsettledness, standing at the door. What had been her haven now disquiets her and she finds no comfort in modern New York or inside in her home that she once loved. She coveted the house when it was Elise’s and of course it has always remained Elises and again this is the story of the second wife who is dutiful and loving but is reminded by the possessions and moments and indeed children that she can never really supplant the first. Iff the first wife had been unfaithful then it would be easier, but by dying while he still loved her this has made the second wife’s job impossible. She can never win.Wharton raises questions throughout: what are the letters? Who are they from? Did he love this other woman? But she lays hints as the tension builds that these are not normal letters, they are grey, the handwriting is androgynous (perhaps because Elise is not a woman but a spirit? And therefore neither male nor female in that vague gray underworld?)But its a slow burn and the tension is that of a story about adultery, until it is revealed at the end to be a story about death’s hold on the living. Depressed now?She uses a lot of Britishisms: holiday for vacation, fortnight for two weeks —I don’t think Edith Wharton played Fortnite.The ending is ambiguous. Wharton prefers subtle hints rather than clear resolutions in her ghost stories, listen to Bewitched or Mr Jones on this channel for that.But it seems to me that both the Old Mrs Ashby and Charlotte are creatures of the daylight world and so they pretend that Kenneth’s disappearance is a daylight occurrence when they know that he has gone down into the night world. Still, they act as isSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0250 Dragoon by DeWayne Hayes

Sat, 25 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Towards the end of the American Civil War in north west Arkansas, an old woman is faced with a dilemma. Her son is dead after falling in battle, and her son's wife went missing in the woods on hearing the news. Something happened to her in the woods, something that means the old woman's precious grandson is sick. He's sick, and something is coming over the hill.This story is followed by an interview with the author of the story Dragoon.Get a great discount on my Horror Stories For Halloween audiobook & ebook bundlehttps://spirit.ghostpod.org/horror-stories-for-halloween (https://spirit.ghostpod.org/horror-stories-for-halloween)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E49 The Night Wire by H F Arnold

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Well after midnight in a newsroom high up above the city, a strange story comes tip-tapping in down the night wire. John Morgan, the night wire expert, turns the morse code into words and the words reveal a mystery. A town no one has heard of is brought to a standstill by a weird fog. This weird fog rolls right out of the graveyard and in it are seen twisted wailing forms. But this tale is stranger even that that. But you'll have to listen to find out why. This pulp story from 1926 was a favourite of HP Lovecraft. Even its author is an enigma. Or is he? The story inspired Stephen King to write The Mist in 1981 which was made into the 2007 movie of the same name."H. F. Arnold was an American pulp-era writer who wrote only three published stories. Despite this low output, ‘The Night Wire’ (1926), first published in Weird Tales, is considered the most popular story from the first golden age of that magazine. Lovecraft is said to have loved this story. "Arnold’s only other published stories were The City of Iron Cubes in the March/April 1926 edition of Weird Tales, and When Atlantis Was in the October and December 1937 issues of Amazing Stories.  Who is who is an enigma. The content of The Night Wire suggests he was a newspaper man in a big city in the USA.We have dates for his life as 1902 until 1963, making him 61 at the time of his death, and 24 when The Night Wire was published. How we know  his dates, I’m not certain.If you read most anthologies, we don’t even know if he was really called H F Arnold.  But then someone called William Russo did some research and found out a lot about him.Here’s a link to the full storyhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18131763-the-night-wire (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18131763-the-night-wire)It turns out that he was Henry Ferris Arnold who graduated from the Mid-West and went to work in Hollywood working in publicity (we’d call it marketing now) for movies. He started at Goldwyn Studies and became Sam Goldwyn’s Director of Publicity. There’s something about that night radio DJ thing. Play Misty for me. Other associations are being on night shift.  Film noir. The Weird Anthologyhttps://amzn.to/3kF1LSr (https://amzn.to/3kF1LSr)The Night Wire read by by E F Frenchhttps://youtu.be/-SyT6Xga0Eo (YouTube)William Russo’s review on Good Readshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18131763-the-night-wire (The Night Wire by H.F. Arnold)Story suggestions by email pleaseClassicghostpodcast@gmail.comIf You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become A Patreon) For Bonus StoriesOr  https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (buy me a coffee) , if you’d like to keep me working. https://bit.ly/somecomeback (Music)  by The Heartwood InstituteSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E48 The Reluctant Bride by Iqbal Hussain

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0000

In rural Pakistan, a rickshaw driver stops by a Peepal Tree and a beautiful bride steps out from the shadows. Of course, at first he thinks she must be a churail, but despite his mother's warnings, he knows he must help this distressed woman. How will his kindness be rewarded?A story by modern British author Iqbal Hussain. After the story I had the great pleasure of interviewing Iqbal and talking about this story and his writing in general.Iqbal HussainIqbal is one of seven writers chosen for the 2021/22 Megaphone scheme for YA/children’s writers. He is one of fifteen emerging writers to feature in the Mainstream anthology by Inkandescent, with his short story “The Reluctant Bride”, publication date mid-2021. His short story “A Home from Home” won gold prize in the Creative Future Writers’ Awards 2019. He is a recipient of the inaugural London Writers’ Awards 2018 and was shortlisted for the Penguin Random House WriteNow scheme 2017. Iqbal is working on his first novel, Northern Boy, about being a “butterfly among the bricks”. https://www.ihussainwriter.comIqbal's Twitter @ihussainwriter Mainstream by Ikandescent This collection brings thirty authors in from the margins to occupy centre-page. Queer storytellers. Working class wordsmiths. Chroniclers of colour. Writers whose life experiences give unique perspectives on universal challenges, whose voices must be heard. And read.Mainstream by Inkandescent is here: https://amzn.to/2XURiKZ (https://amzn.to/2XURiKZ) (my affiliate link)If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become A Patreon) For Bonus StoriesOr  https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (buy me a coffee) , if you’d like to keep me working. https://bit.ly/somecomeback (Music)  by The Heartwood InstituteSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The First Sheaf by H R Wakefield

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0000

The First Sheaf is a folk horror story set in the backwaters of rural England. A new vicar goes to a rural parish that has suffered a terrible drought. The local folk shun him and want nothing of his god. He fears they have other gods of their own. Then a young girl goes missing, and the vicar's son must search out the mystery of the round field and pay a terrible price for the knowledge he gains. Think The Wicker Man meets John Barleycorn. Folk horror before they invented the term 'folk horror'Download a my free audiobookhttps://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire) https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become A Patreon) For Bonus StoriesOr https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (buy me a coffee) , if you’d like to keep me working. https://bit.ly/somecomeback (Music) by The Heartwood InstituteSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Shining Pyramid by Arthur Machen

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Over in the Wild West of Wales, (despite him calling it England, the village is Croes y Ceiliog after all), strange signs appear, a girl disappears and it takes a man from London to work out the evil truth.This is the audio extracted from the edited version of my live reading of the Shining Pyramid by Arthur Machen.All the audio is there (some of the live cut out) and it is as polished as well as I can do. There are two microphones in this: the streamed version which is compressed and a little fuzzy and the camera microphone which is tinny.With those warnings, listen if you dare. PS. An end of summer bargain for you:You can still get my London Horror Stories Full Audiobook plus the Ebook at the insanely discounted price of £2.99, which is not much dollar, and if you buy from my directly, then we don’t give the non-tax paying giants (you know who I mean) their fat cut.https://mailchi.mp/tonywalker/london-horror-stories (https://mailchi.mp/tonywalker/london-horror-stories)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E47 W S By L P Hartley

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0000

In which a writer starts to receive mysterious and increasingly menacing postcards from an apparent stranger. He asks his friends what to do. He goes to the police. And then it all becomes clear.L P HartleyLeslie Poles Harltey was born in Cambridgeshire in England in 1895 and died aged 76 in London England.L P was  educated first at  home and then a Preparatory School before going to  Harrow School–— a private school in North London, where he had won a scholarship. His father was not particularly high class, he was a solicitor and owned a brickyard. After Harrow, L P went to Oxford to study (or ‘read’) as they say at Oxbridge, Modern History. This was in 1915. In 1917 he joined the army. I think he was conscripted. He was commissioned as an officer in the Norfolk Regiment but never saw active service due to having a weak heart.He was a famous hypochondriac in fact and had what we would call these days a health anxiety.  In 1922 he suffered a nervous breakdown and soon after this started spending long periods in Venice in Italy where he owned his own gondola.He had a particular male friend David Cecil. And this was in a time when being gay was illegal and punishable by time in prison so gay people did not come out. It was believed that he was gay. After the war he returned to complete his degree Oxford, and even at that time he had an ambition to be a writer.   His first published work was in Oxford Poetry.  And he became editor of Oxford Outlook. He was a lifelong friend of Cynthia Asquith who, as we know, was a famous author of ghost stories and editor of the Pan Horror series for a while. He mixed in aristocratic circles after graduation and worked as a book reviewer, but his own work did not initially find success and he was depressed. In 1924, his first volume Night Fears was published and it was well received critically and his work was supported by many influential writers including Cynthia Asquith.He had moderate to good success with later novels, but his major success was with The Go-Between.He was named after Virginia Woolf’s father. Hartley as a youngster was a fan of Edgar Allen Poe.  He named his influences as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry James and Emily Bronte, but I find his straightforward style different from all of these. His most famous quote is possibly:The Past Is Another Country. They do things differently there.W SThis is a cracking little story and very simple in structure. We have a writer, and like all writers, he is neurotic about his work. He has had some success, but still harbours doubts. Then he starts getting postcards from someone with the same initials as himself, though he doesn’t notice the initials as being significant at first.The story uses the ticking clock technique of modern thrillers.  Danger is approaching step by step getting closer and closer: think Die Hard. Though if you didn’t know British geography you might not know that Forfar is distant and Coventry close to the West Country town where Walter Streeter lives.  Nevertheless, each postcard brings the doom closer.There is some nice foreshadowing.  The postcard writer keeps promising a hearty handshake and it is only at the end we are told the character William Stainsforth has only one hand.  The comment that the author doesn’t give any depth to his characters is also a piece of foreshadowing.We are told near the end that the character is a policeman in the story.  This is after the policeman has arrived outside to keep guard. The twist is in the phone call from the real police who apologise for not sending an officer. Who then is the policeman outside? I wonder if it would not have been more effSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E46 The Lodgers by Joan Aiken

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Joan AikenJoan Delano Aiken was the daughter of Conrad Aiken, whose story Mr Arcularis we read out on The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast. Her elder sister Jane was a writer and her brother John was a chemist. Her father, being a poet presumably appreciated the para-rhyming of their names.Joan was born while her father was domiciled in England,  on Mermaid Street in Rye in East Sussex in 1924. She died in Petworth West Sussex in 2004.She went to a private school in Oxford but did not go to University. Instead she wrote stories. Her first story appeared on the BBC Children’s Hour in 1941 when she was seventeen. After the death of her first husband she went to work as an editor on magazines.She is most famous for her children’s fiction, notably The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Black Hearts in Battersea. Her stories have almost a magical realism feel (a term which of course really belongs to South American literature) in that she uses what appear to be genuine historical settings subtly twisted to become fantasy. Many of her novels have supernatural themes, such as the Shadow Guests and the Haunting of Lamb House.She won many awards for her fiction during her lifetime. The Lodgers is in her collection of short supernatural stories A Touch of Chill.   Not knowing what to make of it, I went on Good Reads and found it got an average of three stars out of five with most reviewers not being clear about what the story is about.The best I can do is to suggest that this is a mid-20th Century story where small town life is subverted into the weird as people like Robert Aickman were doing. I wonder whether the deliberate cultivation of the irrational is taking place here where the weird is not meant to be understood rationally, but there to create atmosphere.The weird slovenly, drunken Colegates come from the Middle East. They have odd paraphernalia such as the 'collecting jar' which seems to be vaguely occult. The reference to the Egyptians and the black and white pillars put me in mid of the ritual magic of the Order of the Golden Dawn. It seems that the Colegates collect the souls of children. In the end, I think young Bob's soul flies out of the window and Desmond Colegate pursues it like a butterfly hunter into the graveyard where the exertion gives him a stroke of a heart attack. But I may be wrong. The boy, and the vet's boy who the Colegate also taught games of cards to (the cards seem important -- Tarot???) both die of natural causes. Are the Colegates then a drunken version of the Grim Reaper? They don't cause the death, they are just around to harvest the souls?If you know, tell me!If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here [Become A Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)) For Bonus StoriesOr [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)) , if you’d like to keep me working. [Music](https://bit.ly/somecomeback (https://bit.ly/somecomeback)) by The Heartwood InstituteSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E45 The Amorous Ghost by Enid Bagnold

Sat, 21 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Edith BagnoldEdith Bagnold, later Lady Jones was born in 1889 in Rochester, Kent and died in 1981 in London . She was most famous for her novel *National Velvet* published in 1935, which was made into a famous film that starred Elizabeth Taylor.  Her father was a Colonel in the  British Army, and she was mainly brought up in Jamaica.  She loved riding horses when she was in Jamaica and that inspired National Velvet.  She went to art school in London and worked for Frank Harris, an Irish-American novelist and had an affair with him. She was very Bohemian and mixed with artists and free-thinkers.During the First World War she became a nurse but was critical of the way the hospitals were won and got sacked. She became a driver for the army in France and wrote a memoir of her time dung that. In 1920 she became the wife of Sir Roderick Jones and therefore became Lady Jones.  they lived on the south coast of England near Brighton. They had a house in London and were neighbours of Winston Churchill and Jacob Epstein.Her great-grand-daughter was Samantha, wife of the recent British Prime Minister, David Cameron.  Virginia Woolf called her ‘a scallywag who married a very rich man.’ Woolf thought that Bagnold had begun as a rebel and Bohemian but ended up being conventionally rich with a butler. Read this article about Bagnold.https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/may/31/biography.theatre (Upstairs, downstairs | Margaret Drabble | The Guardian)If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become A Patreon) For Bonus StoriesOr  https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (buy me a coffee) , if you’d like to keep me working. https://bit.ly/somecomeback (Music)  by The Heartwood InstituteSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E44 The Door In The Wall by H. G. Wells

Sat, 14 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0000

H G WellsHerbert George Wells was born in 1866 in Bromley, Kent just outside London. He Died aged 79 at his grand house in Regent’s Park in London.He was a scientist by training having got his degree at Imperial College London (the Royal College of Science).  He was a biologist with a strong interest in Darwin and Natural Selection.  His early adult life was one of financial insecurity and job after job teaching and he earned his Bachelor of Science in 1890 through the University of London’s external teaching scheme.  In 1893 while teaching A A Milne (author of Winnie the Pooh) at a school in London, he published a biology text book.By 1895 he was contributing stories and articles to different periodicals. Politically, he was a Socialist. His mother was a domestic servant and his father had been a servant gardener though later became a professional cricketer for the Kent county team and who had a sports shop which didn’t do very well.   Because his family struggled financially, they put him out as an apprentice as a draper. He worked a thirteen hour day and slept in a dormitory and his later novels Kipps and The History of Mr Polly describe this lower middle class or tradesmen’s life.He suffered from Diabetes and founded the Diabetic Association in 1934.He was a progressive futurist who foresaw many modern developments such as tanks, space travel, nuclear weapons and satellite TV. His books deal with time travel (The Time Machine) and alien invasion (The War of the Worlds).The Door in The Wall by H G WellsThe Door in the Wall was first published in The Daily Chronicle in 1906, when he was forty, and reprinted in Wells’s collection The Door In The Wall And Other Stories published in 1911. It is one of Wells’s most well-known stories, and he wrote at least a hundred short stories, mostly in the early part of his career.The story is told to Redmond, and this device of having a story introduced to an otherwise blank hearer, who then learns of the ending of the story and makes his own conclusion, is well known. In fact more Victorian and Edwardian supernatural stories than not begin in this style (e.g. The Turn of The Screw, many stories of M R James) and it was copied by Ray Russell in the 1960s in his Sardonicus series when he wanted to write as if the story were Victorian.The way Wallace recounts the story to Redmond is set out from the beginning as questioning whether Redmond should believe him. He says early on that he does, and at the end confirms this again. On balance, as fabulous as the story is, he chooses to believe Wallace.The hero of the story, is Lionel Wallace a successful politician. And it is this success that is the central theme to the story, which to me is about putting off spiritual contentment in favour of worldly obligations time after time, until in the end, he makes the right, and final choice.Every time he passes by the door and chooses a worldly goal rather that trying the door he is sure in his heart the door is unlocked and only waiting for him to step inside. The first time he goes in, he is a child. The second time he is a busy schoolboy intent on not being late for school. The third time he is on his way to his Oxford entry exam, the fourth time he is on his way to an important appointment, which seemed to be to be with a lover. There is a long gap and he is finally a successful politician, overworked with a tarnish beginning to spread on this world and he becomes more receptive to the message. He sees the door three times just when he is finding this world burdensome. He is determined that he would go in through the door.  Wallace at this time is around forty yeaSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E43 The Grey Woman by Elizabeth Gaskell Part Three.

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0000

The Grey Woman Part 3In which Anna and Amante go on the run, meet some good souls, some bad ones and accomplish miracles with corks and home-made walnut dye, thus saving their lives. Will it all go right in the end? You will have to listen, won't you?Random Notes For Part 3Disguises. Victorians loved disguises. Think of Sherlock HolmesThe beautiful Ann breaks one of her front teeth! No one later remarks on this.Amante has corks in her cheeks to alter the shape of her face. A great idea, but did she keep them in all the time? It might make talking tricky. I think Mrs Gaskell got too carried away with the fun of disguises to think about its sustainabilityIn the blacksmith’s smithy, when M. De La Tourelle turns up, he describes his wife as having run off with a base profligate woman from Paris. It’s a good job he didn’t say she was Norman as that would have been more likely to give the game away. Phew.The Countess de Roeder (for it is she) shies away from the common room “full of evil smells and promiscuous company”. I’ve been in pubs like that. We are set up for this by the description of her being a fair-haired young woman speaking German French who had hair that Amante reminds Anna is the same colour as hers used to be before they cut it off and burned it in the stove.The Murder of the Countess De Roeder sets up the fate of M. De La Tourelle as we ultimately find out. However, in a modern novel, or film, it would be urged that the protagonist confronted and brought about the doom of the villain, not some minor character never seen (the Baron de Roeder).We get word of the crooked jeweller a few times just dropped in. I think the subtle hinting at this is very well done “Ainsi le Chauffeurs se vengent” means “Number 1: Thus the Bandits Revenge Themselves”Amante’s father was a tailor in Rouen, but earlier, Mrs Gaskell told us that Amante’s father was a Norman father.And then her complexion goes from roses and lilies to ashen grey. It’s a nice touch that M. De La Tourelle looks up and doesn’t recognise her. This emphasises her unfair transformation into The Grey Woman.I guess the daughter can’t marry Maurice de Poissy because her natural father killed his father? She slips this in at the end as an additional, but arguably unneccesarry other than for the sheer joy readers take in twists. But it also allowed me to finish in true thriller style with a revelatory sentence with a duh-duh-duh rhythm.The way this is written made me narrate it in short rhythmic bursts. I think this is due to her sentence structure.I’ve only been to Heidelberg once, but I liked it immensely and would like to go back.Next week we are reading another listener request. If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here... https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become A Patreon) For Bonus StoriesOr  https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (buy me a coffee) , if you’d like to keep me working. https://bit.ly/somecomeback (Music)  by The Heartwood InstituteSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E42 The Grey Woman by Mrs Gaskell Part Two

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Brief NotesTrusty Amanate is someone she can talk to.The expedition by candlelight through the castle passagesThe withheld lettersShe is a prisonerAnna bites out a chunk of her hand to keep her fear from overcoming her while she’s under the table. She later breaks one of her front teeth. She’s rough.The spying servantsThe Chauffeurs are not drivers but robbers. The gendarmes are gendarmes though.A rollicking boys own story, but for girls because it includes love.Amante is fearless, she can beard Lefebvre, but she is scared of the servants as she knows about them. Her husband buys her gifts and makes her a flower garden. So, he must love her in his own way. I think he probably does, or why entertain her?We find the reason for M. De La Tourelle’s frequent absences. He is not away at some distant estate at all.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become A Patreon) For Bonus StoriesOr  https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (buy me a coffee) , if you’d like to keep me working. https://bit.ly/somecomeback (Music)  by The Heartwood InstituteSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E41 The Grey Woman by Elizabeth Gaskell Part One

Sat, 24 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0000

The Grey Woman by Mrs Elizabeth GaskellElizabeth GaskellElizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell was born in London in 1810 and died in the country in Hampshire in 1865. She was one of the most famous women novelists of the Victorian period. As well as being a novelist, she was a biographer and wrote a biography of Charlotte Bronte which was published in 1857. Apparently she did a bit of editing and only put in the nice things in Charlotte Bronte’s biography, judging herself that certain aspects should be left out. Her most famous novels are Cranford, published between 1851 and 1857, North and South between 1854 and 1855, and Wives and Daughters published in 1865—the year of her death. Her father was Keeper of the Treasury Records and she was born in Cheyne Walk in Chelsea, London which is now a billionaires row and was probably for the well-to-do even in 1810.Her mother was from the North of England which may have prompted her interest in the division between the North of England dominated by the Industrial Revolution and the south of England which did not have the heavy industries of coal and iron extraction. She spent much of her childhood in Cheshire in the North. She also spent time in Newcastle upon Tyne. When she was married she lived in Manchester. She visited Edinburgh and Whitby and then when she visited a house she had both in Hampshire, died suddenly of a heart attack.Unlike some women of her class, she did attend school and was educated privately at Stratford Upon Avon. She read the classics and travelogues sent to her from her brother in the navy. The Grey WomanThis story was published by Mrs Gaskell in 1865 in London in a collection known as *The Grey Woman & Other Tales*. By this time, Mrs Gaskell was a the very famous author of a number of blockbuster novels. This was also the year in which she suddenly died.She was influenced by German literature and travelled in Germany in 1841. A number of her short stories, not just her ghost stories, have a German theme or setting.One of the themes of the story is the difference between the sophisticated and effete French and the simple straightforward Germans and the rivalry and mistrust between them.The first thing that strikes our ear (or our eye) is the vivid descriptions of the mill, the gardens, the scoured dishes, the red-tiled floor and the river Neckar murmuring outside the mill. Gaskell is a great writer of descriptions and talented at the ancient rhetorical art of *enargia*—which is the skill of drawing the listener into a scene by activating each of their senses through well-written description.This description of the rain in the garden of the mill turned cafe strikes me that it might have been lifted from a real incident that happened to Gaskell while she was in Germany and borrowed into her writing.Again we see the distance device. To quote M R James (again) — ghost stories should be distanced from the reader through placing them at a pint in the past far enough away so we can believe things we wouldn’t accept if they were set in our modern world but close enough so that we can still identify with the situations in it —so this story written in the late 1840s say at the earliest has its incident in 1789.Early on we get a little foreshadowing: we are told that the portrait of Anna Scherer shows she was very beautiful, which is important later in the story as explaining how she married the French nobleman, even though only from a miller’s family, and also that in the portrait she is full of colour, but lost that colour due to fright. The details of this fright are not available when they are mentioned.That sets us up for a ghostSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E40 The Lost Tragedy by Denis Mackail

Sat, 17 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0000

A comic ghost story from Edwardian London–perfect to relax to and not scary at all.The Lost Tragedy by Denis MackailDenis Mackail was born in 1892  in London. His mother was the daughter of the famous pre-Raphaelite painter Edward Burne-Jones.  His father was Scottish, born on the Isle of Bute, and later Professor of Poetry at Oxford University and a specialist in Latin Literature and also President of the British Academy.  His sister was also a novelist. He was more distantly related to Rudyard Kipling and Stanley Baldwin, a British prime minister.Denis Mackail was born into some privilege. His most famous novel Greenery Street deals with social manners in the upper-middle class London he knew. As such, this story is interesting as it deals with the doings of lower middle class tradesmen such as book-dealers.  Mackail must have known something of the trade to paint it so well.Mackail suffered from ill-health when he was a young man and though he worked as a stage-set designer in the theatre in London, he was not fit enough to fight in the First World War.  I am not clear what his physical health problems were but he suffered from anxiety himself and had what is called a ‘nervous breakdown.’Despite his comfortable early start he had some financial troubles and had to write to supplement his income. He published a novel every year from 1920 until 1938. He moved in literary circles and was a friend of A A Milne and P G Wodehouse, both famous for their light-hearted and comic writing. He wrote the official biography of J M Barrie (the author of Peter Pan) and but after the death of his wife in 1949 he never wrote another thing. Despite that he lived another twenty-two years, dying in London in 1971 at the age of seventy-nine.Genre expectations. Writers can expect to get excoriated if they defy genre expectations. If you write a Romance be that clean or mucky (I don’t really read either to be honest)  or Space Opera that is not huge in scale, or Heaven Forbid ‘LitRPG’ that doesn’t have enough stats in it, then the hard-core genre reader will cut you down to size with a one-star review.I say this because this may be a ghost story, but it is a comic ghost story and that genre has its own tropes and conventions, not least the wise cracking spectre as in the Ben and William show in this story.  I hope listeners were not too disappointed.The Lost Tragedy is a well constructed tale. We have the set up of Shakespeare as someone they recognise but whose name they can’t place, who speaks with a ‘west-country’ accent, which might relate to the Warwickshire accent of Stratford Upon Avon.It is very common for ghost stories to be related as ‘frame stories’ where the events are told to an unconnected person by someone who has first-hand, but now long previous association with the events. It is also in keeping with M R James’s dictum that ghost stories should be removed from the every day by placing them remotely in distance or time in that it happened when Mr Bunstable was a young man.There is a tradition of the comic ghost story. This story reminded me somewhat of the Ghost Ship by Richard Middleton. This humorous tale of a ghostly pirate ship was published in 1912 but as Middleton killed himself in 1911, was written before that. I only mention the date because it was part of a trend of ghost stories with jokey spectres which perhaps began with Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost  published in 1887 and have a noble tradition through Casper The Friendly Ghost who first appeared in 1945 and  the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks 1971.I also liked the description of the bookshop. It reminded me both of Black BooksSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E39 Oke of Oakhurst by Vernon Lee (Part 3)

Sat, 10 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Oke of Oakhurst Part 3How awful Alice Oke is. Though the narrator praises her as a wonderful woman she seems wholly unpleasant to me, and though William Oke is painted as a bore, he seems a thoroughly decent and mistreated man driven to madness by his wife’s caprices.William is so driven to distraction by his love for this teasing woman that when he begins to imagine he sees Lovelock, and then tries to not to show his reaction, she asks him whether he has seen Lovelock — his ghostly rivalWas the ghost of Lovelock real? Was Alice Oke really the reincarnation of the former Alice Oke? We can read it both ways. Alice alludes to Lovelock being with her, but I was never sure whether this was just to tease her husband and she didn’t mean literally, even as a spirt, but is essence as an idea. The issue of Oke thinking there would be no hops that year, when he previously has said it would be a bumper year and hops are there to be seen, is perhaps meant to indicate that he is losing his grip on reality. I cannot see any other reason for this incident to be reported to us. But I may be missing something.On the walk with the painter, Oke talks about having to save his wife from dishonouring herself “one way or another”. Perhaps the idea of killing her is already in his mind at this point, though I didn’t guess that at the time. When he shoots her, the gun isn’t mentioned right there and then, but we remember we were clearly told how he had been cleaning and preparing the guns around the house, so that was neatly set up.Alice Oke appears to have a Mixed Personalty Disorder with Histrionic and Narcissistic traits while William Oke seems to have sunk into a depression with psychotic features. Poor bloke, old William Oke.The story was originally called The Phantom Lover but Vernon Lee later renamed it, Oke of Oakhurst and I think that William Oke crazed murderer that he became is really the hero.Our painter/narrator is merely a camera lens though which we see the tragedy.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become A Patreon) For Bonus StoriesOr https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (buy me a coffee) , if you’d like to keep me working. https://bit.ly/somecomeback (Music) by The Heartwood InstituteSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E38 Oke of Oakhurst Part 2

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Oke of Oakhurst by Vernon Lee Part 2So the story develops. It begins by our painter narrator noting the strange fascination Alice Oke has for her namesake from 1626. I wonder whether that precise date is important?Later on, he discovers that not only is she wearing a dress copied from the 1626 Alice Oke’s portrait, but it is the very dress. She moons over the poetry of Lovelock and he notices that it is as if the poems were written to her. She seems to know the very words they spoke.She lingers in the Yellow Room, a room in which no Oke, except her could bear sit. William Oke notes the fact he hates the room, and all the Okes do, but says nothing has happened there. Then Vernon Lee drops the comment that perhaps something will happen there.I think the oak symbolism must mean something. So far I am just thinking it is to represent the solid, earthiness of William Oke of Oakhurst and his family. Also she mentions the cries of lambs separated from their mothers for at least the second if not the third time. So she either didn’t edit her draft very well, or this too is meant to be in and therefore symbolic.The 1626 Alice Oke killed her lover the poet Lovelock. She comes over as a bit of a psycho. I think 1880 Alice Oke is a different kind of weird. She is fey and withdrawn from reality where 1626 Alice seems a bit of a firebrand and a wicked woman.As 1880 drives madly through the countryside, to take our narrator to the murder spot, she seems possessed by this wicked highway-woman ancestress. In the yellow room, our man gets the idea that Alice 1880 does not seem to be another woman from Alice 1626 but the very same.I also note that the cavalier poet Lovelock (the cavaliers were the foppish ones who fought for the side of the king in the English civil war) was a dab band with a sword. Poets aren’t as cool these days.If You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become A Patreon) For Bonus StoriesOr https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (buy me a coffee) , if you’d like to keep me working. https://bit.ly/somecomeback (Music) by The Heartwood InstituteSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E37 Oke of Oakhurst by Vernon Lee

Sat, 26 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Oke of Oakhurst by Vernon LeeVernon LeeDespite sounding so masculine, Vernon Lee was actually a woman called Violet Paget, born in France in 1856 and died in Italy in 1935. Despite these location she identified as English. Her biographer Vineta Colby says that Lee was English by nationality, French by an accident of birth and Italian by choice.As well as the ghost stories for which she is most famous, Vernon Lee, was an essayist who wrote about travel and art and especially aesthetics. Her parents were globe-trotting, or at least Europe-trotting intellectuals and in 1873, when Vernon or Violet was 17, they settled in Florence Italy. She stayed living in the vicinity of Florence until her death in 1935.Violet published her first collection of essays when she was 24. These dealt with Italian writers and dramatists and she later wrote on William Shakespeare and Renaissance Italy. She made fun of English artists, particularly the Pre-Raphaelites in her 1884 novel Mrs Brown.Politically, she was a convinced pacificst. She published under a masculine name because she feared that as a woman her writing would not be taken seriously. She was a feminist and mostly dressed as a man. Though she didn’t come out, she did have crushes on women and was probably Lesbian. She suffered from health anxiety.She also fell out with other writers by making fun of them in her work; notably Henry James and Edith Wharton.Henry James wrote to his equally talented brother William warning him about Vernon Lee: the most able mind in Florence, ‘as dangerous and uncanny as she is intelligent.’Oke of OakhurstIn Part 1, the story begins with our narrator, the artist, talking to an unknown interlocutor about a painting assignment he had. He begins to talk about the wonderful and strange Mrs Alice Oke of Oakhurst, Kent. We learn that the stay with the Okes left an indelible impression on the painter, whose name I have not yet learned.We get the impression that the Okes are gone, possibly dead. Certainly, he will never be able to paint her. Some disaster has fallen. The painter painted the husband and the wife and he has no idea who know owns the portrait of Mr Oke. This suggests their home has been broken up as if in some terrible fate has befallen them.He didn’t even finish the portrait of Mrs Oke. Vernon Lee withholds information to whet our appetite. She creates suspense.“I suppose the newspapers were full of it at the time.”So it was a scandal. “It really was stranger than anyone could have guessed.” Alice Oke is dead and her end was strange, but fitting. Lee tantalises us all the way.  She was sent to our painter from heaven, “or the other place.”Who is this woman!?? I want to know.The narrator doesn’t normally retell the story, but luckily for us, he chooses to on this occasion.Lee paints a very sympathetic picture of Mr Oke, very much in awe of his wife, but a decent sort and not without feelings and sensitivities. But she sets him up through the painter’s eyes as the very antithesis of what the London Bohemian painter would admire. The painter sets off presuming Oke is the dullest of the dull, the very pinnacle of boring Tory county life.He had been a lieutenant in the Blues which is a nickname of the Royal Horseguards, a prestigious cavalry regiment in the British Army who had been, as its name suggests a royal bodyguard.In part 2 we get the background to Mr Oke. The painter is very disparaging. He portrays Oke as a dull young Kentish Tory with no imagination and no style. He refers to him as a ‘squireen’ (which my spellcheck prefers to render as ‘squirrel’) I guess this is a pejorative diminutive of ‘squire’ with the Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E36 Minuke by Nigel Kneale

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Minuke by Nigel KnealeNigel KnealeNigel Kneale was born in Barrow in Furness in 1922, which was then part of Lancashire “North of the Sands”, and since 1974 part of the modern county of Cumbria. He died in 2006 in London. Neale’s family came from the Isle of Man, which is clearly visible from the coast of Cumbria. I saw it yesterday but not today as it was too rainy.The family went back to the Isle of Man when he was six (finding Barrow too rich for their blood no doubt) and was educated in Douglas, the island’s capital. His father was editor of the local newspaper.Kneale went to study law but got bored with the legal profession. Apparently he tried to join the British army at the start of the Second World War but was declared medically unfit due to photophobia. He wrote short stories and read out his own story Tomato Cain on the BBC in 1946. Inspired by the reception his story got, he went to London to study acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.  He then got involved in a voice acting and writing melange of a career on the broadcast media, writing his first script in 1950.His most famous work was the Quatermass Series, a horror science fiction drama series on the BBC which was a massive success. You can find this and his later great success The Stone Tape on Youtube.He did an adaptation of Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black in 1989. He adapted some of the Sharpe novels in the 1990s which were also a great success.He was invited to write for the X-Files but declined that job.So, Neale was a big cheese up until recent times. His work, particularly Quatermass and The Stone Tape are canons of British hauntology these days.MinukeOr, if I hadn’t done it northern ‘my nook’. But ‘nook’ it is to us. This story is from the collection Tomato Cain and Other Stories published by Collins in 1949.The book is out of print and second-hand copies are going for nearly £400. I didn’t buy one.It was requested by a listener and I was only too happy to oblige.The story is told as a frame story. It begins in media res where a man has gone to an estate agent (a realtor) interested in a property. By the end we learn that not only is the property cursed and haunted an on an old Norse burial site, but it is demolished and its site occupied by a scrap metal yard, so why would the guy be interested in it? He clearly doesn’t know it’s a scrap metal yard because the estate agent has to tell him.This does seem to a plot hole, but we shall forgive Nigel Kneale this. It is also possibly that someone cleverer than me will point out how I have misunderstood this point.It seems like a poltergeist story. We remember the Enfield Poltergeist from the 1970s which received a lot of publicity, but this story pre-dates that case, so couldn’t be influenced by it.There was a recent long documentary on BBC Sounds about the Battersea Poltergeist, but that dates from the 1950s, so again can’t have influenced Neale.The other hint is the old Norse (or even older) burial ground that underlies Minuke.This idea was picked up and used in several Hollywood horror movies. It features in The Shining where the Overlook Hotel is built on an old Native American burial ground. But this came out in 1980, so again cannot be an influence on Neale.We see this idea of archaeology creating apparitions and other supernatural events in Neale’s classic TV programme The Stone Tape which I recently watched. This came out in 1972, but the idea of archaeology holding records of strongly emotional events and replaying it, is hinted at in Neale’s story “You Must Listen” about a haunted telephone line.There is a haunted telephone line in this story, as well as a Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Dog in Dürer’s Etching “The Knight, Death and the Devil” by Marco Nevi

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0000

A Dog in Dürer’s Etching “The Knight, Death and the Devil”Albrecht DürerAlbrecht Dürer was born in Nuremberg, a Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire in 1471. He died aged 58, also in Nuremberg. He was a famous printmaker in his time and travelled across Europe. His work mainly consists of engravings and woodcuts. The Knight, Death & The Devil was printed in 1513, though apparently Durer called it simply “The Knight”.The engraving shows an armoured knight on a horse, leading another horse. The knight is flanked by a rotting corpse holding an hourglass and the Devil. Behind him on a hill is a fortress and beside the horse is a dog. The knight looks straight forward, undistracted by the corpse, the devil or even the dog. The elements in the picture represent a Medieval European morality. The knight is not tempted or swayed by the Devil or cowed by his inevitable death. He continues on his journey. The critic Gary Shapiro said the knight signified resolute determination in the absence of hope.Marco DeneviMarco Denevi was born in 1922 in the town of Sáenz Peña a suburb of Buenos Aires in Argentina. He died in Buenos Aires in 1998. He studied law but went to work in an insurance office where he wrote his first novel in snatched hours. His writing bought him enough success that by 1968 when he was 46, he gave up the insurance trade and became a full time author and essayist. Denevi was the author of novels and short stories, some of which were made into films. He won several prizes for his work.  Alberto ManguelAlberto Manguel is the translator of this piece by Denevi. He was born in Buenos Aires in Argentina, but moved to Canada. He is an award winning author of both fiction and non-fiction as well as a translator, editor and essayist. When he was young he worked in a bookshop in Buenos Aires and there met Jorge Luis Borges. A Dog in Dürer’s Etching “The Knight, Death and the Devil”This is a wonderfully Gothic story. It mainly concerns a knight returning home from a nameless war (as Denevi says: all wars are basically the same war), coarsened and wizened looking forward to days of peace with his wife, his salmon and his lute in his castle, apparently under the pleasant illusion that all will be waiting for him much as it was before he left.We have a nice interlude where the band of soldiers are travelling through a gothic forest where the trees are all bearing the terrible, but appealing to some, fruits of war. The minstrel imagines that the knight’s suit of armour its empty and that the knight whom the soldiers had trusted to save them from death is not really there.But then we return to the main point. Wars are games of chess played by little kings, popes and emperors to advance their petty ambitions. The knight will be forgotten by history, we are told. Then we are given access to the knight’s musings that perhaps his otherwise pointless efforts in the war in which he has spent his life will be remembered and honoured with land and titles by the little kings. As he thinks of this, the dog approaches.The knight, or Denevi, considers that peasants and dogs do not even really know there was a war, much less what it was about, and in fact it was about nothing other the game of chess played by little kings and popes.The knight considers how he may have, by his actions, have spun a web to snare the fly kings to make them help him. He ponders that God may be pretty similar to the dog, in that he does not even know there was a war and is oblivious to the aims and ambitions of the popes and kings.The theme of the story seems to be about perspective and how those who are considered lowly, like thSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E35 Green Tea by J Sheridan Le Fanu

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Joseph Sheridan Le FanuLe Fanu was an Irish writer born in Dublin in 1814 and who died in Dublin in 1873. In his time he was the leading writer of ghost stories and macabre tales. On the podcast, we have read out his masterwork, Carmilla, but Green Tea is an equally well-known story.He was judged by the master ghost story writer of a later generation, M R James as being absolutely first rank. His family were of French protestant (who fled France because of persecution) and English descent. His family were writers, and his grandmother Alice Sheridan Le Fanu and his great-uncle Richard Brinsley Sheridan were famous playwrights. His mother was a writer of biographies.Le Fanu’s father was a protestant clergyman in the Church of Ireland. He was a rector of a protestant church in Ireland and the family were disturbed by the 1830s Tithe War where the majority Catholic population objected to paying tithes to the Protestant minority church. Le Fanu studied law at Trinity but as early as 1839 (when he was twenty-four) he wrote ghost stories for the Dublin newspapers. In 1847 Le Fanu was active in the campaign against the cruel indifference of the British government which did little to relieve the suffering during the Irish famine. Le Fanu’s wife had significant mental health problems and his married life was less than happy. He wrote ghost stories set in Ireland, but due to the influence of his publisher, began to write stories with an English setting because they felt they would sell better. He died of a heart attack in Dublin aged only 58.Green TeaLe Fanu produced a collection of supernatural stories called In A Glass Darkly which was published in 1872. This was ostensibly the collected papers of the occult German medical-philosopher Dr Hesselius. Think of Sherlock Holmes cases ostensibly recorded by Dr Watson. There is little doubt that no publisher would look at Green Tea now. It is full of ‘telling’ rather than showing. Most of the action happens at third hard. There are frames to the story: it is edited by the editor who got the papers at the death of a professor and much concerns Hesselius’s reports of things he has heard.There are philosophical ramblings about Swedenborg’s metaphysics which are of very little interest to the modern reader. However, we know these things were of intense interest to Le Fanu and possibly to his contemporaries. It does introduce Swedenborg’s idea that a man can be conjoined with an evil spirit, however. Sometimes these evil spirits, or even two evil spirits, take animal form. Hint. hint. Le Fanu does dialogue well and the dialogue was smooth to narrate and quite naturalistic. It is quite unclear whether the story reports an actual haunting by a devil monkey or a psychosis. Hesselius diagnoses the end as a hereditary suicidal mania. I’m not sure we believe such things are heritable, though suicide can run in families, though more likely through a nurture rather than nature cause. But who knows?The story that asks: was it madness or was it a monster? Has a strong pedigree. On The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast we have read The Horla by Guy de Maupassant and The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins-Gilman both of which can be interpreted either way.I was recently reading the critic Mark Fisher’s book https://amzn.to/3o546Yl (The Weird and The Eerie) in which he draws a distinction between weird and eerie elements (and also uncanny components) of a story.The ‘weird’ Fisher says is about the juxtaposition of the normal with things that should not be there. The devil monkey is therefore distinctly weird. He talks about how this juxtaposition, as beloved by the surrealisSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chimes At Midnight by Paula Readman

Wed, 26 May 2021 07:00:00 -0000

A gothic story of a wronged bride who returns from beyond the grave to right the injustice visited upon her. Written by Paula Readman an award-winning living writer from England.The story reading is followed by an interview with Paula ReadmanAuthor of Seeking The Darkhttps://mybook.to/seekingthedark Stone Angels, https://mybook.to/stoneangelsThe Funeral Birds https://mybook.to/thefuneralbirdsDays Pass Like a Shadowhttps://mybook.to/dayspasslikeashadowBlog: https://paularcreadmanauthor.blogFacebook: https://facebook.com/paula.readman.1Twitter: Paula R C Readman@Darkfantasy1If you want to support the channel to keep me going, become a Patreon for bonus storieshttps://www.patreon.com/barcudFor a one time thank you, you can buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker Music is by The Heartwood Institute https://bit.ly/somecomebackSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S01E34 The Sandwalker by Fergus Hume

Sat, 22 May 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Fergus HumeFergus Hume was born in Powick, Worcestershire in England in 1865. He died in Essex in 1932.  His given first name was Ferguson, which was his mother Mary’s maiden name.His Glaswegian father Dr John Hume , was the doctor at the County Pauper and Lunatic Asylum there. Hume was only three when his father emigrated to Dunedin on the South Island of New Zealand, where he set up a lunatic asylum, Ashburn Hall.Hume went to Otago boy’s school and then studied law at the University of Otago in Dunedin. (Otago is the name of the region). He became a barrister in 1885 but then moved to Melbourne in Australia where he became a barrister’s clerk.All the while , he had literary ambitions, primarily as a playwright, but was repeatedly rejected. The first time he came to public notice was when a play he had written was put on by someone else under their name.He turned then to writing mystery novels, and his first and most famous novel was The Mystery of a Hansom Cab which was set in Melbourne, in the poor areas that Hume himself lived in around Little Bourke Street. Because he couldn’t get a publisher to look at it, he printed five thousand copies at his own expense. This first edition sold out in three weeks.Even though the book was very popular he made no money from it because he sold the rights before it became the best -selling mystery novel of the Victorian era. It was this novel that inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to create Sherlock Holmes. However, Doyle was not complimentary about The Mystery of A Hansom Cab. Hume went back to England in 1888. He lived in Thundersley in Essex and wrote over a hundred and fifty novels. Hume never married and avoided publicity. He was said to be very religious. Despite his prolific output, he lived very modestly.The Sandwalkerhttp://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks17/1700531h.html#TheSandwalker (Link) to the ebook on Project Gutenberg The Sandwalker is the last story in Hume’s collection The Dancer in Red. It’s a bit of a yarn. In theme it is a fairly straightforward revenge ghost story. Those who do wrong are punished by the dead. There is a nice twist at the end which delivers a satisfying ending. Young Lottie was not disgraced by Amber and therefore it was in no sense just that Mrs Jarzil killed him in revenge. The twist is that she is a very religious woman with the emphasis on Old Testament style justice where sinners are punished and cast into the pit and it is always an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Despite her protestations, she does not leave vengeance to the Lord but takes it into her own hands.I am guessing it is set in either Norfolk or Lincolnshire though I used the narrator’s job working for a Yorkshire woollen firm to allow me to be slightly more northern in accent than Norfolk certainly. It was nice that the hero was a plain man working for a living: a commercial traveller or ‘bagman’. We had a bagman appear in one of M R James’s stories that we read recently.So his preoccupations are pleasantly down to earth. He does not have weekends in the country or houses in London, he has to work for a living.The characters are caricatures. The writing is clearly accomplished. It is easy to read and unambiguous with clever rhetorical use of repetition (anaphora and epistrophe) so Hume was clearly a smart man. I presume then that the one-eyed wicked schoolmaster Abrams and the Lurch-like Mrs Jarzil are drawn so boldly on purpose. They are almost comic, but we must remember that this is exactly what Dickens did too so there was public taste for it.All in all a fun yarn. I hadn’t read any of Humes’ work before. He reminded me a little of R H Malden, thougSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S01E33 Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Sat, 08 May 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Nathaniel HawthorneHawthorne was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachussetts. He died in Plymouth New Hampshire. One of his ancestors was John Hathorne who was the only judge in the witch trials who never repented his involvement.His ancestors who came from England in 1630 were Puritans. It is thought that Hathorne added the -w- to his name to make it Hawthorne in his twenties in order to distance himself from these fervent ancestors.He published his first work in 1828 when he was twenty-four. He published a series of short stories. He was a Transcendentalist, a Romantic philosophy which believes in the goodness of human nature and a reliance on intuition and other promptings of the spiritual or natural person rather than relying on reason.Despite his puritan ancestors, Hawthorne liked to take pot shots at puritanism. He is a Romantic and technically what is known as a dark Romantic. He is most famous for his novel The Scarlet Letter which was published in 1859. Also famous is the House of the Seven Gables. His books often feature themes of sin and the inherent evil of humanity.Young Goodman BrownUnless I’ve missed it, we are not told what is special about this night that Goodman Brown is going out to have his tryst with the Devil. His wife, Faith, wants him to be there with her on this night ‘of all nights in the year’, but he has to go out on this night of all nights in the year.  He is clearly expecting to meet the Devil and has some business with him, but it’s not clear to me what that business is.It turns out that all the people he thought pious, including his father and grandfather as well as various deacons and goodies and goodmen of the town and state are wicked to the core.But what was his own mission exactly? I’m not clear. He clearly needs to do his dirty deed on this particular night and afterwardsHe discusses meeting the Devil and then a man appears who has the look of his grandfather, it transpires. This man was in Boston only fifteen minutes previously and that seems pretty fast travel for the Seventeenth Century. The Devil says that Brown is late, and Brown answers that, ‘Faith kept me back a while.’ Ah, yes indeed. Faith has two meanings here, I think.We hear from Good Cloyse that a young man is to be taken into communion with the witches that night, and we hear from Deacon Gookin that a young woman is to be inducted. We realise that this is Faith of course as Hawthorne intends us to, but of which poor Goodman Brown is ignorant. This is called Dramatic Irony according to Robert McKee, where the audience knows more than the character.However, the story is well done. We are led step by step as our Goodman falls deeper into temptation and then, the scales are removed from his eyes and the Devil tells him that evil is the basic currency of human nature. He believes it and henceforth mistrusts the virtue of his own dear wife and his own pastor. This is foreshadowed by Hawthorne at the outset of the journey when, after Faith has failed to convince him to stay home, she hopes that he finds all well on his return, to which he replies: ‘Amen’.  But when he returns has changed all due to his change in attitude, because as Hamlet says, ‘there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. Goodman Brown is a lukewarm Satanist at the best. He begins by telling Old Nick that he has scruples in the matter that ‘thou wots’t of’. (You know of. English used to have two verbs for to know, like French and German an Welsh and Irish and other languages I know. One was ‘to wit’ which was to know a thing, and the other ‘to ken’ which is to be familiar with or know a person or place. German keeSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Owl by Anatole Le Braz

Fri, 07 May 2021 07:00:00 -0000

This is the cleaned up audio of a Youtube Video I did. The audio isn't as good as when I do the podcast purely as an audio project. The video of me reading this is to be seen on my Youtube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9o9Vf0G92Pu2MCgKr73vhQIf You Appreciate The Work I’ve Put In Here https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become A Patreon) For Bonus StoriesOr https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (buy me a coffee) , if you’d like to keep me working. https://bit.ly/somecomeback (Music) by The Heartwood InstituteSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E32 Pickman's Model by H P Lovecraft

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Pickman's Model by H P LovecraftThis story was written in September 1926 and first published in the October 1927 edition of Weird Tales. The narrator opens by disclosing that he is frightened to go underground, into the subway or even into a cellar. Then he explains why.It's to do with Pickman, an artist with an unsavoury reputation.There are hints that Pickman, whose ancestor was a witch, is related in some sense to the ghouls. Pickman's ancestor was a Salem witch and in the painting where the changeling is being read to by the Puritan, the narrator suggests that the changeling's ghoulish features are reminiscent of Pickman's own. This suggestion of cursed ancestry is also found in other Lovecraft stories like the case of Charles Dexter Ward.Lovecraft's ghouls appear in other stories as well. The ghouls honeycomb the hills of Boston are like the Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath. In this story, which was written later, we find Pickman the artist now a fully-fledged ghoul. These ghouls come up through wells and into cellars and basements. Ghouls in Arabic folklore haunt the graveyards and feed on the newly dead.In The Music of Erich Zann, an artist can summon the creatures of this devilish world that underlies our reality. There is something about the super-sensitive artist who can see into more rarefied worlds than ours. Erich Zann was trying to drive out the evil things from other worlds while Pickman welcomes them, or at least tolerates them. He feels himself superior to them I think because he takes his pistol to one of them at least. In the Music of Erich Zann the narrator cannot find the house again, and this is so in this story. These strange parts of modern cities lurk like shadows, over a river, or in a little-visited and hazardous neighbourhood. Boston's North End is like Brooklyn's Red Hook. These neighbourhoods are populated with foreigners and honeycombed with tunnels. These edge places are clearly manifestations of Lovecraft's Shadow. These monsters come from places that are liminal and other.The narrator suggests that Pickman is a relentless enemy of all mankind to take such pleasure in the torture of others as depicted in his art, yet he is a true artist because his art was the art that convinced. Like Lovecraft himself, Pickman is no sentimental friend of mankind and sees no kindness or joy amongst his fellow humans, only torture and disgust. Lovecraft appreciates that others shun people with this vision, though he depicts them as small-minded and unappreciative of great art and thought. It's a little bit Nietzschean, the superman or Uber-mensch.The narrator Thurber says that as well as being monstrous, Pickman was a great artist because he painted the truth. The implication is that the truth is that our daylight world lives on a foundation of terrible evil. That is of course a very Lovecraftian view. It's the opposite view of the Romantics like Wordsworth and Thoreau and Voltaire, and if fact the Green movement, who believed that our technological world is the aberration and that the natural world is the source of purity and joy. Of course for most of human history, survival has been a battle against the horrors of the natural world and in a sense then Lovecraft is a traditionalist and anti-Romantic. Lovecraft's escape is not through nature but through imagination and at times, though not here, his fantasies have a great beauty to them.The story form is a classic short story with a twist. We, the readers, realise ahead of the narrator (who only twigs when he looks at the photo) that Pickman's monstrous images were not imagination but reality. He presumed that the ghoul was paiSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E31 The Black Cat by Edgar Allen Poe

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Edgar Allen PoePoe was an American writer born in 1809 in Boston who died aged only forty in Baltimore in 1849. He is one of the best-known American writers of his generation and famed all over the world for his Gothic and macabre tales. This is the third of his stories we've done on The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast.Others are https://player.captivate.fm/episode/08a6766c-18ad-4ec7-9c1c-a6918e7306a6 (The Tell-Tale Heart) and https://player.captivate.fm/episode/704f4f35-a5c5-44f6-b4c2-f08313ac3870 (The Fall of the House of Usher)The Black Cat by Edgar Allen PoePoe sets up his character as a mild, animal-loving child and I guess this is to show how out of character his later muderous rage is. When he talks of an animal as a brute it is not a derogatory term and merely equivalent to the word animal. Beast is the same though in the intervening years both beast and brute have become tainted by usage connecting them with the vilest of human beings rather than dumb animals. Did you see what I did there?Near the beginning he mentions his wife's joking belief that all black cats are witches in disguise. This is a little foreshadowing the for the supernatural powers of the black cat that are revealed towards the end of the story.We aren't far into the story before the narrator reveals the cause of his change of character: it is through intemperance with drink. Remember the Temperance Movement (of which my grandmother was a proud supporter). Poe himself had a problem with alcohol. His death was very likely related to his alcohol abuse. In 1849, he was due to catch a ferry from Richmond, Virginia to Baltimore, Maryland. He visited a doctor in Richmond the night before he was due to travel, complaining of a fever. He arrived in Baltimore and is next seen in a tavern three days later when he was found in an alcoholic stupor wearing someone else's clothes: a cheap suit and a straw hat, not his usual black wool suit. Perhaps he had sold his own clothes for money for drink?He was admitted to hospital and died four days later. He was drifting in and out of consciousness, hallucinating and talking nonsense. This sounds to me like Delirium Tremens from alcohol withdrawal. For people who drink heavily over a long period they can develop Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome which is a neurological condition caused by deficiencies of B vitamins, particularly Thiamine. It is also known as Korsakoff's Dementia.At the time of his death Poe had recently joined a temperance society. The doctor who saw him in the tavern thought he had been on a bender and was intoxicated, but the doctor in the hospital stated Poe had not been drinking. Of course, that is what causes the withdrawal: heavy drinking with a sudden stop. The most common causes of sudden death in people who abuse alcohol are through a seizure induced by the withdrawal, or by the bursting of blood vessels in the throat leading to catastrophic loss of blood. There is no report of a seizure, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. Other theories are that Poe was assaulted and had a head injury in the tavern or that he was in late stage syphilis. This late stage syphilis filled mental institutions in the days before antibiotics and was very common—known as General Paralysis of The Insane. The doctors would have recognised this condition easily.Getting back to the story. He mentions that Pluto was becoming old, "And consequently peevish". On the eve of my sixtieth birthday I know exactly how Pluto felt. He is very nasty to the old cat though, and like others of Poe's protagonists, but not all (I quite like the protagonist from the House of Usher) he loses our sympathy. Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E30 His Beautiful Hands by Oscar Cook

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 07:00:00 -0000

His Beautiful Hands by Oscar CookThis will be the second of Oscar Cook's stories we have read, the first being Boomerang. Boomerang is https://player.captivate.fm/episode/f7098556-f342-4667-b9f2-65424796b616 (here)It was danged hard to find a copy of His Beautiful Hands, but I succeeded. HBH is rated as one of the best horror stories in those inevitable lists that pop up on the Internet, almost certainly compiled by people who never read it because print copies of the anthologies it was in are either out of print or cost hundreds of cash units (dollars, pounds, euros, roubles, take your pick). Cook's work, I realise now, is characterised by graphic body horror rather than the supernatural so it is a horror story rather than a ghost story. He deliberately sets out to shock us, but shocks modern listeners most probably by accident.What I mean is that we have become inured to graphic horror, after all we have had The Saw and The Human Caterpillar (neither of which I've seen) and the horrid bit in Midsommer when the old folks jump off the cliff and are then finished off... but let's not go into that. Then he throws in a bit of incest. That's never nice and I think even modern listeners find that shocking. As an aside, I actually deplore the race for shock that you see in detective series on TV. Once theft was enough (if you go back far enough), then murder became a staple, then we had serial killers, serial rapists and now we have a regrettably frequent addition of paedophilia sometimes with incest thrown in. I prefer Miss Marple personally, and I'd say to the TV companies: don't pander after these most base shock-jock tactics, you're better than that. I saw the Dig on Netflix recently with Ralph Fiennes. How brilliant that was. And I like the Detectorists also. But back to Oscar Cook.Oscar Cook BiographyRichard Martin Oscar Cook was born in London in 1888 and died also in London in 1952. His father owned an athletic goods company and they were fairly well-off. He seems to have been brought up in Broxbourne just outside London and his first job was a clerk there but very shortly afterwards he went to make his fortune in a rubber planation in Borneo. Unfortunately he did not get on well and was sacked, but remained in Borneo and got another job in the British Colonial Service.He was an administrator of the British Empire and worked in North Borneo from 1911 until 1918 and then had District Officer posts. This was a position in the British Colonial Service and these administrators and often magistrate was at the heart of colonial administration in the British colonies.He was married in 1924 to Christine Campbell Thomson but got divorced in 1938.When he returned to England he wrote an autobiography of his time in Borneo and thereafter wrote supernatural stories, many of which appeared in various anthologies. This story appeared in the 2nd Pan Book of Horror. I used to read those books when I was a kid, which may explain a lot.Cook bought a controlling interest in a publishing company which produced a series of horror anthologies called Not at Night which ran to twelve books.His Beautiful HandsStarts like Boomerang I think with the device of the urbane Englishman in his club in the Far East. This fellow has few adventures and relies on his unsteady journalist friend Warwick to tell him the ghastly tales. He even warns us it is going to be horrible. And it is. As the story goes structurally, it's pretty neat. It has at least two twists, probably three: that the manicurist poisoned him so his fingers drop off (ideal revenge on a violinist); that she is his daughter; and that the child is his. It is gSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E29 Lady Ferry by Sarah Orne Jewett

Sat, 13 Mar 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Sarah Orne JewettThis episode is a real treat for me for a number of reasons. One is that this was my first commission! Susan Foust very kindly introduced me to this story and even paid me to read it out. Win-win-win. If you would like a commission, it would be remiss of me not to point out, you can get me to read any story under 10,000 words here. https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker/commissions (Order A Story!)So back to Sarah Orne Jewett. She lived her life on the southern coast of Maine in New England. She was born in 1849 in South Berwick and died in 1909 aged only 59 in the same year. She wrote a few collections of short stories, the most famous of which is The Country of Pointed Firs and you can get all of her work for free via the marvellous Project Gutenburg. Her family were Mainers going a long way back. The family home was built in 1774. Her father was a doctor who specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology. Her mother suffered from rheumatoid arthritis so the young Sarah spent many hours walking in the local countryside. She often visited Boston but her stories feature the small towns she was familiar with, even when she disguises their names.She had an interested in the Swedish mystic Swedenborg and she believed, apparently in Divine immanence: that god is in all things, though she was a firm believer in individual responsibility, which I always imagine as being a big thing in New England.I am struck by how different her New England is to that of Lovecraft of even of Russell Kirk whose Behind The Stumps we read out ages ago. I must do more of his stuff. I must do more of lots of people's stuff: there are outstanding calls for more Poe, which I will get to.Sarah Orne Jewett published her first story aged only 19 and her reputation grew in the 1870s and 1890s. People commented that her stories were driven by a focus on local colour more than plot, but I think Lady Ferry has an interesting, if gentle plot.She never married a man but had a close friendship with a married woman and the woman's husband and when the husband, a publisher died, the two women moved in together. Of course this was a time when certain types of love were not allowed to speak their name. They travelled together through America and Europe until in 1902 she had a carriage accident which ended her writing career. This was compounded when she had a stroke in March 1909 and she died soon after. Lady FerryThis is a delightful story and I am grateful to Susan Foust for bringing it to my attention. We see everything through the eyes of a young girl and the mystery is framed by her youth and her maturity as later she comes back to satisfy her curiosity.It appears to be a supernatural story but is very subtle. Lady Ferry haunts the garden as a ghost, but she is corporeal though no one knows her origin. It is hinted that she cannot die and that she is ancient. For example from the dresses she wears taken from the original builder of the house's chest at least a century or more earlier, by the fact she claims to have known Marie Antoinette and the grandfather of Mr McAllister. This puts her origin well back into the 18th Century. And she must have been born at least in 1750 if not earlier. She also references The Spanish Main, which might even suggest memories of the 17th Century.But this is explained away by her wandering mind. These are just fancies, surely? But there are a number of gothic touches which throw doubt on this. Firstly the visitors who come for the ball in the middle of the night. Though this is just a dream, surely? But then the boats are missing. I loved the funeral arrangement and I loved the descriptions of mSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E28 The Cold Embrace by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Mary Elizabeth BraddonAnother accomplished woman novelist of the Victorian period. Mary Elizabeth Braddon was born in 1835 in London and died in Richmond, Surrey (now part of London) in 1915.She wrote more than eighty novels, one of which, Lady Audley's Secret, was a great success. A number of her stories have supernatural themes, and she lived in the heyday of the ghost story so that is not surprising.When she was 25 she moved in with a publisher whose wife was locked away in an Irish mental asylum. She lived with the man and was stepmother to his existing children, marrying him finally in 1874, fourteen years after she first moved in, now allowable because his wife had passed away. She had six children by him.Her husband was also a property developer and a number of the streets in Richmond are named after characters from her novels.The Cold EmbraceThe Cold Embrace was published in is a very accomplished story both in form and in prosody. It has the feel of a folk-tale and its theme surely is that promises made in love should be kept and that the flighty and arrogant will be punished for breaking them.It was a delight to read because of the use of formal rhetorical forms like the repeated use on anaphora where the beginning of a sentence is repeated, usually three times to create a tricolon. Often an ascending tricolon where each phrase is longer building towards a climax.It almost reminded me of Tim Burton's Corpse Bride in its atmosphere. The final masked ball with the young lady on his arm who fades slowly into the corpse bride.We the readers are aware that the boisterous gaiety he feels at the ball, which he mistakes for his old light-heartedness is a return of the fever that will, this time, kill him.And the picture of stage coaches (the diligence) and hordes of labourers walking across Germany with their meerschaum pipes and dogs was like scenes out of Goethe, or William Wordsworth's account of his traipsing across Europe at a similar time. Braddon herself was born later than this, so this is historical fiction and we have the device that M R James endorses too: set the ghost story in the past, not too distant past, but enough that there is a mist of history which allows us to suspend our disbelief (although that phrase belongs to Tolkein). Music byhttps://bit.ly/somecomeback (The Heartwood Institute)The last track with the lovely violin is Under The Rose by https://bit.ly/midnighfolk (The Hare & The Moon,) whose lead performer is Grey MalkinWe also feature music by Michael Romeo of https://bit.ly/dvoykinbandcamp (Dvoynik)Support the Podcast Any Way You Can!http://bit.ly/ghostiest (Buy the thirsty, hyperactive podcaster a cup of Java)Sign up For Exclusive Stuff and Early Bird Exposures on http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon)Get the https://bit.ly/substacklanding (Substack Newsletter) with ExclusivesMy Ghost StoriesGet my free audiobook download, The Dalston Vampire https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (here), and you may consider purchasing my https://bit.ly/HorrorStoriesForHalloween (Horror Stories For Halloween), which is now long past.Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E27 The Spider by Basil Copper

Sat, 13 Feb 2021 07:00:00 -0000

The Spider by Basil Copper@stuieburley on Twitter put me onto Basil Copper. He had recommended the Janissaries of Emilion. I'd never heard of Basil so I got a Kindle Edition of The Collected Macabre Tales of Basil Copper which includes that story. However, it is long. I may do it another time, but for this week I selected a shorter story. But it's a good one.Basil Copper was born in 1924 and lived until 2013 when he died aged 89! He was born in London, England.His first story was published in March 1938, the Magazine of the Tonbridge Senior Boys School. Tonbridge is in Kent, and when I was a boy we went on an exchange visit to Kent. Most schools in England went to foreign countries but the trip from Cumberland to Kent, England's most northwesterly county to England most southeasterly county, was enough of a culture shock for us.He is most famous for his stories featuring the character Solar Pons. This character was created by August Derleth, H P Lovecraft's protege, and is very much in the Lovecraftian tradition of authors sharing worlds and characters between their stories. Copper was published by the Arkham House publishing house, run by August Derleth. Many of Copper's stories feature the Cthulhu Mythos. Despite his links with the Cthulhu Mythos, Copper admitted that his influences were M R James and Edgar Allan Poe and he was interested in Gothic literature. The Spider is a phobia story. It's very cleverly written, neat and effective. In that it reminds me of Marghatina Laski's The Tower where the phobia is vertigo. Here it is arachnophobia. Turns out that the landlord of the wayside auberge just south of Paris has a skin for picking up on a visitor's fears and killing the visitor via heart attack by inducing the phobia. The insect horror theme is of course featured in Boomerang by Oscar Cook.This story appears in the 1964 Pan Book of Horror Stories. He was paid £10 for the story. Copper lived at Sevenoaks in Kent and founded the Tunbridge Wells Vintage Film Society. He was a movie buff and a member of several societies related to films. His wife was French and he is clearly familiar with the county in which The Spider is set. Apparently the story idea came from a spider that was in a room in a hotel he and his wife stayed in while on holiday in Paris. He met his wife and married in her in 1960 when she was in England learning English.His first novel was actually a detective storyCopper was very prolific and in addition to his weird tales and novels he wrote 58 detective novels set in LA. When he wrote the first novels, he had never visited the city and used maps and films to provide background. He worked as a journalist, running a county paper at the age of 17. He served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and took part in the D-Day landings. Music byhttps://bit.ly/somecomeback (The Heartwood Institute)The final tune is by Michael Romeo of https://bit.ly/dvoykinbandcamp (Dvoynik)Support the Podcast Any Way You Can!http://bit.ly/ghostiest (Buy the thirsty, hyperactive podcaster a cup of Java)Sign up For Exclusive Stuff and Early Bird Exposures on http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon)Get the https://bit.ly/substacklanding (Substack Newsletter) with ExclusivesMy Ghost StoriesGet my free audiobook download, The Dalston Vampire https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (here), and you may consider purchasing my https://bit.ly/HorrorStoriesForHalloween (Horror Stories For Halloween), which is now long past.Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E26 Music Hath Charms by L T C Rolt

Sat, 30 Jan 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Music Hath Charms by LTC RoltLionel Thomas Caswall Rolt, was an English writer born in 1910 and who died in 1974, therefore for us, he's a recent writer! He was a prolific writer who had an interest in engineering and that shows in this story in his description of the tunnels and the knowledge of ventilation shafts which are integral to the plot of the story. In keeping with this love of engineering, he wrote biographies of major engineers such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Thomas Telford. He had a major enthusiasm for vintage cars, heritage railways and was a pioneer of the canal cruising industry. From 1936, Rolt decided he wanted a life afloat and he converted his uncle's old boat Cressy into a boat he could live in and spent his time mooching up and down the canals of England.During the Second World War, he went to work for Rolls Royce and made Spitfire engines, the Royal Airforce's legendary fighter plan. After the war, Rolt teamed up with Robert Aickman, another major ghost story writer to form the Inland Waterways Association to promote the use of the canals and restore them. L T C or Tom Rolt was an accomplished author and an inland waterway enthusiast, and together with the another famous ghost story writer, Robert Aickman, and their wives, formed the Canal Restoration Trust which was responsible for bringing back the industrial waterway network of England and Wales back into service for leisure travel.When we know Rolt's love of machinery we understand the detailed description of how the musical box works in Music Hath Charms. I now know all about them. He also gives more detail than many would to about bus timetables.The story is set in wild Cornwall, which because of its remoteness and its Celtic past is a suitably remote setting for a ghost story. Cornwall has a history of smugglers and wreckers and this is the background to this story. We also see that another author who set her work in Cornwall, Daphne Du Maurier often used smugglers and indeed Frenchmen in her stories. La Pucelle means a maiden or a girl. This is of course a Faustian story. The smuggler, the Count Pierre Henneze de Hou. There is a French name Hennezel, and a De Hou, but no Henneze that I could find, so Tom Rolt may have miscopied the name. I suspect the title 'count' is a self-styling. I have often fancied called myself Count Tony Walker, but don't have the brass neck to get away with it.Carn Zawn doesn't exist, though the name is good Cornish. Carn is a heap of stones and Cornish 'sawan' means 'throat' and is used for a narrow inlet of the sea. Trevarthan is a real Cornish surname as well, arising from two separate places in West Cornwall. The only mistake Tom Rolt makes with his Celtic nomenclature is to have his housekeeper called Penrice. It sounds Cornish, but is in fact a Cumbrian surname arising from the place-name Penrith. Of course Cumbric and Cornish were closely related languages, so we can excuse him. Of course, it's also possible that the Penrices were Cumbrian immigrants to Cornwall. In fact, there were many Cornish who came to Cumbria to work in the mines, but not so-much the other way. This is proved by the fact there are two Cornish pasty shops in Keswick alone, but not a single Cumberland sausage shop in Truro, or Penzance.But back to the Devil. We presume that the shadowy creature in the engraving is Old Nick, gamboling and pranking. The Music Box conjures him. Count Pierre is presumed to have traded something, likely his soul as the De'il is found of those, for a life of opulence and the lusty company of La Pucelle, our Jeanne. She has a husky voice after all, surely a euphemism, or at lSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E25 The Story of Salome by Amelia B Edwards

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 07:00:00 -0000

The Story of Salome by Amelia B EdwardsWe did https://player.captivate.fm/episode/9913ad9b-e382-4acb-a42a-1000157a734c (The Phantom Coach )by Amelia B Edwards as Episode 8, which seems a long time ago now.That was a splendidly written story too. To remind ourselves:Amelia Edwards was born in 1831 in London, England. As such she is one of the oldest writers we’ve read so far in this podcast. She died aged only 60 in Weston Supermare, a seaside resort in the west of England.She came from a wealthy background and didn’t have to work, but she was a very successful writer based on her own talents. She was born in London to an Irish mother and a father who had been a British army officer before becoming a banker.She was in fact a very talented woman and had the potential to be a professional artist though her father, a banker, frowned on that as a career. She also made home with a woman, long before such things were accepted by polite British society.She was also an Egyptologist and after a cruise down the Nile and a long stay among the monuments, she devoted all of her efforts to saving the Egyptian monuments and took a lecture tour over several years in the United States to promote the cause.I found this Story of Salome in the https://amzn.to/3nfbbDJ (Virago Book of Ghost Stories)Edited by Richard Dalby. Richard Dalby had great taste in stories and there are lots of good ones in this anthology.You may, or may not, know that I have a fondness for Venice. I have read this Story of Salome, on the podcast as well as Ray Russell’s https://tonywalker.substack.com/p/s0202-vendetta-by-ray-russell (Vendetta) and Vernon Lee’s https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b2eed482-997c-4621-9f2a-42361174312f (A Wicked Voice).I have also written my own Christmas ghost story set in Venice which is available in my More Christmas Ghost Stories, soon to be out as an audiobook once Audible get their finger out. If you can’t wait for Audible, Audiobookstore has it https://audiobookstore.com/audiobooks/more-christmas-ghost-stories.aspx (here)The subject of the story is Salome, daughter of Isaac. She is Jewish and inevitably this throws up attitudes that make me uncomfortable. I do not think this is an anti Semitic story though it does have the theme of converting Salome to Christianity. It is of its period but better than many in its attitudes.I think it very well written and was easy to narrate without the tripping syntax of James or the excitable lists and adjectives of Dickens.Edwards performs the trick of portraying a main character who is reasonably convinced that the grave belongs to Salome’s aged father Isaac, rather that to her. In the end, when the truth is almost impossible to ignore she had a nice little run of him convincing himself that there must be another Salome, that his Salome can’t be dead. We’ve all been there, trying to kid ourselves that something isn’t true when we know fine well it must be.And the description of his flighty friend, Coventy Turnour, loving Salome followed by a disinterested account by our main character only to slowly reveal that he himself is infatuated with her. This is the same trick as him believing the grave is Salome’s fathers. We the readers and listeners know before he admits it to himself both that he loves Salome and that she is dead.And he finds her more beautiful as a ghost, though he doesn’t know it. He talks about her more spiritual beauty.One mystery is why Turnour left Venice. He lost hope in winning Salome quite suddenly, and left. She in her turn converted secretly to Christianity. It’s not explained why, but I wonder whether it was something to do with Turnour? DidSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SE02E24 Rosalind by Richmal Crompton

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Richmal Crompton Richmal Crompton was born in Bury, Lancashire in 1890 and died in Bromley, Kent in 1969, aged 78. She was the daughter of a clergyman who though he was ordained worked as a teacher of Greek and Latin at Bury Grammar School. She was not born into the aristocratic world portrayed in this story.She was educated at a private school for the daughters of clergymen in Lancashire. She trained as a schoolteacher like her father and got a BA in Classics from the Royal Holloway College in 1914. She was a supporter of Women's Suffrage. She worked as a teacher until 1923 when she became a full-time writer. She never married and had no children.She contracted polio and had to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life.She had moved to Bromley in Kent, just outside London when she was twenty-seven to teach at the school there. She never left the area and her writing was so successful she had a house built for herself on the Common.She was a successful novelist and published forty one novels. Her most famous series of novels was for children and featured the comic figure of William, a rather feckless schoolboy. The first of these Just William was published in 1922. The stories are hilarious and were a great favourite of mine when I was a small boy.She wrote several ghost stories and these were published in 1928 as Mist and Other Stories.Rosalind by Richmal CromptonIn Rosalind, we are plunged once more into that Edwardian world of the leisured rich of England such as we see in the stories of E F Benson. However, the story is also about an artist and his model, such as we heard in The Yellow Sign. It's quite a different story to the Yellow Sign for all that.I think this is one of the best ghost stories we have ever read. The characterisation is very poignant. Our unnam med narrator paints such a picture of Heath as the bored, but talented rich boy to whom everything comes to easily and for whom everything is therefore shallow.He takes Helen, our man's beloved, with no thought. He doesn't even consider our narrator at all. It's not selfishness, it's blindness to the existence of other people. He falls in love with Rosalind but there is no question that an artist's model will every be a life match for the future Viscount of Evesham. It would have been easy for Crompton to suggest Rosalind wished this but she is subtle enough to have Rosalind accept it too. I guess that Rosalind is willing to accept being his mistress and mother of his illegitimate child.Heath is the selfish narcissist that he sees the pregnancy only as an interruption to his idyll. He is bad tempered about this, and we see him pleased that his child and Rosalind have died so as to put an end to the possibility that it will ruin his well-planned marriage to Helen.But Heath is sentimental too. Once he realises he's lost Helen, and is unfulfilled by his planned marriage, he starts to mope and goes over the top bringing down armfuls of orchids and roses in a sentimental but ironically cheap gesture.He is so sentimental that Rosalind gestures him to his death. We can look at this in several ways. First that this is Rosalind's revenge from beyond the grave and that her ghost has connived at this and timed it perfectly just before his wedding. We remember Rosalind's vow that se won't let Helen have him.Or, it might be seen as the workings of a greater Fate, in that Heath's marriage to Helen was untenable because it was in bad faith, and that it could not be allowed to go ahead.Presumably, Helen is going into this marriage with her eyes open. She knows what it will entail and is willing to take it on as a job in order to obtain the posSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E23 The Story of A Disappearance and An Appearance by M R James

Fri, 25 Dec 2020 07:00:00 -0000

THE STORY OF A DISAPPEARANCE AND AN APPEARANCE by M R JamesThe Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance is one of the few M R James stories actually set at Christmas. He was well-known for reading out his stories at Christmas, but few of them are actually set over the festive period. It was first published the June 4, 1913 issue of the Cambridge Review. It then appeared in his anthology A Thin Ghost and Others in 1919. First of all some explanations of words which may be strange to some listeners. Bands are a kind of white tie worn by Anglican clergymen. A bagman is a commercial traveller, a salesman or pedlar. Clearly he'll be late home if he's still on the road on Christmas Eve. So what happened?It appears that Uncle Henry got murdered, his head bashed in and his corpse buried in the sandpit. My reading was that the two Punch & Judy men killed him. These two who were masquerading as Italians but who were English rogues really. The bagman told W R that he had not seen any suspicious characters on the road: no gipsies, tramps or wandering sailors. This all happened not long after the Napoleonic wars and out of work sailors and soldiers had to wander the countryside looking for a living. No Help for Heroes for them. The bagman did see a most wonderful Punch and Judy show. These travelling showmen or 'carnies' as such folk would later be called in the USA are inherently dubious, so it's no wonder that they would murder an innocent clergyman. It is heresy to say anything against the great M R James, but I would only observe that he throws a few 'portents' and 'omens' into the story that seem to have no real bearing on the narrative. They aren't clues or anything, unless I'm missing some subtlety. I mean the owl that wakes our man W R from sleep, the Toby Dog running off and howling, the organ wolving during the funeral and the odd ringing of the bell. These are all signs that something unnatural and eerie is afoot. There is also mention of the bier being put out by mistake and the moth-eaten pall taken out and having to be folded on Christmas Day. Most inappropriate, but they seem more what we would have called 'dungeon dressing' in my D&D days—something to create atmosphere that is not essential to the plot. But again, I may be missing something.The mention of the Toby Dog reminds me of Cole Hawkins and the Toby Dog in John Masefield's Box of Delights that I will be re-reading, or at least watching the 1980s BBC version this Christmas. Punch and Judy is a ghastly tale of murder played out for children and so it has its own horror lurking not far below the surface. It seems that the dead Uncle Henry came as visitation to the two murderous Punch & Judy chaps, like a proper vengeful ghost and cause the first to die of fright inside the Punch and Judy set-up, while the other runs to the sandpit, breaks his neck and reveals the resting place of Uncle Henry, up until now hidden. Mr Bowman the inn keeper seems only there for comic effects, and to show that Uncle Henry was rather serious and straight-laced. I think that M R James has put in the comic inn-keeper and the portents and omens to entertain the audience rather than to drive the narrative. W R also at one point alludes to a vague reason why he's writing everything out in longhand, but this is well before anything supernatural or even out of the ordinary occurs. Again, I can't help but suspect that this is just to gee-up the reader because it comes to not much.James has a way or inserting the jarringly weird into his stories, and it is this weirdness that really unsettles the reader. We have it in the flapping shirt and advancing figure in Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E22 A Christmas Carol The Spirit of Christmas Future

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 07:00:00 -0000

A Christmas Carol Part 4: The Spirit of Christmas Future & The End of ItThe Ghost of Christmas Future is the scariest of the ghosts. No jovial sprite he! He's just a heap of black cloak and a pointing hand. At the end, the spirit's hand quivers kindly, but he gives Scrooge no answers. Scrooge, even unanswered, intuits that he will be okay if he mends his ways. I thought that the first scene with the lowly char-folk and undertakers men and old Joe with his greasy fat and mouldy bones was a masterpiece of dialogue. The attitude of the working folk to Scrooge reveals tons about the man. It is this scene that breaks Scrooge even though he thinks it's some other skinflint that has met his end. Dickens withholds the information in a neat little device that we twig who the dead man is far sooner than Scrooge does. We are shouting out, 'Scrooge, it's you lying there you damn fool!' All the while as he wonders why he doesn't see himself. It's darned obvious. Then the last walk to the walled graveyard (and the fact it's walled adds something) to the graveside when we see from Scrooge's faltering steps that at last he realises what the name on the stone will be. The last section, the denouement with happy jokey Scrooge is a nice bit of comic Dickens that I enjoyed reading out. I enjoyed reading the scary bit of the Ghost of Christmas Future too.So that's that. A job well done, I thought, if only that it's done and nothing else. You see I am getting quite Dickensian in my ramblings!I promise you a bit of M R James for Christmas, but if I don't see you before, have a Merry Christmas or a happy Hanukkah. It's a bit late for Diwali, but may any Festival of Light you choose be truly marvellous. And for those of you who don't prefer light, your Festival of Darkness. Actually, I love the winter dark in its stillness and brooding. I love the dark and star-spangled winter skies. I've never seen the Northern Lights, though Sheila says she has. Me, I think it was Dumfries.MusicStart and Middle Music by The Heartwood Institutehttps://bit.ly/somecomeback (Listen on Bandcamp)End music is The Drowning by Dvoynik. Listen and download for https://bit.ly/dvoynikdrowning (free)Free Download Audiobook https://bit.ly/DalstonVampire (The Dalston Vampire)My New Collection of Christmas Ghost Storieshttps://amzn.to/3lViZKg (More Christmas Ghost Stories)The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast Newsletterhttps://bit.ly/substacklanding (On Substack)***If you'd like to show your appreciation for the Podcast, you can buy me a coffee!http://bit.ly/ghostiest (Ko-Fi)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SO2E21 A Christmas Carol: The Spirit of Christmas Present

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 07:00:00 -0000

A Christmas Carol Part 3: The Spirit of Christmas PresentHe brought a tear to my eye and halt to my throat, did Old Dickens in this episode. I think he was a man of great humanity who genuinely did care for those who were not as well-off as he was.The only slight caution I had was Old Topper chasing The Plump Sister and getting her in a corner. We inevitably all view behaviour through the lens of our own time and of course this behaviour reminded me of the #MeToo. I certainly wouldn't want my daughters, mother or my partner cornered like this. But I read it out, because I must make some kind of editorial decisions about which stories I read out. Some, I suppose, I will choose not to read, and if I read them out, I won't abridge them.Except, I recall changing single offensive words that would just be a jolt to the reader. I suppose if the word is not used by the writer to be offensive... but that might be a cop out. It's all up for debate I know.But yes, this was a lovely episode. The descriptions are wonderful and lots of episodes are superfluous to the narrative, but great fun. The other observation is about the degree to which Dickens is reporting the Christmas festivities of his period or is actually encouraging them, and in measure therefore creating them. Were Christmasses as Christmassy as Dickens portrays them? Maybe not before, but certainly afterwards as we all began to emulate what we read and heard in this book, even if we didn't read it or hear it ourselves but only obtained it via the TV.Enjoy your plum pudding. More Christmas Ghost Stories Ebook & PaperbackOh, did I mention my https://amzn.to/3olobIJ (More Christmas Ghost Stories) it out? The paperback and ebook are done and the audiobook is being approved now. So you can get it if you want. The stories are good, and improved by the attention of my Beta Readers. I have had the most wonderful 5 star review. Thanks a million Emhack from Torquay for that. Also had a splendid and rather humbling review for the podcast from Sandra Quintal from Canda.Thanks also to my Substackers and Patreons for your ongoing support. Dracula soon, just for you. MusicThe opening music is Some Come Back by The https://bit.ly/somecomeback (Heartwood Institute). At the end I've added The Heartwood track: From The Forest, From The Furrows, From The Fields which is on their Secret Rites album. As I say in the episode, this is a canonical folk horror track.The last piece of music is from The Hare & The Moon and is called https://bit.ly/midnighfolk (The Midnight Folk). I talk about my love of John Masefield's book of that name. Of course the Midnight Folk was the sequel to The Box of Delights and that was made into BBC series which I think is enjoying its 36th anniversary this Christmas.Both Jonathan of The Heartwood Institute and Grey Malkin (ex Hare & The Moon) allow me to use their music free of charge, so if you fancy popping over to Bandcamp and getting some of their stuff, I (and I'm sure they) would be very pleased.Begging Bowlhttps://bit.ly/2GgHv9D (Sign Up For Exclusive Bonus Episodes and Get Episodes As Soon As I Make Them!)And/Or Buy A Thirsty Podcaster A https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Ko-Fi)And you could always https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (Download A Free Audiobook Of My Story The Dalston Vampire)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E20 A Christmas Carol: The Spirit of Christmas Past

Sat, 19 Dec 2020 07:00:00 -0000

 Christmas Carol Part 2. The First Spirit.I am enjoying this story. It's a long time since I've read it, and I'd forgotten a lot of the detail. I do like Dickens's writing. His description of the Ghost of Christmas Past with its extinguisher (a candle-snuffer I think) and its sparkling belt.His description of the country lane they appear on on Christmas Day where young Scrooge is alone is wonderful.With all these stories that go over more than one episode there isn't much to say in the show notes. The only thing that occurred to me as I was driving along today is that writers today are told to cut things out—extraneous scenes and superfluous words must go! Dickens didn't work like that. He was paid by the word so he puts scenes in that the story could probably do without and still get its message along. I mean the scene with Fezziwig dancing and some of the others. When they make adaptations of the story, they cut out huge swathes.But it made me think that these scenes are a delight. It doesn't matter that they aren't essential to the story; they are fun. It's like telling a composer to cut out the extra bits that aren't essential to the story. Those pieces of music are what we listen for, and these extra scenes in A Christmas Carol are to the story, not take away from it.I shall make my stories three times as long.More Christmas Ghost Stories Ebook & PaperbackOh, did I mention my https://amzn.to/3olobIJ (More Christmas Ghost Stories) it out? The paperback and ebook are done and the audiobook is being approved now. So you can get it if you want. The stories are good, and improved by the attention of my Beta Readers.MusicThe opening music is Some Come Back by The Heartwood Institute. Check out their new release https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/ (Witchseason). Listen to it for many reasons but at least one of those should be to hear the insane comments in Witchphase 1.5 from the King of The Witches, Alex Sanders. Who knew he was so mad?The first track after my commentary is https://thehareandthemoon.bandcamp.com/track/the-haunted-cabaret (The Haunted Cabaret) by Kentin Jivek and The Hare and The Moon.The second is https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/track/circle-of-protection (Circle of Protection) by The Heartwood Institute. Begging Bowlhttps://bit.ly/2GgHv9D (Sign Up For Exclusive Bonus Episodes and Get Episodes As Soon As I Make Them!)And/Or Buy A Thirsty Podcaster A https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Ko-Fi)And you could always https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (Download A Free Audiobook Of My Story The Dalston Vampire)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E19 A Christmas Carol — Marley's Ghost

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Charles DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England in 1812. He died in Higham, Kent in 1879, aged only 58 and was buried at Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey—a high honour indeed.Dickens's writing was very popular during his lifetime and he was recognised as a literary genius by the 20th Century.His first success was The Pickwick Papers in 1836, when he was 24. He had been forced to go to work in a factory rather than school. Dickens worked pasting on labels on pots of boot blacking.Dickens's father was locked up in a debtor's prison. Dickens was not formally educated, though his writing shows formal rhetorical devices so he must have studied himself later. He was a voracious reader of the novels of his time and earlier.One of his great tricks was the cliffhanger ending and this came about because most of his fifteen novels and umpteen other works were published in weekly serial publications. Dickens's characters tend to be larger than life and he is especially good at portraying the great poverty and terrible social situations that those in his close family had experienced .By work, his father was a clerk to the Royal Navy, the biggest employer in his home town of Portsmouth. There were eight children in the family. Dickens' third name Huffman came from his godfather, Christopher Huffman, a rigger in the Navy.Unfortunately, the Dickens family lived beyond their financial means, easy to do with a family of ten I should think.Dickens was massively famous and popular throughout his life and worked immensely hard, leading to ill-health in his fifties.He died of a stroke while writing Edwin Drood, leaving that novel unfinished.A Christmas CarolA Christmas Carol is possibly Dickens's most famous work, though there are so many to choose from. It is the eve of December, and I have wanted to do this story since last year. It is such a delight to read Dickens's clever, lively prose after Henry James's convoluted sentences. Dickens's words always conjure vivid images, while James is more subtle. I am bound to compare the two. James's characters are subtly drawn too and he can reveal a great vista into a character with a little incident. Dickens's character are more like cartoons, but cartoons are very entertaining.I have enjoyed both stories.In this first part, the scene is set for the coming of the first ghost.A Christmas Carol was published in 1843 on 19 December and the first edition sold out by Christmas Eve. Dickens had self-published, in that he paid for the costs of the printing and publication, which was a shrewd financial bet as it turned out. Dickens was only 31 at the time. A Christmas Carol was so popular that a bootleg edition was published in 1844 and Dickens sued the bootleggers. He did public readings of the story from 1849 and went on tour with it, performing it 127 times until his death in 1870.It turns out that Dickens was always a fan of Christmas. In 1835 he published an article on Christmas Festivities. MusicThe opening music is Some Come Back by The Heartwood Institute. Check out their new release https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com (Witchseason). Listen to it for many reasons but at least one of those should be to hear the insane comments in Witchphase 1.5 from the King of The Witches, Alex Sanders. Who knew he was so mad?The closing music is The Unquiet Grave by Grey Malkin of https://thehareandthemoon.bandcamp.com (The Hare & The Moon) from their forthcoming album: Widow's Weeds. Check out their ethereal vibe.https://bit.ly/2GgHv9D (Sign Up For Exclusive Bonus Episodes!)And/Or Buy A Thirsty Podcaster A https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (KoSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E18 The Ghost of Christmas Eve by J M Barrie

Sat, 05 Dec 2020 07:00:00 -0000

S02E18 The Ghost of Christmas Eve by J M BarrieJames Matthew Barrie was born in Kirriemuir in Angus in North East Scotland in 1860. His father was a weaver. He was one of nine children, though two died before he was born and Barrie’s brother David died in an ice-skating accident the day before Barrie’s fourteenth birthday. Barrie tried to comfort his mother by wearing his dead brother’s clothes, whistling as his brother used to and taking on his mannerisms.Barrie’s most famous work is of course Peter Pan, and it’s said that his mother took comfort from the fact that his dead brother David would never grow up and leave her.He went to school Glasgow, then Forfar then Dumfries in Scotland. He studied literature at Edinburgh and wrote drama reviews for the local Edinburgh newspaper. He graduated with an MA in 1882.He went to work as a journalist in Nottingham, in England and wrote stories which he submitted to journals. Some fo them were accepted.His short stories and novels were received with what are politely known as mixed reviews.Barrie started writing plays and was drawn to the theatre. He married and moved to London, living in South Kensington. It was his habit to take walks in Kensington Gardens.Unfortunately for Barrie, his wife had an affair with a younger man and they were divorced in 1909. Apparently, Barrie was heartbroken. Even though she had left him, he gave her an allowance every year even after she married her lover.Peter Pan was first performed just after Christmas, on 27 December in 1904. He invented the girls' name Wendy, apparently because a girl called Margaret Henley called Barrie ‘friendy’ but lisped her rs, making it sound like ‘fwendy.’ Apparently.An interesting fact is that Barrie was only 5 foot 3 inches.He gave the copyright of Peter Pan to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children and they continue to get royalties from Peter Pan.He was made a baronet in 1913 by King George V, and became Sir J M BarrieBarrie died in London in 1937 aged 77 and was buried in his home village of Kirriemuir with his family.He has two schools named after him, the Sir James Barrie Primary School in Wandsworth, London and the Barrie School in Silver Spring, Maryland.The Ghost of Christmas EveThis story is very short and intentionally so because I felt I deserved a rest after the marathon that was The Turn Of The Screw.It's a neat little story and falls into the tradition of ghosts that weren't ghosts. I tend to prefer stories about ghosts that actually were ghosts, but there is an honourable tradition of stories that debunk the supernatural. Of course, Scooby Doo is the most famous example of this kind of story, but you will remember that https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c2f5324d-9f32-4086-b3a1-3f79ccd702ef (The Open Door) by Charlotte Riddell is mostly a debunking story, though the door is left open (ha ha!) to the possibility that as well as the fraud, there may have been a ghost there as well.And of course Wilkie Collin's The Woman in White is about a ghost who turns out to be a con-trick.A briar is a pipe used for smoking tobacco. The only other mystery is the hint that his room, when he awoke on Christmas Day smelled of tobacco. his recollection of going to fetch his briar from his coat downstairs is a bit hazy, but what does this smell of tobacco suggest? I missed this. Does it mean the he had a sleep-smoke? Or that there was a ghost?? I don't get it, Ted.Thanks for listening.Listen again soon.Tonyhttps://bit.ly/2GgHv9D (Sign Up For Exclusive Bonus Episodes!)Or Buy A Thirsty Podcaster A https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Ko-Fi)https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (Download A Free AuSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E17 The Turn Of The Screw Part 8

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 07:00:00 -0000

PhewIt's done! This is the final part of our reading of the The Turn Of The Screw novella.While, I'm pleased the job is done, the race is run and I can take a small break before focusing on Christmas ghost stories, I am somewhat sad to leave the sombre glory of Bly.The last part is full of mysteries. I discuss my take on them at the end of the Podcast.The podcast also includes music by the Heartwood Institute. The intro music a snippet of Some Come Back, and the last track is the very haunting We Are The Past.Thanks all the supporters who bought me coffee (and some cakes). Respect and thanks. Remember if you go to Ko-Fi, you can buy my coffee, yes, but there are free audio stories you can snag. That is an Americanism, but like many Americanisms, cute.Other ConsiderationsDownload A Free Audiobook Of My Story https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (The Dalston Vampire)Start Music: "https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/track/some-come-back (Some Come Back)" by the Heartwood Institute, Check our their new release for Halloween, Witch Season.End Music: We Are The Past by The Heartwood Institute.Please consider that you can https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Buy me a Ko-Fi) to say thanks for all my hard work. Grab some free stuff while you're there.Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E16 The Turn Of The Screw Part 7

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 07:00:00 -0000

S02E16 The Turn Of The Screw Part 7Forgive me not saying much in these show notes. We have one last part of The Turn Of The Screw after this. I hope to get it done within a few days.https://bit.ly/2GgHv9D (Sign Up For Exclusive Bonus Episodes!)Download A Free Audiobook Of My Story https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (The Dalston Vampire)Start Music: "https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/track/some-come-back (Some Come Back)" by the Heartwood Institute, Check our their new release for Halloween, Witch Season.End Music: "https://soundcloud.com/dvoynik_au/a-drowning (A Drowning)" by Dvoynikhttps://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Buy me a Ko-Fi) to say thanks for all my hard work. Grab some free stuff while you're there.Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S02E15 The Turn Of The Screw Part 6

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 07:00:00 -0000

We continue with Henry James's The Turn of the Screw. His language is getting easier. I think he's given up trying to impress me and is just getting on with the story. That is all good because the story is nifty. I do think Quint and Miss Jessel are unfairly maligned. Poor old Mrs Grose. Not sure about those (pesky) kids though. I would be surprised if it turned out they were dead already like in the Sixth Sense.I am knocking out the Turns of the Screw. I think we have about 2 episodes left to do. Should be finished by end November, then I will do Dracula as an exclusive and some Christmas one-offs before starting A Christmas Carol in December.Busy, busy. Hope you all are well. I am well. In any case, I brazenly askhttps://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Buy me a coffee)? In return you can download some free audio stories. As my old nana used to say: fair exchange is no robbery.I have a stretch goal on the Ko-Fi site that I will buy a laptop for editing the audio, but in fact I have spent all the money on coffee.Download A Free Audiobook Of My Story https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (The Dalston Vampire)Other LinksStart Music: "Some Come Back" by the Heartwood Institute, Check our their new release for Halloween, https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witchseason (Witch Season.)End Music: "https://soundcloud.com/dvoynik_au/sets/ghost-pieces (A Ghost Story)" by DvoynikSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0214 The Turn Of The Screw Part 5

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 07:00:00 -0000

The Turn Of The Screw Part 5, being chapters 12, 13, 14 and 15.Hope you're enjoying this. I'm doing lots of recording and editing to finish it before December. I anticipate episodes falling out like apples from a barrel just before 1st December.Sign Up on https://bit.ly/2GgHv9D (Substack) For Exclusive Bonus Episodes!Download A Free Audiobook Of My Story https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (The Dalston Vampire)Contribute a caffeinated beverage, perhaps? https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Ko-Fi). There are some free audio stories there by the way. Yours for the taking.Other LinksStart Music: "Some Come Back" by the Heartwood Institute, Check our their new release for Halloween, https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witchseason (Witch Season.)End Music: "https://soundcloud.com/dvoynik_au/sets/ghost-pieces (A Ghost Story)" by DvoynikDon't you love disturbing music?Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0213 The Turn Of The Screw Part 4

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 07:00:00 -0000

The Turn Of The Screw Part 4, being chapters 9, 10 and 11.Minimal show notes this week as I plough on trying to record and edit this novella.Visit the website at www.ghostpod.org Sign Up on https://bit.ly/2GgHv9D (Substack) For Exclusive Bonus Episodes!Download A Free Audiobook Of My Story https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (The Dalston Vampire)Other LinksStart Music: "Some Come Back" by the Heartwood Institute, Check our their new release for Halloween, https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witchseason (Witch Season.)End Music: "https://soundcloud.com/dvoynik_au/sets/ghost-pieces (A Ghost Story)" by DvoynikDon't you love disturbing music?Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0212 The Turn Of The Screw Part 3

Sat, 14 Nov 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Part 3 of The Turn Of The ScrewOur part three, not Henry James's. We're getting through the story. It's a good story! The characterisation is skilled. The language is like walking through a forest littered with logs hidden among grass. You keep tripping up. Or I do.Hope you're enjoying. You'd better, be. We have some way to go yet.Sign Up https://bit.ly/2GgHv9D (The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast Substack Newsletter) For Exclusive Bonus Episodes!Downloadhttps://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (Download A Free Audiobook) of my story: The Dalston VampireVisit Our Websitewww.ghostpod.orgMusicStart Music: "http://bit.ly/somecomeback (Some Come Back)" by the Heartwood Institute, Check our their new release for Halloween, Witch Season.End Music: "http://bit.ly/dvoynikdrowning (A Drowning)" by DvoynikSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0211 The Turn Of The Screw Part 2

Sat, 07 Nov 2020 07:00:00 -0000

S0211 The Turn Of The Screw Part 2I'm not going to say much. James's parenthetical insertions of information interrupt the flow of his sentences. He says something, the elaborates on it, then elaborates on that and sometimes elaborates on that as if his thoughts are sparking tangentially. He always comes back to the main matter, but it makes it hard to read out.That being moaned about, the story is good. He foreshadows well and creates foreboding." It may be, of course, above all, that what suddenly broke into this gives the previous time a charm of stillness—that hush in which something gathers or crouches. The change was actually like the spring of a beast."Nothing has yet happened, but he warns us that it soon will, and we tense up waiting for it.Then he describes a blissful summer evening's walk in the park which is interrupted by her seeing Quint (though she doesn't yet know his name) in the tower. The fact that it is on a beautiful summer night rather than a rainswept Gothic nighttime is well-done and serves to heighten the drama, I think.He ends each chapter with a good cliffhanger.- I wondered why...she was scared.- Mr Quint is .... dead.That's enough rabbiting for me. Check out the Substack newsletter for more news.Sign Up On https://bit.ly/2GgHv9D (The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast Substack Newsletter) For Exclusive Bonus Episodes!https://bit.ly/dalstonvampire (Download A Free Audiobook) of my story: The Dalston VampireMusicStart Music: "http://bit.ly/somecomeback (Some Come Back)" by the Heartwood Institute, Check our their new release for Halloween, Witch Season.End Music: "http://bit.ly/dvoynikdrowning (A Drowning)" by DvoynikSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0210 The Turn of the Screw Part 1

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 07:00:00 -0000

So we begin The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. I have wanted to do this story for a long time but have hesitated because it's so long!Of course, we have read out The Beckoning Fair One, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, and Carmilla that ran on over several episodes, but The Turn of the Screw will be the longest so far.I reckon it'll take five weeks or so, though if I crack on well, I might get it squeezed into four. By that I mean, just making the episodes longer rather than cutting bits out of the glorious story.I read The Turn of the Screw donkeys' years ago and liked it, but I'd forgotten much of the story, so it was like reading it for the first time again. A failing memory is one of the blessings of age.Netflix is currently broadcasting their drama series doing The Haunting of Bly Manor based on The Turn of the Screw, so it's probably timely to do the original.I am enjoying rereading it. James has the annoying habit for a narrator of breaking up his sentences with parenthetical information, which makes them hard to speak out. Reading them to oneself isn't such a problem.The Turn of the Screw was published in 1898, and written in 1897-1898 when he had moved to Rye in Sussex, a quaint and picturesque small English town.It was published as an illustrated serial in Collier's Weekly Magazine. Then in 1898, it was published as a whole in an anthology called The Two Magics.Just listen to how he constructs the story. He withholds lots and lots and hints and foreshadows.The introduction, set on Christmas Eve at an English country house, is just a long foreshadowing, whetting your appetite. He sets us up so that, like the guests in the house, we are on pins waiting for the story to begin.James makes us wonder. We wonder about the gentleman owner whom she has taken a fancy to but who does not wish to be disturbed.Miles is heavily foreshadowed, and as we end this episode, we can't wait to meet him to see what he's like: bad or good.Henry JamesJames was born to a well-off New York family. His father was a philosopher, and his grandfather a banker. The grandfather's many allowed the James family to indulge their intellect, talent and tastes.Henry James was the brother of the famous and ground-breaking philosopher and psychologist William James. He was born in 1843 in New York but moved to live in London, where he died in 1916. He took up British citizenship in the last year of his life; technically, he became a subject of the British Crown—just like me.The family moved to Boston in 1864 because his brother William was studying law there. Henry set to studying law, but didn't like it and instead turned to literature. The American author Nathanial Hawthorne (who we will read out one day on the Podcast) was a significant early influence on James. James was particularly fond of French literature and of the French authors, Balzac.Because of a back injury he suffered when fighting a fire, he was not fit to fight in the American Civil War.He first published in 1863 when he was twenty. It has emerged that James was gay, though, during his lifetime, this fact was hidden. Of course, being gay was a crime in both England and the USA when James was alive.James is an enormously influential figure in American literature. He wrote several very well-reviewed novels, for example, The Portrait of a Lady, but also The Bostonians, The Ambassadors and The Wings of a Dove.His work can perhaps better be considered Trans-Atlantic literature rather than purely American or British.He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911, 1912 and 1916.He turned his hand to ghost stories, which of course were allSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0209 The Maker of Gargoyles by Clark Ashton Smith

Sat, 24 Oct 2020 07:00:00 -0000

S0209 The Maker of Gargoyles by Clark Ashton SmithClark Ashton Smith was born in 1893 in Long Valley, California and died in California in 1961. He began as a poet and wrote decadent, overblown Romantic poetry after the manner of Swinburne. He got early recognition for his work in California.Lovecraft loved him and with Robert E Howard and Howard Philips Lovecraft he was one of the big three writers of Weird Tales. Ray Bradbury was also a fan. A few months ago, I re-read Bradbury's *Something Wicked This Way Comes* , and I can see that Bradbury too was a lover of poetic, sometimes overblown language—like myself!Smith was clear that his use of language and rhetorical stylings as deliberate. He talked of trying to create a "sort of verbal black magic."He uses some obscure words, such as 'vans' for wings and 'ferine' which neither I, nor my spell-checker, had come across before. I must have heard the word before because I read all of these stories as a teenager. But I'd forgotten ferine. Turns out it's a version of feral: savage and untamed.I did enjoy the word 'troublously' and also 'lubricous'.Smith wrote poetry from the age of 11, and his first novel by the age of 14. He began to sell his stories aged 17. His influences were The Arabian Nights, and he was clearly entranced by fairy-tale realms. He is also influenced by Edgar Allen Poe and the Brothers Grimm as well as the classic Gothic novel Vathek. Interestingly, he loved the decadent poetry of Charles Baudelaire. He translated his poetry from French as Baudelaire in his turn had translated the works of Poe into French.He had a period of ill health. He was a correspondent of Lovecraft and also knew Jack London and Ambrose Bierce.Smith and Lovecraft used the strange names and ideas they conjured in mutually influenced stories. This 'open source' was Lovecraft's greatest gift to horror: he allowed other writers to build on his ideas and so the Cthulhu Mythos was created.Smith was a massively prolific author, but more or less gave up writing in the second half of his life.He then turned back to sculpting and painting. He nursed his mother and father during their final illnesses until finally is father died in 1937. Robert H Howard killed himself in 1935 and Lovecraft died of cancer in 1937. It’s thought that these events may have knocked the love of writing out of him.Smith himself had a heart attack in 1953, but he still married aged 61. He set up house with Carolyn Jones Dorman and took on her children, and they moved to Pacific Grove.He had a series of strokes in 1961, and one finally killed him.I must admit that of the 'big three' Weird Tales writers (Lovecraft, Howard and Smith), I prefer Smith. I found Howard mostly preposterous. The HP Lovecraft Literary Podcast did a reading of Robert E Howard's *Queen of the Black Coast* which had me in stitches. You need to check Chad Fifer and Chris Lackey out. They are very good.I loved Smith from my early teens and I think that the creation of the mythical Provencal region of Averoigne is fantastic. I was mesmerised by this medieval city surrounded by werewolf haunted forests. It was merely a matter of time that I managed to sneak a story in, falsely claiming it as a ghost story.It's not a ghost story, but it is a weird tale and it does contain the supernatural and a bit of murder, so I think it's okay.Smith on occasion intrudes sexual themes, and these are mostly absent from Lovecraft's work and Poe's as I can remember. Let me know if I am missing something here. I could be. It's late. I'm tired. I've been working on sales funnels rather than poetry. Pity.Coincidentally, Smith died the year I wSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0208 The Empty House by Algernon Blackwood

Sat, 17 Oct 2020 07:00:00 -0000

https://tonywalker.substack.com/ (Subscribe here, support The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast and obtain exclusive content.)S0208: The Empty House by Algernon BlackwoodWe did the Kit Bag by Algernon Blackwood as Episode 20, and there I said:Algernon BlackwoodAlgernon Blackwood was an English writer born in 1869 who ended up as a broadcaster on the radio and TV.His writing was very well received at this time and critics loved him. Even the great American author of weird tales HP Lovecraft cited Blackwood is one of the masters of the craft.Blackwood came from a well-to-do family and was privately educated despite that he was quite an adventurous man. He was interested in Hinduism as a young boy and his career was varied. For example, he ran a dairy farm in Canada and also hotel in the country. It became a newspaper reporter in New York City and was also a bartender and a model and also a violin teacher!All of this time, though he was always writing. He liked being outdoors and his stories often feature the outdoors. He was also interested in the occult and was a member of the hermetic order of the Golden Dawn along with such other characters is Arthur Machen and WB Yeats and Alistair Crowley.At one point he was a paranormal researcher for the British Society for Psychical Research and it is said that this story was based on a case that he investigated.The Empty HouseStructurally, the story is simple: our man hears of the house, he visits the house, he explores the house, weird stuff starts to happen, the ghost is revealed to be a replaying of a tragic scene from the house’s past, the protagonist is merely an observer. If he has an arc, it is the transformation of his attitude to his aunt from seeing her as a feeble old lady to a woman who is in some respects braver than he is.Blackwood lays on the dust, the shadows, the moonlight as well as scurrying beetles and some black thing that scurries off (probably a cat, maybe a rat in the dark). He does this well. We are taken right there.Michael Kellermeyer describes the story as an exploration of fear, rather than ghosts and I think that’s a good point. In that it matches some other stories like Marghatina Laski’s The Tower and H R Wakefield’s Blind Man’s BuffThere’s a whole genre of ‘night in a haunted house’ stories.The Empty House Reminds me of a story I recently read from 1835, No. 252 Rue M. Le Prince by Ralph Adams Cram. That is much older, and more decadent. It’s worth a read though.In 252 Rue. Me Le Prince, as in this story, the person visiting the haunted house is merely a witness to past happenings. At least that was my take. Of course, that is like the Stone Tape theory of hauntings, which holds that the fabric of a building somehow records strong emotion and plays these scenes back as hauntings.It is also reminiscent of Blackwood’s own The Kit Bag, in that we have someone lurking out of sight who eventually is seen and in both cases they are the ghosts of criminals.The story also reminded me of Blind Man’s Buff by HR Wakefield, which we read recently , not to mention The Judge’s House by Bram Stoker, which we haven’t yet got round to.One bizarre incident in The Empty House is when he turns to see his aged aunt’s face is transformed into the face she had as a girl. He finds this horrific and turns from out, but I can’t see why it would be horrible and what purpose it has in this story. I had wondered whether she had been transformed into the murdered maid, but this does not seem to be the case.Blackwood with his stories of outdoor adventure and colourful employment history sounds very much like a man’s man and I am familiar with that archSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0206 Sanatorium Under The Sign of the Hourglass by Bruno Schulz

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Bruno SchulzBruno Schulz was a Polish writer. He was born in 1892 in Austrian Galicia. In those days that part of historical Poland was under the control of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Now it is part of Ukraine. His family were well-off traders who owned a dry goods shop. I'm not wholly sure what that is, though I think I knew when I was younger.After the First World War, Austrian Galicia became part of Poland. Schulz was 26 when that happened. His home town was a drab industrial place, predominantly Jewish, at least until the Holocaust. Schulz lived there most of his life. Schulz was interested in the arts from his youth and studied design in Lviv. He then went to Vienna to study architecture for two years but returned to his home town to the school he had himself attended and became a teacher of arts and crafts. He is said not to have liked teaching much, but he entertained the pupils by telling them stories.He was Jewish, and before the Nazi partition of Poland, there was a thriving Jewish community in his hometown. He wrote in Polish but was fluent in German too. Like many writers, he was inspired to continue writing even though he received little encouragement at first. He gained success after he went to see a famous Polish novelist, who was reputedly not too keen on seeing him at first, thinking him just another wannabe writer. However, after hearing him read out the first page of his work, she asked him from the manuscript and declared she had discovered a new genius of Polish literature.His first collection of stories was published in 1934 called The Cinnamon Shops in English though it is often known as The Street of Crocodiles. Three years later he published Sanatorium Under The Sign of the Hourglass. He illustrated his own books.In 1936, he translated Franz Kafka (1883-1924)'s The Trial into Polish. Kafka who wrote in German was also Jewish and also from territory that had belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.He was awarded the Polish Academy of Literature's Golden Laurel award in 1938.In 1939 the Nazis came. He was writing a novel at the time, but that is now lost. He died tragically in 1942. He was walking home through the so-called Aryan quarter of his hometown. He'd been to buy a loaf of bread when he was shot dead by a Gestapo officer. The story was that this Gestapo officer had a quarrel with an SS officer. The SS officer had shot the Gestapo officer's Jewish slave, so in return, the Gestapo officer shot Schulz, who had been employed by the SS officer to paint murals.Sanatorium Under the Sign of the HourglassReminiscent of the weirdness of Kafka and the bizarreness of Gustav Meyrink (1868-1932) (The Green Face, The Golem), there must have been something in the water in the Austro-Hungarian Empire that these three were born in. All three wrote stories which were oneiric. That's a right word, meaning dreamlike.I just feel like I've watched the third season of Twin Peaks, because like Lynch's work the story, though ostensibly happening in the real world, is dreamlike from the outset. It seems full of symbols, some of which I struggle to decipher. For example, what's with all these cakes and pastries?The guard dog and its kennel, the dog that morphs later into a man, and his Father and his mother (Father gets a capital in the story) are more apparent symbols. They could be Freudian or Jungian, and again we must remember that Freud was a child of Austria-Hungary and also Jewish. In the early part of the 20th Century, there were also the movements of Dadaism and Surrealism, that definitely turned their back on realism. Weirdness was in the air.Most of the story is mysterious tSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0201 A Journey of Little Profit by John Buchan

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 07:00:00 -0000

This is a subscriber only episode, so come on and sign up at tonywalker.substack.comJohn Buchan: John Buchan, officially 1st Baron Tweedsmuir was born in 1875 in Perth, Scotland and died in 1940 aged only 64 in Montreal, Canada. He was Governor General of Canada until he died in office. His father was a minister of the Church of Scotland. Many of our ghost story writers are children of clergymen. He studied Classics at the University of Glasgow and then moved to Oxford University. After that he went to South Africa where he was private secretary to the High Commissioner of South Africa. Like Kipling, who we read last week, Buchan was a conservative son of the British Empire. He was a bit of a softie for a conservative though because later when MP for Peebles just south of Edinburgh, he supported votes for women, national health insurance for the poor and curtailing the power of the House of Lords.Though a Scot, he was not a Scottish Nationalist, and in common with many Scots of his class and time, he though Scotland was best off within the British Empire.When he returned from South Africa, he was called to the English Bar as a barrister (an advocate in Scotland). He was also editor of the still existing conservative magazine: The Spectator.In 1916, Buchan went to the Western Front, attached to the Intelligence Corps. Just before this he had just published his famous spy story The 39 Steps. In 1935, Buchan went as Governor General to Canada. He had always liked Canada, written about it as a journalist and fought alongside Canadian troops in the First World War. He encouraged a distinct Canadian identity and nationality. He hosted King George VI on the king's tour of Canada. He suffered a stroke at Rideau Hall and then a head injury as he fell. He was treated by the famous neurologist Wilder Penfield. A Journey of Little Profit was published in 1896 in The Yellow Book, so he was just twenty-one at the time. It's a well-regarded story about a bargain with the Devil.Because of its Scottish setting it has echoes with James Hogg's The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, and of course with the Faust Legend.The great use of dialogue and language with lots of Scottish dialect words sets this story apart but also the fact that Duncan Stewart becomes fond of the Devil and escapes with his soul. We see him first the older wiser man, now regretful of his wild youth.It's a great story, I hope you enjoyed it too.Download Charles Dickens The Signalman Free Mp3 https://bit.ly/dickenssignalman (Subscribe to our list and keep in touch with the podcast. Learn of new episodes and bonus Content. )Support our work PLUS you get a free story right now!(The Story Link is in the Thank You Email)Show Your Support With A Coffee!https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Buy the thirsty podcaster a coffee...)Final Request: The SurveyI want to know what you want. If you have three minutes, I'd be grateful to know what you think of The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast.https://my.captivate.fm/Click%20here%20to%20go%20to%20the%20Survey (Click here to go to the Survey)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S0202 The Twisted Wood by Tony Walker

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 07:00:00 -0000

https://tonywalker.substack.com/ (Subscribe here, support The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast and obtain exclusive content.)The Twisted WoodWell, it's the anniversary of the Podcast! The first episode The Yellow Wallpaper went up a year ago, and what a year it has been. The Podcast has succeeded far more than I ever thought. When I started I just wanted to read the stories I enjoyed. It seems that others enjoy them too.We have also done some stories by living writers, so here's another. It's mine! This is the first story I've ever put up on the Podcast, and I'm doing it because it's the Podcast's first birthday. Happy Birthday, my friend!The Twisted Wood is in my new collection https://amzn.to/2RknlgY (Horror Stories for Halloween) Originally, it was going to be a story about the Mothman, but though it contains moths it got rather twisted and turned into a dark fairytale about a conceited community arts manager who is tempted to do a little stealing. We all know you shouldn't steal from the fairies, and we know even better than you must never ever take anything from fairyland. It ends with a bit of cannibalism, and I am struck that a number of the stories in Horror Stories for Halloween have a cannibalistic turn. What does that say about me?The setting is drawn o n an actual wood and the floods are those floods which hit my home area over the past decade and flooded me out of house and home not once but twice. I was once flooded out in Wales, so that's three times. And the third time is the charm, as they say.I was fired by a community arts manager when I was struggling to feed my small children on the basis I didn't "think like we do" which I swear was the reason they fired me. They know who they are. That's over fifteen years ago now, but I've paid him back in a story.This is one of my favourite stories. I allowed myself to go overboard with ornate language because I thought someone as pompous as his would use overblown language. The truth is I like it too. I've just read a Ray Russell story for the Podcast after all.So, if you liked my dark fairytale of someone getting their come uppence, check out my Newcastle Fairies which is somewhere around.I hope you liked my story. I enjoyed writing it, and reading it out!See you next week.Music by https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/music (The Heartwood Institute!) They rock.Download Charles Dickens The Signalman Free Mp3 https://bit.ly/dickenssignalman (Subscribe to our list and keep in touch with the podcast. Learn of new episodes and bonus Content. )Support our work PLUS you get a free story right now!(The Story Link is in the Thank You Email)Show Your Support With A Coffee!https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Buy the thirsty podcaster a coffee...)Final Request: The SurveyI want to know what you want. If you have three minutes, I'd be grateful to know what you think of The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast.https://my.captivate.fm/Click%20here%20to%20go%20to%20the%20Survey (Click here to go to the Survey)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 66 The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 07:00:00 -0000

The Fall of The House of Usher- Classic Ghost Stories Podcast has done a Poe story before: [https://player.captivate.fm/episode/08a6766c-18ad-4ec7-9c1c-a6918e7306a6 (The Tell-Tale Heart (Episode 12))] and that was fine, but the Fall of the House of Usher is, in my humble opinion, finer.Poe was an American writer born in 1809 in Boston who died aged only forty in Baltimore in 1849. He is one of the best-known American writers of his generation and famed all over the world for his Gothic and macabre tales. It was long overdue that we did another of his storiesThe Fall of the House of Usher was published in 1839, when grave-robbing was still a thing. He makes a play on the word 'house' which can mean both a lineage and a building. This is a rhetorical usage known as a syllepsis.The story is a fine Gothic thing. We have dismal setting with the rotting trees and the stagnant tarn (which is a small lake) the gloomy castle, the sickly and neurotic hero, the storm and generally dreadful weather, the mysterious and sinister chatelaine, Madeline. It is quasi-Medieval also, though not set in Medieval times, it might as well be and at the end they read from some Arthurian legend to make even more Medieval.The remoteness of the house, the lack of modern communications (even for the 1830s), the terrible weather and the vague dream time of no specific location and no specific time trap us in the legend. The house haunts the characters as much as their wraith-like dream forms haunt its halls. Roderick never leaves the house and I doubt Madeline of Usher was much of a gad-about either.Poe never says anything clearly in a few words when he can draw it out over several obscure sentences with multiple clauses and hints rather than statements. We love him for it, indeed that's why we read him.Old Roderick decides to entomb Madeline in the deep dungeon, because it is hinted that the medical men would seek to dig her up and use her for research, given the obscurity of her illness. This was a thing in Poe's days or just before.The hint of the blush on dead Madeline's face is suggestive that she may be a vampire, and Poe, I think was encouraging this, but it is in fact, as it later transpires in a nice twist (nice?) that poor Madeline was not in fact dead, and furthermore, her brother suspected this.Poe's stories are populated by the deeply neurotic and this, for me, is his masterpiece. I love the Gothic prolixity of it, I love the funereal sombreness and I am struck how much influence Poe had on Lovecraft in his vocabulary. Now, it may be an American usage, but, outside these two, I've never come across the word "litten" for "lit" as in red-litten, for red-lit, and my autocorrect dislikes it also. Also reminiscent of Lovecraft, is the long list of obscure books, mostly not in English; a favourite device of the Cthulhu Mythos.What Poe does wonderfully in this story, I think, is identify the building with the family themselves and make the house a living thing. The fortunes of the House of Usher, as he says, is reflected in both the fabric of the ancient castle and the health of the living line. When the people die, the house dies also.Shirley Jackson does this in her story, https://player.captivate.fm/episode/902d0d32-2fe8-4951-a7e4-dbbf2f8a89d8 (The Visit (Episode 52))The co-mingling of story and actuality happens in the reading of the Arthurian legend where the breaking in of Ethelred, has its counterpart in the breaking out of the dying Madeline. In a sense this also mirrors the identity of the living Ushers with the symbol of the ancient building.The purpose of the narrator is merely to give us a window into thSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 65 Branch Line to Benceston by Sir Andrew Caldecott

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Branch Line to Benceston by Sir Andrew CaldecottBranch Line to Benceston was published in the collection Not Exactly Ghosts in 1947. He turned to writing after retirement from the Malaysian Civil Service, again like many of our ghost story writers, he had a career in the Colonial Civil Service of the British Empire. Sadly, he didn’t live long after retirement and died aged 65.Sir Andrew Caldecott (1884–1951) was born in Kent. He was educated at Uppingham School and at Exeter College, Oxford, where he became an Honorary Fellow in 1948. His father was a clergyman. Spooky. how this happens so much.He had a very distinguished career in the Colonial Service and was Governor of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from 1937 until 1944 (so during the Second World War), and before that Governor of Hong Kong (1935–1937). He also worked in Malaya and Singapore and there is a station named after him in Singapore.He had a lifelong interest in the supernatural and, as is evident from his two volumes of supernatural tales, he was an accomplished writer, but it wasn’t until after his retirement in 1944 that he published his first volume of ghost stories. Not Exactly Ghosts was published in 1947 by Edward Arnold & Co. It contains twelve tales. Interestingly, features of Caldecott’s own interests, such as playing the piano, crop up in his stories and I suppose that is true for most writers, hence my frequent mentions of Hawkwind.In ‘Branch Line to Benceston’, Adrian Frent, a railway enthusiast and herbalist, is the first tenant of ‘Brentside’, the newly-built house next to the narrator’s own house in Brensham. Frent is a partner in a firm of music publishers, but he hates the other partner with a vengeance, feeling that the man has messed up his life stence since they were boys. He wishes his partner dead, and then when he does die, things turn weird. But the story is not exactly a ghost story. C aldecott does a couple of things wonderfully. Firstly; this story is a portrait of Metroland, the area outside London that was developed in the first half of the twentieth century with the benefit of faster rail connections to allow the middle classes, to have the benefits of living in a suburbia that appeared and was sold as being the English countryside, while still able to travel easily into London to their day jobs. Vast swathes of the Home Counties were gobbled up and railways proliferated. John Betjeman, the English poet laureate captured all of this in his film entitled: Metroland and much of his poetry is set in this half-and-half land bathed in the sunlight of the English dream.The second thing I think Caldecott does well is the set up of the story. The death of the Dachshunds and the herbalism and poison seems to be a red-herring. Though giving his great enemy Paul Saxon one of the tinctures he makes reminds Frent of his wish to kill Paul, and thus his sin, he does not actually poison the man. This is a misdirection, I think: a red herring.However, the real set-up is the trap-door. We have already been told how Frent tends to go off half-cocked, but after a brief mention of this trap-door, Caldecott leaves it. This is subtle and I didn’t get that until the end. Caldecott is a great wit and his comment about the coroner’s view that these houses are death-traps being ignored as normal with coroner’s comments reflects his own professional experience, I am sure, and is a bit of a joke because we are going to ignore this clue too, at least I did. Caldecott even flags this clue up saying he has recorded it for a reason that will become clear later. This to me is a great example of burying the obvious, and doing it well.The pSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 64 Blind Man's Buff by H R Wakefield

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Blind Man's Buff by Herbert Russell WakefieldH R Wakefield was born in 1888 in Sandgate, Kent, England and died 1964. He was the son of the Bishop of Birmingham. He was educated at the prestigious Marlborough College and then went to Oxford University where he studied history and played cricket, golf, hockey and football. He was secretary to Viscount Northcliffe and served with the Royal Scots Fusiliers when the First World War broke out and was promoted to Captain. After 1920 he settled in London and worked as chief editor in a publishing house. His wife was American, Barbara Standish Waldo, and he met her when she was in London as her family were wealthy and took a house in London each year for the season. He divorced her in 1936 and married again in 1946. Older now, during the Second World War he served as an air-raid warden.H R's brother Gilbert was a successful playwright.Wakefield was famous for his ghost stories during his life. He published seven volumes of ghost stories during his life. His work was appreciated by August Derleth, H P Lovecraft's disciple and some of his stories were published in Weird Tales. His main influences were M R James and Algernon Blackwood (both of whom we have featured on the podcast.)The poet laureate John Betjeman considered Wakefield in the second rank of ghost story writers after M R James, which was praise indeed. However, M R James wasn't as fond of Wakefield's work. H P Lovecraft on the other hand showered Wakefield in praise and said he reached the heights of horror.Wakefield strongly believed in the paranormal, and it is perhaps because of this he was drawn to write in this field. He claimed to have had personal experiences of supernatural phenomena. This story, Blind Man's Buff, plays on the primal fear of the dark and what might lurk within. In that play on phobia it struck me that it was similar to Marghatina Laski's The Tower, which we read as https://player.captivate.fm/episode/6682b629-19d6-4cff-ab73-24a1ed629ab8 (Episode 13)Tony's Ghost Story BooksMy latest book, London Horror Stories is available on https://amzn.to/2YSSHPb (Amazon UK) and https://amzn.to/2NgZHQu (Amazon US). Ghost and horror stories with a sense of place. It's available free for Patrons.It's doing moderately well and the audiobook will be coming in stream soon through Author's Republic, which you'll be able to get on Audible.If you've read it and like it, could you please leave a review on Amazon?All purchases, recommendations and support of London Horror Stories is massively helpful to me.Support Tony on Ko-fi!The show is only possible through the support of appreciative listeners. If you'd like to show your appreciation for the podcast, why not nip over to Tony's Ko-Fi page and buy him a coffee? There are also some free tracks there for download, and others to buy.Go https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (here) to visit Tony's Ko-Fi page.For Hardcore Lovers of The Podcast: Pledge via PatreonThe regular support of patrons via Patreon ensures that podcast hosting gets paid every month. If you feel you'd like to be a committed supporter, please sign up at the https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Patreon page).Music by The Heartwood InstituteYou can listen to the album from which this is taken https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (here). Please support hauntological music!Start Your Own Podcast!I am very happy with the wonderful responsive support and constant innovation of my podcast host, Captivate FM. If you want to start a podcast, you will be supported by them all the way.If you use https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=tonywalker (this affiliate link) to Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 63 Elias And The Draug by Jonas Lie

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Elias And The DraugI got this tale from https://amzn.to/31BmIUU (Roald Dahls' Book of Ghost Stories)which is a very well-curated collection. Often, ghost stories collections are just a rehash of the same old tired stories, but Roald Dahl put some goodies in this one. Of course, Dahl was of Norwegian descent, so it is perhaps natural he should include a Norwegian writer.This story Elias And The Draug was published in 1870. Of course, the 19th Century was a time of a revival in traditional folk stories, often Germanic such as Hans Andersen and the Brothers Grimm, and often very grim. This story is a horror story, absolutely, and a ghost story in that it features a supernatural creature, a resident of faerie, the draug. And in its style, it is definitely akin to fairytales which are one of the sources of the ghost story form.Jonas Lie was born at Hokksund in Norway in 1833, and he died in 1905. he is considered to be one of the four greats of Norwegian literature. His father was appointed sheriff of Tromsø which is a very northern part of Norway with chunks of the region within the Arctic circle. This area has a rich Sámi heritage, and we note the reference to the Lapp girl in the story whom the surviving child Brendt marries and settles down, never going to sea again.Lie wanted to go in the navy, but his eyesight was so weak he never succeeded in going to sea professionally. Instead, he became a lawyer, which was probably more lucrative. He went to University in Christiania and got to know the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen and Bjornsterne Bjornson, another famous Norwegian author less known outside Norway than Ibsen.He published his first novel in 1870, Den Fremsynte, which like much of his work focuses on Norwegian life, the traditions and folklore and the constant encounter with the sea. My Money Making SchemesBelow I list various things you can do to show your appreciation for my work producing the podcast. These range from buying my books, to starting your own podcast to shopping at Amazon.Tony's Ghost Story BooksMy latest book, London Horror Stories is available on https://amzn.to/2YSSHPb (Amazon UK) and https://amzn.to/2NgZHQu (Amazon US). Ghost and horror stories with a sense of place. It's available free for Patrons.It's doing moderately well and the audiobook will be coming in stream soon through Author's Republic, which you'll be able to get on Audible.If you've read it and like it, could you please leave a review on Amazon?All purchases, recommendations and support of London Horror Stories is massively helpful to me.Support Tony on Ko-fi!The show is only possible through the support of appreciative listeners. If you'd like to show your appreciation for the podcast, why not nip over to Tony's Ko-Fi page and buy him a coffee? There are also some free tracks there for download, and others to buy.Go https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (here) to visit Tony's Ko-Fi page.Pledge via PatreonThe regular support of patrons via Patreon ensures that podcast hosting gets paid every month. If you feel you'd like to be a committed supporter, please sign up at the https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Patreon page).Music by The Heartwood InstituteYou can listen to the album from which this is taken https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (here). Please support hauntological music!Start Your Own Podcast!I am very happy with the wonderful responsive support and constant innovation of my podcast host, Captivate FM. If you want to start a podcast, you will be supported by them all the way.If you use https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=tonywalker (this affiliate link) to join Captivate,Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 62 Snake In The Attic by Garret Johnson

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Snake in The Attic by Garrett JohnsonGarrett is an English professor in Houston Texas who is married with two boys, and has recently moved house. You now know why.We discussed whether I should do the story in a British or an American accent and we decided that I could do it in my native tones because I could after all have moved to the USA to teach English. It struck me that the supernatural element in the story, of whether the snake is real or a ghost, is secondary. What the story is, is an exploration of fear. Garret confirms this in the interview.In the story we explore various phobias We have the fear of rats, of snakes, of the dark, of finding your child harmed in the night. We talked a little about the deep anxiety that comes from being a parent of young children, or in fact children of any age, as mine are grown up and I still worry about them.In the Snake in the Attic there are also some slice of life elements. The story of the Gandalf type guy wandering around bookshops and sleeping under parks, strikes me as likely to be true observation rather than a figment of writerly imagination.Also, the story of the addiction and the whole exterminator men seems very realistic, but Garret confirms that this episode is made up. I'm still not sure whether the snake was real. He has these physical sensations which don't seem to possibly be from the snake crawling over him, so that leads me to believe, like the exterminators ,that the snake was a figment of his imagination. The musings about whether the snake can follow him, or staying living of black air and dust. And the final sentence, wondering about the new occupier of the house and whether the snake will trouble her seems to suggest the snake is a metaphor for deeper disquiets, something that was hinted at earlier on, that the true haunting arises from within our narrator.Garret Johnson LinksGarret's story can be found at http://www.theghoststory.com/snake-in-the-attic (The Ghost Story) website. As he says, there are lots of class stories on this website. Garret particularly mentioned the author Rowan Bowman and his story set in nearby (to me) Northumberland is http://www.theghoststory.com/?s=rowan+bowman (here).Garret mentions the work of https://twitter.com/andypaciorekart (Andy Paciorek) coming out through https://folkhorrorrevival.com/wyrd-harvest-press/ (Wyrd Harvest Press). They have some pretty fantastic publications if you like this kind of thing, which you do, or you wouldn't be reading this!https://tonywalker.substack.com/about (Subscribe For All Episodes!)Music by The Heartwood InstituteYou can listen to the album from which this is taken https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (here)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 61 The Beckoning Fair One by Oliver Onions Part 4

Sat, 08 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Part Four of The Beckoning Fair One by Oliver OnionsPart 4 of The Beckoning Fair One by Oliver Onion starts off with another philosophical discourse by the unseen narrator. I'm not clear whether these are Paul Oleron's thoughts, or the narrator's observations. He talks about a letter dropped, disregarded that lies, and I guess this refers to a letter from a well-wisher, probably Elsie Bengough.But I'm not sure what these high falutin' reflections add to the story.I wonder whether Oliver Onions, unlike Paul Oleron was torn between writing popular stories for the paying public, and aiming at literary praise from the high minded for his observations of the human condition.However, in this musing where we get a description of the telegram boy turning away from the unanswered door, we also have reference to a succubus.And a succubus as I quote from Google is: a female demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping men.Though the intercourse in Oleron's case seems to be more a spiritual vampirism.The Beckoner appears to be a kind of muse gone wrong. A true muse of a male artist is conceived to be female, a personification of his soul, his anima, if you like. But this true muse inspires the artist and becomes a channel through which he brings down wisdom from his soul and puts it in his art. Even this true muse may be jealous, but the Beckoner is wholly wicked. She gives nothing in return for his sick love of her. She merely drains him.Socrates talked of daemons (an idea taken up by Philip Pullman of course) who are spiritual creates to guard and inspire us. But the Beckoner does neither thing. The closest she gets is to give him dreams of the perfect novels he might write.Even though Oleron propitiates the Beckoner with flowers, as a man might give his lover, they decay and die. This seems to be a symbol, or a warning. The fact the blinds are red and plunge the room into a red twilight reminiscent blood, also seems a warning of the terrible nature of his transformation.The next part of XI is of Oleron's ruminations. Mainly he is plunged into hatred of Elsie Bengough, which appears to be the Beckoner's jealousy. He in his turn is jealous of his dead rival, the painter Madley.Sometimes, he seems to see Elsie as his rescuer. He remembers that she wouldn't leave him. And of course she doesn't. This is a foreshadowing. It is described vaguely but he hints at his thoughts have enabled and ignited the terrible jealousy of the Beckoner against Elsie.Part 12, is from the omniscient narrator's point of view and we get relief from Oleron's internal ramblings with a bit of a semi-comic interlude of Mr Barrett going on about the imagined fornication with Elsie. He does this even down to the Christ's quote about the prostitute which Christ meant with love and charity, but Barrett turns to serve his own narrow minded prejudice, and Barrett's sanctimonius refusal to disclose whether his wife saw anything going on as if he was a man who chose to remain silent on moral issues.Onions paints this picture of the self-righteous religious bigot very well and I enjoyed reading Barrett's lines.Part 12 is a breath of fresh air as the coppers open the windows. No more interminable introspection but instead we have narrative movement, drama, dialogue and a twist at the end. The story ends well. It could have been cut by two thirds though to its improvement.So, did Oleron kill Elsie or did the ghost? The ghost seems able to do physical things, like weaken the stairboard and replace the rusty nail. The pudding sized thing (think of a figgy pudding at Christmas, round, about the size of a ball) is probably her heart aSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 60 The Beckoning Fair One by Oliver Onions Part 3

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Part Three of The Beckoning Fair One by Oliver OnionsThis section comprises parts 8, 9 and 10 of The Beckoning Fair One.I find the first section of 8 a bit long, and if I'd been his editor, I would have cut it. That's the bit where he muses somewhat abstractly with long words about this and that.However, the next bit when Elsie comes round and they go on the bus is excellent. Not from a ghost story point of view, but just as a snapshot of an awkward conversation between two former friends. Elsie comes off by far the better person. He then starts to talk about women who earn their own living and how they sacrifice their womanliness and open themselves to failed love affairs with the men they mix with in a man's world. He even pretends to be understanding of this predicament, but Elsie sees right through him. Oleron becomes increasingly pathetic. She, on the other hand, is pretty magnificent. She is caring and thoughtful, and he's just an idiot.Onions does this exceptionally well.Section 9 begins with Oleron's visit to the vicar. From this, he learns that his predecessor Mr Madley died in the house of starvation twelve or so years previously. We infer from this that he too was a victim of that deadly muse, or anti-muse, the Beckoning Fair One. After that, he goes home and tries to summon the spirit. From here on in, the ghost begins to look ambiguous. Where it seemed to be clearly a spirit that was jealous and would brook no rival in Elsie Bengough, from here, I can see that readers might think that Oleron is merely going mad. He is now deliberately courting the female spirit that inhabits his house or his mind."Whatever it was which he so patiently wooed, it seemed to be both shy and exacting."He sits and waits for the spirit, but when she doesn't come, he considers making her jealous and even considers sending for Elsie to do that job. It is some slight recommendation of him that even he dismisses that as a wheel to break a butterfly on. He decides to go to the country to teach her a lesson, and from now on sounds increasingly lunatic.He tries to fool the Beckoner to appear by pretending to go to bed. And then, when he searches for his slippers, he sees her reflection in the glass of a photo frame. She brushes her hair with his old comb. I can't imagine any woman would use my comb to comb her hair, but times were different then, I suppose.Section 10 paints a picture of him becoming increasingly reclusive. We already had a hint that this is his fate from the fate of the previous tenant, the painter Madley. Oleron is still in love with the spirit. We see that its malign influence grows on him and he becomes agoraphobic. He doesn't even go out for food or flowers any longer and chooses to stay in his house throughout. Onions may have had some experience of agoraphobia because his description of it is spot on.He calls out "Romilly" as if he thinks the ghost is the heroine of his novel. Either that or the spirit has made him believe that. We now see him increasingly labile in his emotions, happy and sad. Then he thinks he sees Elsie Bengough's skirt in his house. His worry is not for Elsie's safety here, I guess. He says that her being there would have compromised him horribly. I guess he means that the Beckoner would have been jealous and it would have ruined his chances with her. The mad ranting about this search for the Beckoner being his real work reminded me of https://player.captivate.fm/episode/08a6766c-18ad-4ec7-9c1c-a6918e7306a6 (Poe) or The https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a9e021f7-af89-499d-bdde-779d2afe5b54 (Yellow Wallpaper) or the https://player.captivate.fm/episode/60579769-c11Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 59 The Beckoning Fair One by Oliver Onions Part 2

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Part Two of The Beckoning Fair One by Oliver OnionsThe first part of section five of The Beckoning Fair One by Oliver Onions has him sitting in the house listening to the noises and from nowhere he begins to muse that someone in the future might have an impression of a ghost that was started by his presence. This section achieves two things; firstly it sets up the ghost, and secondly it strengthen's the idea that the house itself has a personality and a life. That only becomes more evident as the story progresses.As I read, listen and edit, I am struck again by how hollow are the claims of those critics who say this is not a ghost story. This is a ghost story indeed! My evidence is first; the nail that scratches Elsie Bengough's arm. Oleron knows he took all the nails out. And after this incident, he looks at her and realises for the first time, that she is in love with him. What an idiot! But then, he is a man and many men aren't very sensitive about these things. But then, I should probably only speak for myself on this.The Beckoning Fair One is as much a love story as it is a ghost story. We saw this mixture of love and monsters in https://player.captivate.fm/episode/fcca7910-00c4-4a91-a799-eceb808cc1fa (The Yellow Sign). However, the realisation that she loves him creates a mixed emotion in Oleron. I like to think this represents a war between the real Oleron, when he feels compassion and pity, and almost love for Elsie, and the spirit of the house that's invading him and making him resentful of Elsie. Either way, both his compassion that she should not suffer more from unrequited love, and the prompting of the jealous house join together in his resolution to encourage Elsie not to come back. The house woman is winning.When Elise can't keep away, she puts her foot through the stair. Oleron is clear that the woodwork was old but fine. It's the ghost again striking out to hurt Elsie.Elsie's comment is that she's getting fat. For me, that really humanises her. She's an ordinary, flawed woman, not some dream of a spirit woman. I often think that men would do well to take this lesson on board. They spend their lives running after dream women and spurn real women.Elsie says, "Let me go, I'm not wanted!"Neither by Oleron, nor the house. Then he tries to tell her how dear she is to him. Quite rightly she tells him not to patronize her.We get an insight into the narrow-minded Christianity of Barret, very quick to misunderstand and condemn without asking any questions about this. I suppose that this is a hot topic for me now because I just listened to a podcast episode with Damien Echols how he served 18 years on death row in Arkansas for a crime he didn't commit because he was alternative and different in his small, narrow-minded town.  https://batgap.com/damien-echols/ (It's a good listen)Elsie goes, Oleron decides he won't even sit down if she comes to visit, in order to get her to leave quickly. And then, he becomes anxious for her physical safety. This ghost is mean, and he knows it. At this point, he is far from seduced by the Beckoning Fair One. However, he does let himself down. When he imagines her suicide, his first thought it that he might get blamed! And then he thinks he an't marry her because she's ugly! What a cad.the silkly rustle and the brushing sound must surely be a ghost!The noise scares him to death and he goes the pub, acting out of character, but the brandy and the human contact serve to ground him a little. He decided he will go back and not be chased out of the house by the ghost. I think this incident is his last chance. This would have been his opportunity to escape, aSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 58 The Beckoning Fair One by Oliver Onions Part 1

Sat, 18 Jul 2020 07:00:00 -0000

The Beckoning Fair One by Oliver OnionsBecause this story is actually a novella, I am splitting it probably into three episodes much as I did for Carmilla by J Sheridan Le Fanu.I'm doing The Beckoning Fair One by Oliver Onions for a couple of reasons. Firstly, of course it is a classic ghost story and has been described as a 'cut above' the standard ghost story.This episode represents sections 1-4 of the story.We have done an Oliver Onions story before: The Cigarette Case https://player.captivate.fm/episode/cba2b2e7-9ece-4767-803e-895ebbd34880 (Episode 36)Onions is a lyrical writer and this story is a slow burn. He gives some lovely descriptions of his new flat and the life of the square outside with its school children, cats and dogs and occasional mandolin player.He actually reminds me of Proust. Now, if I was to read out Proust, I'd be at it for the rest of my life.Oliver conjoures Elsie Bengough and is not wholly kind about her. She's a bloomy, pink, moist, lady. In fact, she turns out to the voice of reason, but that's for future episodes.I note again Onions's hidden Welshness. Apart from the fact he's got a Welsh surname: Ab Enion; he has intimate knowledge of a Meirionethshire accent, which I enjoyed doing. I have friends from Meirionydd, you see. And he calls Elsie, Elsie Bengough, which is clearly Welsh, Bengoch, red head; even though she's not ginger. The ghostly influence is wonderfully subtle. We see it at first changing his taste. He furnishes and paints the flat at first elder-flower pale, but then gets strange ideas about introducing more colour. We wonder where these promptings come from.Then he can't work. Ultimately, he dislikes his life's work novel Romilly Bishop. The Reason he doesn't like it is because the main character Romilly is based on Elsie Bengough, his sort-of long-term girlfriend. Is the ghost trying to oust him out?Then he finds a piece of material which he can't identify, but which Elsie Bengough tells him is a harp cover.Then the dripping tap subtly insinuates a tune into his head which he begins to hum and Mrs Barrett recognses as The Beckoning Fair One.Critics have called this the best classic ghost story ever and other say it isn't a ghost story; much like The https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a9e021f7-af89-499d-bdde-779d2afe5b54 (Yellow Wallpaper) or https://player.captivate.fm/episode/60579769-c11c-46ee-b4e3-cad8b6778d37 (The Horla).However, personally, I do think it's a ghost story. The build up is too deliberate for it all to be chance: the changes in his taste, the artefacts he finds; the harp case for example. For me these carry the energy of The Beckoning Fair One, and she's out to ensnare him.Then there's Elsie Bengough's prescient comment just before the end of Section 3: Who else lives here? She's had an intuition that the house is not deserted; that there's someone or something living there with him. Elsie also has the intuition that the ghost will never allow Oleron to finish Romilly Bishop in that house. She won't because she's jealous that the heroine of Romillyis modelled on Elsie Bengough and the ghost is jealous.It is during the subtle dripping of the tap; the dripping that he later realises introduced the tune of The Beckoning Fair One that he starts to criticise Elsie Bengough so sharply in tones he has never entertained before. I think Onions intends all of this. Oleron is being hypnotised, in my opinion, by the spirit of the houseWho is this Beckoning Fair One and what does she want of him?You'll have to keep listening to find out.Music by The Heartwood InstituteYou can listen to the album from which this is taken https://theheartwSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 57: The Mezzotint by M R James

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 07:00:00 -0000

M R JamesThis is the third story we've done by M R James, previous ones being https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a39d795e-df46-4123-a0bb-a12dec71069f (The Experiment) and Episode 3: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a39d795e-df46-4123-a0bb-a12dec71069f (Whistle and I'll Come to You).We talked about James the man there. In a nutshell, he was an academic who had jobs at Eton College and Cambridge University. The heroes of his stories tend to be dusty old academics like himself. He is considered the godfather of the English ghost story, credited for moving the genre from the Gothic to a more modern incarnation. The MezzotintThe Mezzotint was published in 1904 as part of James's collection Ghost Stories of an Antiquary. The story is a simple one. An academic, Mr Williams, has a job of collecting prints of English country houses and such scenes for his University college. This is such a narrow and particular job it's a wonder to think that anyone had some a restricted role. He receives a catalogue from his dealer with a suggestion that he might like this particular mezzotint with a price tag of two guineas which seems exorbitant for such an amateur work. But as different people look at the mezzotint, it improves in quality and seems to be playing out a story. This leads to a detective investigation to find out where it is and the history of the place portrayed. So, there are two streams to the story: the rational detective work and the supernatural events unfolding in the picture which are quite demonic. James is famous for eschewing the cosy ghost story. He wanted his stories to be nasty. He has a real gift for introducing odd and jarring elements into his story which are disintinctly unnerving. There is something about the description of the figure, whose face is obscured apart from a domed forehead and some straggling hairs.And of course the theft of a child. Children coming to harm is always a nasty element. When the real-world investigation turns up the story of Francis having the poacher Gawdy hung and Gawdy promising revenge, it seems that the only explanation is that Gawdy returned after his death to exact his revenge. The other delightful aspect of the story is the series of in-jokes. James used to read his stories aloud to his colleagues, and so the in jokes about their obsession with golf and the snobby comments of the Sadducean Professor of Ophiology probably got some laughs. Some other features may not be familiar to the modern reader who has not been to Oxford of Cambridge, so the references to 'sporting' doors and 'skips' and 'Hall' are an insight into a world now gone outside these august establishments.New Book!Tony's latest book, London Horror Stories is available on https://amzn.to/2YSSHPb (Amazon UK) and https://amzn.to/2NgZHQu (Amazon US). Ghost and horror stories with a sense of place. https://tonywalker.substack.com/about (Subscribe For All Episodes!)Music by The Heartwood InstituteYou can listen to the album from which this is taken https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (here)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 56: The Curse of Mathair nan Uisgeachan by Angus Wolfe Murray

Sat, 04 Jul 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Angus Wolfe MurrayAngus Wolfe Murray was born in 1937 and now lives at Traquair in the Scottish Borders. With his late wife he founded Canongate Publishers. He comes from a celebrated Scottish family and his details can be found in the peerage. Edcated at Eton and working as a journalist and latterly a film critic. He is still alive, and while I am glad of that, I am slightly embarrassed that I thought he had died. I had been asked to do a Scottish story and I was keen to use my Scottish accent (my father was a Scot), and I found this story in an anthology of Scottish ghost stories. We have holidayed in the Highlands the past two years and it also gave me a chance to say some words in Gaelic.My first degree was in Celtic and I spent a summer in Stornoway learning Gaelic many years ago. I can't really speak it any more though. After I had recorded the story and started researching it, I found Angus Wolfe Murray was alive and I have tried to contact him via Twitter and I see he has a dormant Facebook page. I went ahead with the reading but if anyone can contact him, and he would like the episode removed, then of course I will do that. Mathair nan UisgeachanScottish Gaelic for The Mother of the Waters. The name of the whirlpool in the loch.The story begins as a very naturalistic tale of an idealistic young man from the Scottish upper classes who returns to the family estate and appreciates the history of the Highlands. He comments on the empty glen and alludes to the Highland Clearances and the remaining Highlanders wily ways and tenacity to keep to tradition. Tradition when the clan owned everything in common and Chief was not a feudal lord, but the father of the tribe. Hugh, coming back from Toronto is a reminder of the change in attitudes where the Gaelic Clan Chiefs were Anglicised and transformed themselves into property owners as per the standard European model.Hugh is not a sympathetic character, but his Canadian wife Anne is and our unnamed narrator falls for her. A love triangle evolves, though not as far or with as grisly outcome as in last weeks's story, Oscar Cook's Boomerang.The narrator goes to see his aunt Magda in Aberdeenshire, talks late and falls asleep. Though the fact he has fallen asleep is not stated specifically. We believe he has gone back to the castle as he says, but the story gets weirder until he in fact states that he must be dreaming. It is difficult at first to disentangle which is dream and which is waking. The weirdness of the dream is full of symbols and ends with the legend of the death of Lochlann, murdered by the man who thought he was his father. The story is conveyed in dream, but the ghost Lochlann appears in the real world too. First he is seen by Magda when he is with her sister Fiona, who died, and then he is seen by the narrator himself when he is with Anne. Though probably a ghost, he has some of the flavour of the fairy folk.It seems that the curse affects women who have a child and are unfaitful to their husbands. In the legend the wife Shona was unfaithful and her child was not her husbands. I think it is possible that Anne's child was not Hughe's but was in fact conceived that day of the fishing trip, though this is not specifically mentioned.Ten-year old Fiona was drowned, presumably as part of the curse, though she had not been unfaithful and her body was found in the river, not the whirlpool.All in all though, Angus Wolfe Murray conjures the Highlands wonderfully and I kept thinking of the landscape off the A9 road that we travelled through last year on our trip to Inverness. He also manages to convey the feel of this fairy haunted land and Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 55 Boomerang by Oscar Cook

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Boomerang by Oscar CookFirst of all, this story was requested by Peter Denyer. To be fair he merely suggested it and I went and hunted it down, so I accept all responsiblity for the gruesomeness of it.Richard Martin Oscar Cook was born in London in 1888 and died also in London in 1952. His father owned an athletic goods company and they were fairly well-off. He seems to have been brought up in Broxbourne just outside London and his first job was a clerk there but very shortly afterwards he went to make his fortune in a rubber planation in Borneo. Unfortunately he did not get on well and was sacked, but remained in Borneo and got another job in the British Colonial Service.He was an administrator of the British Empire and worked in North Borneo from 1911 until 1918 and then had District Officer posts. This was a position in the British Colonial Service and these administrators and often magistrate was at the heart of colonial administration in the British colonies.He was married in 1924 to Christine Campbell Thomson but got divorced in 1938.When he returned to England he wrote an autobiography of his time in Borneo and thereafter wrote supernatural stories, many of which appeared in various anthologies. This story appeared in the 2nd Pan Book of Horror. I used to read those books when I was a kid, which may explain a lot.Cook bought a controlling interest in a publishing company which produced a series of horror anthologies called Not at Night which ran to twelve books.BoomerangBoomerang is usually used to refer to a weapon of wood made by the native people of Australia which reputedly returns to the person who throws it. This story Boomerang first appeared in an antholog in 1931 and was later dramatised for television as The Caterpillar broadcast in March 1972. Cook's most famous story is His Beautiful Hands which I may read at some point in the future. There are several mysteries about this story. Why is it called Boomerang?Why was it called The Caterpillar when filmed, because it's about an earwing, not a caterpillar.The story pushes the gruesome in a fairly predictable way. It's very linear and we have Warwick the narrator pausing to ramp up the tension and adding horrid detail after horrid detail. Firstly, there's an earwig that's really big. Then it eats wax, but best of all it likes human earwax. Then it goes in the ear, and it is going to eat its way right through to the other ear (a fearsome feat of navigation for the earwig, and why would it bother coming out?) And then ha ha! It's a female so it's going to lay eggs!!!! What horror.The other elements seem to come from the Boy's Own Stories of the later British Empire, but also seen in stories of the American West where men wrestle for hunting knives to fight over women who stand and watch, terrified but fascinated. They had some funny ideas about men and women in those days.There are clear traces of its time and period in the casual sexism towards women who always fall to flirting and never know the consequences of the games they play. They can be stolen by other men (presumably not by other women...) and they are prone to irrational actions. At least the narrator gains the moral high ground over Warwick in that he insists that Rhona must have a point of view.When I was a young man I had a girlfriend who's mother had been brought up on a tea plantation in Ceylon (as it was then). It gave me a glimpse into a vanished world of the British Empire and reading this story brough back whiffs of that world as told to me by my girlfriend's mum.You can watch The Caterpillar on Daily Motion https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgo6g (here)SupporSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 54: The Bridal Party by S Mukerji

Sat, 20 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0000

The Bridal Party by S MukerjeeS Mukerji, whose name appears in various transliterations, including S Mukherjee, published his book of Indian Ghost Stories in 1917. I can find no biographical information on him, or even what his first name was. I wondered if he were related to the Mukherjee family who pioneered Indian cinema in the early 20th Century. I have no evidence that he is!At the time of writing the first edition he lived in Calcutta (Kolkata) and his stories show his familiarity and residence in Bengal, but he later lived in Allahbad (Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh. The name Mukerji is a Kulin Brahmin name and common in West Bengal.He moved in high circles and his friends were judges and lawyers during the later British Raj. He alludes that his father had a coachman and he had a nurse growing up.I picked an Indian story because there are a lot of Indian listeners to the podcast. The ghost story form was very prevalent in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods and then metamophosized into the uncanny tale and later into a branch of speculative fiction. Running in parallel with the fictional ghost story, we have "true accounts" which are the reportedly true accounts of visitors to actual places. Years ago, I ran the Haunted Britain and Ireland website which specialised in sending visitors to locations with supposedly true ghost hauntings. There is still great mileage in the true account genre and there are a good number of podcasts, TV shows and Youtube channels still seeking people's personal accounts of ghosts. With The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast I had deliberately kept to fictional stories up until now.I excuse myself because S Mukerjee writes his story in dramatic form rather than just as a witness report and he gives characters who have lines within the story.Support Us!Ways to support Tony to keep doing the show:https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/classic-ghost-stories-923395 (Share and rate it!)http://bit.ly/2QKgHkY (Buy Tony a coffee) to help with the long nights editing!Become a  http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon) to get additional stuff and allow the show to go on in the long term. Facebook GroupWhy not join Classic Ghost Stories Podcast on https://www.facebook.com/classicghoststories/ (Facebook) for the lastest news?MusicBeginning music ‘Some Come Back’ is by the marvellous  https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute)Because I had a little more time, I included the full track of The Heartwood Institute's Powers of Darkness just to chill your bones.Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 53: Little Heart by Georgina Bruce

Sat, 13 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Georgina BruceGeorgina Bruce is a British writer, born in the West Midlands of England but who has taught English in different parts of the world, not least in sub-tropical Okinawa in Japan before spending the last ten years or so teaching in less sub-tropical Edinburgh, Scotland.Little HeartLittle Heart is a dark tale that explores a woman's confused memories of her childhood and her conflicted relationships with her mother, once a film star, and her father who smells of ink and paper and at times is indistinguishable from a dark-beaked crow.Full of luscious imagery, the story reminded me of the work of Angela Carter and Shirley Jackson with its fairytale themes and dark twists.In the interview Georgina talks about her influences and the nature of her stories. She has just finished a novella Honeybones, and this story comes from her very well-reviewed collection This House of WoundsGeorgina's Linkshttp://www.georginabruce.com/tag/honeybones/ (Her Website Monster Soup)https://undertowpublications.com/shop (Her publisher Undertow Publications)https://amzn.to/2TBPpOw (This House of Wounds on Amazon UK)https://amzn.to/2X2d1Ow (This House of Wounds on Amazon.com)Call to Action! Patreon!A big thank you to my Patreon supporters. These ongoing pledges help me continue to produce the Podcast, paying as they do for hosting and other ongoing costs. If you have enjoyed listening to this, and other episodes, I would like to invite you to consider becoming a Patreon to help me produce more of what you enjoy!As well as helping me out, Patreons get exclusive content, usually in the form of stories that are not available for free elsewhere.If you could sign up, I would be extremely grateful.Tonyhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (Here's the Link)Support Us!Ways to support Tony to keep doing the show:https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/classic-ghost-stories-923395 (Share and rate it!)http://bit.ly/2QKgHkY (Buy Tony a coffee) to help with the long nights editing!Become a  http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon) to get additional stuff and allow the show to go on in the long term. Facebook GroupWhy not join Classic Ghost Stories Podcast on https://www.facebook.com/classicghoststories/ (Facebook) for the lastest news?MusicBeginning music ‘Some Come Back’ is by the marvellous  https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 52 A Visit by Shirley Jackson

Sat, 06 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Shirley JacksonShirley Hardie Jackson was bon in 1916 in San Francisco, California and died in Vermont in 1965 aged only 48. Though born in California, she attended Syracuse University in New York where she became involved in literary affairs. She published her first novel in 1948 when she was 32, but it was her short story The Lottery that brought her to public attention. Published in The New Yorker it divided opinion between those who thought it bold and daring and those who found it macabre and disturbing. In essence, like a lot of Jackson's work, it starts out in a realist, every day setting of a folksy rural community where everyone behaves just like we know they would, and then it turns out they have a mysterious lottery where the winner (or loser!) gets sacrificed for some undisclosed reason -- maybe just because it's tradition. She puts in such everyday details of community life that it's a real switch and bait as we think we're getting a home-town story and then it turns weird.Jackson's work has more than a touch of the surreal and I was reminded of the Argentinian Jorge Luis Borges as I was reading her collection Dark Tales recently. Her novel The Haunting of Hill House was published in 1958 and is considered the best haunted house story ever written. I enjoyed it very much. She also wrote We Have Always Lived In The Castle towards the end of her life and I must admit I haven't yet read it!Jackson didn't take care of her health and ate and drank too much. This led to heart disease which killed her in 1965.Jackson didn't get on with her mother who seems not to have wanted her much and this seems to be echoed in themes of mothers and estranged daughters in lots of her stories. Jackson was a wildly interesting character. She played the guitar, sang folk songs and could also play the zither. I wonder if she seems so interesting because we know more about her, being more recent, and I wonder if any of the old Victorian and older 18th Century Gothic writers were equally as quirky. Certainly Byron, Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft seem a wild crowd, and we know about them because they were famous and rich. Jackson told people she was a practising witch and joked (?) that she put hexes on publishers and critics who offended her. This may not have been just a joke as these were the years of the first growth of Wicca and occultism was definitely a thing following Aleister Crowley, Jack Parsons and others. Jackson suffered from extreme anxiety and saw a psychiatrist who prescribed barbiturates and amphetamines, and then other meds to counteract the effects of these. This cocktail probably didn't help much.A new movie of her life Shirley has come out this year 2020 but I can't see it because all the cinemas are shut due to lock down...There is a nice review a biography of Jackson called A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin in the New Yorker, and you can find it https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/17/the-haunted-mind-of-shirley-jackson (here)A VisitA Visit was first published under the title A Lovely House in 1950, and then reissued after Jackson's death in 1968 as A Visit The horror literature critic S T Joshi describes it as a 'quiet weird tale at its pinnacle' and refers to 'manner in which a house can subsume its occupants.'At first listen, or maybe even second, I thought, what the heck is this story about?Like last week's story, Mr Jones, this is a gothic tale. We have a large and rambling house which is full of mystery, we have an imprisoned woman in the tower (old Margaret), we have unreliable witnesses, I told trust Mr and Mrs Montague, or Carla one inch.When Margaret is being Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 51 Mr Jones by Edith Wharton

Sat, 30 May 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Mr Jones by Edith WhartonThis is the second Edith Wharton story we've read, the first being https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/7696635d-86ff-42d2-a2cf-317694d891d6/1747150-episode-4-bewitched-by-edith-wharton.mp3 (Bewitched which was Episode 4). Wharton was an American of course but she spent time in England and set a number of her ghost stories there. This story is the third of a series of stories where the house is a major character. In this story of course, the house is inhabited by the ghost of Mr Jones as we learn. As normal with Wharton there is incredible craft in the shaping of this story. It is at least in part a mystery story and we are familiar with the mystery ghost story where the ghost is debunked at the end, not least in Scooby Doo, but also in Wilkie Collin's The Woman in White. We have the mystery of the house with the strange old servants. We realise early on that Mrs Clemm has something to hide and her niece Georgina who is portrayed as a clumsy idiot is actually the one whose information ties up the tale.We have locked room, conniving housekeepers, blind gardeners and a historical tragedy to boot. The poor deaf and dumb Juliana, locked up in the house by the evil Mr Jones on the orders of her philandering husband is a Gothic staple and Wharton knew this of course and probably drew the character knowingly with a nod to gothic tradition. Wharton does a bit of foreshadowing that you might not get at first listen, but early on in the story when she is impressed with Bells, she muses about her ancestors who lived and died there and adds, unknowingly that to some of them, it may have been a prison! We later learn that it was indeed.Then when Lady Jane asks Mrs Clemm to take her to Mr Jones, Mrs Clemm agrees that he's not well; "He's between life and death as it were." This is in fact the literal truth but we don't understand that at this point and take from some figurative description. In fact, Mrs Clemm tells the exact truth: "He'd know you, my lady, but you wouldn't know him." "He's in no state for you to see him." Wharton must have had fun writing that.I think that the posh lady guests breaking off to crush over the Tempeltonia Recusa rare plant by the wall is probably an in joke that Wharton's friends may have recognised as a reference to their mutual acquaintances.She sees Mr Jones only once, when she enters the Blue Room to retrieve her friend's lost handbag. Her friend Stramer doesn't notice him, but Mr Jones is messing about in the citron desk where the incriminating papers are later found. We learn slowly, detail by detail that this Blue Room had been the prison of Juliana the poor shut-away wife.The first clue is the tomb of old Peregrine who died at Aleppo of the Plague and 'Also His Wife' unnamed. Things move on and we don't get another clue for a while.Then the next clue is them finding her portrait and Lady Jane mentioning that she might look so miserable because she was an inconsolable at his death. Stramer, a bright chap, says that they didn't dress like that as late as Peregrine's death so she was clearly miserable before he died.They identify the poor woman as Lady Juliana. Stramer is a font of knowledge. Not only does he know about fashion, but he remarks that they clearly used the Blue Parlour in those days, even in winter. She's leaning on the citron desk: it's here the secret of her fate is of course, though we don't know that at this point. And Stramer then mentions the family archives, which Lady Jane hasn't thought of yet. She only knows Mr Jones won't allow her access to them because the key is lost. Hmm. Convenient. Stramer says that in Mrs Clemm's Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 50 Fullcircle by John Buchan

Sat, 23 May 2020 07:00:00 -0000

John Buchan: John Buchan, officially 1st Baron Tweedsmuir was born in 1875 in Perth, Scotland and died in 1940 aged only 64 in Montreal, Canada. He was Governor General of Canada until he died in office. His father was a minister of the Church of Scotland. Many of our ghost story writers are children of clergymen. He studied Classics at the University of Glasgow and then moved to Oxford University. After that he went to South Africa where he was private secretary to the High Commissioner of South Africa. Like Kipling, who we read last week, Buchan was a conservative son of the British Empire. He was a bit of a softie for a conservative though because later when MP for Peebles just south of Edinburgh, he supported votes for women, national health insurance for the poor and curtailing the power of the House of Lords.Though a Scot, he was not a Scottish Nationalist, and in common with many Scots of his class and time, he though Scotland was best off within the British Empire.When he returned from South Africa, he was called to the English Bar as a barrister (an advocate in Scotland). He was also editor of the still existing conservative magazine: The Spectator.In 1916, Buchan went to the Western Front, attached to the Intelligence Corps. Just before this he had just published his famous spy story The 39 Steps. In 1935, Buchan went as Governor General to Canada. He had always liked Canada, written about it as a journalist and fought alongside Canadian troops in the First World War. He encouraged a distinct Canadian identity and nationality. He hosted King George VI on the king's tour of Canada. He suffered a stroke at Rideau Hall and then a head injury as he fell. He was treated by the famous neurologist Wilder Penfield. I wonder at Buchan's favouring the rather gloomy, death-fearing folk he contrasts with the happy builder of Fullcircle with his Catholic/Pagan sensibilities. Technical DifficultiesI had very strange technical difficulties in recording this story. The recording kept skipping, parts disappeared, parts recorded on the same track. Of course, it could be the new version of Reaper, or it could be that the story is haunted!There are some weird clicks and bumps that I've tried to get rid of, but I think some remain.FullcircleAgain, the house is the main character in this story, the house of the ghost behind it: Lord Carteron.The first clue that he haunts the house is in the history where Leithen tells our narrator Peckwether that Lord Carteron's soul is in the house Fullcircle. Leithan talks about his own house Borrowby and how the Ancient England knew death. He talks of the restoration of the monarchy and the Merry Monarch Charles II after the English Civil War and how the Restoration brought paganism to England and those pagan types were able to live in a bland happiness. That's Leithen's big complaint against Full Circle and the easy, lazy happiness it produces in the people who live there and the ghost of Lord Carteron who moulds them in his easy going image. Personally, I'm quite keen on happiness bland or otherwise, but Buchan seems to look down his nose at it. The man who built Fullcircle, Leithen says, knew have to live: 'The trouble was, they didn't know how to die.'. He accuses them in their paganess to trying magic and never becoming true Catholics, just going to Catholicism because of its ritual. Leithan is a bit miserable. He tells Giffen that the paradaisical countryside in June makes him sad. Giffen now converted from socialism to paganism can't understand him! Leithen says the Cotswold countryside in June is too perfect a thing for fallen humanity. Giffen thinks him morSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 49 They by Rudyard Kipling

Sat, 16 May 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Rudyard KiplingRudyard Kipling was the great poet of British Imperialism. He was born in 1865 in Mumbai (then Bombay) British India. He died in London, England in 1936 aged 70.He was named Rudyard because that was the place his parents had met and courted at Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire, England. Kipling was well-connected. HIs cousin was a conservative prime minister and two of his aunts were married to famous painters, one the great pre-Raphaelite painter Edward Burne-JonesHe was immensely successful and you will have heard of The Jungle Book via Disney if nowhere else, but also his books Kim, Gunga Dinand his famous poems (at least to British schoolboys of my generation) Mandalay and I imagine the world-famous poem If is familiar to most peopl.eHe actually won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907. Henry James thought he was a literary genius. Kipling has the ability to write wonderful prose that puts us right in the scene, whether that me the lush English countryside, dusty India or a grand old haunted house.It is worth saying also that Kipling also evidenced great affection for India and the Indians. He had a nanny or 'ayah' when he was small, but went back to England for his education. Interestling, after he finished at his military school, which he found a little rough, at the age of 17, it was decided he wasn't smart enough to go to Oxford University so he sailed back to India, where he became a journalist. To him, landing back in India was a home coming. He published a collection of short stories set in British India in 1886; Plain Tales from the Hills, these had previously been released over a period of two years in a Lahore magazine. He travelled back to England in 1889, via Rangoon, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and San Francisco. He travelled around the USA and Canada before going back to London, spending time in the Pacific North West at Portland, Seattle, British Columbia then going east via Alberta to the Yellowstone National park, Omaha, Chicago, Washington DC, New York and Boston. He met Mark Twain and was very impressed with him. At that time, Twain had published Tom Sawyer and was writing Huckleberry Finn. He then took ship to Liverpool from whence he went to London to great literary acclaimHe went back to America for his honeymoon and it was in Vermont that he got the idea of The Jungle Book. He stayed in New England for a whle and was visited by Arthur Conan Doyle and met Theodore Roosevelt.He visited South Africa each winter and then in 1897, settled in rural Sussex and he lived there until his death in 1897 in a great house called Batemans.TheyThey was first published in Scribner's Magazine for August 1904 and then collected in Traffics and Discoveries in the same year. The 'house beautiful' that it describes is thought to be modelled on his own house in Sussex. I hadn't picked up on this, but some reviewers infer that the visitor's own child has died, and this makes sense of the passage where he says he never sees the faces of his own dead in his dreams. The butler has also lost a child who is now walking in the wood. The butler won't accept a tip for setting the visitor back on his way, which may indicate some commonality of feeling and loss. The girl's kiss on his hand at the end which breaks the spell, is the special kiss of his own dead daughter, and it is only at this point he realises (though we had this figured much earlier) that the children are ghosts of the children who have died. The point is that Miss Florence has never borne a child so she can never see them. In this sense her blindness is symbolic. He can see them and ultimately feel them because he liSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 48: The Dining Room Ghost by Megan Taylor

Sat, 09 May 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Megan TaylorMegan is a British author, who has four novels, the latest being https://amzn.to/2z94akj (We Wait) UK link and https://amzn.to/2XQOFI1 (We Wait) USA LinkMegan lives in Nottingham, England. She teaches Creative Writing workshops has published four novels: We Wait (the latest, which is a haunted house story), The Woman Under the Ground which is a collection of short stories, The Lives of Ghosts and **The Dawning. They are all very well reviewed and there is great praise for the writing.In the interview we talked about a love for the short story form and for ghost stories in general, though not all of Megan's work is in the ghost/horror genre.The Dining Room GhostIt was good being able to talk to the author about what she intended in the story rather than me guessing what long dead writers meant in theirs. The Dining Room Ghost was partly inspired by Megan half-seeing something when overtired coming down the stairs with her young baby. We talked about the silent woman ghosts, often with long hair, sometimes drowned that keep cropping up in horror but she said she wanted the ghost to be the silence and quiet in a house of screaming babies and the busy head of the young mother. The mother seems to want silence and peace above all, and there is just one way to get it!There is ambiguity about the ghost: is it a ghost or is it a post natal psychosis? In that there is a strong pedigree of ghost stories with unreliable narrators; The Yellow Wallpaper being one and The Horlaanother among the stories we have read out. This is a theme in our culture as a whole -- are people who see ghosts simply mad, or do they reveal a whole other realm by their seeing what the rest of us cannot?We talked about a Freudian interpretation where the ghost is a dissociated part of the narrator -- her Shadow if you like (though that is a Jungian term that Freud would not have liked!). The emotions embodied in the ghost, murderous waiting amongst them, belong properly to the narrator, but she cannot tolerate them so she splits this desire to destroy the baby (and thus have quiet) off from herself and creates this spirit.It occurred to me that her standing by the patiently ticking clock introduced a kind of inevitability to the ending which we did not at first suspect, but given the clock was there all along as a kind of hint, perhaps we should have known that the time of silence would finally come.Quite a disturbing story then. Authors!Writers of ghost stories, weird tales, folk horror and other sorts of unnerving fiction, feel free to contact me through the Classic Ghost Stories Podcast Facebook page/direct message if you would like your story read out and to be interviewed on a future episode of the podcast.Support Us!Ways to support Tony to keep doing the show:https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/classic-ghost-stories-923395 (Share and rate it!)http://bit.ly/2QKgHkY (Buy Tony a coffee) to help with the long nights editing!Become a  http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon) to get additional stuff and allow the show to go on in the long term. Facebook GroupWhy not join Classic Ghost Stories Podcast on https://www.facebook.com/classicghoststories/ (Facebook) for the lastest news?MusicBeginning music ‘Some Come Back’ is by the marvellous  https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute) . The end music is by MYUU Bad EncounterSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 47: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (Part 2)

Sun, 03 May 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde Themes"As we think in our hearts, so are we."(Proverbs, 23.7)The TwinsMost cultures have a fascination with the phenomenon of twins. Jekyll and Hyde can be understood to be a strange type of twin. Castor and Pollux were twins in Classical Mythology, both had the same mother (as would be expected): Leda, but each had a different father. Castor’s father was Leda’s mortal husband and was thus mortal, while Pollux was the son of Zeus, and thus an immortal. When push came to shove and Castor was killed, Pollux shared half his immortality with his twin. We see in Tolkien, the half-elf brothers Elrond and Elros choose their kindred, Elrond to be an elf and thus immortal and Elros to be human and thus to die. In fact the symbol of the twins runs through our culture: Cain and Abel, Romulus and Remus, Osiris and Set. Very often one is bad and the other good. Most often, stories about twins involve a moral choice. The psychologist Carl Jung felt this motif revealed an archetype in human nature itself. Jung (Collected Works XX, 217n) mentions the old apocryphal legend that Jesus (the believer) was twin to Thomas (the doubter). Chevalier and Gheerbrant (trans. John Buchanan-Brown) in their Dictionary of Symbols (1994, p1047) talk about different pairings of twins; one dark, the other light, one good, the other evil, and they say that they represent the contradictions in a person’s nature and his or her moral struggle to overcome them. Stevenson’s discussion of this theme addresses the morality, but as well as being philosophical, he manages to demonstrate it through its human and dramatic aspect and show the suffering that such a struggle within a person’s nature can bring.It is not so simple as good fighting against bad. Jekyll wants to be both evil and good at the same time and to enjoy his evil with no penalty. His solution is to create, or more correctly, liberate Mr Hyde. Jekyll gets away with his guilty, but tempting pleasures while he can, but when he fears that Hyde will cause him to be punished, he tries to do away with Hyde, but he has fed the beast too much and it has grown too strong, and in the end, it is Hyde’s evil that proves the stronger. Rather than sharing his immortality as Pollux does for Castor, Jekyll chooses to share his death with Hyde, killing himself and thus killing them both.The idea is that in each of us is a mortal and an immortal part. They are always together but never completely one. We see this in Castor and Pollux but also in Jesus and the Christ, who were both man and god in the same body. We see a version of it where Jekyll is the mixed man, very mortal, fond of both his sensual pleasures and his pious reputation, and Hyde who is uncombined, younger, more vital, his senses sharper, but wholly made of shadow. The ElixirStevenson’s Tincture that changes colour and foams and bubbles has been portrayed many times on the television and movie screens. You can even get your own alcoholic version in The Alchemist bar in Manchester and now elsewhere.It does seem to link back to the Elixir of Life of the Medieval and Renaissance alchemists, which they also called a ’tincture’ in that it is transformative. The Elixir of the alchemists could reputedly turn lead into gold, bring that which was dead alive once more and transform man into god.Jekyll’s elixir turns man into monster. It is also interesting that in an old Irish story, the druids gave the great warrior Cú Chulainn an elixir of forgetfulness so he would forget his love for a woman who was not his wife and therefore not fall into sin. In a sense, Jekyll’s elixir allows him to forget his moral natureSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 46 The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (Part 1)

Sat, 02 May 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Robert Louis StevensonR L Stevenson was born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenons in 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He died aged only 44 in Samoa. He was phenomenally successful in his time and is still remembered for such classics as Treasure Island, Kidnapped and of course The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.Robert Louis (he changed his name from Robert Lewis Balfour when he was around 18) was an only child. His father Thomas Stevenson was a famous lighthouse engineer, from a line of lighthouse designers. His grandfather Robert Stevenson and his uncles were in the same line of work. R L Stevenson's mother Margaret Balfour came from a line of landowners from Fife, but her father was a Church of Scotland minister. Stevenson suffered from respiratory problems as a child, an ailment he shared with his mother and maternal grandfather. He never fully recovered from his chest problems. After school, he went to Edinburgh University to study engineering. He used to go to the family engineering works in the summer and accompanied his father on a tour of lighthouses in Orkney and Shetland on 1868.By 1871, Robert Louis told his father he didn't want to be an engineer but wanted to pursue a career as a writer. His family took it relatively well but suggested he change to studying Law at University to give him some security. He was 21, and in common with many 21 year olds, he became more Bohemian, taking to wearing his hair long and sporting a velveteen jacket. In 1873, he went to stay on the French Riviera for the good of his health for a year but came back to Edinburgh and was admitted to the Scottish Bar in 1875.He met and fell in love with an American woman called Fanny Van de Grift Osborne from Indianopolis who had come with her children to study art in France. She was married but her husband was multiply unfaithful so they separated. She retured to the USA after they had spent over a year together and eventually in 1878, he travelled to meet her in San Francisco. He wrote about his journey across America, but it ruined his health. He was reputedly almost dead when he arrived in Monterey, California. By December 1879, he was well enough to travel on to San Francisco. He described the time as being 'All alone on forty-five cents a day and sometimes less'He met up again with Fanny in San Francisco. She was divorced by that time, but by the winter of 1879, he was at death's door again and Fanny came to nurse him. They married in 1840 and travelled to the Napa Valley for their honeymoon in an abandoned mining camp on Mouth Saint Helena. In August that year, he sailed back to Liverpool in England. Because of his failing health, Stevenson looked for suitable places to live, staying on the south coast of England, to France and in places in Scotland. After Stevenson's father died, he went to live in Colorado. By 1888 he chartered a yacht in San Francisco and decided to set ail for the east and central Pacific, stopping in Hawaii, Tahiti, the Gilbert Island and New Zealand. He ended up in Sydney, Australia, and in 1890 set out on another voyage and arrived at Vailima in Samoa where he bought land and became part of the local community. He was to die of a stroke in 1894 while opening a bottle of wine.The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'Jekyll and Hyde' was published in 1886. Stevenson finished it in six days during a period of illness and gave it to his wife who didn't like it. It is written a little like a mystery where Mr Utterson the lawyer is the detective. The truth of what happens is actually more or less laid out in the first section for those who have eyes to see. We see the evil Mr Hyde draw Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 45 The Men in the Snow by Alex Boast

Sat, 25 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Alex BoastAlex Boast is a young British writer, born in Ipswich, raised in Surrey and living in London. He has an MA in Creative Writing and is constantly improving his skills by writing on https://medium.com/@boastalex (Medium) and https://www.quora.com/profile/Alexander-M-Boast (Quora) as well as doing Master Class courses and attending writing courses by the British writing school The https://www.arvon.org/ (Arvon Foundation).He has a love of ghost stories and references H P Lovecraft and Stephen King as influences as well as J R R Tolkein.Alex had been working in health marketing which necessitated frequent global travel and due to the Coronavirus epidemic, he was laid off. Fortunately that made him focus more on his writing, so every cloud has a silver lining. He has just been commissioned to write a horror movie script based on the Irish legends of the Banshee. This is only the second interview Classic Ghost Stories Podcast has done with a living author, but we figure there are more of you out there, so if you write ghost stories and want to have them appear in Classic Ghost Stories Podcast then get in touch.If you want to read Alex's story, you can get it from Amazon https://amzn.to/2xKaWMO (here)The Men in the SnowInevitablly when you read a new story, you try to catalogue it with others you have read. On the podcast now we have read a wide range of stories written by authors born in the 18th, 19th, 20th, and soon the 21st centuries. Styles change of courseWhen I read the Men in the Snow, I was struck by the weirdness of it. We don't know if the perceptions of the young girl narrator can be relied on. Some of them seem distinctly odd; her father sitting reading the paper in the kitchen who never moves and never speaks. Her mother who yells at her to stop shaking and later disappears. The newts in the pond, her only friends. So it starts off as purporting to be a naturalistic, realistic story, but then gets shunted off into the odd.This is something I find with https://amzn.to/3dRE05z (Robert Aickman) too. His settings are ordinary, mundane almost, and seem to be naturalistic, but he injects the unnervingly odd into them.The other story that popped into my mind was https://amzn.to/3dTK6Cx (The House of Leaves) by Mark Z. Danielewski. This was because the house in The Men in the Snow changes size. If you don't know the House of Leaves you should read it. In fact, our narrator is growing larger, the house isn't shrinking!And as for the advancing angry eyes...So, it was great to have a modern story and greater still to interview Alex. I hoped you liked it as much as I did.And finally,By the time this episode of the Podcast goes out, we should finally be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel of the Coronavirus epidemic. I hope you and yours (and me and mine) all come through it safely. Take careTonySupport Us!Ways to support Tony to keep doing the show:https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/classic-ghost-stories-923395 (Share and rate it!)http://bit.ly/2QKgHkY (Buy Tony a coffee) to help with the long nights editing!Become a  http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon) to get additional stuff and allow the show to go on in the long term. Facebook GroupWhy not join Classic Ghost Stories Podcast on https://www.facebook.com/classicghoststories/ (Facebook) for the lastest news?MusicBeginning music ‘Some Come Back’ is by the marvellous  https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute) . The end music is by MYUU Bad EncounterDarkworldsI’ve just launched a new podcast of my book Darkworlds, a horror sci-fi story set in a virtual reality 1927 London.https://darkSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 44 Bosworth Summit Lock by L T C Rolt

Sat, 18 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0000

L T C RoltLionel Thomas Caswall Rolt, was an English writer born in 1910 and who died in 1974, therefore for us, he's a recent writer! He was a prolific writer who had an interest in engineering and that shows in this story in his description of the tunnels and the knowledge of ventilation shafts which are integral to the plot of the story. In keeping with this love of engineering, he wrote biographies of major engineers such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Thomas Telford. He had a major enthusiasm for vintage cars, heritage railways and was a pioneer of the canal cruising industry. Write what you know, they say, and he did.His father was a bit of a pioneer and had worked on an Australian cattle station s well as a plantation in India and being part of the Yukon gold rush in 1898.Rolt's father and uncle were interested in engineering and machines and his uncle had a horse drawn canal boat which he fitted with a steam engine and then a petrol engine.From 1936, Rolt decided he wanted a life afloat and he converted his uncle's old boat Cressy into a boat he could live in and spent his time mooching up and down the canals of England.During the Second World War, he went to work for Rolls Royce and made Spitfire engines, the Royal Airforce's legendary fighter plan. After the war, Rolt teamed up with Robert Aickman, another major ghost story writer to form the Inland Waterways Association to promote the use of the canals and restore them. Bosworth Summit LockAs noted, Rolt was a friend of Robert Aickman, author and editor, due to their shared love of canals. Kai Roberts, compares their work and finds Aickman's work quite radical (it is very unnerving) where Rolt's ghost stories are more traditional.Rolt set a number of his stories on the railways and canals. What I particularly, loved about this story, Bosworth Pound Lock, is the setting. As well as traditionally moral ghost story; boy messes with girl beneath his station, gets girl pregnant, boy kills girl by dumping her down a ventilation shaft into a canal tunnel, girl gets revenge as a ghost by dragging boy into canal with her, girl and boy are happily reuninted in the grave.But as well as this we have a lovely description of him fishing on his canal boat on a golden May evening, with the fresh leaves, the birds, the gentle flow of the water. It's just what we need in times like this.Of course, the victim's mother is a Gypsy with second sight and she sees the boys murder as a marriage with her daughter.Another little synchronicity (or not) is that I am reading The Stopping Places by Damien Le Bas, which is a book about Damien revisiting the places his Romany family used to stop as they travelled around the country. That's another book which is balm to the soul in these times of Corona Virus when we can't get out.Check out:https://amzn.to/2JpQbsq (The Stopping Places US Link) https://amzn.to/3bDTQyF (The Stopping Places UK Link)http://imbolcfire.blogspot.com/2010/01/some-thoughts-on-weird-fiction-of-ltc.html (Kai Robert's article on Rolt is here)And finally,I hope you are well, and bearing up. We shall overcome. What is really lovely to me is that the world is united against this enemy. I really hope this sense of unity will remain and that we can then turn to deal with the disasters that seem to be caused by global warming and fix that problem before it's too late!Take care, all.TonySupport Us!Ways to support Tony to keep doing the show:https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/classic-ghost-stories-923395 (Share and rate it!)http://bit.ly/2QKgHkY (Buy Tony a coffee) to help with the long nights editing!Become a  http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon) Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 43: A Strange Goldfield by Guy Boothby

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Guy BoothbyGuy Boothby was born in Adelaide, Australia in 1867 and died in Bournemouth, England in 1905. At the time of his birth South Australia was a recently established British colony and his father's family were important administrators and legislators of the colony. Boothby's mother was English and she separated from his father when he was only seven, and took him back to England where he was educated at Salisbury.He returned to Australia aged sixteen and entered the colonial administration where he was secretary to the mayor of Adelaide, but he didn't like the work. He began writing lyrics for light operas aged 23, in which he acted. The Australian colonies suffered an economic collapse in 1890 and he took ship for London. However, he didn't have enough money for the full passage and disembarked in Colombo, Sri Lanka and made his way back to Australia. He worked in various ventures across south east Asia, working on ships, stoking furnaces, becoming a ruby miner, working in an opium den in Singapore, acting, being a cowherd and even as a prize fighter. He was even a pearl diver for a while in Queensland before making his way back to Adelaide.He did manage to reach London eventually and wrote a book about his adventures. When his travel memoir was successful, he wrote a series of novel and was so prolific he ended up writing around six novels a year. He was only 38 when he died in 1905, officially of flu, but no doubt worn out by the hard and adventurous life he had led. He is buried in Bournemouth.A Strange GoldfieldI think the merit of A Strange Goldfield is particularly how it gives us an insight into Australia during the early days of European settlement there. We have a picture of adventurers wandering the huge continent searching for riches among and putting up with incredibly hard conditions. It has echoes of the goldrush in California and the Yukon but it's set against the burning Australian desert.In that, it has echoes of Victorian stories of explorers and novels suggesting that strange things are to be discovered in distant and difficult to get to lands, such as in Rider Haggard's She stories and all the interest there was among the British at home in the tales of explorers in Africa such as Livingstone, or even Scott of the Antarctic. It is in essence a boy's own adventure yarn as much as a ghost story. Though ghost story it is with the ghosts of the goldfield being forced to toil after death. There is an echo of morality here perhaps. Are they being punished for their greed? Was the destroying angel of typhoid sent to punish them for that and are they kept at the goldfield still as some kind of purgatory for the sin of venality.Strange TimesI'm writing this on 18th March. We were supposed to be going to York for my birthday tomorrow, but that's been cancelled due to the Coronavirus precautions. By the time this episode airs, it will be early April and who knows what will have happened? There might be light at the end of the tunnel or there might not. I have no idea. All I can do, is keep on reading stories like I have done for the past six months in the hope that it gives some entertaintment for those of you locked in by the coronavirus. Keep well and safe.Support Us!Ways to support Tony to keep doing the show:https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/classic-ghost-stories-923395 (Share and rate it!)http://bit.ly/2QKgHkY (Buy Tony a coffee) to help with the long nights editing!Become a  http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon) to get additional stuff and allow the show to go on in the long term. Websitehttp://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast (Classic Ghost Stories Podcast)MusicBegSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 41: Mr Arcularis by Conrad Aiken

Sat, 04 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Conrad AikenConrad Aiken was an American poet and author born in Savannah, Georgia in 1889 and died in Savannah in 1973 aged 84.His family were wealthy, originally from New England, but his father was an eye surgeon who moved to Savannah. Most bizarrely and disturbingly, Aiken’s father murdered Aiken’s mother and shot himself in 1901. Aiken was 11 at the time. He heard the shots and ran through to find the bodies. Aiken then went to live with his great aunt in Massachusetts. He went to Harvard where he became a life-long friend of the poet T S Eliot.Aiken was deeply interested in philosophy and was taught by George Santayana. This influenced his poetry as did his admiration for the work of Walt Whitman. Aiken was also heavily influenced by Sigmund Freud and was due to go and meet him but never did, because he had second thoughts and money was running short.Aiken was a prolific writer and very influential in literary circles. It was his influence which led to to the recognition of Emily Dickinson as a great poet.Aiken moved to England with his Canadian wife and had three children there in Sussex. His daughter Joan became a well-known writer of children’s stories, including the famous Wolves of Willoughby Chase.Aiken was divorced in 1929 and then he returned to America. He suffered from nervous problems and was terribly frightened he was going mad. He attempted suicide at least once. Mr ArcularisConrad Aiken published Mr Arcularis in 1931. It was selected by the Library of America for inclusion in a two hundred year retrospective volume of American fantastic tales. Mr Arcularis is a strangely disquieting story. Not quite a ghost story, because he isn’t dead but dreaming until the end. The narrative becomes more dreamlike as it goes on and is threaded with the fantastic.The unsettling oddness has something of Robert Aickman’s stories to it. It’s not a moral story either. I suppose, to me it’s a curiosity — very well put together. And, on reflection if all art is to make us feel something and that is its main purpose - to work in us at the level of feelings rather than thought, then it certainly works. The description of journeys among distant frosty stars is very beautiful. It actually reminds me of when I was much younger and had some teeth out under general anaesthetic. In those days it was done by gas with a rubber mask clamped on my mouth while I struggled by the dentist. I had weird dreams that morphed in and out of reality and featured hints that I was having teeth out. This story reminds me of that rather unpleasant experience.It’s hard to know what Conrad Aiken meant by calling his protagonist Mr Arcularis. I’s not a common name. An arcularius in Latin is a maker of small chests, boxes and jewel caskets. Is Aiken alluding to this? Or is it merely because, as Mr Acularis says, his name rhymes with Polaris. Polaris the North Star, where the dead go.The first hint we get that everything is not what it seems, to me at least, is when Harry has put him on board and is about to leave and says for Arcularis to bring him a sprig of edelweiss and a postcard from the Absolute. That may make our minds cast themselves back to when he is in the car and he misses big stretches of the journey, quite plausibly by falling asleep, but certainly the story begins to acquire a more dreamlike quality from here on in.The action jumps from him being cold in his cabin to sitting opposite the freckled girl whom he recalls but can’t think who she reminds him of. Later, he feels she may be his soul — which makes me think of the Jungian concept of the Anima.The Parson, the Doctor and the Freckle-Faced woman seem alSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 42: The Ring of Thoth by Arthur Conan Doyle

Sat, 04 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Sir Arthur Conan DoyleOr to give him his full name, Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was born in 1859 in Edinburgh in Scotland and he died in Crowborough, Sussex, England aged 71. His family name was just Doyle and Conan was his middle name but taking Ignatius and Conan together with the surname Doyle, he could hardly be anything other than of Irish Catholic heritage. His mother was Irish and though his father was born in England, he was of Irish family. He was born in Edinburgh and his father Charles was an alcoholic and that caused the family to fall apart. His father ended up in the famous Crichton Royal psychiatric hospital just outside Dumfries. Because his father could not support him, Doyle’s wealthy uncles sent him to a large Catholic school in Lancashire, which I stumbled upon one sunny night several years ago when out for a walk. Then aged 16, he went to another Catholic school at Feldkirch in Austria. Despite his Catholic upbringing, Doyle renounced Catholicism and became an ardent believer and supporter of spiritualism. He was a member of the Hampshire Society for Psychical Research and the Society for Psychical Research in London.After his time in Austria, he went back to Edinburgh where he trained as a doctor. After graduating he worked in the south of England, setting up a practice in Southsea. Incredible as it sounds, he didn’t make money and had to become a writer to support himself. He also became the goalkeeper of the Portsmouth Association Football club when he was at Southsea. He also played cricket form Marylebone Cricket Club in London and then as part of the Authors XI with J M Barrie, P G Woodhouse and A A Milne. He was also a keen golfer!He was a big supporter of vaccination. He went to study ophthalmology in Vienna but found the German too hard (though he had been a school student in Austria off course). While he was in Vienna he mainly spent his time ice skating and writing fiction.He was a prolific writer and his first short story was published in 1879 when he was 20. He wrote his first Sherlock Holmes story when he was 27 and struggled to find a publisher for it. By the time he had written several stories he was tired of Holmes. Doyle was interested in many things and it is said that he wasn’t considered a great writer because he kept changing the focus of his enthusiasms, from writing to medicine, to golf to psychical research and many other subjectsThe Ring of ThothGiven what we’ve just said about Doyle’s wandering enthusiasms, it is interesting to note that is the same criticism he makes of the John Vansittart Smith hero of the Ring of Thoth. The observation adds little to the story, and has the ring of a personal anecdote. The Vansittarts were a noble English family of Dutch descent, and Doyle would probably have heard of them.The Ring of Thoth was published in 1890 in the Cornhill Magazine. The Ring of Thoth was the first mummy story. If we think of our Gothic Horror and especially of our Hammer Horror tradition, we have mummies, werewolves and vampires; in some movies they even meet up and do battle!I remember the Matell glow in the dark mummy, wolf man and other figures. My memory is hazy about the others. A friend of mine had a glow in the dark mummy and I wanted it. And Boris Karloff’s role in The Mummy from 1932 owes it all to The Ring of Thoth. As stories go it’s fairly straightforward. We have the learned man delving too deeply into things that should not be delved into, a little anyway. He’s not as bad as some of M R James or H P Lovecraft’s protagonists who mess with the really bad stuff. I think that’s a quote from Phil Lynott, by the way (if yousSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 40: The Hound by H P Lovecraft

Sat, 21 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Howard Phillips LovecraftHP Lovecraft was perhaps the most influential writer of horror and weird tales of his generation. That may not have been evident during his life or even for a while after his death, but his work continues to be made into movies The Colour Out of Space was recently released, starring Nicholas Cage which is a based on Lovecraft’s weird tale of the same name.Lovecraft was born in 1890 in Providence, Rhode Island and died in the same city in 1937 aged only 46 of untreated stomach cancer.His family was originally wealthy but the fortune was tied to his grandfather and after his death, the money dried up. He was almost a pauper at the time of his death.Lovecraft’s father was a travelling salesman but it appears that his mother’s family had the money , In 1913 he began to get involved in pulp fiction and most of his stories were published in pulp magazines. He was a mentor to younger writers and perhaps the thing which ensured his later fame was his encouraging of other writers to develop his Mythos. It appears that Lovecraft suffered from mental illness during most of his life, most probably depression. Lovecraft was very conservative and an Anglophile in his writing. He did not like Americanisms and he uses some deliberately British stylings in his writing.The HoundThe Hound is Lovecraft’s most clearly Gothic tale, and that’s saying something. When he talks of his hero’s taste for the macabre, we can’t help but feel that Lovecraft is speaking through him. The Hound is like a story by Edgar Allen Poe channeled through Lovecraft’s pen. He never uses a normal word when he can use an outlandish one, and where one adjective would do, he piles on three or four and makes sure they are outlandish and obscure. This makes his style relatively easy to parody with its unspeakable cults and squamous monstrosities not to mention countless eldritch blasphemies on every page.The story is pretty simple. It concerns two post Baudelaire decadents going grave robbing for kicks. As often happens in Lovecraft’s stories they find an ancient arcane item (a McGuffin in screenwriting terms) and as is often the case it is made of jade. Somehow them moving the token gets the hound to haunt them all the way back to their horrible house in England and when our man ventures back to Holland to put it back (though it is robbed from him before he can do so), there he finds the monstrous hound waiting for him. Or at least that is the sense I made of it, with the addition of a good number of oversized vampire bats for good measure.In any case, a fun gothic romp, overdone and vulgar no doubt, but great fun to read out.Darkworlds ParisIf you like Lovecraft, you may like my new story [Darkworlds Paris] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084WW6LSK (Amazon.com: Darkworlds Paris: A Cthulhu LitRPG eBook: Tony Walker: Kindle Store)``) The story is the second book in the Darkworlds Series: Lovecraftian Horror set in a virtual reality computer game. The Great Old Ones are stirring, and they’re inside your head!Call to Action!This week, because of the success of the previous Call to Action, we are growing, fast and the Classic Ghost Stories Podcast is getting 12000 downloads a month. This is fantastic, but it trips us into the next cost category for Podcast Hosting. As this is a big leap up, if you would like the Podcast to keep going, and if you are able and willing, I would like to ask you to consider becoming a monthly http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon.)Support Us!Ways to support Tony to keep doing the show: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/classic-ghost-stories-923395 (Share and rate it!)   http://bit.ly/2QKgHkY (BSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 39: The Taipan by W Somerset Maugham

Sat, 14 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0000

William Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham was born in 1873 in Paris and died in Nice in 1965, was despite his brith and death places, English.He was a fantastically successful writer, being the highest paid author of the 1930s. His parents died when Maugham was only 10 and he was brought up by his uncle, a clergyman, and sent to King’s School, Canterbury. Many men in his family were lawyers, including his elder brother who was a viscount, but Maugham didn’t want that. He hated his school in Canterbury and finally his uncle let him to go to study German literature at the University at Heidelberg, after which he went to St Thomas’s hospital in London where he trained as a doctor, and qualified as one in 1897. He specialised in obstetrics and used his work experience to inspire his first novel, Liza of Lambeth. After that he worked as a novelist and playwright and travelled through Spain and Italy.Maugham, like many of the writers we read out, was gay. He was married to a woman but this was unhappy and after it broke down he lived in France with his male partner. His writing made him famous by the outbreak of the First World War.During the First World War he worked for the Red Cross and the Ambulance Corps before being recruited by MI6. He had missions in Switzerland and Russia for British Intelligence but when the war was finished he went back to his globe-trotting lifestyle until 1928 when he bought a villa in the South of France and stayed there until his death. The TaipanA Tai-Pan is a Cantonese word for a leader of a Western Trading Company that operated in China in the 19th Century. The Taipan who is the main character of the story is not a very sympathetic chap and I didn’t feel myself warming to him much.The story is set in the days of the British Empire among a colony of ex-pats who spend their time drinking, playing bridge, having affairs and racing horses. As well as being contemptuous of the people they are among.The Taipan is self-satisfied, sociopathic, adulterous, alcoholic, snobbish and racist and ultimately riddled with anxiety. In a short story, we see the fall of a man from the pinnacle of arrogance to become a trembling wreck. It is a nice moral tale of the mighty being humbled by their own faults. He gets what he deserves.My New BookI’ve got a Cthulhu LitRPG horror novel coming out! If you don’t know that that is go look it up at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084WW6LSK (Amazon)That’s book 2 in the series mind you. Darkworlds Paris. Book one is imaginatively named Darkworlds London. Book 3 was going to be Darkworlds Salem but I need to get my hero across the Atlantic on The Queen Mary in 1927, so book 3 will have to be Darkworlds Atlantic!If you like a bit of Lovecraft horror science fiction cyberpunk Call of Cthulhu then it’s for you!Support Us!Ways to support Tony to keep doing the show: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/classic-ghost-stories-923395 (Share and rate it!)   http://bit.ly/2QKgHkY (Buy Tony a coffee)  to help with the long nights editing!Become a  http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon)  to get additional stuff and allow the show to go on in the long term. Website http://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast (Classic Ghost Stories Podcast)  MusicBeginning music ‘_Some Come Back’_ is by the marvellous  https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute) . The end music is by 'MYUU Bad Encounter'Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 38: Between Sunset and Moonrise by R H Malden

Sat, 07 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Richard Henry MaldenR H Malden was born in 1879 in England and died in August 1951. He was brought up in East Anglia. He was educated at Eton and King’s College Cambridge and was a long-standing friend of M R James.He spent his career as a churchman, working across England from Salford to Cambridge then Leeds and Ripon and then Wells in Somerset. He married a Yorkshirewoman, the daughter of a clergyman. He was president of the Somerset Archeological Society. It is said he was a well-known sight in Wells as he wandered round in his top hat and from coat. He wrote a good deal and most of his works are on Christian themes, but he did publish a book of ghost stories in 1943: Nine Ghosts.. This book was written as a tribute to his friend M R James who had died in 1936. Malden was one of the circle of the chosen at Cambridge who heard M R James read his stories on Christmas Eve.Because of his connection to M R James, he is often compared with the great man. M R James is probably one of the best writers of ghost stories so the comparison is perhaps unfair, but Malden’s stories are certainly reasonable examples of their genre.Between Sunset and MoonriseBetween Sunset and Moonrise has certain folk horror themes. We have a remote country area where things go on far from the eye of civilisation. The remoteness and backwardness of the area are emphasised by the droves or poor roads that go out to remote, poorly-maintained cottages. There is even a boy who is what they called simple then and he can see supernatural things that others can’t.In fact that very motif was used in the 2019 folk horror movie Midsommar where the boy with the congenital defects interprets the sayings of the gods by drawing rudimentary pictures that the scholars of the tribe need to interpret.Malden was a churchman and his hero is also a clergyman. He goes in duty, on New Year’s Eve to see a woman whom he doesn’t really like and to his surprise sees her reading an obscure part of the Bible that deals with the story of the devil Asmodeus. Whether we are to think that Mrs Vries has entered into some kind of pact with an evil creature, I’m not sure, but the witness boy says that the mysterious ‘they’ had been out to get Mrs Vries. Perhaps because she was an outsider?Most if not all of James’s monsters are not exactly Satanic, whereas this one has more of the character of an adversary of the church, something from the dark books of the Bible. In fact, England is full of these strange spirits that haunt lonely roads and byways. Where I live they are called boggles and can assume all sorts of terrible shapes and shift between them. Call to Action!This week, because of the success of the previous Call to Action, we are growing, fast and the Classic Ghost Stories Podcast is getting 12000 downloads a month. This is fantastic, but it trips us into the next cost category for Podcast Hosting. As this is a big leap up, if you would like the Podcast to keep going, and if you are able and willing, I would like to ask you to consider becoming a monthly http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon.)Support Us!Ways to support Tony to keep doing the show: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/classic-ghost-stories-923395 (Share and rate it!)   http://bit.ly/2QKgHkY (Buy Tony a coffee)  to help with the long nights editing!Become a  http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon)  to get additional stuff and allow the show to go on in the long term. Website http://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast (Classic Ghost Stories Podcast)  MusicBeginning music ‘Some Come Back’ is by the marvellous  https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood InstiSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 37: A Wicked Voice by Vernon Lee

Sat, 29 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Vernon LeeDespite sounding so masculine, Vernon Lee was actually a woman called Violet Paget, born in France in 1856 and died in Italy in 1935. Despite these location she identified as English. Her biographer Vineta Colby says that Lee was English by nationality, French by an accident of birth and Italian by choice.As well as the ghost stories for which she is most famous, Vernon Lee, was an essayist who wrote about travel and art and especially aesthetics. Her parents were globe-trotting, or at least Europe-trotting intellectuals and in 1873, when Vernon or Violet was 17, they settled in Florence Italy. She stayed living in the vicinity of Florence until her death in 1935.Violet published her first collection of essays when she was 24. These dealt with Italian writers and dramatists and she later wrote on William Shakespeare and Renaissance Italy. She made fun of English artists, particularly the Pre-Raphaelites in her 1884 novel Mrs Brown.Politically, she was a convinced pacificst. She published under a masculine name because she feared that as a woman her writing would not be taken seriously. She was a feminist and mostly dressed as a man. Though she didn’t come out, she did have crushes on women and was probably Lesbian. She suffered from health anxiety.She also fell out with other writers by making fun of them in her work; notably Henry James and Edith Wharton.Henry James wrote to his equally talented brother William warning him about Vernon Lee: the most able mind in Florence, ‘as dangerous and uncanny as she is intelligent.’A Wicked VoiceI had wanted an Italian based ghost story to continue the theme of stories set on the continent of Europe. There was not much choice! Of course there is Don’t Look Now, by Daphne Du Maurier, which I read myself but which is in copyright still and so reading it out would count as a breach. As the Podcast goes on from strength to strength, I may look into whether I would be given permission to read out stories that are in copyright still, such as I did with Along the Old Track by Sam Hicks.I read A Wicked Voice three times. By the end, I quite liked it. It’s obvious that Vernon Lee is interested in aesthetics as we have all that moonlight and blue mist and Venice languishing like a lily and the scent of the white flowers that remind the narrator of peaches. Not to mention the threshing at the farms in Mistra and the lights and music in the old cathedral at Padua!Basically the story, with all that cut out, is quite simple. I’m not sure it needs the frame at the beginning and end either; first of the narrator looking back and beginning to tell and then at the end telling of his possibly recovery.Zaffarino, to give him his nickname, has a ring with cabalistic signs. An allusion to Tartini doing a deal with the Devil to make powerful music is mentioned and so we must guess that Zaffarino has been given the power to make women love him in his music, and also the power to kill, by Old Nick himself.Though Zaffarino is described as beautiful, he is often also referred to as effeminate. I am guessing he may be a castrato? What else did he give up for his art? So the story follows the narrator who is haunted by the scent of white flowers and Zaffarino’s ghostly voice. As promised, the voice makes him fall in love with it, and it almost kills him. But not quite. I’m not sure why not? Because he interrupted the final cadenza by bursting into the haunted room perhaps?Ghost Stories in a Haunted CastleCome along to Dalston Hall, Carlisle in March to hear me read ghost stories, get a tour of the ghosts, have dinner, and even stay overnight in a haunted room!https://wwSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 36: The Cigarette Case by Oliver Onions

Sat, 22 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Oliver OnionsOliver Onions was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England in 1873 and died in Aberystwyth in Wales in 1961, His father was a bank cashier. When he was a young man he was an amateur boxer. He didn’t like the surname Onions and changed it legally to George Oliver but still published his stories under the name Oliver Onions. Onions is in fact a Welsh name, being from the Welsh Ab Einion.Onions trained as an artist and worked as an illustrator. His most famous ghost story is The Beckoning Fair One. He is reckoned as one of the best writers of ghost stories. He has a very conversational lyrical style and the characters in his story come out via the tone of their voice.The Cigarette Case is a neat little story with a lovely twist in the end. We probably guess what’s going to happen, but it’s very well done.I particularly like Loder’s asides to other members of the circle, such as Marsham the romantic and Smith the sceptic.I was reminded by this story of An Adventure which is the reportedly true tale of two English ladies having a time slip experience in France at the Paris of Versailles in the early 20th Century.The Cigarette Case was published in 1911 in the collection Widdershins and I believe An Ad venture was published in 1910, so it is not impossible that the tale of two English ladies in France who mysteriously disappear was inspired by An Adventure.I’ll put a link tohttps://amzn.to/38vtWMB (An Adventure here)Ghost Stories in a Haunted CastleCome along to Dalston Hall, Carlisle in March to hear me read ghost stories, get a tour of the ghosts, have dinner, and even stay overnight in a haunted room!https://www.facebook.com/events/178095676767514/ (Check it out on Facebook)Call To Action!If you can recommend verbally or send a link to the Classic Ghost Stories Podcast to one friend or acquaintance who might like it, that could double our listeners every week!I’d be very grateful to you for that.Thank you to our Patreons!Thank you for their pledges to:Donna ConstanzaEmmaSandra VailKate UnwinMargaretSandra VailValerie SawyerYour support means a lot!Support Us!Ways to support Tony to keep doing the show:https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/classic-ghost-stories-923395 (Share and rate it!) http://bit.ly/2QKgHkY (Buy Tony a coffee) to help with the long nights editing!Become a http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon) to get additional stuff and allow the show to go on in the long term. Website http://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast (Classic Ghost Stories Podcast) MusicBeginning music is Some Come Back by the marvellous https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute) and end sequence is Bad Encounter by MyuuSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 35: The Horla by Guy de Maupassant

Sat, 15 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0000

The Horla by Guy de MaupassantWelcome to Episode 35 of the Classic Ghost Stories Podcast!What would really help me would be if you could think of one friend or acquaintance who would enjoy the Classic Ghost Stories Podcast and share it with them! If every listener is helpful enough to do this for me, then we would double the podcast every week!Imagine that!The StoryToday’s story is a famous French short-story by a prolific and highly regarded author: Guy de Maupassant. In fact, he was known as the father of the short story!Guy de MaupassantDe Maupassant was a famous French short-story writer born in France in 1850, who died aged only 42 in 1893 in Paris. He is buried in Montparnasse cemetery.De Maupassant was considered a master of the short story form and his first story, set in the Franco-Prussian War Boule de Suif (A Ball of Suiet) was published in 1880 and is a great story. You may not know that the use of ‘de’ in front of the name (like von in German) indicates noble birth and De Maupassant’s mother urged his father to secure the right, from an ancestor, to so style himself.De Maupassant’s father was violent to his mother and the young lad was witness to this. His mother had the courage and support to separate from his father because of the violence and De Maupassant and his brother went with her. As this was the 1850s or so, this was very rare and very brave of his mother.At school, De Maupassant became friends with Gustave Flaubert. And he saved the life of the English poet Algenon Swinborne from drowning.As a profession, he was a newspaper editor and wrote fiction in his spare time. The HorlaThe Horla was first published in 1887, and is set in 1867 near Rouen in Normandy, France. The narrator is obviously a gentleman — a man of leisure who comes to believe that he is haunted by a monster, which later reveals its name as ‘The Horla.’ This is a nonsense word pronounced in French without the H- (so why then include it, monsieur de Maupassant?) but which I have chosen to pronounce in English with an h.De Maupassant was said to suffer from a mental illness and I recognise the symptoms of anxiety he describes at the beginning but which has become so advanced so that it develops psychotic features — in this case the delusion of the invisible being. There are clear paranoid elements, in that he believes the Horla is a superior being come to replace mankind. There is an example of the secondary rationality that you see in psychosis, where after the clearly irrational primary psychotic insight, in this case that he is possessed by the Horla, then rationality kicks in to explain how this could be so. In his case, he links it to a weird psychic vampire epidemic in Brazil and deduces he was infected when he saluted the Brazilian ship that went by on the Thames, before which he was fine. The power of the the Horla is the same domination of will shown by Dr Parent who hyptonises his cousin Madam de Sable.It all makes perfect sense, but of course is delusional.He shows relatively little remorse for burning his servants alive, I must say, though it wouldn’t be out of the way in many cases of paranoid psychosis that he believed them in on it. Though in this story they clearly aren’t.So, the Horla probably draws on De Maupassant’s real experiences of being mentally ill, but fictionalised. It is possibly this reality that makes the story quite unnerving. I remember being very disturbed by it when I read it first in my teens.MesmerismMesmerism or Animal Magnetism was brought to public attention in the 18th Century by the German doctor Franz Mesmer. It was a fairly weird theory of magnetic fluid, but I’mSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 34: The Queen of Spades by Aleksandr Pushkin

Sat, 08 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Aleksandr PushkinAleksandr Sergeyeviçh Pushkin was a Russian poet, playwright and novelist. He was born in 1799 in Moscow and died aged on 37 in St Petersburg. Hie was fatally wounded on a duel fought with his brother in law, a soldier who had attempted to seduce Pushkin’s wife.Pushkin’ great-grandfather was African, kidnapped from Africa, probably Cameroon, by the Turks and taken to Russia where he became the favourite of Peter the Great and rose to be a famous military engineer.Pushkin is rightly considered to be one of the greats of Russian literature and he was massively talented. He was a supporter of greater political freedom and so came under the surveillance of the Russian Tsar’s secret police, leading to his exile.The Queen of Spades story is very well written and there seems no superfluous detail or incident. The first scene of the gamblers sets up the story and Herman, who Pushkin leaves in the background while the story of the mystical St Germain and his grandmother’s magic secret of winning at cards is discussed. We realise, that though Herman is strangely quiet during this sequence it is because he is taking it all in. Herman begins to stalk the Countess and his sly plot is to get at her by the seduction of her young companion Lisa. Herman is so sly that he persists against Lisa’s initial refusal and Pushkin comments wryly that Herman knows the female heart. Be persistent, boys, is the message, and you will win her round. Many legal cases of stalking and harassment have begun with this mentality, of course.There is nothing admirable about Herman at all, which is important because we as readers know right from wrong and we want the villain to get his just rewards.I have a memory that some versions of the Queen of Spades have her winking, and so her wink, which might otherwise be comic, is sinister here.I also wonder who commands the grandmother to give the secrets of the cards to Herman against her will from beyond the grave? Is the ghost just saying this, or is she in league with another mysterious supernatural power who both want to see the scoundrel punished?Finally, it is the Queen of Spades, who must represent the spectral countess, that brings him down, winking as she does so.The Count de St GermainThe Count of St Germain was a real historical figure who lived in the 18th Century. One story claims he was the son of a prince of Transylvania. The Count was educated in Italy by the Medicis. Later in the 19th Century it was said that the Count was of Jewish origin, born in Alsace by the Rhine. He was a bit of a trickster and used many names. He is one of the late alchemists, but like them claimed to have discovered the Elixir of Life, or the Philosopher’s Stone, the goal of alchemy and claimed to have lived for five hundred years. Tales of his skill at magic abounded and so Pushkin incorporates him into his story.A later rumour has him arrested as a Jacobite spy in 1749 in London, just after the. Highland Rebellion for all you fans of Outlander. Later he appeared at the French court of Louis XV. Later still, he appeared in Holland during the Seven Years War.A man of mystery indeed: a man who knows secrets!FaroFaro also known as Pharaoh is a card game of French origin that generally was played for money rather than pure fun. It was popular in the 1800s, but gradually Poker became the favoured game for gamblers. Faro was popular among gamblers because it was easy to learn and gave good odds for gamblers. However, it was easily rigged by the gambling houses and caused a great deal of hardship and loss.The banker has an entire deck of cards and the players, known as punters. The Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 33: Dracula’s Guest by Bram Stoker

Sat, 01 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Bram StokerBram Stoker was an Irish author born in 1847 in Dublin. Stoker is probably the best known horror writer in the world (after Steven King!) and is famous for his fantastically best-selling novel Dracula. Interestingly, Stoker spent his first years in bed, stricken by an unknown illness , and then he went to school even becoming an athlete there!After school he got his Bachelor of Arts degree at Trinity College and then got a Master of Arts in 1875. Stoker’s early career was in the Irish Civil Service but on the side became the theatre critic for the Dublin Evening Mail, which was partly owned by Sheridan le Fanu, another Irish author of ghost stories who we have featured on the Classic Ghost Stories Podcast. Stoker also knew fellow Irish author Oscar Wilde. I guess Dublin was a small town in those days, especially in literary circles.In 1876, he became acquainted with the forceful English actor, Henry Irving after he wrote a nice review of Irving’s performance (Hint. You never know what good will come from nice reviews!)Stoker became Irving’s manager and followed him around Britain, which entailed a stay at Whitby (a place I love, and was last at just before Christmas) in 1880. Of course this is where Dracula comes ashore. Stoker died aged 64 in London.Though he is most famous for Dracula, Stoker obviously wrote other stories. This one, Dracula’s guest, which was later published as a short story was intended as the first chapter of the novel Dracula. In it, we have our nameless hero setting off on a day trip from Munich on Walpurgis Nacht. At the end, we realise that this young man is to be the guest of Dracula who writes from Bistritz in Transylvania.The hero of this story is obviously Jonathan Harker and Stoker’s publisher obviously saw no need for the first chapter in Munich, so Dracula begins in Bistritz.The style is very similar to Dracula. The hero does what all heroes in horror stories do, he goes somewhere he shouldn’t. Stoker paints a picture of Central Europe hooching with vampires. Young Mr Harker wanders into the tomb of the vampire countess from Styria (interestingly where Le Fanu (whom Stoker knew) set his story Carmilla — see previous episodes of this podcast. He is pulled out of the tomb by a might grasp, presumably Dracula’s and Dracula presumably blasts the poor vampire countess in her marble tomb with lightning, then sits on him, in the form of a wolf, keeping him warm in the icy cold. It’s a long way from Transylvania to Munich, but as Stoker reminds us: The Dead Travel Fast.MusicMusic is by the marvellous https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute)Download Charles Dickens The Signalman Free Mp3 https://bit.ly/dickenssignalman (Subscribe to our list and keep in touch with the podcast. Learn of new episodes and bonus Content. )Support our work PLUS you get a free story right now!(The Story Link is in the Thank You Email)Show Your Support With A Coffee!https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Buy the thirsty podcaster a coffee...)Final Request: The SurveyI want to know what you want. If you have three minutes, I'd be grateful to know what you think of The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast.https://my.captivate.fm/Click%20here%20to%20go%20to%20the%20Survey (Click here to go to the Survey)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 32: The Yellow Sign by Robert W. Chambers

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 22:02:00 -0000

Robert W. ChambersRobert William Chambers was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1865 and died in New York in 1933, aged 68.He was born to a well-off family; his father was a corporate lawyer with his own firm which did very well. Robert’s early love was art and of course this is evident in the story, The Yellow Sign. He first studied art in New York and then aged 21 went to Paris to study at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. When he returned to New York, he sold his illustrations to well-known magazines such as Vogue, but in 1887, while he was in Munich, Germany, he completed his first novel and then he began writing weird tales.At that time, the most prominent art movement was the Art Nouveau with its lines and curls drawn from plants and nature. His best known collection is The King in Yellow, from which this story The Yellow Sign, is drawn.This idea of a book that sends you mad is found in Lovecraft with his Necromicon but also in a story that I will read out one day, about Michael Scott the Scottish Wizard from the 12th Century whose book was kept in Wolsty Castle’s library suspended on an iron spike for fear of the occult knowledge it contained.And of course, books have been banned, notably by the Catholic Church with its famous Index, because of the dangerous information they are thought to contain.Chambers was admired by Lovecraft and perhaps because of that, has not been forgotten like some of his contemporaries.This story: The Yellow Sign, was one of my favourites. In reviews elsewhere they say that Tessie was a prostitute. She was not a prostitute: she was a nude model, which is not the same thing! Though she would have been looked down on by polite society in New York. Though she loves the painter Mr Scott, they can never marry because of her status, but she can be his mistress. I didn’t find Scott an unsympathetic character.I am not sure how much the story needed the love interest in fact, and it was when Chambers was exploring that theme that my interest flagged a little.I thought it was about time I did another American story. I enjoyed doing the accent and I also enjoyed doing the Cockney accent of the bell boy, but the best thing about the story for me was the Yellow Sign.First of all, we have the horrible watcher, and then the gruesome details from the bell boy that confirm his unnaturalness. There is a great comparison with a soft fat coffin worm, that is quite horrid. The occult sign that Tessie finds and gives to Scott seems destined for him and in fact there is a sense on an inexorable destiny that cannot be avoided.Some evil intelligence has planned all of this — brought the Yellow Sign to Scott and planted the King in Yellow Book in his library.And then, as the end comes, I think the approach of the King in Yellow — if that is who it is — is done very well. Very sensory and paced like a slow drum beat as the thing comes ever closer.So, this is a weird tale and a horror story, but I did say that I would be reading weird tales as well as specifically ghost stories.Let me know what you think!LinksWebsitehttp://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast (Classic Ghost Stories Podcast)MusicMusic is by the marvellous https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute)Patronage & Supporthttps://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Donate a Coffee)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become a Patreon)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 31: Back Along The Old Track by Sam Hicks

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 22:00:00 -0000

Sam HicksSam Hicks is an English writer based in London. She caught my eye when I read the splendid anthology https://amzn.to/2NwI8MN (Fiends In The Furrows) by Nosetouch Press. The story was then lifted to the https://amzn.to/3abxnsY (The Best Horror of the Year Vol. 11). These anthologies are stuffed with good stories, but Back Along The Old Track was one of the best.It’s strange that I don’t begin these show notes with Writer was born in 1800 and died in 1900 or suchlike because Sam is still very much alive and sounds in the pink. In the interview we talk about her influences; where the story is based, is it based on a real place, what are her influences and it was really fascinating to hear that she’s only been writing for three years full time.Sam is working on more stories and more of her good stuff is coming out in further anthologies as you can hear in the interview.This is a link to Sam’s Goodreads page https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3018664.Sam_Hicks (here.)Hope you enjoyed this modern story. It struck me that the English countryside features in many of these stories we're reading and we could almost chart a social history by listening to them. For example, we have The Old Nurse's Story which portrays a countryside peopled by aristocrats in their big houses and poor peasants in the 19th Century, then we have Man Sized in Marble where we have artists coming to rent a house among the poor peasants in the early 20th Century, and here in Back Along The Old Track, we have city folk in the early21st Century coming to a holiday let among the poor (well weird at least) peasants!Catch you all next week.TonyLinksWebsitehttp://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast (Classic Ghost Stories Podcast)MusicIntro music is by the marvellous https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute). Support them on BandcampPatronage & SupportPonder: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Donate a Coffee) to keep Tony goingConsider: https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become a Patreon)And please, rate, share and tell your friends about the Classic Ghost Stories Podcasthttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 30: The Housekeeper by Marjorie Bowen

Sat, 18 Jan 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Marjorie BowenMarjorie Bowen was the  nom de plume of Margaret Gabrielle Vere Long, born Campbell. Marjorie Bowen was born in 1885 in Hampshire, England, and lived a very interesting life, especially in a time when women were generally expected to be confined to the kitchen or  other minor supporting roles.Unfortunately her father was an alcoholic and abandoned the family and the was eventually found dead on the street in London. There must've been some money in the family, and those of us who are English are ever conscious to subtle indicators of social class. For example, working-class Englishwomen are never called ‘Gabrielle Vere Long’.  Another clue to the fact that she came of refined stock was the fact that she studied at the Slade School of Art and later in Paris. I was about to say that working-class people did not study at fine art schools when I remembered my own grandfather ,who was an Irish immigrant, in fact went to an art school in Edinburgh just after the First World War.In any case, Bowen was a talented writer. Even though she married a Sicilian (who died of tuberculosis) and then in Englishman named Long (who survived) , it was Bowen who supported the family through her writing. Her first novel The Viper of Milan was published in 1906. Her work was prolific and she produced over 150 published items and she seems to have liked lurid subject matters such as black magic and murder. All praise to her for that say I. Women have been expected to write stories about love and domestic situations and while that is well and good, why can't they write about murder andblack magic as well!This story that I've just read: The Housekeeper is from a collection called The Bishop of Hell. Although I love the title ‘The Bishop of Hell’, I prefer this story. Like the Bishop of Hell it's a period story set in a historical epoch that was on her own and Bowen makes a good job of creating authentic sounding dialogue. I think she also is brilliant at conjuring characters; and  though neither Beau Sekforde, his evil wife the Countess, or even the ghost Jane Sekforde, come out very sympathetically, they may not be sympathetic but they are strong and memorable.In constructing the story we see how she drops the scar on the ghost’s cheek early on when The Countess sees the ghost and doesn’t know who she is, and neither do we at that point, and then then explains the scar at the end causing us we as readers give a gasp of final understanding! Nothing suggests until the end that Beau Sekforde murdered his wife, but when we find out that there is a bottle of poison that the ghost has significantly tidied up, we are not surprised, and we marry that with our prior assessment of Beau Sekforde as a bounder and a cad and are not surprised to find him a murderer.The ghost does what ghosts often do and sets the moral order straight, and murderer is punished  I think Marjorie Bowen writes very well. Her prose is strong, her characters vivid, her dialogue convincing, and her story construction is admirable, but in this as in other stories in the anthology the Bishop of Hell I think the weak point is actually the supernatural elementEven so, I hope I enjoyed reading the story very much, and I hope you enjoyed listening to it.LinksWebsitehttps://ghostpod.org (https://ghostpod.org)Musichttps://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute)Patronage & Supporthttps://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Donate a Coffee)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become a Patreon)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 29: On The Brighton Road by Richard Middleton

Sat, 11 Jan 2020 07:00:00 -0000

Richard Barham MiddletonWhen I first read On The Brighton Road by Richard Middleton (known as Richard Barber Middleton in order to distinguish him from the many other Richard Middletons) I thought the story probably dated from the 1930s.  So when I saw that Richard Middleton was of a previous generation I was surprised because his writing has a very modern feel.Richard Middleton was very well regarded by other writers and I think his short story on the Brighton Road is a little masterpiece. One of his most famous stories is the ghost ship — in fact said to be one of the best ghost stories in the English language! I'm sure that at some point in the future I'll read it on the Classic Ghost Stories Podcast.The Preface to Middleton’s ghost ship and other stories is by Arthur Machen that well-known writer of horror and weird tales. Machen knew Middleton on the time in London particularly at the new Bohemian club. He was also a companion of Lord Alfred Douglas.Middleton was born in  Staines in the Greater London area which was then in the county of Middlesex in 1882 to a father who was an engineer, and a mother who had no profession, so presumably the family were well-off enough so that she didn’t have to work. Middleton died aged only 29, 1911 by suicide. In the pictures of him on the Internet they actually looks older than 29.Stephen Wayne Foster did an autobiographical article on Middleton using what little historical material there is. He was apparently a sensitive boy and unhappy as a child. As well as Arthur Machen thinking a lot of him pros master Raymond Chandler author of detective fiction such as the big sleep said that he thought Middleton was extremely talented, so much did Raymond Chandler put off his own writing career because he thought he could never be as good as Middleton.Middleton went to be a bank clerk aged 19 but didn't stick it and decided he wanted to make his career first as a journalist and then as a poet and started out on the Bohemian lifestyle in London.  Allegedly he spent his nights drinking in the New Bohemian Club in London.  In that he fits the stereotype of the damaged, substance abusing writer, that grew from that scene and which persists. Middleton’s most famous poem was The Bathing Boy which is very well regarded, and reading in  The Bathing Boy, I wondered, like many other authors of ghost stories, whether Middleton was actually gay, but I read in Stephen Wayne Foster’s article that he fell in love with various young women and mooned after them. Middleton failed to make a career in journalist and moved to Belgium, in his mid 20s. Middleton spent the last years of his life in Brussels in Belgium and was treated there for depression. The treatment at that time was with chloroform but, sadly, Middleton used the chloroform to end his life.http://www.williamapercy.com/wiki/images/A_poet's_death.pdf (http://www.williamapercy.com/wiki/images/A_poet's_death.pdf)LinksWebsitehttp://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast (Classic Ghost Stories Podcast)Musichttps://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute)Patronage & Supporthttps://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Donate a Coffee)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become a Patreon)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 28 The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Lady Cynthia AsquithLady Cynthia Asquith, born Charteris in 1887 in Wiltshire, England was an English aristocrat, best now known for her diaries and ghost stories. Her father was Hugo Richard Chatteris the 11th Earl of Wemyss which is a place in Fife in Scotland.Lady Cynthia Asquith married Herbert Asquith who was the son of the British prime minister. Lady Cynthia was also  well-connected in British literary circles: — a friend of DH Lawrence’s, she was also the secretary to JM Barrie who is most famously the author of Peter Pan. She worked with Barrie until he died in 1937 and he left her the bulk of his estate. Lady Cynthia was also a friend of another female writer of ghost stories LP Hartley. In terms of the ghost stories, as well as her own she became famous for being the editor of a whole series of anthologies put out by the Publisher’s Pan as The Ghost Book.The story which I have just read The Corner Shop is included in Roald Dahl’s anthology of ghost stories. In the introduction to that book, Roald Dahl says that he read hundreds of ghost stories and most of them were rubbish. He only included the ones he thinks are good in his anthology and I would agree with his choice. I like this ghost story by Cynthia Asquith. I like the evocation of the cold London winter’s night in the fog, with the hero stumbling into a candlelit curio shop. She paints the picture very well.In fact, I think that this story has many of the classic elements of a good ghost story. I'm writing a little article for the website on what I think makes a good ghost story as I'm reading so many of them at the moment. Certainly one of the key elements in a ghost story is the environment and we see  that in the cold foggy winter night, which is both hostile and cuts off the hero from the normal world. There is also an essential requirement in that the protagonist must end up somewhere quite otherworldly. In earlier fiction this was the Gothic Castle, but in the Corner Shop, the antique shop itself serves as the Gothic location. These locations have to be both terrible and enchanting and that’s certainly the case.A classic ghost story must also have a moral message. The message in this story isn't hidden at all it, and it is is that if you have a stroke of good luck you mustn't keep it to yourself! Play fair old man!Here the protagonist’s good luck and moral sense enables the ghost to rest in peace ultimately and so serves the moral purpose of the story. We often read that ghosts will wander until the task is concluded, and so here, as the finder of the frog gives half the money ultimately to charity, the ghost feels his guilt is resolved.The final thing I think that Asquith does well is that she misdirects the reader. But she does it in a way that the reader is probably guessing the outcome before the protagonist does so that allows us as readers to feel that we are very clever. We are probably guessing long before our hero that the old man is not in fact the caretaker, even though Asquith shapes the story to keep up the pretense right until the end. Until in fact the final sentence where it is that the ghost is revealed, although we possibly guessed it a little while before that. So another nice ghost story for the first week in January. I hope you enjoyed listening to it as much as I enjoyed reading it and I will be back with you next week to deliver another ghost story.http://ghostpod.org (ghostpod.org)Classic Ghost Stories Podcasthttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (Patreon)https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Kofi)Music by https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute)https://www.patreSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 27: The Experiment by M R James

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 08:00:00 -0000

The Experiment by M R JamesThis is the second story we have read on the classic ghost stories podcast by Montague Rhodes James. James is considered the master of the English ghost story. He is credited with modernising the form by abandoning many of its classic Gothic features. So we are unlikely to find ruined castles.  However, we have plenty of old churches, which are arguably the same thing as the Gothic castles.James was an academic and worked at both Kings College Cambridge and later at Eton College. Reading his stories it is obvious that he is an antiquarian with knowledge of looking through old texts. In reading this story I also wonder, as I have done before, whether James dabbled in demonology and necromancy. He has more than a passing acquaintance with this kind of material, even if it is only academically.Why Read The Experiment?When deciding to read The Experiment, I had wanted to find a ghost story specifically for New Year's Eve. However, although the story is titled a ghost story for New Year's Eve and it begins at New Year's Eve that is about all that it has to do with this time of year.Though not considered one of James’s best stories, I think the story is very well structured. It is only at the only at the end of the story is that the details that we've been given as the story proceeded finally make sense. For example, the first news we have is the Squire is dead and we don't suspect there is any foul play until we are specifically told  at the end of the story that a wife and her son were hung for the murder of her husband. Then it is very obvious what has happened.At this point we can the significance of James telling us that the Squire’s son is actually is his stepson. We are also told that the poor dead Squire was a generous man who was very generous and unstinting with his stepson. And this of course makes it all the worse to be repaid with such treachery and murder.The whole business of the rapid burial with no ceremony and no coffin, laid outside the church building also becomes only clearly obvious at the end. And it is only when we get the recipe for speaking to the dead – pure necromancy – that we realise the significance of the face cloth, and all the other carryings on that the mother and her son begin once they get the recipes by post from the dead Squire’s fellow sorcerer. The fate of the murderess and her accomplice is pictured in almost  an almost Don Giovanni fashion from the Mozart Opera.  And here, like there, the monstrous revenant returns accusingly. In The Experiment, the ghost doesn't even have to kill them himself, and instead, he drives them back to where they have come from with pure supernatural terror and they confess everything to the very same Rector that we began the story with, thus creating a neat narrative circle.LinksWebsitehttp://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast (Classic Ghost Stories Podcast)Musichttps://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute)Patronage & Supporthttps://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Donate a Coffee)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become a Patreon)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 26: A Christmas Meeting by Rosemary Timperley

Thu, 26 Dec 2019 09:00:00 -0000

Rosemary TimperleyRosemary Timperley was an English author born in 1920 who died aged 68 in 1988. She was a very prolific writer and published 66 novels and several hundred ghost and several hundred short stories. She particularly liked writing ghost stories and ended up editing several volumes of ghost stories and choosing other peoples.As well as writing she was a school teacher and taught English language and literature in schools in Essex and London. Very interestingly she also was an agony aunt from 1949 for a popular magazine. Her writing related to ghosts the most famous ghost stories are this one a Christmas Meeting which was published in 1952 and also the Mistress in Black published in 1969.This is a very short Christmas themed ghost story which I thought was appropriate for Boxing Day, or as I note in the audio version of the show notes: St Stephen's Day.I could see the twist in the tail coming for this story and I'm sure that you did also, as we have read a number of ghost stories together now and we can anticipate what will happen.A Christmas Meeting is a very modern story and the writing is modern but I thought that Rosemary Timperley put in some very sweet touches. And I particularly enjoyed her musings and descriptions of Christmas past. But she manages to evoke a lifetime of sweet memories.Though she was only 32 when she wrote the story she has a very sunny outlook on life and I like the way she says the time doesn't exist. Now you can take that anyway you want put on this Christmas holiday period I wish you all a lovely time and many happy memories of Christmases past and imaginings of Christmases future.All shall be well and all manner of things shall be well!LinksWebsitehttp://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast (Classic Ghost Stories Podcast)Musichttps://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute)Patronage & Supporthttps://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Donate a Coffee)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become a Patreon)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 25: The Old Portrait by Hume Nisbet

Wed, 25 Dec 2019 07:00:00 -0000

Hume NisbetHuman Nisbet was a Scottish born novelist an artist. He was born in sterling in Scotland and was trained as an artist from an early age. Nisbet moved to Australia at the age of 16.He spent a lot of time travelling around Australia and New Zealand and then returned to Great Britain.He first went back to London in 1872 but did not achieve great success with his art so went back to Scotland and became an art master in Edinburgh. Nisbet did achieve some success as a book illustrator.As well as his illustration work, much of his income came from writing rather than painting and he published 40 to 50 novels and volumes of poetry.As was in vogue at the time he wrote a number of ghost and horror stories. Again a lot of these were set in Australia where he spent a lot of time.Nisbet wrote vampire stories as well as ghost stories and this story here read out – the old portrait is a clever short story on a vampire theme. Most vampire stories have a Gothic object in which the vampire dwells. Most famously this is the castle in Dracula, but we also see the family castle and the ruins of Karnstein in Carmilla.I think it is legitimate to say that the picture frame in this story is in fact the Gothic habitation of the vampire. Once the narrator has cleaned up the picture frame he sees that the decoration he wants took as being fine art is in fact the exquisite working of worms and other deathlike themes. Very gothic.A nice short Christmas vampire story for you to listen to on Christmas Day!LinksWebsitehttp://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast (Classic Ghost Stories Podcast)Musichttps://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute)Patronage & Supporthttps://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Donate a Coffee)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become a Patreon)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 24: Smee by A M Burrage

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 06:00:00 -0000

Alfred McLelland BurrageBackgroundAlfred McClelland Burrage was an English writer who was born in London in 1889. Both his father and his uncle were professional writers and a relatively young age Burrage began to write fiction to support his family.As  well as being a writer , Burrage was a soldier in the First World War. He served in the First World War as a member of the Artists Rifles which was originally founded as a volunteer light infantry regiments. As a point of interest, after Burrage’s time the Artist Rifles became 21 Special Air service regiment one of Britain's elite forces.Burrage wrote a lot of stories but is now primarily remembered for his series of  ghost stories in titled some ghost stories. No less and authority than MR James praised Burrage’s books. If we remember MR James had very distinct ideas about what makes a goodstory. James believed that ghost stories should be terrifying as most of his in fact are. James was not such a believer in the amiable ghost story with a happy ending.Burrage’s first ghost story collection  Some Ghost Stories was printed in 1927 and his next collection of ghost stories was Someone in the Room was published in 1931.SmeeThis story Smee comes from Burrage’s second collection Someone in the Room from 1931. I think it has all the necessary elements of a good ghost story. In line with M R James’s  edict the ghost here is very subtle. There are no screaming jump scares here.  Mainly because they protagonist doesn’t know he’s touched the ghost’s knee, though you of course do!The description of wandering around in the dark is a staple of scary stories. In most scary stories you have to wonder why the protagonist is walking around in the dark on the road perfectly good nights. But A.M. Burrage has the craft to give us a very plausible reason why our protagonists are in the dark and unable to see but only feel the ghost.The little twist at the end is one that we should have seen coming but Burrage cleverly misdirects us by giving us the cold dark haired girl whom the narrator Tony Jackson wonders about being one of those women who don't have a high opinion of any men. As if such women exist!We suspect that he’s got it wrong before he does of course.LinksWebsitehttp://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast (Classic Ghost Stories Podcast)Musichttps://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute)Patronage & Supporthttps://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Donate a Coffee)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Become a Patreon)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 23: Between the Lights by E F Benson

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 07:00:00 -0000

I’m fond of E F Benson’s writing and once again like the Room in the Tower this has a dreamlike quality. The horror is produced from some kind of vision that the narrator, Everard, has.  He has a vision of antiquity, and a horrible antiquity at that, of little Picts! (My ancestors!!!)It’s a funny story in that it purports to be a Christmas Story and certainly the first part has all the elements: the snow outside, the cosy country house, the fire.Then we go back to a year before and I’m unclear why, because we have Country House at Christmas: Vision: Then October in the Scottish Highlands lost in the mist.  There is just a presentiment of horror and in that it is almost Lovecraftian, albeit  more subtly. I think this story would be more correctly characterised as a weird tale rather than a ghost story. Certainly there is no ghost as such.The horror is unexplained other than to say he was horrified by the bestiality of the inhabitants even though they don’t harm him. He should live round here.There are folk horror themes in that it references horrid rural people with their vile lives that scare good urban chaps like Everard. The Scottish gillie Sandy (what else!) shows a primitive fear of the little folk.He also has a way of layering clauses within clauses in his writing which makes it hard to read out loud!Proust does that too. I won’t be reading him.So, not my favourite though it is a Christmas Story to be read just before Christmas.Onward!Check out the Website. It’s growing. http://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast (http://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast)There’s always the matter of support. You can buy a Classic Ghost Stories Podcast T-shirt now via the website. How ‘bout that?And there’s Kofi https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker)And Patreon https://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)I’m off on a boat to Amsterdam tomorrow. You bet your bottom dollar I’ll be looking out for ghosts among the Christmas lights!Tonyhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 22: Saviourgate by Russell Kirk

Sat, 21 Dec 2019 08:00:00 -0000

There’s something quite Dickensian about this story. A man is shown his fate by a friendly ghost in a pub over a whisky soda or two. It transpires that he has not yet died, though he is on the cusp of it. For one thing he has considered suicide. But the ghosts Ralph Bain and the Canon don’t bother showing him the mistakes of his life, instead they engage him him metaphysical discussion.I don’t know enough of Kirk’s writing to know where he stood on Christian dogma. By instinct he was a Catholic and spiritual so he definitely believed in a spiritual dimension and from this story we might guess that at the very least he had a hope of an afterlife.There is something reminiscent of Henri Bergson, the French philosopher’s ideas on time and duration. Timeless moments!It is quite comforting to think that we can go back to that cosy pub on Christmas Eve and listen to the church bells peal in as they have done on that night since time out of mind. And we drink our whisky sodas and enjoy a wonderful sense of conviviality. Of course I’d be drinking IPA.The Canon tells Finlay that this eternal moment in the Cross Keys pub (I wonder whether he chose the Cross Keys as the name because crossed keys are associated with the church?) is a sign that he may experience grace in death.But the story has a moral purpose. The message, like Dickens’s message to Scrooge is, I think, don’t give up on life. Keep on going while you have it because things that appear not to be worthwhile can turn out to be rewarding with a little persistence and effort.Something might be accomplished however, given will, given spirit, given grace!A bit like this Podcast maybe!At the end Finlay has his choice sleep in the restful bed for eternity or struggle through the cold night in the hope, but not certainty, that he will accomplish something and not let his wife suffer alone.I think I know which choice we’d all make.Anyway, enough of that. More Christmas Stories to come before Christmas.https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 21 Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk by Frank Cowper

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 23:00:00 -0000

Christmas Eve on a haunted hulk by Frank CowperFrank Cowper  was born in 1849 and died in 1930. He was an English yachtsman primarily famous for his pioneering work in developing the whole business of modern cruising. He was primarily a sailor but gained fame with his book /Sailing Tours/ which described his voyages in his yachts.He clearly also was an accomplished writer  as we see it in this story /Christmas Eve on A Haunted Hulk/ has a very realistic style. The vividness of the description of his foray  through the marshes shows he was very familiar with this kind of terrain. One incidental gem of this story is the picture he gives of the provincial life of educated gentlefolk amongst the Victorian peasantry. I have no doubt that this was drawn from Frank Cowper’s actual experience. I suspect that the being stuck under his bed after falling out in the night is also an actual incident from his life.I read this particular story as part of my series of Christmas themed ghost stories leading up to Christmas this year. I have done /The Snow/ by Hugh Walpole and I anticipate doing a couple more Christmas stories before tackling Charles Dickens is /A Christmas Carol/. However there is many a slip twixt cup and lip and it may be that I do not get round to reading a Christmas Carol as I have rather a busy schedule between now and the winter festival itself.I am sitting alone here editing this audio file and trying to get it done before bed. I hope then you will forgive that I am not going to spend a lot of time talking about this story.In some ways it has elements similar to last week’s story /The Kitbag/ by Algernon Blackwood. In both tales, we have the sensory description of something going on that frightens yet does not actually touch the protagonist. Frank Cowper’s description of the cold and damp of the abandoned hulk was very convincing. The only other point I want to make is that it is not particularly Christmassy in tone. For one thing there is no snow! However this dreary cold rainy weather is far more characteristic of an English Christmas than the picture postcard snowman and Santa Claus we would like to believe in.Many things have happened since I last spoke to you however we now have a website. Please check it out. http://www.classicghoststories.com (Www.classicghoststories.com)As always, I beg you to share, rate and love the podcast. Let us grow strong!https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 20: The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood

Sat, 07 Dec 2019 07:00:00 -0000

Algernon BlackwoodAlgernon Blackwood was an English writer born in 1869 who ended up as a broadcaster on the radio and TV. His writing was very well received at this time and critics loved him. Even the great American author of weird tales HP Lovecraft cited Blackwood is one of the masters of the craft.Blackwood came from a well-to-do family and was privately educated despite that he was quite an adventurous man. He was interested in Hinduism as a young boy and his career was varied. For example, he ran a dairy farm in Canada and also hotel in the country. It became a newspaper reporter in New York City and was also a bartender and a model and also a violin teacher!All of this time, though he was always writing. He liked being outdoors and his stories often feature the outdoors. He was also interested in the occult and was a member of the hermetic order of the Golden Dawn along with such other characters is Arthur Machen and WB Yeats and Alisteir Crowley.I chose this story The Kitbag because it fitted in with the Christmas period we are approaching but the kitbag is not Blackwoods most famous story. His two most famous stories are The Willows which features a trip down the River Danube in central Europe and The Wendigo which is set obviously in North America.The Kitbag is a simple story in terms of its structure. In this case rather than the protagonist being the victim of his own wickedness as is often the case in horror stories Johnson here is a complete innocent. His only crime is to have partaken in the trial of a notorious murderer. Blackwood portrays Johnson as a likeable if somewhat naive chap who has been shocked by the horrible things he has heard. He has a good relationship with his boss whom he asks to lend him his kitbag when he plans a very innocent and refreshing Christmas break in the Alps skiing in the bright frosty air and dancing with red cheeked girls in the apres-ski.By an unfortunate error Johnson’s boss has sent the wrong kitbag and instead of the fine new one, he is given the exhibit that the murderer cut up the victim and stuffed them into. Johnson ends up with this stained monstrosity, which he only seems to find dirty and odd after he has long packed his socks and skates. It seems that the spirit of the murderer comes with the kitbag. We find out at the end that the supernatural happenings only occurred after the murderer. unbeknownst to Johnson, killed himself.The story is very simple but what Blackwood does very well is ratchet up the mounting tension of the old monster in the house scenario. We hear, and we become aware that something threatening is there but we never quite get a glimpse of it until the very end.The great ghost writer MR James ,who was also an admirer of Algernon Blackwood, talked about the importance of subtlety in ghost stories. James is very much against being too blatant and showing too much. I think we see this still in modern horror stories and I'm aware that the movie alien use this to great effect at the beginning and a different part of that movie series where by the monstrous alien is suspected and heard but not directly seen. I recently watched a film called The Ritual set in a forest in Norway and again until quite late in the film we went we didn’t see the monster. When the monster is just in your imagination it is far more terrifying than when it is portrayed on the screen.That’s it for this week. More Christmas ghosts to come.https://tonywalker.substack.com/ (Sign up to Our Blog For Free Stuff PLUS Exclusive Episodes for $5 Subscribers)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 19: The Snow by Hugh Walpole

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 08:00:00 -0000

Hugh Walpole was an English novelist born in New Zealand in 1884 and died in June 1941. His father was a clergyman and he was intended originally for a career as a clergyman but he  preferred writing and wrote his first novel in 1909. He was a prolific writer and wrote a novel a year. In common with many writers of ghost stories he was actually gay. He ended up living in the English Lake District not far from where I am now. And I often drive by his house. I have a particular tradition of driving on that side of the lake on New Year's Eve and looking down at the Christmas lights from the heights. The house certainly has a wonderful view and I would quite like to live there though I could never afford it. He ended up living with a policeman at the time when such things were illegal in England.Reading The Snow particularly after reading a number of Victorian novels, I found the style refreshingly modern and so it was actually quite easy to read. It presents a snapshot of upper-class English life in the provinces. Walpole  settled in Cumberland and though he gives his Cathedral town a made up name I can't help but see the Cathedral precincts of Carlisle Cathedral when he's describing the scene.Alice Ryder seems a vain, selfish, cruel woman, and certainly the first time I read the story, I thought she got her just deserts. But then when editing the audio, I came to the part where she speculates that the ghost of Elinor might in fact be there hovering about, and causing her to lose her temper with Herbert. And then I gained a little sympathy for her.Then again, the ghost warns her not to lose her temper with Herbert because if she does, it will be for the last time.  And what do you know - she goes on and loses her temper. Herbert maintains his quiet dignity and is rather a sympathetic character.  Though Alice Ryder is portrayed as quite the bitch, the first Mrs Ryder was no saint either. Herbert tells Alice that his first wife Elinor would never let go and though she adored him, he hinted that her tenacious fidelity was a bit overbearing.So which of the Mrs Ryders is the real villain here? Is it the young, vain, bitchy Mrs Ryder or the controlling unforgiving elder one?This week’s story was quite short compared with usual and recent ones but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I have been very busy in my life and I know that this week coming up I will be in London for three days so I wanted to get this in the can. One of the things we're going to do when we are there In London is to see the adaptation of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Stories_(play) (Ghost Stories )which is supposed to be very scary and is the talk of the West End. I'm not sure it has been to Broadway but I'm sure it has. It premiered in Liverpool.So that's it for this week remember the music is by the heart Institute and I'll put a link to that just below. You can buy me a coffee to the coffee app or you could just write and like the podcast on Apple podcast or stitcher or which ever podcast server you use.Go listen to music by http://bit.ly/2OvcmPO (Heartwood Institute)You could by me a http://bit.ly/2QKgHkY (Kofi)We also have some merch now!https://ebay.to/2XD0wYh (A mug!)http://bit.ly/2XD11l0 (Two T-shirts)Or you can rate, review and share the Podcast!Ta.Tata for NowTonyhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 18: The Old Nurse's Story by Elizabeth Gaskell

Sat, 23 Nov 2019 08:00:00 -0000

This story was written by Elizabeth Gaskell. Elizabeth Gaskell was born in 1810 in London and died aged  only 55 in 1865 in Hampshire. She was an accomplished novelist and with many successful novels in her time, but we are most interested in her ghost stories.She is one of the earliest writers that we have featured and I think you can tell that in the writing which seems a little archaic at times. An Old Nurse’s Story was published in 1852 and it is part of the Victorian tradition of Christmas ghost stories where the family would sit around the fire by candlelight and listen to ghost stories at Christmas. I think that is quite a delightful tradition and one that I would like to bring back.The Old Nurse’s Story features a lot of the Gothic tropes that we are familiar with. We have the castle or the grand old house which is so big and part of it uninhabited. It is set in a remote area. We've seen that Bram Stoker uses Transylvania while Joseph Le Fanu uses Styria in Austria. Even the far more modern Russell Kirk uses the backwoods of New England. What is amusing to me is that the remote trackless area that Elizabeth Gaskell uses is in fact my home region and I'm very familiar with the fells of Cumberland and Westmorland and Northumberland.It's ironic that I was more self-conscious of doing the accent and I think rather than having my own native Cumbrian accent I sounded a bit Yorkshire.It is actually quite a magnificent story and in common with many of the Victorian ghost stories Elizabeth Gaskell spends a lot of time describing the scenery. So we have a very clear picture of the huge and gloomy mansion. We have very romantic ghosts and in common with many ghost stories this is a moral tale. The older lady Miss Furnival pays in age for the sins of pride that she committed when she was young.The story winds towards its ending in quite a direct way but there wasn't any time when I was reading it that I thought that any part of it was surplus.I plan to do a series of Christmas ghost stories as we get closer to Christmas. This one isn't technically a Christmas ghost story but it is very wintry with snow and  cold.In terms of what I'm up to at the moment. We are quite busy with our ghost story evenings tour around in about the place. I am also editing an audiobook of my own which is the Cumbrian ghost stories, although this podcast gets in the way of doing that. I have a small volume of Christmas ghost stories out on Amazon which is selling quite well. It's a slim volume of three stories and there is an audiobook to go along with it if you fancied getting a copy of that from Audible.It seems the podcast goes from strength to strength and a number of listeners is increasing which is great news. We had another anonymous five star review on Apple podcasts but I'm not complaining because it was anonymous. In fact, thank you to the anonymous person who wrote thatAs always I wouldn’t treat you to like share and rate the podcast however you choose to listen to it.You can always support the podcast via https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Patreon) and I’ve got a new link to https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Kofi) so you can buy me a cup of coffee and there is no ongoing payment involved or commitment.I'm still looking for suggestions for stories to read after Christmas so please drop me a line through Twitter. On Instagram also. The music is by the Heartwood Institute so go and get copies of that on https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Bandcamp)Here’s my Twitter @classicghostst1Instagram is https://www.instagram.com/classicghoststoriespodcast/ (Classicghoststoriespodcast)You can buy Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 17: Behind the Stumps by Russell Kirk

Sat, 16 Nov 2019 09:00:00 -0000

Russell Kirk was born in 1918 in Plymouth, Michigan to a relatively modest family. He died in 1994, but between birth and death, he became arguably the foremost American theorist on Conservatism in his time. He wrote lots of books on political theory, but he also wrote ghost stories. I have a copy of his collection Ancestral Shadows. Kirk spent time in Scotland as a student at St Andrews and with a name like Kirk, he had some Scottish ancestry. A few of his stories are set in Kinross and Fife and others in England. He loved tradition and from his stories you see that he had respect for traditional spiritual values of Christianity.One of his first acclaimed stories was Behind the Stumps, and that’s why I’ve chosen to read it.This story has a lovely structure. First we get a description of Pottawattomie County. Then we learn how the government want to tax the folk there. Kirk was deeply conservative and disliked government, which comes out in the story. Next we get a detailed and well-drawn picture of Cribben, the tax enumerator. When that’s all done we set off to Bear City.Kirk paints nice portraits of the characters. We have Cribben of course but then the genial Matt Heddle as postmaster. Heddle is generally well-treated by Kirk, though he does say a couple of nasty things about him. Love the alcoholic hasn’t much of a role but we can picture him. Both Heddle and Love in their way are telling Cribben not to mess with the Gholsons.Love gives information about Cribben’s nemesis, though Cribben doesn’t listen. He’s too proud. Like all moral tales, he won’t mend his ways and therefore will be punished.There is an encounter with the main Gholson man in the street, who appears awful, but even he tells Cribben not to go near, specially on a Sunday and that foreshadows what Cribben is going to get. It also gives us the knowledge that Cribben’s heart is weak. This is to prepare us for the final scene so we understand how it happens.In the bleak scrubland which is reminiscent of Lovecraft’s ideas of the badlands of rural America where strange things go on since time immemorial. This is a folk-horror theme that we see in The Wicker Man, the Blood on Satan’s Claw, Witchfinder General and the recent Midsommar. He walks through the woods rather than taking the road. Usually that’s a sign that something bad will happen. You shouldn’t depart from well-trodden ways! But it doesn’t really. But he sees the house on the hill “indefinably mutiltated’.All the Gholsons, all the cats, hens etc, are absent from the farm.Some strange energy or power emanates from the farm where the old witch is housed undying. The young peasant girl watching is started by Cribben. I’m not sure what she represents, but I may be being slow here. Is it that the Gholsons themselves fear the house so they watch it? I guess that’s it.He looks at the house and sees that it is very odd. But he pays no heed.And then, fools rush in and Cribben enters the farm and you know what happens, all lovingly set up by Kirk for us to go aaah! to at the end.I guess that the old mother, who has no name, and who is neither dead nor alive is some kind of archetype. She is the devouring and life-giving mother (see how fertile the farm is).  She’s very fat — again to to with nurture. They’re terrified of her but fascinated. It’s all very Jungian.Don’t dream about this stuff. It’s unhealthy.Usual links:Support the Show!https://www.patreon.com/barcud (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Look at our Spooky Pictureshttps://www.instagram.com/classicghoststoriespodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/classicghoststoriespodcast/)Get in touch via Twitter@classicghostst1Music Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Epsode 16: Carmilla by J Sheridan Le Fanu (Part 3)

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 11:00:00 -0000

Carmilla Part 3Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu was born in Ireland in 1814. He was highly regarded both in his time and afterwards as a master of the ghost story genre. He wrote many wonderful stories, but here we focus on his vampire story Carmilla. I think it's very interesting and a little amusing, that Joseph's father -- in common with many writers of ghost stories as it happens -- was a strict Protestant churchman. I wonder whether Joseph Sheridan — or JT as I'm calling him — ever showed Carmilla , or read it aloud to his dad. Le Fanu was a master of Gothic description, and in Carmilla his abilities are at their height. For me one of the most engaging descriptions is that of the castle in the deep and inaccessible forest in Styria in Austria. It is almost poetic. We also have great descriptions of the graveyard at Castle Karnstein towards the end of the story and the masked ball scene which is related to us by the general also sounds splendid.The masked ball from Carmilla was borrowed and done very lushly in the movie Van Helsing where Kate Beckinsale, one of my favourite female vampires, looks lush indeed.Some of the sensuality between Camilla and the protagonist is described in almost erotic detail. I think that Le Fanu was not naive about this and , of course, he had to sell stories to make a living and he did this very well.. The stock characters such as the woodsman and the bizarre Baron Vordenburg who acts as a Van Helsing type vampire expert that comes in to solve all the problems towards the end, are both fun.In terms of the structure of this novella, I feel it could actually have been a novel. The ending to me was a little bit rushed. Camilla disappears and then it's sorted and fixed within minutes it seems. As I was reading it my imagination extended it to as throughout Italy and Europe with Camilla visiting the protagonist in her bed and then hunting her much as the gang do in Dracula. That being said, there is a nice structure to the story in that almost the first thing that happens is that the expected female guest is now tragic tragic not coming giving a great disappointment to our Laura the protagonist.The general in his letter is very disturbed but we are not told why and so kept in suspense until the end when the General neatly appears, closing the circle of the story. I guess we anticipate something like this happeningNext time I'm going to do something shorter and American I have in mind doing one of Russell Kirk stories. Although Kirk was an American writer and he set a lot of his ghost stories in England and there is one I want to do around Christmas so I'm debating whether to do that in an English or American accent.In terms of podcast business, we had a lovely review on iTunes from Gabby which I was delighted to read, so thank you Gabby for that.Reviews likes and shares are the lifeblood of the podcast and enable it to surge forward to ever increasing popularity which is my aim — obviously.I therefore politely but wholeheartedly encourage you to like, share and support the podcast. I think reading so much wordy Victorian stuff, influences one’s vocabulary!If you listen to podcasts in general you will be aware that the podcasters always make a play for you to join up and subscribe and support the podcast. I put the link down below just in case you fancy doing that.You may notice that I changed the podcast music; because I actually lost the original MP3 of the other so this is a royalty free one called Ben sounds scary music.Case I'm rambling again. I’ll have a story for you again next week.Download Charles Dickens The Signalman Free Mp3 https://bit.ly/dickenssignalSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 15: Carmilla by J S Le Fanu (Part 2)

Sat, 09 Nov 2019 11:00:00 -0000

I won't say much about Le Fanu. This is Part 2 of Carmilla after all.Download Charles Dickens The Signalman Free Mp3 https://bit.ly/dickenssignalman (Subscribe to our list and keep in touch with the podcast. Learn of new episodes and bonus Content. )Support our work PLUS you get a free story right now!(The Story Link is in the Thank You Email)Show Your Support With A Coffee!https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Buy the thirsty podcaster a coffee...)Final Request: The SurveyI want to know what you want. If you have three minutes, I'd be grateful to know what you think of The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast.https://my.captivate.fm/Click%20here%20to%20go%20to%20the%20Survey (Click here to go to the Survey)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 14: Carmilla by J S Sheridan Le Fanu (Part One)

Sat, 02 Nov 2019 09:00:00 -0000

Joseph Sheridan Le FanuJ S Le Fanu was born in Dublin to a family of mixed descent. His father’s line were French Huguenots hence the French surname. Like many horror and ghost story writers his father was actually a clergyman. He studied law as his career at Trinity College Dublin. He didn't actually live in Dublin at the time but you could do a kind of distance learning. He became editor of a literary magazine at this time.Le Fanu was active in the campaign to try and stir the British government to do something about the Irish famine. It didn’t work.He wrote in many genres he is most famous for his horror stories. But in general his horror stories are understated and emphasise atmosphere rather than pure horror.Carmilla is one of Le Fanu’s most famous stories. It is the prototypical Lesbian vampire novel. Possibly because of that it has become famous. This book of course was written at a time when Queen Victoria famously declared the ladies did not do such things. Not that they do in Carmilla either, they just get close,One of the charms of the story is it setting. It contains many of the romantic elements famous from Gothic fiction. It has the beautiful ancient and partly ruinous schloss in the middle of the Carinthian forest.I imagine that some of the descriptions of the two girls kissing and hugging was quite risque for its time. But it is perhaps because of this that Camilla has been made into films and adapted into different media across the years since its publication in 1872.Download Charles Dickens The Signalman Free Mp3 https://bit.ly/dickenssignalman (Subscribe to our list and keep in touch with the podcast. Learn of new episodes and bonus Content. )Support our work PLUS you get a free story right now!(The Story Link is in the Thank You Email)Show Your Support With A Coffee!https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Buy the thirsty podcaster a coffee...)Final Request: The SurveyI want to know what you want. If you have three minutes, I'd be grateful to know what you think of The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast.https://my.captivate.fm/Click%20here%20to%20go%20to%20the%20Survey (Click here to go to the Survey)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 13 (unlucky for some): The Tower by Marghatina Laski

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 19:00:00 -0000

Consistently rated as one of top scary stories ever...#Marghanita Laski#  was an English journalist and author,  born in Manchester to a family of Jewish intellectuals.  She herself was an atheist and an advocate of nuclear disarmament. She was very intelligent and went to Oxford. She died in 1988 aged 67. She later lived in London at Hampstead (where I’d like to live if I lived in London: the home of psychoanalysts and left-wing intellectuals). Though popular and highly regarded in her day, a lot of Laski’s work is now out of print. This story: The Tower is consistently rated as one of the most ferrying ever written, even though it is pretty short.Because of that, I had to hunt down a copy and read it.I wasn’t terrified. There may be something I’m missing here. The story is well-written and the prose elegant. She conjures the picture of the upper middle class family life of a British Council official in Italy with only a few brush strokes.I read the story alone and late at night. I’d just watched a recent horror movie #A Dark Song#, which is about #black magic# and a lot scarier, but even so, with book and movie added together  I slept like a baby.I get the issue about the number of steps, but still, I don’t get it. Maybe I’m missing something. I get that she’s like Giovanna and she had fallen into the clutches of the evil black magician Niccolo and that like Giovanna: she is lost, she is damned as she descended into presumably hell…However, it did remind me of a scary episode I had. Once I was at https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186632-d215173-Reviews-Charleville_Castle-Tullamore_County_Offaly.html (#Charleville Castle# )in Co. Offaly, #Ireland. I went there a lot of times on ghost hunts and horror events to be honest, but they had this ruined tower in the castle. I decided to climb up the spiral stone stair that went to the ruined top to see how far I could get. There was no hand rail, just a drop and the steps were stone slabs coming out from the walls. One or two of them had come away, but you could step to the next. The the tower seemed to slope in and the slabs got narrower and narrower and the wall pressed in on me. Unlike Caroline, I realised I needed to turn back before I got to the top. So I turned and looked back at the narrow stone slabs and the huge drop and the missing steps and I panicked.But, like Caroline, I realised I just had to go down. No question about it. So, bricking it, as we say, I descended and got to the bottom. Not to hell. I believe I had a nice glass of wine after that. I quite fancy one now, but we’ve no alcohol in the house.If you figure out what’s so scary about The Tower, let me knowIf you were helpful enough to do some or any of these following things for me, I would be immensely grateful. I swear down I would.————————Share the Podcast to your friendsRate the Podcast on Apple or elsewhereBuy me a coffee via https://paypal.me/gospatric (Paypal)Sign up as a Patron for $1 a month to keep me going on  http://www.patreon.com/barcud (Patreon) https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 12: The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 22:00:00 -0000

 #Edgar Allen Poe#Needs no real introduction. He was in some senses the man who began the horror genre. There had been Gothic fiction before but Poe made it macabre and strange. I see some influences or commonalities between him and the French poet Baudelaire with his Flowers of Evil, or the French novelist J K Huysman’s with his studies of Satanism and Decandence. The insanity in Poe is also matched in the Austrian writer Gustav Meyrink. I must read some Meyrink for you, though I’m not aware of any short stories of his.Tell Tale Heart is a first person story narrated by someone who is at pains to assure us that he is not crazy, though pretty much as soon as he says it, and certainly with a few sentences further said, we know he is.There is a view that it is the story of a perfect crime, but it seems far from that to me. It seems pretty unhinged. He is never going to get away with this crime. He buries the dismembered body under the planks of the floor. That is going to smell, believe me. Not that I know from personal experience.I had a bit of a disaster this week. I had recorded the English writer Robert Aickman with his longish Zombie story: Ringing the Changes, but the flipping computer packed in after 15 minutes. An hour later I found out the story hasn’t recorded except the first fifteen minutes.So I had nothing. I then recorded this one. I know, I think I know, (I sound like the man in the story) that listeners prefer longer stories that are American. This is short, but it is American which is a compromise. If you were helpful enough to do some or any of these following things for me, I would be immensely grateful. I swear down I would.————————Share the Podcast to your friendsRate the Podcast on Apple or elsewhereBuy me a coffee via https://paypal.me/gospatric (Paypal)Sign up as a Patron for $1 a month to keep me going on  http://www.patreon.com/barcud (Patreon) https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 11: The Monkey's Paw by W W Jacobs

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 22:00:00 -0000

The Monkey’s Paw was written by an English author W W Jacobs and published in 1902 in his collection The Lady of the Barge. "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monkey%27s_Paw (The Monkey's Paw)""The Lady of the Barge""Bill's Paper Chase""The Well""Cupboard Love""In the Library""Captain Rogers""A Tiger's Skin""A Mixed Proposal""An Adulteration Act""A Golden Venture""Three at Table"The Monkey's Paw is the only one to have survived. It seems to have caught the public's imagination and that is perhaps because it is an archetypal morality tale and has themes of not tempting fate and being too proud, themes that go back to Ancient Greek theatre.Jacobs was born in London in 1863 and died in London during the Second World War in 1943. He was most known as a comedy writer in his time, but he also wrote #horror stories#, the most famous of which is this one: The Monkey’s Paw.As we seem to have some interest in the political views of our writers, we note that his wife was a Suffragette (votes for women in the UK) and he had left wing views as a young man but as an older man described himself as ‘conservative and individualistic’The Monkey’s Paw has been made into a film a number of times, first in in 1915, 1923, 1933, and in 2016.  In 1928 it was made into a radio play and again 1988 which was rebroadcast in 1993 and then another version read by Christopher Lee was made in 2004! It’s a classic morality tale: don’t trust genies or other supernatural agents who promise you wishes, because it will all go wrong. Usually it’s because the wish twists things in a malevolent way like in this one, or the Genie or Mephistopheles takes you at your literal word.  They’re always out to trick you, don't you know.https://amzn.to/2LhO9vy (The Monkey's Paw on Amazon)https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 10: The October Game by Ray Bradbury

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 22:00:00 -0000

  #Ray Bradbury# Is the most modern author we’ve read so far in the #Classic Ghost Story# podcast. He was born in Illinois in 1920 and died in 2012 in Los Angeles.His most famous book is Fahrenheit 451 which he wrote as a young man in 1953. This story is set in a Dystopian future where books are burned and the fireman set any alight they find. The title is due to the temperature at which paper will catch fire.Bradbury hinted that Farenheit 451 was a warning against totalitarian states and state censorship. He wrote it during the McCarthy era. Otherwise Bradbury seems to have had pretty reactionary views.But we digress. He also wrote #horror stories# and The October Game features in a collection called The October Country. This is in fact a horror story. There’s nothing much supernatural about it but it is much anthologised in dark fiction collections. We suspect pretty soon what’s going to happen (though maybe not its full extent) and Bradbury has the skill to draw us in as spectators to the inexorable train wreck that we can see but not stop.The narrator is pretty much wholly unpleasant. Sure, he didn’t get a son but even that play for our sympathy soon palls when we begin to suspect what monstrous horror he is going to enact against an innocent just to pay back his vile rage and sense of entitled injustice. No, I didn’t like him.  Even so it was only when they were in the cellar I began to suspect just how appalling his act was going to be.The story structure is masterful. It drives from beginning to end on one track. It never deviates, just builds up the fascinated appalled concentration on The Husband.Yuk. I’ll read something nicer next week. In fact I already have, but I wanted to make sure you had this horror for Halloween.If you were helpful enough to do some or any of these following things for me, I would be immensely grateful. I swear down I would.————————Share the Podcast to your friendsRate the Podcast on Apple or elsewhereBuy me a coffee via https://paypal.me/gospatric (Paypal)Sign up as a Patron for $1 a month to keep me going on  http://www.patreon.com/barcud (Patreon) https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 8: The Phantom Coach by Amelia Edwards

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 22:00:00 -0000

Amelia Edwards was born in 1831 in London, England. As such she is one of the oldest writers we’ve read so far in this podcast. She died aged only 60 in Weston Supermare, a seaside resort in the west of England.She came from a wealthy background and didn’t have to work, but she was a very successful writer based on her own talents.She was in fact a very talented woman and had the potential to be a professional artist though her father, a banker, frowned on that as a career. She also made home with a woman, long before such things were accepted by polite British society.She was also an Egyptologist and after a cruise down the Nile and a long stay among the monuments, she devoted all of her efforts to saving the Egyptian monuments and took a lecture tour over several years in the United States to promote the cause.The Phantom Coach is a much anthologised story and it has some wonderful description. I think the story falls into three parts: lost on the Moors and despite what most commentators think, I suspect this is Northumberland rather than Yorkshire given what she says about the ‘far’ north of England. Despite that I have given Jacob a fudged Northern English accent which isn’t very Northumberland but draws on my native Cumbrian accent.The first part is well-done: lost. Then our man is found. He goes to a Victor Frankenstein type natural philosopher who has withdrawn from the world and lives with his alchemical and other vaguely occult thoughts, bitter that science has turned its back on spirits. Frankenstein by Mary Shelly was published in 1818, so predating Amelia by a way. Madame Blavatsky who founded the Theosophical Society was born the same year as Amelia so maybe the occult was in the air. The third part, which is a standard haunting story is very well described. The only connection I think it has with the Magus bloke in his remote house is that he has spoken about the reality of spirits: and here they are proved. No real moral point in this week’s story. Unlike the later bleak works of the early 20th Century, there is a happy ending!Support Us!Ways to support Tony to keep doing the show:https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/classic-ghost-stories-923395 (Share and rate it!) http://bit.ly/2QKgHkY (Buy Tony a coffee) to help with the long nights editing!Become a http://bit.ly/barcudpatreon (Patreon) to get additional stuff and allow the show to go on in the long term. Website http://bit.ly/ClassicGhostStoriesPodcast (Classic Ghost Stories Podcast) MusicMusic is by the marvellous https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute) Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 9: The Moonlit Road by Ambrose Bierce

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 22:00:00 -0000

Ambrose Bierce was a prominent American author in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. He is most famous for his Devil’s Dictionary. He served in the Union Army in the American Civil War and his military experience forms the background of many of his stories.He was born in a log cabin at Horse Cave Creek, Ohio. His ancestors were English puritans. By trade he began as a printer and he was later a journalist. He was a controversial figure often mired in argument and litigation. At the age of 71, heading for a tour of his old Civil War battlefields, Bierce disappeared. He wrote a letter from Chihuahua, then he disappeared. He was never found.Bierce published the Moonlit Road in 1907.  This was just about the start of the literary and artistic movement known as Modernism, though its roots can be traced a little further back. While other classic ghost story authors are distinctly Victorian, the heyday of the ghost story, arguably, Bierce appears far more Modern, or even Modernist.In the Moonlit Road, for example, Bierce uses multiple narrators giving overlapping, but distinct viewpoints of the same event. He uses this technique in other stories. It’s only through the composite that we see what has (may have) really happened, and even then, there are things missing.There are three narrators to this story, the son, the father (gone mad and forgetful of his true identity) and the mother (now dead as a mournful ghost). The three together give us a fairly clear view of what has happened, but the fourth narrator is missing. Who is the mysterious figure leaving the house by the back door? It’s this figure that drives the husband into a jealous rage, leading him to kill his wife. And his wife is unaware that it is her husband that killed her. He thinks the figure is her lover. She thinks the figure is some monster. Why does the figure hesitate to come in and leave without encountering the wife?Is the figure a real man? A thief? Or the personification of Death himself — soon to visit Mrs Hetman. The leaving out of the fourth witness to the tragedy is masterful, but then so much of Bierce is masterful.https://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 7: Man Sized in Marble by Edith Nesbit

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 22:00:00 -0000

Edith NesbitEdith Nesbit was an English novelist born in 1858 in Kennington, which was then Surrey and is now part of London. She died in 1924 in the next county from where she was born.Nesbit is most famous for her children’s books and her most famous work The Railway Children is well beloved. I loved her Five Children and It stories which I read in a Victorian house all decked out for Christmas one year. That was splendid as the owner of the house had a great sense of interior decoration (though she was also rather too fond of a drink as I found out when I grew up)Like most Victorian novelists she had a dabble in ghost stories. They sold well at the time. This one, Man Sized in Marble appears in a lot of anthologies.It’s a story that is more impressive on the second reading (or hearing). The first time through you don’t pick up on all the little hints and foreshadowings that something dreadful is going to happen. In fact, Laura’s death wasn’t foreseen by me, which is the sign of a good story.There is a lot of nice Gothic description of the woods and the moon and the church as well as the house lit by candles and tallow tapers. I was going to do The Nurse’s Tale this week, but this took precedence. I am going to do The Phantom Coach next week, but I’m itching to do something American again to perfect my accent. I appreciate it may take more than one story to do that.So, I’m thinking Ambrose Bierce. Any suggestions welcome.My new book is out. Hard copies arrived today. Very exciting. I’m still doing voiceover and narration work if you need any of that done. I find most people don’t.As ever, still spending more on the podcast than I earn, so if you fancy helping me out, check outTo show your appreciation, why not subscribe to Substack. Free gets all the free stuff and $5 a month gets you all the exclusive stories and episodes.https://tonywalker.substack.com/ (Subscribe)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 6: The Open Door by Charlotte Riddell

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 21:00:00 -0000

Charlotte Riddell was born in 1832 in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. After she married she moved to London where she lived most of her life and died in Ashford in Kent in 1906. Riddell was a very prolific novelist and well known in the Victorian period. She actually owned and ran a Literary Magazine in the second half of the 19th Century. The Open Door is considered a classic Victorian ghost story and it reminds me of some of Wilkie Collin’s stories which are more or less contemporary. The Open Door is both a ghost story and not a ghost story. It has elements in it reminiscent of Scooby Doo and if hadn’t been for the pesky sacked insurance clerk, maybe you know who would have got away with itBut for all that the opening of the door does appear to be supernatural. It simply won’t stay shut and breaks of the handle of the gimlet. We don’t use gimlets much these days, but once I looked up what a gimlet was the phrase ‘gimlet eyed’ became more understandable.And then there is the monstrous figure that appears at the end. This seems to truly be a ghost and the apparition reminds us that the function of ghosts in stories is often a warning and a demand that murder or other outrages be put right and justice be done.Banquo’s Ghost in MacBeth and Hamlet’s father in Hamlet do much the same. It’s all about revenge.The story is a pretty straightforward adventure but there are a couple of nice touches. Phil Edlyd’s uncle seems a nice chap. He uses dialect thee and thou, which is a nice homely touch. Another endearing feature is that Phil longs to be a country boy. He loves horses such as old Toddy and he luxuriates over the descriptions of the beautiful summer countryside outside Ladlow Hall. In the end he gets to be a farmer with his beloved Patty.The Victorian ghost story was an outgrowth of the Gothic novel, a specialist sub-branch if you like. Ladlow Hall functions as the ruined castle/abbey etc of the Gothic novel.All in all a nice piece. Unpretentious but sweet. Not scary.But then ghost stories are really scary. They’re not horror stories you know. And besides after the Human Caterpillar there’s not much can scare we moderns anyway.Support Us!https://tonywalker.substack.com/about (Subscribe For All Episodes!)MusicMusic is by the marvellous https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute) Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 5: August Heat by W F Harvey

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 19:00:00 -0000

August HeatW F Harvey was a Yorkshireman, born in 1885 and died in 1937. He was a Quaker and suffered from ill health all his life. He joined an ambulance unit in the First World War but then went to work as a surgeon-lieutenant in the Royal Navy. He actually won a medal for saving lives but suffered from lung trouble the rest of his life from that rescue, though that didn’t stop him smoking a pipe.He published his first collection of short stories called The Midnight House in 1910 and his second in 1928 called The Beast with Five Fingers.The Beast With Five Fingers is a splendid story was was made into a film in 1946 starring Peter Lorre. I remember watching it at home with my parents and being really creeped out. The next time I watched it as an adult, I realised it was a comedy.This is a short piece of fiction. We’d almost call it Flash Fiction these days. August Heat is strong in its depiction of atmosphere of the hot August weather. The weird coincidence of the two men encapsulating each other in their own particular forms of art is strange. These days, it isn’t really unnerving. And the long established trope of leaving the reader to wonder whether he will actually die that night before midnight - and he’s got less than an hour left, is fun, but wouldn’t satisfy the modern reader.I’ve tried it and you get one starred into oblivion if you try that kind of trick on Amazon.I would be most grateful for any shares, ratings or reviews on the Podcast Channels and if you would like to, there are links to support the show through a small donationhttps://www.patreon.com/barcud (Support the show) (https://www.patreon.com/barcud)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 4: Bewitched by Edith Wharton

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 13:00:00 -0000

Edith Wharton, nee Jones, (born New York 1862, died aged 75 in France) was a famous American novelist. Her nickname interestingly was Pussy Jones. She was very high society and was a debutante and socialite. She was also a very good writer.Wharton wrote best-sellers such as The Age of Innocence, which won the 1921 Pulitzer prize, and Ethan Frome. She also wrote short stories, and among those short stories were several ghost stories.I think the first scene shows Wharton's mastery of her art. She introduces the three ordinary, taciturn men who are summoned without knowing why to the house of stern mrs Rutledge. She sets the scene: it's an isolated, rural area with primitive customs. Even more isolated at this time of the year because of the snow. Then she introduces the issue of her husband dilly-dallying with a revenant to much consternation and anger. The first scene ends with the dramatic entry of Mr Rutledge, who has precious little to say for himself. The characters are so well drawn and we end with a promise.The themes of rural isolation and old customs held by primitive folk is echoed throughout the later weird literature with Lovecraft making judicious use of it in the same New England, and then the Folk Horror films of the 1970s do the same in rural Old England (and Scotland for The Wicker Man). We see the same theme of rurality and superstitious ancient customs in this year's folk horror movie Midsommar, set in Sweden.And then the party breaks up. By chance they go to the scene of the haunting earlier than planned. There, Brand shoots someone in the ruined house (another trope). They've seen footprints on the snow both too light to be human and the snow too cold to be borne by a living person, so that seems to set up the ghost as real. But who does Brand shoot?Then the ghost's sister dies. Did Brand shoot his own daughter? If he did, then this is no ghost story, but presumably the Rutledge's knew the difference between the dead and living daughter? Unless old Saul Rutledge is just an old dog and knows fine well that the flesh he's enjoying is warm and alive but it suits him to portray it as a haunting...I don't know. After the funeral, Mrs Rutledge's plain ordinary words seal the community as a coming back to their plan old ordinary ways, the "forbidden things" as the Deacon repeats, put away (but not forgotten)Next week, I think I'm going to do Lovecraft's Dagon, though I am being pulled towards Le Fanu's Carmilla, which is quite long and would need a couple of episodes.We shall see.https://tonywalker.substack.com/about (Subscribe For All Episodes!)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 3: Whistle and I'll Come to You by M R James

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:00:00 -0000

M R James is known as the father of the English ghost story. He wasn’t the first to write ghost stories, but he was the finest of his generation whose work continues to be published and re-presented as TV shows and radio plays.He was born in 1862 at Goodnestone in Kent. His father was a clergyman and was rector of Livermere in Suffolk. East Anglia features as the setting of many of M R James’s stories. James’s ‘proper job’ was as an academic and he had a distinguished academic career at King’s College in Cambridge where he became dead in 1889 and finally provost in 1905. He was awarded a doctorate in literature by Cambridge in 1895 and honorary doctorates by Trinity College Dublin and St. Andrews University in Scotland.He moved to become provost of the famous Eton College, supplier of many prime ministers of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in 1918. He was a trustee of the British Museum from 1925.In 1893, James began his tradition of reading ghost stories at Christmas by candlelight to a hushed circle of his colleagues and friends. His geographical background in East Anglia is evident in many of his stories, as well as his bicycling trips to Europe. Many of his heroes are fumbling academics and Latin and old manuscripts and church architecture also features strongly.He clearly had a knowledge of the occult and demonology, though he was not known to be a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, as were other writers of ghost stories such as Algernon Blackwood and Arthur Machen. Oh Whistle And I’ll Come To You, My Lad! Is the title of a poem by the Scottish poet Robbie Burns, and James borrowed this title though Burn’s story concerns a jilted lover. Perhaps he borrowed it because the central item in the story is the ancient whistle found in the sand covered ruins of the old abbey, which when blown, seems to summon the spirit that haunts the narrator.The Latin inscription: Quis est qui venit? Means ‘Who is this who comes?’ The other inscription around the plus sign, or cross, is a puzzle of a Latin proverb: Fur Flabis Flebis which means, ‘Thief, if you blow; you will weep.” And in one sense, though a finder, our man is a thief, and when he blows, he certainly does weep.It is the sheer weirdness of the ghost that is unnerving, and James is the master of this disturbing oddness which is not quite the same as Lovecraft’s Cosmic Horror in his weird tales or later Robert Aickman’s unnerving unnaturalness in his ghost stories.The closest parallel I find to James’s inexplicable and disturbing weirdness is in David Lynch’s movies, particularly Inland Empire and the Third Season of Twin Peaks.Support Us!https://tonywalker.substack.com/about (Subscribe For All Episodes!)MusicMusic is by the marvellous https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute) Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 2: The Room in The Tower by E F Benson

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 12:00:00 -0000

Edward Frederic Benson was born in 1867 at Wellington College in Berkshire, England and died in 1940 in London of throat cancer aged 73. Benson’s father was E W Benson who was Archbishop of Canterbury, the highest office in the Anglican Church and the Anglican version of the Pope! His father had been bishop of Truro in Cornwall and Benson sets some of his horror stories in Cornwall.Benson’s elder brother wrote the words for that famous English patriotic song: Land of Hope and Glory. He went to the private Marlborough School and then studied at King’s College in Cambridge. After he graduated in 1892, he went to Athens where he worked for the British School of Archaeology and then in Egypt also engaged in the promotion of archaeology. His elder sister Maggie was an Egyptologist.He was also a good figure skater, and represented England.In 1883, he published his first novel which was very successful. He was most famous for his Mapp and Lucia satirical novels. As well as his Mapp and Lucia novels and his ghost stories, Benson wrote biographies, including of Charlotte Bronte.Benson was upper class and wealthy and also a confirmed bachelor, meaning he was gay, though not publicly in those days. In his diary he noted he fell in love with Vincent Yorke, a famous cricketer, who apparently did not return his affections. He shared a villa in Capri, Italy for while with another John Ellingham Brooks a pianist who moved to Capri apparently fearing prosecution for being gay.His lifestyle of leisure; of country house parties and taking shooting lodges in the Scottish Highlands forms the background for many of his stories.Benson is a good writer of ghost stories and this one, The Room in the Tower, is particularly unnerving. The scene is set by the story of a recurring nightmare, followed by an apparently innocuous invitation to a weekend at a country house, where element after element matches his nightmare, down to repeated phrases. The tower, where he is set to sleep, is apparently haunted by a vampire; Mrs Stone.The story has an air of real experience about it and I wonder whether Benson himself had a recurring nightmare, or poached the idea from the real experience of a friend. I was told a similar story by a young woman I met and this dream, and Benson’s story The Room in The Tower were the inspiration for my own story: He WaitsMusic is by the marvellous https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute) Download Charles Dickens The Signalman Free Mp3 https://bit.ly/dickenssignalman (Subscribe to our list and keep in touch with the podcast. Learn of new episodes and bonus Content. )Support our work PLUS you get a free story right now!(The Story Link is in the Thank You Email)Show Your Support With A Coffee!https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Buy the thirsty podcaster a coffee...)Final Request: The SurveyI want to know what you want. If you have three minutes, I'd be grateful to know what you think of The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast.https://my.captivate.fm/Click%20here%20to%20go%20to%20the%20Survey (Click here to go to the Survey)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 1: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 18:00:00 -0000

https://tonywalker.substack.com/about (Subscribe For All Episodes!)Charlotte Perkins Gilman, nee Charlotte Perkins, was born in 1860 in Hartford, Conneticut. Sadly, she committed suicide in 1935 in Pasadena California. Her father’s family was relatively well connected, but her father left the family when she was young, leaving her mother to bring up the two children. Her mother was forced to move around a lot to find work and Charlotte’s education suffered because of that. Perhaps because of her challenging childhood, Charlotte became a social reformer and feminist and was interested in furthering the political interests of women. She founded a feminist journal The Forerunner from 1909.The Yellow Wallpaper is her best known story and was published in 1892. She also wrote non-fiction most notably, Women and Economics which was published in 1898. The Yellow Wallpaper was actually Episode 1 of the Classic Ghost Stories Podcast.Her first marriage was to an artist called Charles Stetson in 1884 at the age of 24. The marriage was not happy and she suffered from depression. It is said that this illness provided much of the material for The Yellow Wallpaper, and if she was suffering from depression with psychotic features, this would tie in very well with the bizzarre delusions about the wallpaper and the things in it. This is reminiscent of The Horla by the French writer Guy de Maupassant, which is Episode 35 of the Classic Ghost Stories Podcast. The Horla was published in 1887, but there is no evidence that Charlotte was familiar with The Horla, and the earliest translation into English that I can find is 1903.She married her cousin George Gilman in 1900 and stayed with him until 1934. In that year she discovered she had terminal breast cancer. She committed suicide after that.The story is a double play: is it the story of a woman going mad, or a woman possessed by something evil? We begin to suspect that the narrator’s apparently caring husband John, may not be as caring as she thinks. Is he trying to control her? We know that Charlotte was much concerned with the emancipation of women and them achieving financial independence, so is the character of John an echo of this?The horror in the story revolves around the Yellow Wallpaper and like many of us, she sees to have seen patterns in the abstract wallpaper that eventually evolve into characters. She ultimately can enter the wallpaper and more disturbingly, the woman from the wallpaper can come out into her room. The bizarreness of the crouching, creeping figures serves to unnerve the reader.MusicMusic is by the marvellous https://theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/witch-phase-four (Heartwood Institute)Download Charles Dickens The Signalman Free Mp3 https://bit.ly/dickenssignalman (Subscribe to our list and keep in touch with the podcast. Learn of new episodes and bonus Content. )Support our work PLUS you get a free story right now!(The Story Link is in the Thank You Email)Show Your Support With A Coffee!https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Buy the thirsty podcaster a coffee...)Final Request: The SurveyI want to know what you want. If you have three minutes, I'd be grateful to know what you think of The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast.https://my.captivate.fm/Click%20here%20to%20go%20to%20the%20Survey (Click here to go to the Survey)Support the show Visit us here: www.ghostpod.org Buy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker If you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcud Music by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Classic Ghost Stories Podcast Trailer

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 07:00:00 -0000

Download Charles Dickens The Signalman Free Mp3 https://bit.ly/dickenssignalman (Subscribe to our list and keep in touch with the podcast. Learn of new episodes and bonus Content. )Support our work PLUS you get a free story right now!(The Story Link is in the Thank You Email)Show Your Support With A Coffee!https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker (Buy the thirsty podcaster a coffee...)Final Request: The SurveyI want to know what you want. If you have three minutes, I'd be grateful to know what you think of The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast.https://my.captivate.fm/Click%20here%20to%20go%20to%20the%20Survey (Click here to go to the Survey)Support the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices