storytelling – Bone and Sickle

A Christmas Ghost Story VII

By boneandsickle | December 23, 2024

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:20 — 38.1MB)

The Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas has been celebrated by Bone and Sickle since 2018. This year is no exception as we share two stories in this episode, one comic, and one frightening. We begin with the Introduction to the 1891 anthology, Told After Supper, by the British writer, Jerome K. Jerome, following this with “The Old Portrait” from Scottish writer Hume Nisbet’s 1900 collection Stories Weird and Wonderful. Pour a brandy, douse the lights, and enjoy!

“Young Goodman Brown”

By boneandsickle | September 21, 2024

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:10 — 51.7MB)

We’re getting into the spirit of the season with a classic tale of witchcraft set in 17th-century Salem Village, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, “Young Goodman Brown.” Written in 1835 for New England Magazine, it later appeared in the 1846 collection, Mosses from an Old Manse, which also includes the excellent supernatural story, “Rappaccini’s Daughter.” Hawthorne regarded “Young Goodman Brown” as his most impactful short story, and it received high praise from his contemporary, Edgar Allan Poe.

Two more Halloween-themed episodes (historical explorations) await you next month.

The Spook House

By boneandsickle | October 1, 2023

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:03 — 22.9MB)

“The Spook House,” an 1899 short story by Ambrose Bierce is suitably spooky for the season, but not in the way you expect.It was a favorite of H. P. Lovecraft, who praised its “terrible hints of a shocking mystery.” Also, a macabre bit of poetic whimsy from A.E. Houseman, and an intruder is welcomed in Mr. Ridenour’s library.