You know the line —

There’ll be parties for hosting

Marshmallows for toasting

And caroling out in the snow

There’ll be scary ghost stories

And tales of the glories

Of Christmases long, long ago.

This is one of those stories...

The Signalman is a gothic short story by Charles Dickens that centers on an isolated railway worker who becomes convinced he is being warned of coming disasters by a ghostly figure that appears before fatal accidents. Each warning arrives too late to prevent tragedy, and the danger no longer feels distant.

First published in 1866, the story is told through the perspective of a narrator who forms a cautious friendship with the troubled signalman, approaching his claims with rational doubt before gradually confronting the possibility that something supernatural may be at work. Shaped in part by real railway disasters of the era, The Signal-Man explores isolation, inevitability, and the fragile boundary between reason and the unknown.

Enjoy this rendition of Dickens’ classic Christmas ghost story, and happy holidays!

Hosted by 🎙️: Alex Kern

Spooky Winter Book Recs:

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🖤 ABOUT DARKLY SPEAKING 🖤

Welcome to Darkly Speaking — where true crime, the paranormal and the crazy strange and unexplained converge.

Every Monday, host Alex Kern unpacks stories that challenge our understanding of what’s real — from unsolved disappearances and psychological unravellings to encounters with the unexplained.

Think: true crime, the paranormal, and everything in between. If you’re drawn to the strange, the hidden, or the stories that won’t sit quietly — you’re in the right place.

Expect immersive storytelling, a dose of dark curiosity, and the occasional rabbit hole you didn’t plan to fall into.

Because in the darkest corners of our reality… truth gets weird.

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This podcast explores real cases and sensitive subject matter.

Listener discretion is advised.

All research is grounded in publicly available sources and cited to the best of our ability. Opinions are those of the host unless otherwise stated.

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Some audio/visual materials used may be protected under copyright law and are included under “fair use” for commentary, criticism, and educational purposes.