We all know of Count Dracula, the infamous title character of Bram Stoker's novel, but have you heard of his namesake? Vlad the Impaler had a vicious reign as a ruler of Wallachia in the 15th century. Due to a volatile political landscape and a penchant for violence, the original Dracula is a renowned Romanian folk hero to this day. Was he an authoritarian tyrant or a sadistic psychopath? Are the two mutually exclusive?

To apologize for our unexpected mid-season break, today Ri is narrating the original story of The Little Mermaid as published by Hans Christian Anderson in 1836. Unlike the Disney-fied version, this tale is sordid and disturbing, featuring an unrequited obsession that escalated to stalking. By today's standards, this fairytale is not fit at all for your child's bedtime. There are countless ways to interpret the story, but Ri's personal favorite is as a warning to the young ladies of the 19th century to guard their hearts from the whims of men, when one rash decision could lead to the "ruin" of both them and their family. She also enjoys occasionally reading it as a psychological thriller, but, again, there are many different ways to analyze it.

Our regularly scheduled content will resume March 29, 2021 at 10 AM CST, featuring the original Dracula, Picasso, and, of course, more literary greats. If you have any feedback or thoughts on the show, feel free to contact us at [email protected]!