No Undine today, but check out this quick update on my latest writings.

This episode is an audiobook performance of the seventh chapter of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué. (If you are joining us for the first time, I strongly advise starting Season 4 at the beginning, with S4-E1.) In Chapter Seven, Huldbrand’s heart continues to turn away from his wife and toward this other woman, Bertalda. This chapter includes a clash between the two women, a despairing flight into the Dark Valley, and most menacing of all, further trouble with Undine’s protective uncle, the water spirit Kuhleborn.

This episode is an audiobook performance of the sixth chapter of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué. (If you are joining us for the first time, I strongly advise starting Season 4 at the beginning, with S4-E1.) In Chapter Six, Undine reveals a great secret, learned from the mysterious spirit of the fountain, concerning Bertalda. Undine expects the secret to thrill Bertalda, but instead it enrages her and causes far-reaching upheaval. The realities of what it means to have a human soul, and the depths to which souls can be corrupted, all wash onto Undine’s shore as her adventure continues.

This episode is an audiobook performance of the fifth chapter of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué. (If you are joining us for the first time, I strongly advise starting Season 4 at the beginning, with S4-E1.) In Chapter Five, Huldbrand, his new wife (Undine), and the priest who married them journey off the fisherman’s peninsula, through the haunted forest, and to the Imperial City. The Knight’s return is an occasion for rejoicing in the city, but there is one person not at all excited about meeting Undine. Bertalda, the lady whose hand Huldbrand was originally trying to win, sees now that she has missed her chance with him, and that he now loves another.

This episode is an audiobook performance of the fourth chapter of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué. (If you are joining us for the first time, I strongly advise starting Season 4 at the beginning, with S4-E1.) In Chapter Four, readers learn much that lies behind the mystery of this strange Undine. After her marriage to Huldbrand, she explains who she is and what she is. Chapter Four also dives deeply into the Christian allegory of this tale, having much to do with the idea of Undine acquiring a soul.

This episode is an audiobook performance of the third chapter of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué. (If you are joining us for the first time, I strongly advise starting Season 4 at the beginning, with S4-E1.) In Chapter Three, the floodwaters continue to isolate the people in the cottage, separating them from mainland civilization. Also, a tempest washes ashore a priestly character who propels this story in a new direction. Lastly, Chapter Three features yet another appearance of the menacing white figure that has haunted these worthy people throughout the tale.

This episode is an audiobook performance of the second chapter of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué. (If you are joining us for the first time, I strongly advise starting Season 4 at the beginning, with S4-E1.) In Chapter Two we learn more of Huldbrand’s backstory and how he came to be in the haunted forest in the first place. Also, the mystery of the young Undine grows, as does the girl’s jealousy concerning her newfound friend, the brave knight, and his other woman, Bertalda.

This episode is an audiobook performance of the first chapter of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué. (If you are joining us for the first time, I strongly advise starting Season 4 at the beginning, with S4-E1.) In Chapter One we meet our central characters: an old fisherman and his wife, their adopted daughter (the title character, Undine, a strange girl from the first), and a knight named Huldbrand (who makes this, for now, a “stranger comes to town” story). Prepare to be transported to the fairy tale forest for an adventure worth taking!

What’s the latest? What’s new? What’s hot off the press? These are, of course, interesting questions when trying to pick a new book to read or movie to watch, but they do imply that anything old is of less value. I disagree. The old stories, though sometimes gone and forgotten, are often the most powerful. In Season 4 of East and Wes, I blow the dust off one of my favorite old texts by reading/performing it, in its entirety, audiobook style. Undine is an 1811 fairy tale by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué, and is an interesting ancestor of a story most are familiar with, The Little Mermaid. This season premiere introduces the story’s history and author’s bio. The episodes that follow adventure through the book one chapter at a time. George MacDonald called Undine the most beautiful of fairy tales, and I feel confident listeners will find it to be just that.

[Music Credits: Precious Memories by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ - Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/]

Check out this sneak peek of my as-yet-unpublished manuscript, ROAD, a memoir of the Dusty Roads Band. This reading is from Chapter 10, which tells the adventure of a backwoods south Georgia bar called "Pud's." Laugh along with me as you enjoy this completely nonfiction tale.