We pay homage to the mother of Gothics this week with “Transformation” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Although her masterpiece is clearly Frankenstein, “Transformation” offers us something of that tale as we follow our narrator trying to reclaim his place in society. Squandering his wealth and inheritance, he is ultimately banished and while witnessing a horrible shipwreck he finds himself face to face with a creature, some monster who offers him a way out of his current predicament. Is this a deal with the devil or a guardian angel? We see both faces as the deal is broken and our narrator must come face to face with the consequences.

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In this episode continue in the realm of the Gothics, although now we follow down the path of the ghost story. “The Ash-tree” by M.R. James is a curious tale beginning with witch trials and ending in perhaps their unintended consequence. A woman is accused of witchcraft, of going to an ash tree and clipping the branches, and is condemned by a first hand account from the owner of the estate. At her hanging, she utters an ominous phrase and soon after the owner is found dead in his room by some vile arts.

Two generations later, in the same room, scrapings and scratchings on the window pane thought to be the ash tree disturb our lord of the house when he too meets an untimely demise. Only when the ash tree is investigated do we find the cause of such horrid ends.

CONTENT WARNING: Arachnophobes, tread carefully.

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In this episode we have another Gothic for you-this time a classic tale of Gothic horror: “The White People” by Arthur Machen. A tale that begins with a discussion on the nature of good and evil with a curious recluse and an excited listener. We then delve into the found story of a young girl who since she was young, has been told stories and increasingly indoctrinated into occult mysteries by her old nurse.

As she questions what is real and what is imaginary, she tells us some of the tales and we have three stories within our story within a story. This winding description of the dark places and secrets that are not to be spoken of leave us questioning the world ourselves.

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We are delving back into the gothic this week with “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. A feminist classic with a delicious and dark twist-join us for the story told by our narrator writing in her journals when not on bedrest or tended by her physician husband or his doting sister. What could be amiss with our ailing narrator? As the summer goes on and she vacations in an old mansion, she cannot help but notice something behind the awful yellow wallpaper in their bedroom. As her nervous disorder seems to worsen from a prescribed lack of activity, she begins to question her husband's “medicine” and her mind sharpens around the mystery of what is bound up in the wallpaper. Though her physical condition worsens and her relationship with her husband strains, she finds a kind of clarity as the shape behind the bars of the paper forms into an unexpected figure.

Won’t you join us for this curious social commentary? The 1890s were a hard time, and this offers a very unique glimpse into some of the ideas of the age.

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In this episode we have a special selection of two tales! To begin: “The Bremen Town Musicians” by the Brothers Grimm gives us a story of four animals who manage to escape their dismal demises as their masters no longer have a use for them by deciding to take to the streets and head over to Bremen to become town musicians. They are stopped on their journey by the temptation of a warm place to sleep and are able to scare off a band of robbers with their melodious gifts.

Our second story is Japanese folk tale, “The Boy Who Drew Cats,” translated by Lafcadio Hearn which is the story of a young boy sent off to seek his own way in the world. Although he is clever, he seems to be cursed by the distraction to always draw cats on whatever he can find. When set off on his own yet again, this artistry proves to be his best defense against an abandoned temple and the goblin rat which haunts it.

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Episode 7 : East of the Sun and West of the Moon

In this episode we read “East of the Sun and West of the Moon” by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen. A tale of a beautiful young maiden who is promised to a great white bear only to be tricked by her mother into revealing his true nature before the curse has the chance to be fulfilled. A familiar story of trials and tribulations follow before our lovers have a chance to be together again. This version is from The Blue Fairy Book as selected by Andrew Lang.

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Episode 6b: The Sea-Maiden - Behind the Story

In episode 6 we read “The Sea-Maiden” by Joseph Jacobs. For this week’s Behind the Story we delve into the nature of storytelling, how the familiarity of stories sets the landscape for adventure, and the way that takes can mimic each other across cultures and countries.

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And we’re back! In this episode we read “The Sea-Maiden” by Joseph Jacob’s from Celtic Fairy Tales (1892). A fun story combining many of the twists and turns familiar to us already and to many fairy tales across Europe. A fisherman’s son turned sheep herd takes on giants, a hag, and seeks the hand of the king’s daughter while escaping a fate prescribed unto him by a foolish promise from his father.

And come back for a bonus episode as we discuss the art of storytelling and the familiarity of fairy tales.

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In this episode we read “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. A classic tale on the high seas of a hasty decision gone awry. Join us for the tale of besting curses, dispensing wisdom to strangers, and some terrors of the sea.

Content Warning: Death on the high seas described in poetic form.

This version is from Houghton Mifflin Co’s collection also featuring Thomas Campbell from 1895. No discussion episode this week, as we both feel this poem has been talked through pretty well.You can head to our website for a "Behind the Episode" post. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode.

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In episode 4 we read “The Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti. For this week’s Behind the Story we delve into the performance of poetry, how cadence and musicality lend themselves to each other, and intention versus interpretation. This is a particularly interesting case given the stark contrast of our author versus some of the themes and descriptions in her poem.

And if you stick around long enough, you may even hear a Rush reference. Classic prog rock fans, this one’s for you.

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