Видео

Thank you Agrajag, that is very kind of you. Agrajag? Wowbagger? There's certainly no need to question your DA fan club membership, nor wonder at the reasoning behind your choice of which video of mine to watch 😄 As a large DA fan myself, I am heartily warmed that you enjoyed my reading of this wonderful writer. As for Jasper, I owe him much. Not satisfied with creating his own marvellous RUclips channel (www.youtube.com/@EnCryptedHorror/featured), he also decided - at no profit whatsoever to himself - to actively promote my much smaller channel on his just because he liked one of my videos. My little hobby channel is still very small, but it would be much smaller without him, and that's a fact. Thanks again for watching and commenting, Agrajag. Time, I think, for a jynnan tonnyx.

Thanks TB, I'm very glad you enjoyed the reading 🙂

Thank you B, I'm very glad you enjoyed it! And though you may have a point about this being my best dish, you could still happen upon a few lesser morsels to tempt your palate 😄

Thank you BW, that is much appreciated 😀

Thanks P. Great story, isn't it?

Thank you KTS, that's very kind of you to say. And I've only met two kinds of teachers in my life; those who've earned a break, and those who've earned an even longer break.

Thanks, Craig. Lovely to hear from you.

Well, my version of a Scottish accent 😄 I'd always rather liked this poem, but it wasn't until I was researching it and happened upon someone mentioning they thought it might work best with a Gaelic accent that my "like" turned to "love". It changed the poem from one that I enjoy reading to myself to one of the ones I most enjoy reading aloud. I did also get a little inspiration from a RUclipsr by the name of Christopher Hemmens who did a wonderful recital linked here... ruclips.net/video/fGlC5bhhhNY/видео.html By the way, thank you for pointing me towards that telethon reading. Absolutely wonderful! And as you said, Lou Fant's sign language performance adds glorious further dimension to the poem...even to those of us uncomprehending of sign. Thank you as always, Arelman.

@@MattiesStoryland I enjoyed the link you sent. The lad's hair made me think of Neil Gaiman and led me to find a version by him. ruclips.net/video/XDLac7sAFsI/видео.html

Thank you, Arelman. It is a truly beautiful poem, and I really was not satisfied with my reading. This was one of my earlier ones, and I don't think I had yet found my pace. I think your critique is spot on, and I am certainly hoping to give this one another try.

Thank you, Watcher. Happy Halloween 🎃

Thank you very much, Vicki. Beautiful and creepy indeed; sums up the story rather perfectly!

Such a great poem; this was one of my first uploads to the channel. I distinctly remember that the time taken preparing my reading of the poem itself was dwarfed by the time taken researching the actual charge of the LIght Brigade and then using that to write the introduction!

My response time in replying is getting even worse - my apologies, Arelman. Thank you for the compliment. This one was a lot of fun to do, especially as (as I believe I mention in the video) it was a favorite of my father's.

Thank you, Michelle. I hope to put something up soon ... ... but I've certainly said that before.

That is very kind of you to say, Eleanor. It is a lovely (though sad) poem, and was a pleasure to read. I am so glad you enjoyed it.

My pleasure, Arelman. I was surprised myself when I first came across it - I never knew PKD could be so funny.

😆

All of the poems are on my "Sad Poems" playlist. They are, in reverse order; #10 - "Tears, Idle Tears" - Alfred Lord Tennyson #9 - "Remember" - Christina Rossetti #8 - "If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" - David Romano (possibly) #7 - "Solitude" - Ella Wheeler Wilcox #6 - "So, We'll Go No More A Roving" - Lord Byron #5 - "We Wear the Mask" - Paul Laurence Dunbar #4 - "Time Does Not Bring Relief" - Edna St. Vincent Millay #3 - "At Castle Boterel" - Thomas Hardy #2 - "First Sight" - well, me actually #1 - "Funeral Blues" - W.H. Auden

Thank you, Arelman. Such a beautiful poem.

I wasn't familiar with this poem, and just read it. Wonderful! Thank you for pointing me towards it, Arelman.

@@MattiesStoryland I just meant to say it sounds like the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf as Shel Silverstein would have written it. I don't know that he did. I know he did Pinocchio but haven't seen The Aesop's tale story done by him.

I have not yet read "The Most Dangerous Game", but it is certainly on my list (for whatever that's worth). As for the other requests, I have already read "O Captain! My Captain!", but to tell you the truth I'm not that happy with it. I've thought about giving it another try a few times. Speaking of which, I am hoping to put something new up soon, but in truth I am finding it difficult. I haven't given up yet, though.

You know, I never thought about it that way. Your emotional response to this story rather affected me, and adds a more personal and real connection to the protagonist.

Thank you, Arelman.

Thank you, Deenero. I'm so glad you enjoyed my reading of this truly wonderful story. My best wishes to you in Ecuador.

Thank you as always, Arelman. And I apologize for all of the notifications you'll be getting all at once from my replies. I very much appreciate your taking the time to leave comments, and am sorry I am not more on the ball when it comes to replying. Where are my manners?

Thank you, Arelman. I've always loved this story, too. To me, it's just so quintessentially British 😄 Sure do miss the writer, though.

Sorry to hear things are difficult at the moment, Stephen. Thanks for reaching out.

@@MattiesStoryland lovely to hear from you. Also - things will improve and we will all get there! Thanks again.

Your are too kind, Arelman. It is a truly performative piece though. I've done this live a few times, and it is an wonderfully liberating experience to really let go and channel this craziness in public 😄

Thank you, Arelman. I'm rather fond of Lovecraft's work (as you may have noticed).

Thank you, Arelman. It's actually one of my favourites on the channel, and was immense fun to read.

He did indeed, Dante.

Thank you Arelman, you are very kind.

😄 Just remember; driver picks the music.

Thank you so much, Lectwar. You words are very kind and tremendously appreciated. "Algernon" is a truly wonderful - though heartbreaking - story. It was a pleasure to narrate, and I'm so glad tears came to your eyes. They always do to mine.

I envy your getting to know this story for the first time. It had a profound effect on me as a teenager, and I have revisited it many times since. Thank you so much for the reading, Mattie.

Agreed- I watched this before reading the book and having Mattie's Charlie voice in my head while reading it definitely had an impact I don't think it would have had otherwise. So impressed with this!

Thank you Arelman, you are very kind. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

Thank you for sharing this part of yourself, Troy. Take care.

I am rather fond of Dahl, myself (as you may have noticed). Thanks for checking in, X. All is fine. It's been a bit of a tough year, but I have high hopes. You take care, too.

@@MattiesStoryland Good to hear, yes it's not been the easiest. Keep safe, and looking forward to seeing what you bring us next. 👌

Thank you again, Arelman. I love Dahl's work, and hope to do more (whenever I get around to actually doing more). And no, I'm afraid I have not yet done anything professionally... ...though you never know what the future holds.

Thank you J, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I certainly had a lot of fun reading it.

Thank you, Arelman. Bradbury is a marvellous storyteller, and a real pleasure to narrate.

Thank you, Arelman. It is a marvelous and influential story that well deserves to stay in the light.

This is the poem that pushed my to start this channel in the first place. Wonderful stuff. I've lost count of the 'ruined' takes where tears forced me to stop recording and start again. Then I finally realized that I could just leave them in. They were honest tears, and the poem deserved them.

Beautiful, honest, and so very sad.

Ha, 40 seconds worth...priceless! Such a wonderful poem. I still remember having to memorize it as a child at school.

Thank you again, Arelman.

This is very high praise indeed, Arelman. Stephen Fry is a wonderful speaker, thinker, writer, actor and person, and one to whom I could happily listen to for hours. And have done so, now that I think of it. Thank you for watching, commenting, and of course for subscribing. I apologize for the extreme paucity of videos recently. I plan to end this draught shortly...but I've been telling myself that for weeks and weeks and weeks. Ah well, maybe next week is the one.

@@MattiesStoryland Please don't apologize. The main reason I hope to keep hearing your wonderful productions is that it confirms that you are alive and well enough to (in Niel Gaiman's words) make good art. And that, making good art, is often the best reward. I do have a request for your comeback reading: "A Saucer of Loneliness" by Theodore Sturgeon. I believe that the message in the saucer (the inter-stellar message in a bottle) really worked: To the loneliest one... There is in certain living souls A quality of loneliness unspeakable So great it must be shared As company is shared by lesser beings Such a loneliness is mine; so, know by this: That in immensity There is one lonelier than you.

Thank you, Arelman. I also hope to return, and believe I will. It just seems a little difficult.

Thank you, Arelman. And I agree; a wonderful story, and truly memorable episode.