I've said it before, but it's worth repeating: Is it even a holiday without a great story from Tony Walker?? Thank you, dear sir! May this find you happy and peaceful ✌️
Unsettling but incredible story. What a dazzling array of tropes! Snakes, gibbets, strange (psychopathic) children and a weird ending. I enjoyed your commentary immensely. Definitely one of those stories to contemplate indefinitely.
That was certainly a different kind of story. I liked it and it was definitely filled with symbolism. I very much look forward to your response & opinions of every story. Your narrations are magnificent and at the end of the stories you give us something to think about. I like that. Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Narration ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❤️
Great story and narration. Leaving another comment because RUclips did not save my other one. Very "unsettling" and unique story (as others have commented). I like your chat, as always, and can see Machen writing something like this. Oh...love your bit at the end about thinking before we speak. Thanks!
It reads like a fever dream... hearing that he died from exhaustion, it makes sense. I wonder if he had some sort of seizure whilst walking and this happened when he was unconscious. Absolutely wonderful that this has surfaced now.
This is why I don’t delve too deep into stories. Letting you do it seems easier. You teach me and at the same time I can hold onto the story by not overthinking while I’m enjoying it. That’s a little muddled but you get the gist of it.
Tony, would you think about leaving a few seconds between the end of the story and your "no ads" bit? It's rather jarring to have no time to absorb the ending.
I once woke to the sound of a dagger being drawn out of it's sheath. It wasn't real, of course. The whole knife play in the story made think of that, and it reminds me of sleep paralysis, which makes me think of succubi, which brings me back to snakes and temptation. The girls also looking older than they are, more (sexualy?) mature...
The snake could be symbolic for betrayal of expectation. Usually we think of the snake as the predator in a story, and yet here, somewhar subversively, the snake is the prey for the three children. Similarly, the narrator, an adult, is prey for the three children. I think having the snake somehow put into his heart both contributes to identifying the narrator with the snake and thus the "prey" class and to establishing that this subversion, this betrayal of expectation is at the heart of the story.
54:12 I think to understand or not understand art needs to be determined by the individual. For some individuals things gain meaning by understanding them and taking a deep drive
Could we say that the children are really fairies coming to a place of power to do things to humans? Just a thought, it wouldn't be the first time fairies in literature posed as human children. I mean human children are generally thought to be innocent and need protection. What better form to take if a character is a corrupt being?? Just my two cents/opinion
What if the worm to him signifys his own death (?) The worms have been spoken of in reference to the burial or the grave? Interesting that he died right after The Lair Of The White Worm which is my favorite.
It's an okay story...nice and short for you to read. I always enjoy your interpretation of the characters and voice in general...but this story is mainly interesting as an example of his early days of writing. It surely doesn't sound like his writer's voice as developed in 'Dracula', which has such long passages of commentary on morality. Makes me wonder...so many things can be hoaxed these days. Still---I appreciate being made aware of it, thank you so much.
When he first sees the girls, they have their arms resting on the murdered seaman's grave, twinning each other's posture. Is the snake they use the one they killed? At first, I thought they did it to feed on his life's essence, but later changed to they did it because they could. That's evil for you.
51:21 Addendum: Not so much heretical, more gnostic imo. Also, the snake doesn't give the fruit. It just tells the truth (that they won't die, if the eat from that tree) -- thus, temptress yes; but the truth should be more tempting than falsehood, so...
Really l think this story shows the best and worst of You Tube. It’s recently come to light after being overlooked ( or rejected) by the author. Now just because it’s by Bram Stoker a dozen narrators on here have brought a version out of what l find a pretty hopeless effort. There is no story, the characters have no connection and l,m sure that Stoker ( or his publishers ) realised what a poor effort this is and rejected it.
Quite a doozy this one. Thanks Tony, you are keeping it weird for us out here. So much "other"ness in this story. I guess that only Stoker himself would ever have known its true connotations. These are very personal aversions. Perhaps even outdated now. I for one like snakes and all reptiles; respectfully of course. I have to admit to a mid story diversion to research Kaali, traditional Indian dance and the earliest photos of tribal women of India. Just to accompany my visions of the story. As always top notch in every way. 🪱
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I've said it before, but it's worth repeating: Is it even a holiday without a great story from Tony Walker??
Thank you, dear sir! May this find you happy and peaceful ✌️
Unsettling but incredible story. What a dazzling array of tropes! Snakes, gibbets, strange (psychopathic) children and a weird ending. I enjoyed your commentary immensely. Definitely one of those stories to contemplate indefinitely.
That was certainly a different kind of story. I liked it and it was definitely filled with symbolism. I very much look forward to your response & opinions of every story. Your narrations are magnificent and at the end of the stories you give us something to think about. I like that.
Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Narration ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❤️
This story is marvelous. The atmosphere it creates just draws you in
What a wonderfully atmospheric story. The descriptive passages are wonderful. Thank you.
I miss the classic opening 😢
Great story and narration.
Leaving another comment because RUclips did not save my other one.
Very "unsettling" and unique story (as others have commented).
I like your chat, as always, and can see Machen writing something like this.
Oh...love your bit at the end about thinking before we speak.
Thanks!
what a strange story! Love Bram Stoker
Amazing! Im so glad I clicked on this one. As per usual Tony, just a chilling and scary 😨 reading.
It reads like a fever dream... hearing that he died from exhaustion, it makes sense.
I wonder if he had some sort of seizure whilst walking and this happened when he was unconscious.
Absolutely wonderful that this has surfaced now.
Thank you Tony ❤❤❤
This is why I don’t delve too deep into stories. Letting you do it seems easier. You teach me and at the same time I can hold onto the story by not overthinking while I’m enjoying it. That’s a little muddled but you get the gist of it.
i do
Tony, would you think about leaving a few seconds between the end of the story and your "no ads" bit? It's rather jarring to have no time to absorb the ending.
Oh, yes please!
Err ... just hit pause?
I once woke to the sound of a dagger being drawn out of it's sheath. It wasn't real, of course. The whole knife play in the story made think of that, and it reminds me of sleep paralysis, which makes me think of succubi, which brings me back to snakes and temptation. The girls also looking older than they are, more (sexualy?) mature...
Awesome story much appreciated 🫡
Moody, creepy story. Well chosen and well read. Thank you, Tony.
Fascinating analysis Tony, could listen to an in-depth deep dive for hours
Thank you Tony, fantastic story and your narration is as usual beyond reproach, 👏👏👏
I used to live not far from this site in Halifax, which was called Gibbet Street. 1:23
The snake could be symbolic for betrayal of expectation. Usually we think of the snake as the predator in a story, and yet here, somewhar subversively, the snake is the prey for the three children. Similarly, the narrator, an adult, is prey for the three children. I think having the snake somehow put into his heart both contributes to identifying the narrator with the snake and thus the "prey" class and to establishing that this subversion, this betrayal of expectation is at the heart of the story.
Enjoyed this
54:12 I think to understand or not understand art needs to be determined by the individual. For some individuals things gain meaning by understanding them and taking a deep drive
We have a hill which used to have the same name near my home in Durham Oddly, it doesn't appear on Googlemaps
Could we say that the children are really fairies coming to a place of power to do things to humans? Just a thought, it wouldn't be the first time fairies in literature posed as human children. I mean human children are generally thought to be innocent and need protection. What better form to take if a character is a corrupt being?? Just my two cents/opinion
What if the worm to him signifys his own death (?) The worms have been spoken of in reference to the burial or the grave? Interesting that he died right after The Lair Of The White Worm which is my favorite.
It's an okay story...nice and short for you to read. I always enjoy your interpretation of the characters and voice in general...but this story is mainly interesting as an example of his early days of writing. It surely doesn't sound like his writer's voice as developed in 'Dracula', which has such long passages of commentary on morality. Makes me wonder...so many things can be hoaxed these days. Still---I appreciate being made aware of it, thank you so much.
I’ve seen the facsimile of the 1890 paper but you’re right
Tony, is “City of Light” anywhere on the horizon? Just wondering ✌️
When he first sees the girls, they have their arms resting on the murdered seaman's grave, twinning each other's posture. Is the snake they use the one they killed? At first, I thought they did it to feed on his life's essence, but later changed to they did it because they could. That's evil for you.
46:30 Why evil magicians (and not druids or spiritualists in general)? Any associations? ;)
Quite a funny outro -- tyvm
51:21 Addendum:
Not so much heretical, more gnostic imo.
Also, the snake doesn't give the fruit. It just tells the truth (that they won't die, if the eat from that tree) -- thus, temptress yes; but the truth should be more tempting than falsehood, so...
🤲👑🤲
Very odd story, what does the racial component signify?
That was certainly added for a reason.
Really l think this story shows the best and worst of You Tube. It’s recently come to light after being overlooked ( or rejected) by the author. Now just because it’s by Bram Stoker a dozen narrators on here have brought a version out of what l find a pretty hopeless effort. There is no story, the characters have no connection and l,m sure that Stoker ( or his publishers ) realised what a poor effort this is and rejected it.
I see your point, but there is so much dross out here now that this one shines like Antimony in the crucible.
Not gold but still valuable.
Quite a doozy this one.
Thanks Tony, you are keeping it weird for us out here.
So much "other"ness in this story. I guess that only Stoker himself would ever have known its true connotations. These are very personal aversions. Perhaps even outdated now.
I for one like snakes and all reptiles; respectfully of course.
I have to admit to a mid story diversion to research Kaali, traditional Indian dance and the earliest photos of tribal women of India. Just to accompany my visions of the story.
As always top notch in every way. 🪱