Behind The Stumps by Russell Kirk

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Classic Ghost Stories Podcast - Tony Walker

3 жыл бұрын

And we're back in New England, home of weird stories (see our Bewitched by Edith Wharton and various by H P Lovecraft). Kirk was the great American conservative thinker and he spent time in Scotland. A number of his stories are set in England or Scotland but this one's right back home. It's even got a Twin Peaks vibe (minus the comedy) and a definite folk horror twist even before there was such a thing as folk horror. ( It was just horror then) see what you think.
Kirk's stories in book form are hard to come by these days. There's only one showing on Amazon, which is his novel The Old House of Fear. If you'd like it, this is my affiliate link which helps me with no cost to you.
amzn.to/3cK5cEY
To support the channel you can become a Patron and get bonus stories
/ barcud

Пікірлер: 91

@nessiesearcher 3 жыл бұрын

I had the great pleasure of attending a lecture by Kirk a few years before he died and then attending dinner with him and the organizers of the lecture afterwards. A true courtly gentleman, kind, quiet, even shy, but he opened up quite a lot when I pulled out my collection of his books to be autographed. As my knowledge of supernatural literature has grown with the years, I often regret not being able to discuss more with him. A remarkable man full of scholarship and wisdom, of the sort that had vanished from the human race in these dark days. It was one of the greatest days of my life.

@ClassicGhost 3 жыл бұрын

That is a great story. It's nice to put a bit of humanity to the authors

@bittybitty8233 3 жыл бұрын

How wonderful for you !!!!

@marianserra8371 2 жыл бұрын

What a wonderful story and I hate to admit it but I'm slightly envious of you. It would have been a rush to sit at the table with not just him but the two of you. You alone sound very well-read on the subject; it would have been great fun being there. Thanks for sharing your story.

@mrs.cracker4622 Жыл бұрын

Wonderful story and great narration. Your take on an American accent reminds me of Orson Welles. 🙂

@rosannedoyle1262 2 жыл бұрын

He was unable to pick his battles and it lead to a heart attack. So simple but so wonderfully done

@LadyEng 7 ай бұрын

Anybody else pictured the guy as Dwight Schrute? ha, haaa. Brilliant story and beautifully told, as always.

@keddy5627 3 ай бұрын

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 now I am!!!!

@D.W.Johns6761 3 ай бұрын

Perfect

@possumaintdead 3 жыл бұрын

Another story where most of the horror is implied rather than explicit. Marvelous! And your accent is spot on. Thanks for a mesmerizing reading!

@hindleygj 3 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad I have found your narrations, these really make my day.

@rattyrachel4316 3 жыл бұрын

This story, aided by your excellent narration and the author’s superb descriptive phraseology, played out in my head like an old b&w movie. Enjoyed your insightful closing remarks, as always. Thank you kindly, Mr Walker!

@martiwilliams4592 3 ай бұрын

Ditto this time around. Disturbing story. Vivid, expressive narration, commentary, Tony. Thank you.

@mostlydead3261 3 жыл бұрын

definitely Twin Peaks-like vibe.. also a bit reminiscent of Aickman..

@mijiyoon5575 3 жыл бұрын

I agree this is a good one w/ details & I can see the place...THX

@bunnysleeps 3 жыл бұрын

I’m really enjoying your podcast. 👍🙂

@colemarie9262 3 жыл бұрын

One I've never heard of, I'm looking forward to it! Accent is pretty good too.

@frerindurin3632 3 жыл бұрын

Placing a post office the way that Kirk did set a very different setting than most stories. Usually you have something like "an average house", "a lone mansion", "dark forest", or even "a university". This really gave a change. Showing that strange things can happen anywhere. With Kirk giving a good amount of exposition at the post office the actual farm seemed more of just a step towards the conclusion. Very interesting.

@stardust949 2 жыл бұрын

I'm grinning a bit over your pronunciation of 'Potawatomi' ~ it's an Ojibwa tribal name although used differently in this story. Phonetically: "POT-a-WOT-a-mee"

@ClassicGhost 2 жыл бұрын

I should have looked it up before I pronounced it to be fair.

@jacquelinetaylor9447 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much, Tony for reading and bringing this story alive!! My imagination took off and you’re extremely talented in your vocals. The music was a perfect addition too!! I really felt like I was transported back in time and just able to glimpse the past & see the characters. I appreciate the information you provide in documentation and especially your narrative after this story! God Bless & have a great rest of your week!!

@ClassicGhost Жыл бұрын

Wow, thank you! Lovely things to say.

@hilaryeales1268 2 жыл бұрын

That's a perfect description of the story......starting off with the big picture and then narrowing down, and such a feeling of dread as it went on. Thanks so much for a great reading 👍💙💚💛

@sarahsamaria8283 3 жыл бұрын

The book is very poetic. The house has been injured. Very poetic prose. Really enjoyed the narrative.

@martiwilliams4592 7 ай бұрын

How did I miss this before now?!!! Gripping, horror building narration. Masterful, Tony, love the accents.

@donaldmccleary9015 Жыл бұрын

Great, well-written story! Fantastic narration! This writing is very crisp and clear. I assume all his works are that way. I appreciate good, crisp, and clear writing more and more as I get older. Thanks for sharing this, Tony!

@blixten2928 3 жыл бұрын

THank you once more for both an interesting and NEW story, beautifully read, and your commentary both on the story's background and the experience of reading it! The author describes a personality that is as sad, in its way, yet as understandable as Bartleby the Scrivener. The need to turn this character exploration into a horror-story makes it end a little abruptly, wasting some of the psychological build-up, but one *certainly* appreciates the effort and artistry, and the careful attention you give it. Wonderfully done

@earndoggy Жыл бұрын

I feel the exact same way about census takers as these characters. I, however, sent the takers away with a flea in their ear and the exact information that "two people live here" and that's all they needed to know.

@pegallen6983 3 жыл бұрын

You are quite good at performing different accents. Soemtimes when listening to your narration I can hear Christopher Eccleston. I liked his accent very much during his Doctor Who time good old northern accent

@ClassicGhost 3 жыл бұрын

That's my real accent!

@pegallen6983 3 жыл бұрын

@@ClassicGhost Well then I like your real accent very much!

@johnnicholas1488 3 жыл бұрын

Good. Not far from Starkfield, I suppose. In places like these time moves less quickly, perhaps, and may eddy backwards against the current, now and then throwing up the disfigured wreckage of souls lingering past their time. Grotesque. Here where I live in Appalachia, USA, there are rare glimpses of such unsightly abominations. However, reports are kept local. And scanty.

@ClassicGhost 3 жыл бұрын

I love this input

@periwinkleblue3416 Жыл бұрын

The ending was so satisfying. Nicely read.

@leslieortenzi8875 3 жыл бұрын

Another great reading! I particularly enjoyed the very evocative description of the protagonist. I've definitely met this guy! Thanks!

@ClassicGhost 3 жыл бұрын

I hope you haven’t met Momma

@rhondacampbell153 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing 😊

@dmx5439 3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant... I like the accent

@ClassicGhost 3 жыл бұрын

I think I was trying to do my Lake Wobegon Days.

@barbaralindhjem1582 3 жыл бұрын

You have a knack for accents and dialect.

@scoutrifle6827 3 жыл бұрын

I have to admit, I tend to find most English folks doing American accents a bit grating, but Tony's is so authentic I forget he's British. Only Hugh Laurie is also in that class, IMHO.

@thurayya8905 7 ай бұрын

I couldn't find "Reflex Man", so I re-listened to this. Your accents are very well done.

@ClassicGhost 6 ай бұрын

Reflex man is scheduled i think

@mkelly4617 Жыл бұрын

I'm going to have nightmares... This is why I live on the west coast.

@BertieShaul-mn4qc 8 күн бұрын

Great job, great accent! I could hardly tell it was you.

@ClassicGhost 6 күн бұрын

Oh great. Thanks!

@seelingnightapsychomanteum7124 2 жыл бұрын

Good selection and good reading. Kirk is hard for me to like; a skilled writer, but his conservative bend is hard to come to terms with.

@rattyrachel4316 3 жыл бұрын

Not sure if it even matters, but “0ne Chronicles” is usually referred to as First Chronicles here in the U.S.

@jasoncoker1625 4 ай бұрын

True Detective

@terryjaenke238 3 жыл бұрын

Good job as per usual...cheers mate.

@ClassicGhost 3 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome

@toadyuk8391 Жыл бұрын

I’m doing the back catalogue now tony, having run out. This was a Great story, well crafted and conceived. I’m not sure I liked any of the protagonists but hey ho. Like you I’m not sure about Jordan, some of what he says does make sense, but I feel he might be a little unhinged (just eating beef) and also a bit too dogmatic and certain. I am always a little wary of people who have come down from the mountain, having seen the light and feel they must share all of it, with everyone. Peterson does make some good arguments on some areas, self reliance, work, family and so on.

@ClassicGhost Жыл бұрын

He cries a lot too. Not necessarily a bad thing though. No, the protagonists are not so nice. I have another of his set in England called Saviourgate.

@ramblingirl1 3 жыл бұрын

Great accent! Pot-ah-wot'-ah-mee At least that's how we pronounce it in my neck of the woods in VA.

@ramblingirl1 3 жыл бұрын

And....I have no idea how it's spelled in the story so never mind. 😄

@ClassicGhost 3 жыл бұрын

No, I think you're right. I got it wrong

@Firecracker66 3 жыл бұрын

Bigfoot watching from Seattle

@guilledcf1547 3 жыл бұрын

EVERYBODY DIES, don't they

@ClassicGhost 3 жыл бұрын

apparently...

@vanillasuncherries 5 ай бұрын

❤❤

@stewartlancaster6155 3 ай бұрын

thought this was going to be cricket related story !

@ClassicGhost 3 ай бұрын

He played for Hampshire. Fast bowler. Left-handed.

@hollywebster6844 9 ай бұрын

I've never heard Potawatomi pronounced with a long O in the penultimate syllable. I'm curious about where you found that pronunciation?

@ClassicGhost 9 ай бұрын

I was wrong

@maureenstowers838 7 ай бұрын

Straight forward, humble and funny. I like you even more! :)

@jeremypearson6852 3 жыл бұрын

A book of bible is always first or second (as in the case of Chronicles) not one or two. Probably wouldn’t occur to UK listeners, but many US listeners would likely pick up on it. An expat living in Florida.

@ClassicGhost 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this. I will remember

@juliestone1756 2 жыл бұрын

I had to stop listening - this was making me feel creepy! And I've both read and listened to a LOT of stories.

@ClassicGhost 2 жыл бұрын

I have an idea for a story similar to this

@susanmercurio1060 3 жыл бұрын

I thought it is pronounced "Pot -o- WAT - omy."

@ClassicGhost 3 жыл бұрын

You will be right. I had real trouble with that one.

@susanmercurio1060 3 жыл бұрын

@@ClassicGhost : I come from around there.

@ClassicGhost 3 жыл бұрын

I wish I’d known!

@ludovica8221 2 жыл бұрын

@@ClassicGhost don't worry. When you make a mistake we ALL get to learn something new, how else to learn? Americans are confounded by British pronunciations too Run Happisburgh, Trottiscliffe, Beaulieu, Waldegrave, Cholmondeley, Featherstonehaugh, Chenevix, Menzies, Charteris etc past a few people and that list will humble most people :D

@ludovica8221 2 жыл бұрын

(hazebruh, trozlee, bewley, wargrave, chumly, fanshaw, chainy, ming, charters)

@MartynRavensdale 3 жыл бұрын

This wasn’t about wicket keepers at all!

@Story-Voracious66 3 жыл бұрын

Haha! Having only heard the title, I at first thought of cricket. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't.

@nutwatch1854 2 жыл бұрын

This isn't New England. The name Potawatomi (or Pottawatomie) gives it away. This is midwestern horror. :p

@ClassicGhost 2 жыл бұрын

Forgive me. I actually am unsure about US regional boundaries. I probably based my comments on some half digested commentary from somewhere

@nutwatch1854 2 жыл бұрын

@@ClassicGhost No worries. Your accent is good.

@hathorearthfyre 2 жыл бұрын

Has anyone mentioned that your American accent reminds one of Christopher Walken?

@ClassicGhost 2 жыл бұрын

+hathorearthfyre i am very excited if that is true

@hathorearthfyre 2 жыл бұрын

@@ClassicGhost Yes, an image of him speaking pops into my head often as you narrate. It's true!

@stevesran968 3 жыл бұрын

ARE THESE REAL TRUE STORY'S

@ClassicGhost 3 жыл бұрын

Nope

@FerndaleMichiganUSA 3 жыл бұрын

"POT-o-WA-to-MEE" not "Pot-o-wa-TO-mi"

@ClassicGhost 3 жыл бұрын

Easy for you to say

@bittybitty8233 3 жыл бұрын

@@ClassicGhost 🤣🤣🤣

@Tipi_Dan 3 жыл бұрын

@@ClassicGhost I would say "POT-a_WAT-a_Mi".