Here we are once more, arm in arm with Dante, descending into the infernal depths — and I must confess, my curious little obsession with the notion of Hell continues to bloom like a thorny rose. Perhaps it’s the slow march of time, or the creak in my knees, but I do find myself pondering … Continue reading Wandering Through the Bolge: A Personal Ramble through Dante’s Inferno – again!
Month: April 2025
Christian Science: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Misdiagnose Everything
Before we begin, a quick word of warning: if you’re a devout Christian Scientist, a fan of metaphysical reasoning, or simply allergic to sarcasm, you may wish to pop the kettle on and find a gentler corner of the internet. What follows is a light-hearted take on Christian Science - a movement born in 19th-century … Continue reading Christian Science: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Misdiagnose Everything
Whistles, Rhymes, and Ghosts – Oh My! M. R. James’ Guide to Summoning Ancient Horrors with Nursery Tunes
When I think of M. R. James, it’s like I’ve accidentally stumbled into a foggy, overgrown cemetery on Halloween night, while wearing the world’s most embarrassing costume and holding a mysterious old book I definitely shouldn’t be holding. His stories - oh, the stories! - are like that one weird uncle who insists on showing … Continue reading Whistles, Rhymes, and Ghosts – Oh My! M. R. James’ Guide to Summoning Ancient Horrors with Nursery Tunes
Wessex Tales: Why You Should Never Invite Strangers to Your Baptism: A Hardy Story: The Three Strangers
Right — pull up a chair, or a turnip, or whatever passes for furniture these days — because I’ve just finished The Three Strangers and by Jupiter’s whiskers, what an experience it was. Like trying to shave a goat on a merry-go-round. It's a night so wet it would make Noah look skywards and say, “You what, again?” … Continue reading Wessex Tales: Why You Should Never Invite Strangers to Your Baptism: A Hardy Story: The Three Strangers
Thrawn Janet by Robert Louis Stevenson: A Masterpiece Buried Beneath a Mound of Linguistic Muck
Reading Robert Louis Stevenson’s Thrawn Janet is rather like stumbling across a hidden bottle of whisky in a dusty old kirk - an unexpected pleasure, provided you can stomach the cobwebs and the dead rats floating inside. The story itself, once you prise it out from beneath the dreadful mound of vernacular rubble, is a … Continue reading Thrawn Janet by Robert Louis Stevenson: A Masterpiece Buried Beneath a Mound of Linguistic Muck
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