Round the Herne

 My reading of the second stave of Charles Dickens 1843 classic "A Christmas Carol". In this chapter, Scrooge encounters the Ghost of Christmas Past and relieves the highs and lows of his earlier life.

 My favourite non-ghostly Dickensian story, which I listen to in the run-up to Christmas every year for about a decade now, is Simon Callow's abbreviated reading of "Doctor Marigold". For the unfamiliar, Simon Callow is a theatrical luminary and an expert on Dickens who had a whole series of shows (some televised) performing from Dickens' repertoire. Whilst this story takes place over a considerable length of time, the conclusion has a very Christmassy feel to it. Rather than a conventional story, this is a monologue about the colourful life of a travelling trader designed to be performed by Dickens himself on his enormously popular tours of the country where he would read both sections of his novels and also do these monologues. He made far more money from acting out these scenes than he ever did as an author (a lesson there for us all, perhaps). Having enjoyed it for all these years, I thought I'd finally have a crack at reciting it myself. This is the full vers...

  My reading of the eighth and ninth chapters of Kenneth Grahame's children's classic "The Golden Age" (1895). The narrator encounters an eccentric vicar (with whom I feel a certain sympathy) and then the adult and child views of reality clash - whose ontology will prevail? Only further chapters will show, but the governess's views of the fairy folk are the ones that held sway in late Victorian times and continue to do so in many parts of society to this very day. I may need to re-record chapter eight to include some Greek words that I skipped over - being able to translate on the hoof is not a skill I possess. One thing I love about Grahame's work is the extensive vocabulary he naturally assumes his young readers (as well as characters) possess. I do not know how loquacious middle-class Victorian children were, but Grahame clearly assumes they have a much bigger vocabulary than even the average 19-year old has these days. The ninth chapter tips the seasonal w...

 My reading of the twelfth and final chapter of John Masefield's (1935) children's fantasy story "The Box of Delights". There are. of course, twelve chapters for the twelve days of Christmas. Here the story is tied up as Kay does his best to save the abducted cathedral staff in time for celebrating the thousandth Christmas to be held in that place. I rather like the fusing of Pagan and Christian imagery in this concluding chapter - very appropriate to the Christmas season

  My reading of the eleventh and penultimate chapter of John Masefield's (1935) children's adventure fantasy "The Box of Delights". The mad scheming of the oily Abner approach fruition and the extent of his magical powers is revealed (I could spoil a harmless children's saga by pontificating about the way in which magical and spiritual paths so often get turned to little more than money grubbing and material indulgence, but I won't do so).

  My reading of the tenth chapter of John Masefield's (1935) children's fantasy adventure "The Box of Delights". Kay finally meets the mysterious philosopher-magician Arnold of Todi and discovers more about the origins of the box.

  My Christmas Eve reading of the ninth chapter of John Masefield's (1935) children's fantasy adventure "The Box of Delights". The strange happenings continue apace with more magic from the mysterious box and revelations of who people actually are. And yes, I've had the beard trimmed by my never-less-than-entertaining barber, Charlie (who seems to be a younger incarnation of one of my oldest friends).

  My reading of the eighth chapter of John Masefield's children's fantasy "The Box of Delights" (1935). This time more mysterious shenanigans occur at the cathedral - will there be anyone left to conduct the Midnight Mass?

  My reading of the seventh chapter of John Masefield's (1935) children's fantasy adventure "The Box of Delights". Another short chapter in which the children journey inside a tree and we finally find out what happened to the thuggish Maria.

  My reading of the sixth part of John Masefield's (1935) children's fantasy adventure "The Box of Delights". A more sedate chapter this time in which the Bishop's party is spoiled by nefarious goings on at the end (and the range of children's toys was mercifully less taxing to the brain than the current nightmarish complexity).

  My reading of the fifth chapter of John Masefield's children's fantasy "The Box of Delights" (1935). The voice is still a bit rough, though better than it was. In this chapter the other powers of the box are explored to delve down into the world of the rodents. The villains continue to scheme and machinate.

  My reading of the fourth chapter of John Masefield's children's fantasy story "The Box of Delights" (1935). In this chapter our hero gets drawn into a magical woodland and experiences the power of shapeshifting - his own and other's. I shall probably re-record this on a future occasion, when my throat is less sandpapered, but wanted to crack on before the month runs out.

  My reading of the third chapter of John Masefield's (1935) children's fantasy "The Box of Delights". A new villain enters the picture and Kay has strange experiences at King Arthur's Camp - is it a dream or time travel or a vision? Only further chapters will tell. The wolves are now definitely running.

  My reading of the second chapter of John Masefield's children's fantasy story "The Box of Delights" (1935). More revelations develop about the strange old Punch & Judy man as well as some rather peculiar clergymen.

  My reading of John Masefield's first chapter of his children's book "The Box of Delights" (1935), ready for Yule 2022 - I hope to finish all the chapters before the solstice, life and technology permitting. It is a charming and festive tale, dressed about with hints of paga magic alongside Christian theology that I first encountered via the TV series some decades ago. The nook cover also features a still from the TV series featuring Patrick Trought as the old wizard Hawlings.

 This is my reading of the last part of Lucy M Boston's "The Children of Green Knowe" (1954), in which all the loose ends are tied up and the groundwork laid for the sequels. Christmas day arrives at the isolated country estate. Wishing a Happy New Year to all my listeners (both of you) - hope it is a great improvement on the year now going for all concerned.

 This is my reading of the tenth part of Lucy M Boston's "The Children of Green Knowe" (1954), in which Tolly has an encounter with the (only mildly) menacing spectre of a cursed tree. There's also some Christmas shopping, if you can bear the prospect at this time of year and are not sick to the back teeth of shopping.

 My reading of the next part of " The Children of Green Knowe" (1954) by Lucy M Boston. In this part Tolly learns about the malevolent presence of the cursed yew tree Green Noah. Getting back into recording the story after a Christmas hiatus for family members who were staying here (the house is nowhere near big enough to accommodate quiet space for me alongside everyone else).

  My reading of the next section of Lucy Boston's "The Children of Green Knowe" (1954). Tolly finds out about Green Noah and we hear another of Granny's stories about the ghosts and the origin of the flute. The snows begin to melt. A Merry Christmas to those viewers that celebrate it.

  My reading of the 7th part of Lucy Boston's "The Children of Green Knowe" (1954). Tolly has his strongest encounter yet with the ghosts of the past and hears a tale of a little girl and a giant.