Bier-Balk and Corpse-Gate

 One of the traditions during my countdown to Halloween is the reading of  Edith Nesbit's Man-Size in Marble, a ghost story set on Halloween night. Since I first read it in The Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories back in 2006 (I know, a long time ago), I have been fascinated by it. Now, I have at least four books with the story in it, most of them anthologies. And I have also been reading a good deal of critical analysis of the story. Recently, I watched its adaptation on BBC, stupidly retitled Woman of Stone, which was absolutely rubbish (no but seriously, it was bad and they just didn't get it). But I digress. From Man-Size in Marble, I also learned two terms that should be in the vocabulary of every fan of Halloween and Gothic horror: bier-balk and corpse-gate. A bier-balk or bierbalk is a path across a road to a church, sometimes across a field, taken by the funeral march. A corpse-gate, or lychgate (which is a way cooler and sinister sounding term) is the roof under which you put a corpse before the arrival of the clergyman. I often see lychgates near churches here in England. I will see them in a different light from now on, and will try to find bierbalks nearby too. And I hope one day to visit in a sort of Halloween pilgrimage the village of Brenzett, which inspired Edith Nesbit to write this most excellent ghost story and where the real ghostly statues are. Be that as it may, bier-balk and corpse-gate are your words of the day.

Brenzett (a ghostly pilgrimage)

As you probably know, if you read this blog for long enough, I love the stories of E. Nesbit, especially her ghost stories, and most of all Man-Size in Marble, one of the very first horror stories ever set on Halloween. It is the perfect scary story for the spooky season. Well, I discovered last year, during the official countdown to Halloween, that the village of Brenzett was not invented by Nesbit, but really exists, in Kent. So it's now on my list of places to visit in the UK. From the pictures Ihave seen, it looks beautifully eerie. I will blog again about the story in the following weeks (well of course), but until then, if some of my readers have visited Brenzett, or even live there (you never know), please let me know in the comments.

The Railway Children on stage

Here is a nice little bit of news I learned from the Facebook page of the Didcot Railway Centre: they will be presenting a stage adaptation of  The Railway Children. I have seen one before, almost ten years ago, which I thoroughly enjoyed.Then I read the novel. Since then, I became a father, and Wolfie has already enjoyed one novel of Edith Nesbit. I suggested we go and watch the play, he is eager to do it, but only once he have read the book. Since it is in August, I guess he has time. So yes, I am not sure if we will go, we will have a busy summer, but this is a possibility. Worst case scenario, it is an excuse to read to Wolfie a classic of children literature.

Five Children and It

 I love E. Nesbit, since I discovered a certain ghost story of hers in a certain anthology. Unlike many people, I thus first discovered as an writer of supernatural, even horror fiction, rather than
a writer of children literature. That said, because I admired her scary stories so much, I decided to read more of her. Including Five Children and It, which sounds like a prequel to a Stephen King novel, but is not. I found it in the local bookshop and read it in 2020, in the middle of lockdown. recently, my wife found it among the bookshelves and has decided to read it to Wolfie, who really loves it. So this is now a faily book.

Monster Plants (Monstrum)

Monstrum has just released a video on Monster plants. As always, fascinating. Malevolent plants are a common trope of both horror and science-fiction. So you might to check this video if you are looking for inspiration for some Halloween reads, or simply scifi stories with a more sinister element. In any case, it is a very thorough history of the birth and evolution of a modern myth. That said, I am a bit sad they did not mention The Pavillion by E. Nesbit, my favourite horror story featuring a monster plant.

The Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories

For today's countdown to Halloween's post, another reading suggestion: The Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories. Maybe my favourite anthology, although this may be a case of first love: this was the very first anthology of ghost stories I ever bought, back in 2006, before this blog, to get myself into a Halloween mood. It made me discover so many authors: M.R. James, E. Nesbit, Edith Wharton, Algernon Blackwood, to name a few. It covers two centuries of ghost stories, so its a great book for a crash course in ghostly fiction. It has been for me anyway. Obviously, it has a great deal of classics. And since many stories are set during Christmastime (as traditionally this is when ghost stories were published), you can carry on reading it after Halloween.

Man-Size in Marble for Halloween

I know I have suggested this ghost story by E. Nesbit before and more than once, but Man-Size in Marble is for me the story to experience on Halloween night and I read it at least once during the season. Here it is in one of the few audio versions I found on YouTube, not the perfect one, but I thought it was all right. I hope you enjoy it.

Un défi ou challenge personnel (la photo du mois)

C'est le thème de ce mois-ci, choisi par Chat Bleu. Ma photo a été prise au National Railway Museum juste avant la performance de The Railway Children. Ce que vous voyez fait partir du décor de scène. Car voici mon défi personnel: retourner un jour sur les planches.

Et voyez quels défis personnels les autres se sont lancés:

AF News, Akaieric, Alban, Alexinparis, Angélique, Aude, Autour de Cia, BiGBuGS, Blogoth67, Brindille, Calamonique, Cara, Champagne, Chat bleu, Chiffons and Co, Chloé, Christophe, Cocazzz, Cécile, CécileP, Céline in Paris, Dame Skarlette, Danièle.B, DelphineF, Dom-Aufildesvues, E, El Padawan, Estelle, Eva INside-EXpat, François le Niçois, Frédéric, Gilsoub, Giselle 43, Guillaume, Homeos-tasie, J'habite à Waterford, Josette, Julie, Kenza, KK-huète En Bretannie, Koalisa, Krn, La Fille de l'Air, Lau* des montagnes, Laulinea, Laurent Nicolas, Lavandine, Lavandine83, Loulou, Luckasetmoi, magda627, Mamysoren, Marie, MauriceMonAmour, Milla la galerie, Mimireliton, Mireille, Mirovinben, Mon Album Photo, Morgane Byloos Photography, MyLittleRoad, Nanouk, Nicky, Noz & 'Lo, Pat, Philae, Pilisi, Pixeline, Renepaulhenry, Rythme Indigo, Sinuaisons, Sous mon arbre, Suki, Tambour Major, Testinaute, Thalie, Tuxana, Voyager en photo, Woocares, Xoliv'.

The Railway Children

I bought The Railway Children at the National Railway Museum, where we saw a stage adaptation of the novel. I first discovered E. Nesbit through her ghost stories, which I loved, and I wanted to know more about her and read what is maybe her most famous work. It's a classic of children literature which I never knew or heard about as a child. I actually never heard of it until I was well into adult age. Which is almost surprising, given that I love everything train related. I guess I am not that educated about all the classics of English literature. I am about to finish it. Because I saw the play, I think I can already recommend it. It has been one of my November reads and it helped get through a dreary month. It is a delightful little book, a very English one, with tea time, English countryside and of course featuring a railway at a time when trains were the nation's technological and transport pride. It is told through children's perspective full of innocence, but not quite an idyllic one. The universe depicted by Nesbit is not devoid of dangers, sadness and sometimes even tragedy (although it is averted in extremis). Since it was first published as a serials in a magazine, it is a very episodic novel, most chapters having self-contained stories. Unlike its most famour movie adaptation and the stage version I saw, where Yorkshire is mentioned as the setting, the novel is set in an unspecified part of rural England. But reading it, it's always Yorkshire that comes to my mind. So anyway, I strongly recommend it.

The Power of Darkness: Tales of Terror

As tonight's countdown to Halloween's post, I want to promote the work of E. Nesbit, one of my favourite ghost story  writers. She was more famous for children fiction, but she wrote a few great supernatural stories, which is how I first discovered her. The first story I ever read of her was Man-size in marble, which I blogged about here. It is set on Halloween night. So I was hooked. So I bought a few years later The Power of Darkness: Tales of Terror. There are a good deal of tales of terror in them, but the title is not completely accurate: some stories could just as well be labelled scifi (albeit with a good dose of fear), in some the ghostly manifestation is explained rationally, but not before giving the reader a few chills until the reveal.

You will find her ghost stories in many anthologies, nevertheless I would recommend that you get your hand on this book so you do not miss any treasure. The first story in the book is Man-size in marble, so it is ideal to start your Halloween season. Unlike the other Edith (Wharton), whom I blogged about recently, Nesbit displays evil far more concretely. The ghost is far more openly menacing, and she does not shy away from blood and gore when the story requires it. Apart from Man-size, I particularly enjoyed Number 17, which I mentioned here, The Haunted House (Nesbit's take on the vampire myth),  In the Dark and The Pavilion. They are going to make your skin crawl, give you a chill, whatever cliché you can think about. I truly love this author.

Passion (la photo du mois)

 Le thème de la photo du mois, choisi par DelphineF, a été inspiré d'une citation de Saint Augustin. Voici l'explication: "Je suis ravie pour mes 3 ans de participation de vous proposer une citation de Saint Augustin : "Celui qui se perd dans sa passion perd moins que celui qui perd sa passion." Je vous propose donc de prendre en photo ce qui vous passionne le plus dans votre vie. Un thème qui je l'espère vous inspirera et sera haut en couleur et en bonne humeur !" Comme il y a bien des choses qui me passionnent, j'avais l'embarras du choix. Alors j'ai choisi une photo qui, bien qu'imparfaite (j'ai dû la prendre très vite et dans une foule), représente certaines de mes passions: le théâtre, les trains (surtout à vapeur) et la littérature. La photo a été prise au National Railway Museum de York. Ce train, cependant, n'est pas le modèle dans un musée mais... un accessoire de théâtre. En effet, le musée faisait aussi office de théâtre pour l'adaptation sur scène de The Railway Children d'Edith Nesbit. Que j'ai d'abord connue pour ses histoires d'horreur. Une autre passion que j'ai, d'ailleurs. En plus l'histoire se passe dans la campagne anglaise, elle parle d'enfance et je suis un nostalgique fini, enfin bref s'il y a une photo qui représente mes passions, c'est bien celle-là. 

Pour la passion des autres, c'est par là:

A'icha, Akaieric, Alban, Alexinparis, Arwen, Aude, Autour de Cia, BiGBuGS, Blogoth67, Cara, Carole en Australie, Champagne, Chat bleu, Chloé, Christophe, Cocazzz, Cricriyom from Paris, CécileP, Céline in Paris, Dame Skarlette, DelphineF, Dom-Aufildesvues, Dr. CaSo, El Padawan, Estelle, Eva INside-EXpat, Fanfan Raccoon, François le Niçois, Frédéric, Galéa, Gilsoub, Giselle 43, Guillaume, Homeos-tasie, Iris, Isaquarel, J'habite à Waterford, Josette, Julia, Kenza, KK-huète En Bretannie, Koalisa, Krn, La Fille de l'Air, Lau* des montagnes, Laulinea, Laurent Nicolas, Lavandine, Lavandine83, Lecturissime, Les Bazos en Goguette, Les bonheurs d'Anne & Alex, Les Filles du Web, Loqman, Loulou, Luckasetmoi, Lyonelk, magda627, Mamysoren, Marie, MauriceMonAmour, Milla la galerie, Morgane Byloos Photography, MyLittleRoad, Nanouk, Nicky, Noz & 'Lo, Philisine Cave, Pilisi, Pixeline, princesse Emalia, ratonreal, Renepaulhenry, Rosa, Rythme Indigo, Sandrine, Sinuaisons, Testinaute, Thalie, Tuxana, Voyager en photo, Xoliv'.

Haunted pub?

This is tonight's countdown to Halloween post. I took this picture of the pub by the train station when I was walking back home, straight off the train. I took it first because I thought it looked like a beautiful autumnal picture, then because I thought about yesterday's countdown to Halloween post. And I remembered, as I mentioned here, that I suspected that it was the setting of a ghost story of E. Nesbit. I have little evidence, almost none, that it served as the setting, but one clue in the text at least made me think it could have served as inspiration. The pub used to be the hotel station, back when trains were coming and going from and to everywhere here. Strange, as the first time I came here, I stopped at the pub and thought this would be such a great setting for a scary story. Anyway, enough teasing, as Halloween is round the corner, I would invite you to read Number 17. It is public domain in Canada, I don't know where else. Or buy this book. I have been plugging Edith Nesbit very often these days, but she is worth discovering. Anyway, is the pub haunted, like the hotel before? I don't think so. There is by the way an amusing twist about the nature of the ghost in Number 17 which makes it worth a read in itself. All the same, it is rather pleasant to imagine such a place haunted.

More Halloween stories

For my countdown to Halloween post, I am plugging another book of Halloween stories. Like Halloween: Magic, Mystery and the Macabre, it is edited by Paula Guran. In fact, this one, simply called Halloween, is its older brother, or its prototype. It is also an anthology of many traditional horror stories set around Halloween, although there are also more modern authors. You will find among the classics Man-Size in Marble by Edith Nesbit, which I have recently blogged about. This is partially what convinced me to purchase it, even though I already have the short story in two different books. I just thought, if the rest is as good as Nesbit, it is worth a purchase. And I am making myself a nice little collection of horror stories. Its front cover, with the although spooky and beautiful Jack O'Lantern, is not as nice as the second book, but it still looks nice. And there are of course the stories. This is one of the books I am reading at the moment anyway. And I will finish this countdown to Halloween post by a teaser: I am writing a scary story myself for this blog, which I should post soon. So watch this space.

Man-Size in Marble (a horror story)

Tonight for my countdown to Halloween post, I want to recommend one of my favourite scary stories, a classic Gothic ghost story by Edith Nesbit. It is called Man-Size in Marble and it is available online here. Why this ghost story more than any other? Because this one is set on Halloween night, which of course makes it very topical. But this is not the only reason. Nesbit is a crafty writer and her scary stories are too little known. Without giving too much away, Man-Size in Marble is as much a tragedy as it is a scary story, just like many of her stories. I first read it in The Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories, an anthology I plugged here. I loved the story so much that years later I purchased The Power of Darkness: Tales of Terror, which contains all (I think) her ghost stories. I now have the short story in at least three different books including these two. I recommend that you read all the ghost stories of Edith Nesbit, but start with this one. Take the time to read it at the above link, then tell me what you thought of it in the comments.

Autumnal pub

I took this picture a few weeks ago, when I was walking back from the train station. I blogged about this pub before, it is the pub by the train station, an old building that used to be the station hotel. On my first day in this town, when I came for a job interview, it is where I stopped. It is for me the welcoming spot of this town. I also think it might be the setting of one of the ghost stories of E. Nesbit. I have no way to be certain, but I will investigate it. It is a warm and very atmospheric pub, especially in autumn, I always thought that it could be the setting of a Halloween story, even before I read the ghost story of Nesbit. The walls are covered with leaves which get fiery colours. When I find the weather too warm, like these days, the leaves on the pub remind me that autumn is truly here, at least in colours.

Eerie fog

Recently, the temperature has been much milder and I have been disappointed that the autumnal temperature that was there earlier has turned into something akin to a warm end of summer. Fine for an end of summer, but I wanted autumnal temperatures. Then this morning, as I walked out to go to work, I had a pleasant surprise: a thick fog all around me. Temperature went down a few notches, so it looked and felt very autumnal and of course beautifully eerie. And the train was a bit slow on its way, therefore I had some extra time to read the horror stories of E. Nesbit I have been reading recently, as I am already on Halloween mode. Reading scary stories in a train journey, surrounded by eerie fog is always a very pleasurable experience. By the way, this picture is not from this morning, but from last year. It does not give justice to the thick fog that was here today.

Happy Birthday E. Nesbit

Ah, the things you learn when you open your browser on Google sometimes. Like today, first thing in the morning, I see a Google Doodle, and I discover it is celebrating the birthday of Edith Nesbit, or E. Nesbit. She was the author of children's books, such as The Railway Children, which was the one illustrated in the Doodle. It is maybe a lesser known fact nowadays that she was also the author of a good deal of horror/ghost stories, including Man-size in marble. I know nothing about her children stories, ironically enough. But I read Man-size in marble in this anthology. It is a really good chill, a classic ghost story, set fittingly on Halloween night. As it is my favourite holiday, I found the story very fitting for a read in the time leading to the season.

The short story had a strong enough impression on me to make me want to truly discover Nesbit, so as I mentioned on this post I bought a book of her horror stories, The Power of Darkness: Tales of Terror (and by the way what brilliant covers Wordsworth Mystero books have). I will read them eagerly soon, in the upcoming weeks leading to Halloween (I usually start shortly before September). One could find strange that a famous (or once famous) author of children fiction also wrote horror, but to me it did not surprise me at all. Children have a wild imagination and often a sinister one and childhood fears and nightmares feed one's psyche for a lifetime. If one can channel them, they can write magnificent tales of terror. I am looking forward to explore the dark side of Edith Nesbit.

The problem with anthologies

The recent gloomy weather, which seems to have changed yesterday and today, made me think about Halloween and long for it. When summer does not seem to be showing up at all, one ends up longing for autumn. I am like this anyway. Because my mind was set on Halloween I thought it was the right time to beef up my library with horror stories. So I Gothic Short Stories, which is, well, an anthology of gothic short stories, as well as books of stories by Edith Nesbit and Edith Wharton. I am building up quite a nice personal collection, although I am far from a connoisseur yet. Which leads me to this post's topic: anthologies are often made of the same stories I will find somewhere else. This one is interesting, but many of the stories I have already read before, mainly in other anthologies. This is why I decided to buy the stories of Nesbit and Wharton. But many authors of horror, especially gothic horror, are now little known and rarely get published on their own. So I will have to keep on buying anthologies. Maybe one day I will become the editor of one.