Thirteen At Table by Lord Dunsany
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
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Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany
Edward John Moreton Draw Plunkett, or Lord Dunsany was known to his friends as Eddie. Lord Dunsany was born in 1878 in London England and died in 1957 in Dublin Ireland.
Though born in England, he was heir to the oldest inhabited house in Ireland: Dunsany Castle near Tara. In County Meath.
He worked to support the Abbey Theatre in Dublin with W B Yeats and Lady Gregory. In addition he was chess and pistol champion of Ireland. He was also a great traveller and, as you can tell from this story: he was a habitual hunter with horse and hounds.
He was a prolific writer produced over ninety volumes of fiction, essays, poems and plays. His most famous book is possibly The King of Elfland’s Daughter and he is thought to be the first fantasy writer who set out the later genre that produced the Narnia books and The Lord of the Rings and ultimately Game of Thrones.
Thirteen At Table
This story was suggested by Mike Jenkins. We have a beautiful description of the Kent countryside on a spring evening as they follow the fox. This is indeed a fox hunt and may not be to everyone’s taste but is part of the story. I like the idea that a gentleman at hounds may request a bed from any other gentleman who has a gentleman’s house.
It’s s simple tale thereafter. We have host, Sir Richard Arlen, who says he has lived a wicked life. What he has done to this succession of women that means he has to dine with them every night for the past fifty years is not explained. But we understand he has wronged them and we guess perhaps he was somewhat of a rake.
As the dinner goes on. It is explained that Mr Linton drinks a lot as he is dehydrated. He is also tired. He starts off by humouring the guest and then takes to his story of his wonderful twenty point hunt. The best hunt that ever was and a tale that grows in the telling. I am thinking this is a good humoured dig at huntsmen and their stories.
And as he feels the need for an audience to tell his tale, slowly the ghosts become visible to Mr Linton and he begins to treat them as real people rather than as figments of his imagination. It is so slowly and delicately done that it is very effective and smooth.
In the end he offends the ghosts by something he said. They are clearly very sensitive and collect slights. He is mortified, but the host is supremely grateful.
There is a happy ending in that Sir Richard Arlen
It’s a humorous and pretty story. I haven’t read much Dunsany, but I’m keen to read more now.
The rambles at the end are always so wonderful. I could listen to you ramble about the dog for a minute
I should probably just do a me and Shade podcast
@@ClassicGhost Wouldn't come amiss!
@@ClassicGhost oh i would love that. I could listen to people ramble about dogs for days
Thank you for the wonderful storytelling. I absolutely love listening to you, and love to hear you have wandering conversations after the story is done. Also~~~ a BIG thank you for pointing out the fact that a book should not be taken off the shelf just because someone is offended by it. People have the right to choose what they are offended by, and it makes me absolutely irate when I hear a book has been banned 'for my own good'. I will thank the kArEnS of this world to let me make my own mind up about a book, thank you very much. Have a great day. Much love.
The story was lovely and such descriptive language. I enjoyed your ramble at the end....especially your comment that some people collect slights! I love that insight!! Thank you for your work.
Just posting to say that this guy has an amazing voice and picks the best stories. Been binge listening for a few weeks and I’m loving all of the insight post-story too
What a lovely story! I'm always so happy when the plot goes where I don't expect it to. Thank you so much!
You are so welcome!
An interesting story. I'm afraid all my sympathy was with the poor fox.
Mine also 🦊🦊🦊🦊
Mine too. As an American, we don't hunt foxes very much.
It's my head-canon that unless specifically stated, the fox *always* gets away through either luck, or human incompetence. 🙂
@@susanmercurio1060 they do it around where I live, pretentious idiots… sorry.
Yeah, I kept rooting for the poor thing. I knew she was done when the hunting dogs were “happy”.
👍👍👍👍👍 I only hunt w/ my *Camera* ... I luv Hares, rabbits, fox, deer. birds & an odd duck called: *Tony Rambles* Ha! Kidding
I’m so glad I found this channel!! The readings themselves are top notch (for real) but I love the bits at the end. Love learning some background on the author, hearing some light deconstruction + analysis. The personal stuff is great too. I’m from the states so it’s super cool to hear about your trip to Ireland etc.
I listened to Alice in wonderland for the first time! And got to hear some old favorites from Blackwood and lovecraft, and some new ones by Clark Ashton and many others! Will be spending a bunch of time on this channel!
it was a lovely story ; the main character was a true gentleman
Great story!!!! We’ve all been to one of those dinners when we’ve made a comment thinking it was okay only to have everyone fall silent and stare in various directions. Love this story ❤️❤️After thoughts were perfect!!!
Glad you liked it. I’m still to start the king of elflands daughter
Hoho! I love your end rambles. It's great hearing your take on the stories, and comparing to one's own. Also. You must and should stop even thinking once about jerks who don't know how to behave towards others. What, are you a personal servant to subscribers, that they should order you to read something and get all snarky when you don't? Odd people out there. You are perfectly right about the class-school system, your dog sounds wonderful (what kind? how old?), and, before I forget, your reading and voice were as always magnificent.
Shade is two and a half and she's a blue Staffordshire bull terrier. The softest dog I met, apart from my old boy McEwan, long gone.
@@ClassicGhost A staffie. How perfect can you get? I've had two and they are, in sooth, truly wonderful dogs. All heart and big warm tongue. My evening has just warmed appreciably. Extra pets to Shade!
What a delightful ghost story! Not often I get to say that one, eh? I really enjoyed the slight posh-ening (what? of course that's a word) of your accent for the lord's voice. Hope you're having an excellent spring!
I think poshening is a word. I self poshen in certain circumstances, and self-roughen in others like a kind of social chameleon.
Lovely story. Many thanks!
Have a blessed Easter.
Love Dunsany and your chatting after the story!
More of both please!
More to come!
You’re a wise man, Tony, and very entertaining. Thank you.
I don't know which compliment I prefer. I'd probably sell all the wisdom for a laugh though. :)
May i say how lovely.. all these months i have been a fan and think i must be the only asian enamored so to speak of the “old stories of ghosts”! Almost wish i was english . Keep going mr tony walker
Very pleased you enjoyed it
Phew, thank goodness for that, how happy I was to find out you are against fox hunting. Although if you had'nt been I still would have listened to your channel of course. I felt a little uneasy listening to the first part of the story but thought, "No, keep listening", I'm glad I did.
Incase you are wondering what I'm rambling on about, I've been vegan for 17yrs, long before it was popular. You know what vegans are like, we always have to let everyone know we are vegan.
Your chats at the end of stories are so entertaining, I love them.
P.s. You are right...they all did go to the same school.
I’m glad you tackled a story about a life long gone. I lived in a country estate kind of place as a kid and the fox hunt could often be seen over hill and vale. We took it as a great joke whenever we could lie to huge men on huge horses telling them the wrong direction of fox running.
Can’t believe I only just discovered this channel. I watch a lot of crime/mystery/ghost/cryptid/horror related stuff on UA-cam, and I only just happened on this channel today but already I’m completely hooked. I can listen to these stories while I’m doing other things and they don’t give me anxiety like some of the aforementioned subjects do if I listen to too much in one sitting. The narration is fabulous and I love the little review at the end. Thank you for making awesome content! Keep it up!
Great to have you here Rachael. Tell your friends :))
Another great reading by a great author, and fully support your contention that people are a product of their time, and should be judged as such.
I really enjoy your reading and rambles. Keep it up! That was a fun story.
Sure, I intensely dislike fox hunting---but YEAH, it was a thing in its time. I don't boycott watching 'Downton Abbey' because the people in the late 1920s still held fox hunts. I agree this was a magical and charming story---and I LOVED the ending too! For my own amusement, I fully embrace that the Fox was a SPIRIT Fox, in keeping with the Ghostly Aspects all round. Thanks so much Tony!!! Hope you had a Happy Easter weekend.
I suppose it’s natural for ghost stories to be dark or
scary. And I like those too.
But the lightness of this happy ending was so pleasing! Thanks Tony.
P.S. I assume that people listen to the story before they read the comments.
Hopefully my remark is not
a spoiler.
I’m not sure everyone does listen first but I don’t think it’s a spoiler
Enjoyed this immensely
Thank you, I'd heard of Lord Dunsany (likely from you), and this story. I'm glad to have gotten to listen to it.
Most engaging! 😊
Love your channel ❤. I so appreciated you explaining the historical and cultural context. It makes the stories that much more enjoyable.
I agree, that was a very sweet story. I was also glad it wasn’t a dream. I was thinking the same thing you were. I also have a feeling that old man was a changed man from the life he led in his youth.
Great story and narration! This is a well-written story.
I listened to this three times and missed when they get the fox. I am going up! Lol!
Thanks!
Nicely done!
Two bottles of relish is a disturbing story
Thanks Tony. Since my boss is having medical issues, my Saturdays at the rescue thrift are pretty tiring. It was wonderful to come home to listen to a new story reading. A bowl of popcorn and a glass of white wine and complete relaxation. I did feel bad about the fox but as you say, that was the time. The way he described that it ran on and on and in a straight line made me wonder if it was a device to further the story. I loved your ramble and all the associated interesting bits about Lord Dunsany. Todays celebrities are vapid and boring compared to that turn of the century crowd and far less multi-talented.
I really enjoyed that. Thank you.
I missed a good part of the story whilst being indignant at the thought of some jack-ass letting his dogs rip apart a fox on my front lawn and then having the effrontery to ask to stay the night. lol!
Not ask, but demand. Plus food for his dogs and horses I'd assume. And the servant is dismissed to the stables for the night without a second thought - it'll be a long night for him because, although he must be at least as exhausted as his master, he's gotta rub down horses, feed animals, see them housed, etc. Aside from the ability to talk entertainingly to 12 or 13 silent and invisible ladies, the master seems to have very little to recommend him.
I recommend the ramble at the end. Literary Karens make me sad. So much is lost in the exercise of huff against dead people who were merely typical of times long gone.
@@daljordan8921 Oh, yes, I always listen to his summaries. :) Inject some light and humor into your life, darling!
@@chocolatefrenzieya Ha! I'd have said the very same to you, my dear. Cheers!
@@daljordan8921 Yeahhhh, I definitely missed your humor, poor soul xD
Hi Tony. Due to more lousy health problems still haven't finished Dorian G. Have to have an MRI and if you've had the pleasure then you know how LOUD and intrusive the machine is- wish I could have you reading me a ghost story via the headphones they provide. I lucked out once and got my favorite jazz station- a super nice nurse took the time to search for MY STATION, not just any ole one, close enough- there's Jazz and there's JAZZ! ( right, Jimmy- Jimmy Jazz- The Clash just made "an appearance" ) I had something like a T.i.a. so I am petrified- I was under the false notion, high cholesterol doesn't occur in thin women- some birthday present! Yes, I wish I could take my tablet here and listen to you during the 30min? Can we look forward to a new story from the pen of Master Walker any time soon? Was Lord Dunsany a friend or foe of Oscar Wilde's? Namaste Holly Golightly, Definitely NOT Traveling- if it is The Big Chill/curtains- I AM going to travel, I am going to get to as many of my map "pins" as I can....
Sorry to hear this. I have had lots and lots of patients go for MRi and my family members have been but so far I've been lucky. I understand it is very loud and claustrophobic. Can you not (not that I'm wishing you any more) take along a phone and play something downloaded?
I dread the thought of getting an MRI. Load noise really triggers me. My sister in law was diagnosed with very high cholesterol in her 30's, she was not only thin but athletic and worked as a physical therapist, not a sedentary job. She was shocked. I hope your health problems resolve with a good outcome and they find you something decent to listen to during the procedure.
@@angelachouinard4581 Hi and thank you for taking time to care. Since I am so preoccupied I thought I was talking to Tony who is used to me going on and on about personal things- in part out of loneliness but also because I find nowadays there isn't enough connection with others. I am trying not to dwell on it but it is my nature to worry- I used to meditate but gave it up and exercise- other physical problems and I know I should get back at both. Again, it means a lot to me that you took time to write- if you ever need a shoulder to cry on or laugh on, don't hesitate to write me- Namaste. I will probably end up bugging poor Tony with the results so you will find out- I am terrible at archiving mail- I forget that i said I'd reply- that sort of thing- Tony's channel is wonderful- I thought I was well read in his genre! I really enjoy his author interviews and general chats about England and say, Wiccan customs- I bought a book he recommended on Gypsy lore- always hoped I had some Gypsy blood- still dress like the fortune teller on the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel when I feel better- kind of a Vivienne Westwood type!
@@MSYNGWIE12 I know how isolating illness can be from first hand experience, so I felt I should reach out. Tony has a lot of good folks in his audience. It's a bonus in following his posts. i myself had to stop doing my tai chi for a while and it did not help things. Had trouble meditating too, then I found Tony and a couple of other good readers as a substitute. I'm getting back into it, hopefully you'll be able to as well. Take care.
Most interesting, thank you. One of his stories, concerning the horrible use of a bottle of ketchup, was considered too horrible to be printed.
Do you know the title..... ketchup is my thing.....joking...but I want to read that story.
@@andreac5724 The book, originally printed in 1952, was reissued by Collins Crime Club in 2016. Entitled "Two Bottles of Relish" by Lord Dunsany, it contains twenty two short stories. Good hunting, and the story l mentioned has the most chilling final sentence.
Sorry, twenty six short stories....
Thank you again 👋 , always enjoying 😃
I am having a Tony Walker binge session. I just finished listening to The Hounds of Tinadalos.
Did you like it? Very different to this one
What a wonderful tale! A number of times, the story took a sharp, unexpected turn that was just right. In high school, I made some new friends who introduced me to Lord Dunsany, so please do read more!
I thought it would turn out that the fox turned into the gentleman at the house and then….
This is pretty cool.
Great voice for reading
Cicero's slaves were very likely happy to be Cicero's slaves, and the fox feels no compunction killing the mouse. I'm embarrassed that you need to apologize (in a classical sense) for either.
Loved the tale. Honestly I'd love to ride in a fox hunt...wouldn't want to harm the fox, maybe just chase him a bit, then leave him a chicken for his troubles
Well I see you are a cowboy. I am guessing you ride horses anyway? When I was a kid I devoured books about horse riding and cowboys in Wyoming. My grandfather loved the old westerns and lent me the books when he'd finished.
In the olden days when England was still lush with forrest and pasture lands. Fox's and Rabbits were so plentiful and a major nuisance to farmlands and killing game birds. Huntingis a common affair and a major industry to pre-industrial Britain. In fact processing and selling Rabbit and Fox furs is a large money making industry in Medieval Britain and one of it's key export product at the time. Large Castles would employ hundreds of workers to meet the foreign demand, and they would fill up most of Castle's large store rooms. If your Family's name is Warren, Fox or Rabbit, your ancestor used to work on them.
Natter on Tony, we love it.
Shade 🐕 💕💕💕💕💕💕
This was a delightful little story! I enjoyed the way the narrator slowly - ever so slowly - came to understand that his host in fact was not mad. There was also something interesting with the title, I expected there to be a dinner based off of the title, and naturally I supposed there would be 13 people at said dinner, but lo an behold, there is in fact 14 people at the titular dinner, and that seems to be - at least in a round about way - just what it takes to break the curse.
Loved this. The lighter stories are a great change of pace, though I'm on the fox's side. 😀
I'm going to look him up very interested in what else he's written. Love your storytelling and ramble, I turned the heat off and am trying to talk my 2 Labs back into bed. Spring keeps coming and going here in the US.
One of my favourite ghost stories (movies) is The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.
I don't think I know it.
@@ClassicGhost It's worth looking it up and watching it on date night with your partner.
@@ClassicGhost I can't believe it! It's a wonderful movie based on a book by Josephine Leslie (as R.A. Dick)
Once again i am convinced to never have wainscoting because thats where the rats always live!
It's just their little home
@Classic Ghost Stories Podcast - Tony Walker yeah...in every single horror story! Sometimes my cats stare at the paneling in my bedroom and it freaks me out.
I've always wanted to visit the great Síd in Broga, there in there in the bend of the Boyne.
Aine Moroney is your woman for that. Come along to our book club and she’ll tell you all about them fairy forts. discord.gg/bYTx9v5P
Thank you for the great story!
Thanks for listening
Lord Dunsany!!
Overdue and welcome!!
Thank you :)
You're welcome!
Splendid story.
Showing my ignorance of foreign slang... What is a "chippee-oik"? forgive spelling. haha
Collector of slights - wonderful turn of a phrase. I shall use that in conversation.
I miss your videos. Nice to see the speaker occasionally. However, you do what works best for you. Have a lovely day or night, whatever the case might be for you. 🙂
chippy oik. I would like to do more videos and I may.
Great story
So sweet, but what’ good is ghost story without rats in the walls?
bb -- nice one!
What is the best Dunsany biography? The Machen story is the hill of dreams...you said wonders*
Yes I was wrong . Dreams it is
Did I miss the reason his hunting buddy didn't the night in the stable?
He was a servant.
That was the order of things in those days
Chippy hoik? What? What are you saying? lol I can't keep up with all these Britishisms. Ugh! Look - ya chippy (cheeky) hoik! lol Easy does it with that British slang! lol You didn't even touch on the slamming doors, ya chippy hoik! lol That's a big deal, innit? Hey, you forgot that part of the story! What are ya good for I tell ya? lol j/k Hey Walker, start talking about some ghosts, damn you! lol This was a sweet story? The guy shakes his hand and he leaves! Where in this damn story is something sweet 'cause I'm not here to hear some sappy Barbara Cortland damnit! Hey, release the hounds!! (And btw, I will never unlike or unsubscribe 'cause I'm just too addicted to these sweet, creepy, sick, demented stories! lol j/k) Be well, Tony!
Are there still gentleman’s clubs abounding over there?
Most certainly, especially in central London. The most famous are Boodle's, or White's, in St James's Street, with many others nearby.
@@jacquelineharrod6386 Wow, how quaint & fantastique.
Hummm.
Are there any “Ladies Clubs”?
Good day to you.
Cheers!
@@evelanpatton There is a ladies club for university graduates, and several others less well known, all in London.
@@jacquelineharrod6386 thank you for replying. I’m in the states, on the west coast, so we are more historically connected to land than society. Sometimes when I’m in a bit of a high vibration I can feel the old growth forested energy still hovering about the Puget Sound. Some of our trees are the oldest & largest of their species in the world. You can get 6-10 people around some. Everyone welcome to visit them on the Olympic Peninsula for free.
I know it’s off topic, but I wanted to contribute back with you one of my cool community share/info. 🍸Cheers!🍹
@@evelanpatton And l am very glad you did. Fascinating....and very different from my home town, London! Thank you.
🧡
You are really chatty for the typical Scorpio. Usually Scorpios are very quiet and secretive. They're like poker players - keep everything to themselves. You must have a Gemini rising or moon sign. Definitely an air sign somewhere in your chart. I'm an Aquarius w/ Scorpio rising so I should know! lol Don't mess w/ Scorpios! They are very intense! lol brew ha ha ha ha ha! lol (I know two men who are Scorpios with a Gemini moon sign. They are really funny and talkative! Geminis are really witty but this isn't about astrology I know. Just putting in my two Aquarian cents (another air sign). The sign of Charles Darwin, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Dickens and Thomas Edison and Lewis Carroll!
Love your comment. Years ago I was reading a book on astrology. "Mars in Scorpio. These people make the worst kind of enemy!" Oh Oh. I am Mars in Scorpio.
I think I'm Pisces.
@@ClassicGhost You're Mars in Pisces? I actually have my mars in pisces so I am usually attracted to people who have a Mars in Scorpio. Mars in Pisces people are consummate day dreamers! lol Nostalgic and sentimental. That's me! lol
@@angelachouinard4581 Mars in Scorpio people are the daredevils of the zodiac for sho! I dated someone for 7 yrs w/ Mars in Scorpio. He loved rollercoasters and going to the top of mountains!
@@ClassicGhost I'm surprised you didn't say anything about my other comment! lol I guess you're side stepping that one? Uh oh. Did I stick my foot in it? lol
Contains ,animal cruelty. I abhor fox hunting and spur wearing.
Wow, you're a Scorpio - that's Richard Burton's sign - no wonder you read ghost stories! lol Great read...so there were ghosts slamming the door? That's what it sounds like. Interesting. I don't really get this story. The man shook his hand at the end 'cause he was happy he wasn't the only one making faux pas jokes. Idk. But it was an interesting story. And a day of fox hunting with the hounds.
👍
nothing better than listening to a great story , great voice only to be jolted awake by the bladting of an Ad, unsubscribed
Always sorry to lose a subscriber:(