Celebrate Poe

Send us a textWelcome to celebrate Poe this is episode 382 - Poe's Pit and Pendulum.Ghost soundGlad you're there Mr. Poe.  You know in the previous episode we discussed the Raven. I would like to take a similar look at what I personally feel is one of your Best stories - the pit and the pendulum - although the black cat, the mask of the red death, the fall of the house of usher, and especially the telltale heart have to be up there with it in terms of popularity todayI found that most interesting, Mr. BartleyWell let's start out by simply asking what kind of literature would you call the pit and the pendulum?My work The Pit and the Pendulum is a quintessential example of Gothic literature, employing several key elements of the genre to evoke fear, suspense, and psychological torment. The story takes place in a dark, oppressive dungeon during the Spanish Inquisition, a setting that is emblematic of Gothic literature. The dungeon is described as mysterious, claustrophobic, and perilous, with features like the yawning pit and the descending pendulum designed to instill dread. This setting creates an atmosphere of gloom and doom, heightening the reader's sense of unease.Please continue Mr. Poe.The narrative revolves around the protagonist's imminent death, with each torture device symbolizing different aspects of mortality. The pit represents an abyss of unknown horrors, while the pendulum symbolizes time's inexorable march toward death. These elements underscore Gothic literature's preoccupation with mortality, decay, and existential dread.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to celebrate Poe - episode 381 - Edgar Poe Explains the Raven.Sorry if I gave you the wrong idea in the previous episode, but in this episode I want to delve more into Poe's most famous work.GHOST SOUNDHello Mr. PoeGreetings Mr. BartleyVery welcome to see you today Mr. Poe.  I was just saying that I wanted to deal into your most famous work in today's podcast episode.Oh Mr. Bartley that would have to be the Raven. We certainly talked about the poem in the previous episode, but I welcome another chance to deal to the work.Maybe a good place to start Mr. Poe would be just for you to explain the importance of the ravenAh Mr. Bartley, The Raven can best be described As a profound meditation on human suffering and mortality. The poem explores how grief can consume an individual's rationality and sense of self. The poem's haunting refrain, "Nevermore," encapsulates not just the narrator's despair but also the universal finality of loss that all must confront. Through vivid imagery, Gothic symbolism, and psychological depth, I attempted to create an enduring work that resonates with readers' own experiences of sorrow and longing.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - This is episode 380 (getting on up there) called More Supernatural Elements.Mr. Bartley: I have the Ghost of Mr. Poe here, and would like to dive right into Mr. Poe' s  basic belief about his character's struggles.Mr. Poe: Ah, Mr. Bartley - permit to emphasize that it was important to frequently examine the duality of human nature—the conflict between rationality and irrationality or good and evil—through my characters' subconscious struggles:  for example, In William Wilson, the protagonist is tormented by a doppelgänger who represents his conscience. This internal conflict aligns with Gothic themes of moral ambiguity and self-destruction.  The duality in my works echoes earlier Gothic explorations of divided selves (e.g., Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) but with greater emphasis on psychological complexity.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - This is episode 379 - Supernatural ElementsWell How are you, Mr. Poe - and waiting to begin our conversationVery tolerable, Mr. Bartley -and most eager to share our thoughts.Mr Poe - It seems that you often employ eerie and decaying settings to create an atmosphere of dread and suspense.  For example, in The Fall of the House of Usher, the crumbling mansion mirrors the psychological decay of its inhabitants. The house itself becomes a character, embodying themes of isolation and impending doom.  Your settings often include elements like dungeons, vaults, and desolate landscapes, which are staples of Gothic literature.Ah, yes, Mr. Bartley - I attempted to delve deeply into the human psyche, focusing on madness, guilt, and obsession. Stories such as The Tell-Tale Heart and The Black Cat feature unreliable narrators whose deteriorating mental states drive the narrative. These characters' inner turmoil aligns with Gothic themes of psychological horror and moral ambiguity.  And I would like to think that my use of first-person narration intensifies the sense of unease by immersing readers in the disturbed thoughts of my protagonists.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe. Episode 378 -  Chilled Into StoneWell, in the previous episode Mr.Poe and I were engaged in a vigorous - don't know if that is the right word for it - a vigorous discussion about what many consider to the his best story - The Fall of the House of Usher - although to be honest, I prefer The Tell Tale Heart or possibly The Cask of Amontillado - but I better say that before Mr. Poe arrives.Greetings, Mr. BartleyOh, Hello, Mr. Poe, I didn't realize you were there.Ah, Mr. Bartley - you are certainly entitled to your opinion - such as it is.Ah, Mr Poe, I don't know what to say - don't want to offend the literary master.Ah, Mr. Bartley - sometimes the best thing to say is nothing.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 377 - The House is a Vampire!My name is George Bartley, and for the rest of this series, I want to really look into a house that might not make it into Better Homes and Gardens - but is often classified as Edgar Allan Poe's greatest work.  The story is definitely Gothic in tone, complicated from a psychological standpoint, and a great example of how Poe dealt with vampiric characters and themes.Madeline and Roderick Usher are both vampiric-like characters that seem to take the life out of each other.  And even the house in which they live - with its eye-like windows - can be seen as a vampiric character.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textMr. Bartley - plain fontMr. Poe - italics fontWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 376 - A Crawling ShapeIn this episode, I would like to slightly change the subject to early Gothic novels such as The Castle of Otrano - literature that most scholars believed influenced Edgar Poe's works.Ah, Mr. Bartley - I know that some scholars have said that I must have been familiar with the The Castle of Otranto from 1764, which many have said was the first Gothic novel,and influenced such individuals as Ann Radcliffe and Mary Shelley, whose works I greatly admired and even referenced. My own Gothic tales, such as The Fall of the House of Usher, share thematic and stylistic elements with Walpole's work, including haunted settings, supernatural events, and psychological terror.Ah yes, Mr. Poe - what about E.T.A. Hoffman?Ah, Mr. Bartley, Mr. Hoffman definitely influenced my works - due to hisuse of first-person narratives and exploration of madness, align with techniques pioneered in Otranto.  And I must point out how Otranto's Gothic tropes - —haunted castles, doomed aristocrats, and supernatural Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 375 - TormentedI have the ghost of Mr. Poe here - and I would like to ask Mr. Poe a very basic question that many readers of your work have - Mr. Poe - why did you use so much gruesome imagery in your works - imagery that would be difficult for many readers in the mid19th century to handle.Ah, Mr. Bartley, my use of gruesome imagery often served as a metaphor for societal or existential concerns. For example, stories such as "The Masque of the Red Death" critique human arrogance in the face of mortality, while "The Fall of the House of Usher" symbolizes decay—both personal and societal. My works frequently challenge sentimental literature by presenting death not as a redemptive force but as an inevitable and horrifying reality.Yes, Mr. Poe - I am finding out everyday that your works are incredibly complex.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate. Poe. Episode 374 - PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES where the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe and myself continue our discussion of how the writer surpassed the boundaries of Gothic literatureWe begin this episode by continuing our discussion on how the theater might've affected your writings.Mr. Poe: Ah, Mr. Bartley, Now the dramatic storytelling inherent in theater from parents and youth may have also contributed to my affinity for Gothic literature. My works often featured dark, mysterious settings and explored themes such as death, decay, and the supernatural.Furthermore, the artistic environment surrounding my parents' careers could have nurtured my early interest in poetry and literature. Despite the hardships I faced after their deaths, my foundation may have laid the groundwork for my later literary achievements.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - What Is Gothic - Episode 373 - the first of a extended series of podcasts - at least 10 podcasts under the general subject title of Poe and Gothic literature.This podcast episode begins with a few bars of  “Come Rest in this Bosom.”  Very calm, peaceful, and relaxing - and a medley that one of Edgar Poe's  beaus said was his favorite.  You might say that such a relaxing melody is all the things that Gothic is not.  And that leads me to one of the subjects of the next few episodes - What does Gothic mean?Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 372 - Dracula and DoublesBefore we go any further, I want to give you a basic definition of a double in literature or movies - first using some fairly recent examples.Now a "double" refers to a character or figure that acts as a duplicate or counterpart to another, often embodying opposing traits or hidden aspects of the original character's personality. This motif explores duality, fragmented identity, and moral conflict, serving as a reflection of the protagonist's inner struggles or desires. Doubles can represent repressed qualities (e.g., evil impulses), moral opposites, or even societal anxieties, creating tension and conflict that drives the narrative.Toni Morrison's Beloved (1987)In this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the ghostly figure of Beloved acts as a double for Sethe's guilt and trauma over her past actions. The motif highlights themes of memory, motherhood, and the haunting effects of slavery..Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca (1938)While not a modern work in publication date, its influence persists in contemporary Gothic fiction. The unseen presence of Rebecca acts as a psychological double for the narrator, embodying her insecurities and fears about her identity in relation to her husband's first wife.These two modern examples demonstrate how the double motif remains a powerful literary tool for exploring complex psychological and social issues while maintaining its Gothic roots in creating tension and unease.Listen to this episode to hear a theory regarding how the theme of "the double" is used in Bram Stokers Dracula!Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Episode 371 - The Black VampyreIn this episode I would like to delve into a literary work published by C. Wiley and Company on June 23, 1819 - The Black Vampyre.   Unfortunately, the story has a lot of archaic words that we just don't use any more - so I think a better way to look at The Black Vampyre is tell its overall story - rather ahead of its time for period in which it was written.'The full title of the short story is The Black Vampyre, and was supposedly written under the name of Uriah Derick D'Arcy - although some later editions have attributed the story to other writers. The Black Vampire is not only considered the first black vampire story, but the first comedic vampire story, the first vampire story by an American author, and perhaps the first anti-slavery short story of any kind.  The story is set against the conditions that set into motion the Revolution in Haiti.  As you will soon realize, The Black Vampyre is full of all kinds of improbable plot changes and twists - strange over the top situations that allow it to come across as humorous while also subversive.Welcome to Episode 371 - The Black VampyreThank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - This is 370 - The Judge's House, Part TwoIf you have not heard the previous episode, I recommend that you listen to Episode 369.  That episode has an interesting introduction to the tale, as well as the beginning of the slow-burn drama and eventual of Bram Stoker' The Judge's House. Tonight the rats disturbed him more than they had done on the previous night. How they scampered up and down and under and over! How they squeaked, and scratched, and gnawed! How they, getting bolder by degrees, came to the mouths of their holes and to the chinks and cracks and crannies in the wainscoting till their eyes shone like tiny lamps as the firelight rose and fell. But to him, now doubtless accustomed to them, their eyes were not wicked; only their playfulness touched him. Sometimes the boldest of them made sallies out on the floor or along the mouldings of the wainscot. Now and again as they disturbed him Malcolmson made a sound to frighten them, smiting the table with his hand or giving a fierce “Hsh, hsh,” so that they fled straightway to their holes.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 369 The Judge's House, Part OneBut before we go any further, I want to announce that Celebrate Poe has now had downloads in 100 countries and territories.Now I have another surprise for you from Bram Stoker's 1914 Dracula's Guest - a short story called The Judge's House.  I admit that I first thought about covering Dracula's Guest in just one episode - but that made the episode way too long. So I am splitting The Judge's House into two sections.  It is not Draculesque (if that is a word) and it may not seem like much is happening, but has a build-up to the climax in the second half that is really powerful and well worth the wait.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe.  This is Episode 368 - Varney VS DraculaThis podcast has had episodes about Varney the Vampire, as well as Bram Stoker's Dracula - but you might well be wondering - what are the realdifferences between the two vampires?  Weren't all vampires of the 19th century alike.  Well, in this episode, I am going to try and compare Varney and Dracula - and there might be more differences than you think.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 367 The blood is the life!Today I would like to start out by comparing Bram Stoker's Dracula's castle to Edgar Allan Poe's decaying House of Usher.Both Castle Dracula and the House of Usher are iconic Gothic settings that share several key characteristics, emphasizing decay, isolation, and a sense of foreboding. However, they also have distinct features that set them apart.Castle Dracula is described as a vast, ruined structure with broken battlements and tall black windows. Its exterior shows signs of decay, with carvings worn by time and weather. The castle's imposing architecture and remote location on a great rock contribute to its air of impenetrability and isolation.In contrast, the House of Usher is portrayed as a mansion rather than a castle, but it shares the theme of decay. The exterior of the House of Usher is covered in "minute fungi" and a "fine tangled web-work," creating a more organic form of deterioration.Both structures evoke a sense of ancient history and faded grandeur. Castle Dracula is associated with Romanian aristocracy and contains valuable artifacts from centuries past. The House of Usher, while not explicitly tied to nobility, also carries an aura of long-standing family history.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 366 - Would You Like Some Sugar with Your Flies - In this episode, I would like to zero in for a look at my favorite character in Dracula - Renfield.Now while Dracula operates in the shadows, Renfield's behavior acts as an overt "index" of the vampire's presence, making him a more visible and erratic counterpart to Dracula's subtle menace. Dracula's motivations and actions are complex and calculated, while Renfield's madness reduces him to more primal and straightforward desires - in other words eating mice and insects.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 365 - Vampire BridesLet's jump into Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic novel - Dracula.  Now the character of Count Dracula draws from  draws from historical figures, folklore, and literary innovation, and is widely believed to be inspired by Vlad III Dracula (Vlad the Impaler), a 15th-century Wallachian prince known for his brutal tactics against Ottoman invaders.  The name "Dracula" derives from Vlad II Dracul, Vlad III's father, who belonged to the Order of the Dragon (Dracul meaning "dragon" or "devil" in Romanian).Now Bram Stoker - though we don't have any solid proof of this - likely encountered the name of Vlad the impaler - the 15th century Wallachian prince known for his brutal tactics against Ottoman invaders - in his research for his novel, but there is no proof that Stoker's modeled the Count directly on him. Scholars note Stoker's notes mention neither Vlad nor Transylvanian history in depth. He may have just liked the sound of the name.In fact, Stoker blended vampire folklore with Gothic tropes, possibly inspired by actors Sir Henry Irving (for Dracula's aristocratic demeanor) and Jacques Damala. Many scholars believe he lesbian vampire tale Carmilla (1872) also influenced the novel's tone.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 365 - Dracula's Guest, Part TwoAnd welcome to the second part and conclusion of Bram Stoker's Dracula Guest.  As I looked there came a cold shiver in the air, and the snow began to fall. I thought of the miles and miles of bleak country I had passed, and then hurried on to seek the shelter of the wood in front. Darker and darker grew the sky, and faster and heavier fell the snow, till the earth before and around me was a glistening white carpet the further edge of which was lost in misty vagueness. The road was here but crude, and when on the level its boundaries were not so marked, as when it passed through the cuttings; and in a little while I found that I must have strayed from it, for I missed underfoot the hard surface, and my feet sank deeper in the grass and moss. Then the wind grew stronger and blew with ever increasing force, till I was fain to run before it. The air became icy-cold, and in spite of my exercise I began to suffer. The snow was now falling so thickly and whirling around me in such rapid eddies that I could hardly keep my eyes open. Every now and then the heavens were torn asunder by vivid lightning, and in the flashes I could see ahead of me a great mass of trees, chiefly yew and cypress all heavily coated with snow.I was soon amongst the shelter of the trees, and there, in comparative silence, I could hear the rush of the wind high overhead. Presently the blackness of the storm had become merged in the darkness of the night. By-and-by the storm seemed to be passing away: it now only came in fierce puffs or blasts. At such moments the weird sound of the wolf appeared to be echoed by many similar sounds around me.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 363  - Dracula's Guest, Part OneFinally - this podcast is beginning a series of episodes about Bram Stoker's Dracula. First, I am going to delve into - at some detail - what is often felt to be the first chapter of Bram Stoker's Dracula and was first published as "Dracula's Guest” in the short story collection Dracula's Guest and Other Weird Stories (1914). Again, It was believed to have been intended as the first chapter for novel Dracula, but was deleted prior to publication as the original publishers felt it was superfluous to the story.  I will start with some commentary about Dracula's Guest, the first part of the story, and then finish the story - or chapter - or whatever it is - in the following episode.In the preface to the original edition of Dracula's Guest and Other Weird Stories, Stoker's widow Florence wrote, "To his original list of stories in this book, I have added an hitherto unpublished episode from Dracula. It was originally excised owing to the length of the book, and may prove of interest to the many readers of what is considered my husband's most remarkable work."Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 362 - Poetry and DreamsI was looking through articles about Poe to find information for a future article regarding why do so many people read Edgar Allan Poe. And I found some great stuff and certainly will be writing an episode or two about that subject. But I found an article that said that more Americans - almost 3/4 - are familiar with Edgar Poe - more than any other poet.  Shakespeare is second.Now  this was the episode where I wanted to start some episodes on Bram Stoker - but it turns out there is a poetry workshop that is rather time sensitive, so I better get this out now.You see, on Thursday, April 24 there will be a free workshop from the Academy of American Poets online at YouTube - no charge at all, tho I doubt they would turn down donations.  All you need to do is register, and again, it is free. I have the URL on my Buzzsprout transcript and show notes - but in case you can't  remember URLS - I can't - it is https//poets.org/gala/2025 - - again, it is free - all you need to do is register in advance.  The readers include people such as Christine Baranski, Stephen King, Tony Kusher, Fran Lebowitz, and Lawrence O'Donnell - among others.Just wanted to be sure that you got the info about what is called Poetry and the Creative Mind - again, to be held on Thursday, April 24.By the way, Meryl Streep is extremely active in Poetry and the Creative Mind, and has read works by Elizabeth Bishop, Sylvia Plath, and Walt Whitman in programs across multiple years.By the way, poets.org.gala.2025 will take you to the registration page as well.For the rest of this episode, I would like to delve into several of Edgar Poe's poems that deal with dreams.  The three poems are Dreams, A Dream, and A Dream Within a Dream, and Dreamland - and boy, are they easy to mix up.  So take them in order considering the number of words in the title - I know it sounds simplistic but stay with me because it makes things soooo much easier.  And I am not going to include the poem Dreamland until the end of this podcast  - It is (in my opinion, a poem that is in a class by yourself.)Think 1, 2, and 5 - words that is -The title of Dreams is just one word, the title of A Dream is two words, and the title of the shortest and most mature work - A Dream Within a Dream is 5 words. Dreams and A Dream were both published in 1827 and A Dream Within a Dream was published in 1849 - the year of Edgar Poe's earthly demise.Let me say that again - The title of Dreams is just one word, the title of A Dream is two words, and the title of the most mature work - A Dream Within a Dream is 5 words. Dreams and A Dream were both published in 1827 and A Dream Within a Dream was published in 1849.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome 361  Vampires and ReligionNow I was planning to do some Easter theme episodes on Celebrate Poe - yes there is a connection - and looked at the calendar - assuming that Easter took place in March or early April - but I was really surprised to find out that this year Easter takes place on April 20 - one of the latest possible dates for the holiday. Now this is where it really gets into the weeds - tThe timing of Easter is determined by a combination of astronomical and ecclesiastical rules, specifically tied to the lunar calendar and the spring equinox.Apparently, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox (March 21 in ecclesiastical calculations). This year, the spring equinox occurred on March 20, and the first full moon after that—the "Paschal Full Moon"—is on April 12-13. Since April 13 is a Sunday, Easter is pushed to the following Sunday, April 20 - got that?The lunar cycle, which lasts approximately 29.5 days, can cause significant variation in Easter's date. The range for Easter is between March 22 and April 25, depending on when the Paschal Full Moon occurs relative to the equinox. In 2025, both the equinox and full moon align later than usual, making Easter nearly as late as it can be.  So you have Maundy Thursday - the date when we celebrate The Last Supper on the preceding Thursday, and Christ's crucifixion on Friday.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 360 - Dracula at ChurchWelcome back to Dracula at Church - and if you have not listened to the previous episode, it might really help you to understand some fascinating ideas about the unintended role of vampires in religion.Now the Church's depiction of vampires as demonic entities provided solace to believers by framing these creatures within a Christian moral and spiritual framework, offering both explanations for their  -  and remedies for protection. This approach reassured the faithful in the face of fears surrounding death, evil, and the supernatural.  I guess the Church realized that there would always be a group of people who believed in vampires - so they basically designed a depiction that offered comfort.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 359 - Vampires and the Last SupperWhen I started this podcast, I assumed the topics of the Last Supper and Easter would have nothing to do with anything related to Poe - oh sure, we do have evidence that the Allans attended the Anglican - or Episcopal Church in Richmond - but basically we don't really thing of anything related to religion when we think of Edgar Poe.I know I had said the we would soon delve into Bram Stoker's Dracula - but reality has a way of causing you to change your plans, and so this podcast will be definitely delving into Bram Stoker's Dracula for several episodes next week.  For Easter this year, I did 3 episodes that tied the subject of vampires to the Christian church - and I feel the episodes are very respectful and not at all sacrilegious.And when I first delved into the topic vampires - in preparation for Poe's vampiric stories - I never thought that there would be any connection - however perverted - between, say, communion and vampires.But the more research I did, the more I saw that there was a perverted comparison between the blood demands of a vampire and the truly sacred blood and love of Christ.  Such a comparison offers a fascinating exploration of opposing spiritual and existential themes - of good and evil. Both concepts revolve around the symbolism of blood as a source of life, but they diverge in their purpose and moral implications. And let me apologize in advance - some of the ideas in this podcast might come across as a bit dense and even hard to take, but stick with me.   So the next three podcast episodes will actually deal with Holy Week.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - my name is George Bartley, and this is episode 358 - Pre Dracula 2 or Calling Me By Your Name.The title of this episode - Calling Me By Your Name - is a variation on a phrase -  Call Me By Your Name - taken from the text of a letter written to Walt Whitman by one of Whitman's admirers - none other than Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula.Now remember that Edgar Poe proceeded Bram Stoker, and never specifically used the word vampire in his works, but Poe wrote five stories between 1835 and 1842 that in many ways form the basis for many of his prose works - and all those works deal with the undead.  Those stories are Berenice, Morella, Ligeia, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Oval Portrait.  In all these tales, Poe writes about the essentially vampiric nature of human relationships - the love that persists beyond the grave. Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 357 - Pre DraculaI promise you that after this and the following episode, I will begin a series of episodes about the big one - at least the big one in the field of vampirism - Bram Stoker's Dracula.  You see, before there was the blood-drinking figure in a black cape, there were reanimated corpses (also known as the “undead”) who caused harm to the living. In Slavic and Germanic traditions, these beings were often blamed for disease, crop failure, or nocturnal attacks. For example, 14th-century chronicles from Bohemia describe an undead shepherd named Myslata who rose from the grave to kill villagers until his body was exhumed and burned. Similarly, various communities buried corpses with hawthorn stakes or steel needles to prevent them from returning.  In a very real sense, belief in vampires - also called revenants - is strangely intertwined with Christianity.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 355 - Poe and VampiresWhile Edgar Allan Poe didn't write about traditional vampires, his exploration of vampiric themes places his work within a broader context of vampiric literature, showcasing the versatility of the concept beyond just blood-drinking monsters.  And hopefully within the next few minutes, Mr. Poe will make an appearance to address that very subject.To begin with, Poe's story "The Fall of the House of Usher," the relationship between Roderick and Madeline Usher has vampiric qualities, with their lives seemingly intertwined in a way that drains both."The Oval Portrait" - also by Poe - features an artist who seems to transfer his wife's life force into his painting, a vampiric act of creation.Poe's story "Morella" explores themes of identity transfer and rebirth, which can be interpreted as a form of vampiric continuation of life.   And those are just three of Poe's vampiric stories.But before this podcast delves into those stories, Celebrate Poe will have several episodes dealing with Bram Stoker's Dracula - and before we tackle the most well-known of all works of vampire literature - I thought it would be appropriate to talk with Mr. Edgar Allan Poe himself about the subject of vampires and briefly touch on their use in his work - and I do want to emphasize the word briefly - because after Easter I intend to - among other things - delve into the use of vampiric elements in more detail in Poe's stories.   By the way, I think I hear the ghost of Mr. Poe now . . .Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 355 - Why All the Fuss About DraculaEpisode 354 should be a relatively short episode - the subject is Stoker's Dracula - and I want to briefly explore some reasons WHY Dracula is considered a great book. But before I start, I am going to be talking about all kinds of aspects of Dracula - and I know some of them are completely new to you - stick with me, and in several episodes, hopefully all this will make sense.The novel unfolds through journals, letters, and newspaper clippings, immersing readers in the characters' perspectives. This epistolary style builds suspense—readers piece together clues alongside the protagonists, heightening tension. Jonathan Harker's early journal entries, for instance, subtly foreshadow Dracula's menace without explicit exposition.Stoker synthesized Eastern European folklore into a cohesive mythos, defining modern vampire traits: aversion to sunlight, shape-shifting, and vulnerability to stakes and garlic. Unlike later romanticized vampires, Dracula is a chilling aristocrat who embodies Victorian fears of foreign invasion and sexual corruption.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 354, Encountering Poe's Ghost RevisitedI looked at the time I have left for podcasts this month, and realized that I had just enough for one more episode - and this will not be a long episode at all.  So I would like to revisit the first episode, and update it a little bit. By the way, this first episode was one of the most listened-to of all 354 episodes of Celebrate Poe.You see, there was a time when one of my favorite things to do was go to the massive Alderman Library at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.  One night I was doing some research at the library using some books that I could not find anywhere else. Just being in that library was always a wonderful experience - seated with towering columns of books all around me- volumes brimming with the knowledge of the ages. I had no idea that in a few minutes I would encounter the Ghost of Edgar Allan Poe!  And I could have never imagined that he would want me to do a podcast!Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - and this is episode 353 - Loathsome Mass of Detestable PutridityHello, my name is George Bartley, and the Ghost of Mr. Poe is here right beside me. I hope you have listened to the previous episode for sections from 5 of Poe's six hoax stories.  But there is one more - a story that is very much a hoax, - not an exploration story or trip to the moon - but a really creepy tale - and today Mr. Poe will read from that story. By the way,  the two words that end the story - loathsome detestable putridity - mean deserving of strong hatred or the state of being putrid.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 352 - Poe's Hoaxes, Part One Being April Fool's day, today I want to look at Poe's six hoax stories - in fact, Edgar Allan Poe approvingly called his time the “epoch of the hoax.” Even though Poe's motives in writing hoaxes may sometimes seem odd or obscure, his hoaxes live on as a quirky and fascinating part of literary history.  After a great deal of thought, I decided to deal with five of the hoax stories in this episode, and a hoax story that could also be classified as a tale of terror in the following episode.  And I plan to release both episodes on April Fool's day - then go much deeper into Poe's hoax stories for the entire month of 2026 - they are some of Poe's most influential writings.  And that is no April Fool's joke.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 351 - From Feast of Blood -This is the final episode of Celebrate Poe - at least for now - devoted to Varney the Vampire.   Now, as mentioned in a previous episode, the entire work spans 876 double-columned pages and 232 chapters, totaling nearly 66,000 words.   And the author does a rather good job of holding your interest from issue to issue.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Be Content to Suffer - This is episode 350 of Celebrate Poe - a bit of a milestone for this podcast.  And I must admit that when I started Celebrate Poe, I had no idea I would make it this far - and there is still so much of Poe's life, his works, and the many influences on his writing to delve into - and I would be most honored if you take that journey with me. Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - episode 349 - Varner (I mean, Varney) the VampireHope you have listened to episode 348 about Varney the Vampire but you might be asking yourself, How does Varney's sympathetic portrayal differ from other vampire stories of the time?Well, Varney the Vampire stands out as a pioneering sympathetic portrayal of vampires, differing significantly from other contemporary vampire stories. Unlike the purely evil vampires of his time, Varney is depicted as a complex character torn between his monstrous nature and his human desires.  I originally planned to just do one episode on Varney, but for this and many other reasons, I found myself more and more intrigued by the character of VarneyThank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 348 Feast of BloodVarney the Vampire is an extremely influential work in the vampire genre, first appearing as a serialized gothic horror story between 1845 and 1847. The was well before Bram Stoker's Dracula. Varney was published as a series of weekly cheap pamphlets known as "penny dreadfuls," targeting a mass-market audience interested in fast-paced, suspenseful narratives.  By the way, the story is often referred to as The Feast of Blood.The story revolves around Sir Francis Varney, the vampire of the title, and his interactions with the Bannerworth family. Varney the Vampire was the first story to refer to sharpened teeth for a vampire, noting: "With a plunge he seizes her neck in his fang-like teeth".Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 347 - The Origins of Vampires -Today I would like to delve into what is believed to be the beginnings of the vampire myth. So this specific episode will NOT be dealing with Dracula or Nosferatu, or any of the relatively recent names that we associate with vampires, and not specifically with Edgar Allan Poe - except in passing - although this podcast will heavily delve in the future into Poe's vampiric stories that deal the transfer of energy.Now the origins of vampire myths are deeply rooted in ancient folklore and cultural beliefs, evolving over millennia into the modern concept of vampires.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 345 - Challenging Male AuthorityWell, I had planned for the previous episode to be the last one where I dealt with Carmilla - but I soon found out that the work was easy to get into, but hard to get out of.  So what follows is another - and hopefully the last - episode regarding Carmilla.You see, ”Carmilla" focuses more on psychological terror and emotional entanglement rather than physical violence, creating a more nuanced and unsettling atmosphere that can really stick with you.As mentioned in the previous episode, the novella is notable for its portrayal of same-sex desire, with Carmilla expressing romantic and sexual interest in her female victims. This queer subtext was groundbreaking for its time.Carmilla also exhibits some unique traits compared to other literary vampires. She can move about during daylight hours, though she has nocturnal habits.  And unlike some vampires who prey indiscriminately, Carmilla becomes emotionally involved with a select few of her victims, adding depth to her character. The novella incorporates classic Gothic fiction elements, including a supernatural figure, a dark castle setting, and an ominous atmosphere.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - This is episode 345 - Stirring Sexual DesireI was looking at the podcast episodes I have done, and realized that I had written three or more episodes for each subject.  But I only did two for Carmilla, and have come to realize that the narrative does deserve more attention.  You see, there is no question that Carmilla has lesbian/homoerotic undertones that were groundbreaking for its time.  Being a gay male, I might not be the ideal person to speak to the lesbian subtext, but I can certainly give it a try.The story features several scenes of physical closeness between a young woman named Laura and a female vampire named Carmilla, including embraces, caresses, and even Carmilla fondling Laura in bed. These interactions are described in sensual terms that suggest a romantic and sexual attraction. The relationship between the two women is characterized by intense emotions, possessiveness, and a deep, almost obsessive connection that goes beyond typical friendship.Carmilla is one of the early works of vampire fiction, definitely predating Bram Stoker's “Dracula."  The story is narrated by Laura, a young woman who becomes the target of a female vampire named Carmilla.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - This is episode 344 - Leaving Me TremblingHope you are doing well, and I will just jump right into it -One of the most explicit passages in Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla that hints at lesbian desire, within the constraints of Victorian Gothic literature, is as follows:"Sometimes after an hour of apathy, my strange and beautiful companion would take my hand and hold it with a fond pressure, renewed again and again; blushing softly, gazing in my face with languid and burning eyes, and breathing so fast that her dress rose and fell with the tumultuous respiration. It was like the ardor of a lover; it embarrassed me; it was hateful and yet overpowering; and with gloating eyes she drew me to her, and her hot lips travelled along my cheek in kisses; and she would whisper, almost in sobs, 'You are mine, you shall be mine, you and I are one for ever.' Then she has thrown herself back in her chair, with her small hands over her eyes, leaving me trembling”.  Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate 343 - The First Lesbian VampireAfter looking at some of the alleged crimes of Elizabeth - and by this time, I am ready to call her actions a part of folklore - I'd like to delve in a definitely fictional female character who helped shaped the Gothic tradition in literature. The novella by Sheridan Le Fan was called Carmilla (1872) and the work builds upon many Gothic elements that were to become central to Poe's works.Both Carmilla and Poe's works, such as "The Fall of the House of Usher," emphasize decaying and eerie settings that evoke dread. Carmilla features an old castle in Austria, shrouded in mystery and supernatural tension, much like Poe's use of ruined mansions and isolated landscapes to establish psychological terror.Well, I might as get it out of the way first and address the elephant in the room ...Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - This is episode 342 - Confined to a CastleThis episode is the fourth episode of Celebrate Poe dealing with Elizabeth Bathory, the Hungarian countess accused of serial murder.  Now it was next to impossible for a person of her statue to be imprisoned, so it was said that she was confined to a Castle in Slovakia in  until her death.The nature of Báthory's confinement - like the exact nature of her crimes - has been subject to some debate. Initially, it was believed that she was bricked into a room in the castle. However, documents from a visits by local priests in suggest she could move freely within the castle, indicating it was more akin to house arrest.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 341 - Liz in CourtWell, today's episode continues an examination of Elizabeth Nadasdy and what might be called her torture trial - probably full of half-truths and political lies.First, the belief that Count Ferenc Nádasdy played a role in introducing his wife, Elizabeth Báthory to acts of violence and torture is rooted in historical accounts and speculation, though it remains a debated topic among historians. Some sources suggest that Nádasdy may have encouraged Elizabeth's violent tendencies by presenting her with instruments of torture as gifts - the ultimate in kink. For example, he is said to have gifted her spiked gloves to punish servants, and as mentioned in an earlier episode,  restraining a young woman, covering her in honey, and leaving her to be attacked by insects for amusement.Nádasdy was a military commander who fought against the Ottoman Empire, a role that exposed him to the brutal realities of war. It is plausible that his experiences and attitudes toward violence influenced the environment within their household. During their time together, Elizabeth managed estates in areas frequently under threat of attack, which may have normalized harsh measures for discipline and control.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 340 - Teaching Torture Techniques?  Elizabeth Bathory is certainly a fascinating figure.  I guess that ultimately we will never know exactly what she did or did not do, but the reaction to her alleged crimes tells us a great deal about the times in which she lived - especially attitudes towards the supernatural, as well as attitudes towards woman.First, the use of torture to extract confessions from Báthory's servants reflects the judicial norms of early modern Europe. Torture was considered an acceptable method for obtaining evidence at the time, even though it often led to unreliable testimony. Many of the accusations against Báthory were based on hearsay or coerced confessions, casting doubt on the fairness of the proceedings.And often when a person would be tortured, they would say ANYTHING the torturer want to hear to stop the pain - an issue that continues to the present.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 339 - “Blood is My Beauty Secret”I want to devote the next few episodes to Elizabeth Bathory -I read that she was a distant descendant of Vlad the Impaler - sounds interesting but like so many of the tales of the region - apparently was a fabrication.But - getting back to Elizabeth's life - her existence (I am not sure how much of it is true)  does qualify as a one that seems like it is from a very dark Gothic novel. Elizabeth Báthory, also known as the "Blood Countess," is a historical figure shrouded in both infamy and mystery. Born in 1560 into a powerful Hungarian noble family, she is alleged to have tortured and killed hundreds of young women between 1590 and 1610, earning her a reputation as one of history's most prolific female murderers. However, her story is complex, with elements of political intrigue, gender dynamics, and folklore.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 338 - The Haunted PalaceAs you may know, The Castle of Otranto was written by Horace Walpole and first published on December 24, 1764. While the first edition was dated 1765, it was released at the end of 1764, making it the true publication year.And I think it is especially interesting that Horace Walpole was inspired to write The Castle of Otranto through a combination of personal experiences, dreams, and his fascination with medieval history and Gothic architecture.Walpole claimed that the idea for the novel came from a vivid nightmare he experienced while staying at his Gothic Revival home, Strawberry Hill House. The house's secret passages, maze-like corridors, and dramatic design elements influenced the eerie and atmospheric setting of the novel.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 337, The First Gothic NovelI'd like to begin this podcast episode with an excerpt from the opening chapter of The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole - an excerpt which captures the dramatic and supernatural tone of the novel. This passage describes the event that sets the story in motion: the mysterious death of Conrad, Manfred's son, on his wedding day."Manfred, Prince of Otranto, had one son and one daughter: the latter, a most beautiful virgin, aged eighteen, was called Matilda. Conrad, the son, was three years younger, a homely youth, sickly, and of no promising disposition; yet he was the darling of his father, who never showed any symptoms of affection to Matilda. Manfred had contracted a marriage for his son with the Marquis of Vicenza's daughter, Isabella; and she had already been delivered by her guardians into the hands of Manfred, that he might celebrate the wedding as soon as Conrad's infirm state of health would permit.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 336 - A Medieval Soap OperaLet's jump right into The Castle of Otranto - a book that is widely regarded as the first Gothic novel and the foundation of all Gothic literature. Written by Horace Walpole, the book introduced many of the genre's defining elements, such as supernatural occurrences, medieval settings, and an atmosphere of suspense and terror. Walpole subtitled the novel "A Gothic Story," marking the first use of the term in a literary context and establishing a new genre that would influence countless works to come - including much of Edgar Allan Poe's works.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 335- Meddling With Life and DeathThis episode is a continuation of a discussion between Mr. Bartley and the Ghost of Edgar Allan Poe regarding Mary Shelley and Frankenstein. Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 334 Poe and FrankensteinBoth Mary Shelley and Poe delve into Gothic themes such as monstrosity, isolation, guilt, and the boundaries of human experience.  For example, in Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein's creation of the monster explores the consequences of transgressing natural limits, as well as themes of guilt and alienation.  Poe's works often feature characters grappling with madness, guilt, and confinement in a similar vein, such as in “The Tell-Tale Heart” or “The Fall of the House of Usher”.  Both Mary Shelley and Poe depict monstrous or para-human figures.  The creature in Frankenstein'is a literal embodiment of monstrosity, while Poe's characters often exhibit psychological or symbolic monstrosity, an example being Roderick Usher's decayed humanity.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textIn this episode, I want to delve into what is generally viewed as the first vampire novel - the VAMPYRE by John William Polidori and published in 1819. This novella marked the beginning of modern vampire fiction and introduced the archetype of the aristocratic vampire through the character of Lord Ruthven. Polidori's work was inspired by a fragment of a story written by Lord Byron during a ghost story competition - and there was quite a bit of disagreement regarding who wrote what!Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 332 - DarknessThe Vampyre and Frankenstein are two liteary works that came out of the literary competition at the Villa Diadati - but another lesser known work is Lord George Gordon Byron's Darkness.  There is a lot of information in this episode - after an introduction, I am going to analyze the poem line by line - and then when you hopefully have more of an idea of what is about, I will read the entire poem without interruption.Now Lord Byron's poem "Darkness" is a powerful and even apocalyptic vision of a world devoid of light, life, and hope. Written in 1816, it reflects the anxieties of its time, particularly the environmental and social upheavals caused by the eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815, which led to the "Year Without a Summer." This analysis will explore the poem's background and content, including a line-by-line breakdown.  And let me apologize in advance, the subject matter of Darkness is very powerful, but can come across as a complete downer.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.