Warlock Vorobok Reads

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Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups. In each episode, librarian Adam Vorobok reads one fantastical, shiver-inducing tale. If you enjoy sitting around a campfire, listening to a storyteller as the flames leap higher into the darkness and the trees seem to inch a little closer, this podcast is for you. A production of the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library.

Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library


    • Feb 27, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 53 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Warlock Vorobok Reads

    Sir Max Beerbohm

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 95:07


    Join Warlock Vorobok for his final podcast as he reads one of his favorite time-traveling stories: Enoch Soames by Sir Max Beerbohm. Join a down-on-his-luck writer as he makes a Faustian deal with the Devil to see if his name lives on in literary history. You'll never guess who gets the last laugh!Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    E.F. Benson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 30:11


    Join Warlock Vorobok as he reads a story about the scariest creatures of them all...caterpillars...wait, what? You read that right, but Edward Benson uses just the right tone to create this disquieting story about unsuspecting larvae.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Lafcadio Hearn's "Jikininki"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 17:25


    Join Warlock Vorobok as he reads the terrifying words of Cincinnati's own Lafcadio Hearn, an Enquirer journalist who later moved to Japan and translated their folklore for English-speaking people. Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Bram Stoker's "Dracula's Guest"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 36:37


    Join Warlock Vorobok as he reads this classic tale of horror from Ireland's greatest writer of the supernatural, Bram Stoker.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Robert W. Chambers' "The King in Yellow"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 48:49


    “The King in Yellow,” a mythological play that causes the reader to lose touch with reality, is Robert W. Chambers' haunting legacy in supernatural fiction, influencing many authors and even the hit-television series “True Detective.” Listen to Warlock Vorobok read one of the chilling tales that mentions this awful play... Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's "An Authentic Narrative of a Haunted House"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 41:14


    Join Warlock Vorobok as he reads the leading Victorian ghost story writer of his day, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu! Besides his notable ghost stories, Le Fanu also penned a famous vampire novel 25 years before Dracula!Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Edgar Allen Poe's "The Masque of Red Death"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2024 22:51


    Warlock Vorobok returns once more to America's greatest horror writer: Edgar Allan Poe. Get ready to be spooked by the Masque of Red Death!

    Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 41:06


    One of New England's most famous writers comes forth from the void to share a story no-doubt connected to his family's witch-trail roots. Gather round as Warlock Vorobok reads about a Puritan's temptation to stray from good to evil in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown."

    Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2024 16:37


    It all started because of bad weather and boredom. A ghost story contest was announced. And the genre of horror was about to change forever. Join Warlock Vorobok as he reads from one of his favorite horror novels—and an all-time classic—Frankenstein.

    Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2024 16:37


    It all started because of bad weather and boredom. A ghost story contest was announced. And the genre of horror was about to change forever. Join Warlock Vorobok as he reads from one of his favorite horror novels—and an all-time classic—Frankenstein.

    Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024 16:37


    It all started because of bad weather and boredom. A ghost story contest was announced. And the genre of horror was about to change forever. Join Warlock Vorobok as he reads from one of his favorite horror novels—and an all-time classic—Frankenstein.

    Ann Radcliffe Returns with “The Mysteries of Udolpho”

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2024 18:17


    Brace yourself for gloomy castles, ghostly apparitions, and gruesome corpses! This new season of Warlock Vorobok Reads features scary good short stories, starting with the queen of Gothic literature, Ann Radcliffe. Radcliffe returns from the void to join the podcast after first sharing her supernatural writings with the Library's resident warlock on the March 2022 episode. This time, Warlock Vorobok shares her 18th century masterpiece, “The Mysteries of Udolpho.”

    Horace Walpole

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 31:51


    Join Warlock Vorobok as he kicks off a new season of this supernatural podcast with an excerpt from the first Gothic novel, the Castle of Otranto. Written in 1764, this slim novel would be the start of so many nightmares to come.

    Walter de la Mare

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2024 14:37


    Walter is most famous for his lyrical poetry for children, but "the Listeners" still manages to scare this Warlock every time I read it - and it is perfect for a cold winter's evening!Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Emma Lazarus

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2024 11:17


    Did you know the poet that penned the famous words on the Statue of Liberty also wrote poems about haunted places and Will O'the Wisps? Come get scared by the phantasmagoric verses of one America's most important poets.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Alfred Perceval Graves

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 10:50


    This month, the Warlock brings forth the works of famous Irish folklorist Alfred Perceval Graves. Born in Dublin on July 22, 1846, Graves published his first poem in 1863, which sparked his emergence as a leader in the renewal of Irish literature.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2023 15:05


    Henry was the most popular poet in America during his lifetime. And one of the richest, earning $3,000 per poem, which, in today's money would equal roughly $77,000! Join Warlock Vorobok as he explores the fantastical shipwrecks and haunted verses of one of America's most enduring poets.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Christina Rossetti

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2023 29:45


    Despite being one of the most popular Victorian poets, Christina Rossetti challenged the Victorian morals with this poem about temptation. Even Warlock Vorobok looks over his shoulder while reading this one! Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2023 16:38


    Percy Bysshe Shelley was more than just Mary Shelley's husband. He was an accomplished poet, a radical nonconformist, and a vegetarian atheist. Join Warlock Vorobok as he explores the hallucinatory words of a poet well ahead of his times.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Lord Byron

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023 33:54


    Lord Byron's larger-than-life persona created some fantastic poetry. Listen to Warlock Vorobok explore the gloomy depths of prison as well as a stunning apocalyptic dream from one of England's most famous poets.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Robert Blair

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2023 16:22


    Is there a more haunted place than the graveyard? Join Warlock Vorobok and other things that go bump in the night as he reads the most famous work of Scottish poet, Robert Blair.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Samuel Rowlands

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2023 9:39


    Listen to Warlock Vorobok read from an obscure 17th century poet whose pamphlets depicting lower- and middle-class life were burned in the streets by the authorities.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Edmund Spenser

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2023 16:36


    Cursed by a witch, a talking tree laments his failure to uphold virtue to a chivalric knight in Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, one of the longest poems written in the English language.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 24:57


    CHPL's resident warlock recites one of the most famous of the King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table tales: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, in which gallant Gawain agrees to trade axe strokes with the verdant knight only to discover a gruesome surprise.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Ovid

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2023 24:32


    The Ancient Romans had many myths about gods and humans transforming into beasts. Here are two of the most frightening ones penned by one of the finest poets of his day, Ovid.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    George Sterling

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2023 24:19


    At the end of this season of Warlock Vorobok Reads, after reading otherworld poetry from ancient Greece up until the start of the twentieth century, CHPL's resident warlock ends his supernatural saunter with the King of the Bohemians, George Sterling. On this episode, Warlock Vorobok reads “A Wine of Wizardry,” published in the September 1907 issue of Cosmopolitan. This poem stirred up lots of harsh comments by the critics, but is a spellbinding brilliance of phantasmagorical visions!Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Paul Laurence Dunbar

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 15:07


    Warlock Vorobok is materializing terrific poetry from merely 50 miles away as the crow flies. Join us as CHPL's resident Warlock reads three of Dunbar's most bone-chilling poems.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 26: Emily Dickinson

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 11:44


    Famously reclusive, Emily Dickinson hid her poetry out of sight until after her death. It is no surprise she should leave us some sepulchral poems about ghosts and decaying corpses. Gather round as the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library's resident Warlock reads three of Dickinson's supernatural poems.Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 25: William Morris

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2022 14:54


    From painter to wallpaper designer to socialist activist to inspiring J.R.R. Tolkien, William Morris dabbled in everything. Listen to his haunting Medieval-like poems The Tune of Seven Towers and Spell-Bound on another bewitching episode of Warlock Vorobok Reads!Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 24: Edgar Allan Poe

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022 25:46


    The words of Ann Radcliffe, the Queen of Gothic Fiction and the highest paid writer of the 1790s, are sent into the void on this month's episode of https://open.spotify.com/show/6SGpXMfIWaRcVRIN8OSfwC (Warlock Vorobok Reads). Gather close to CHPL's resident warlock and prepare for the icy chill of the Snow-Fiend and Night! Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 23: Ann Radcliffe, the Queen of Gothic Fiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2022 14:00


    The words of Ann Radcliffe, the Queen of Gothic Fiction and the highest paid writer of the 1790s, are sent into the void on this month's episode of https://open.spotify.com/show/6SGpXMfIWaRcVRIN8OSfwC (Warlock Vorobok Reads). Gather close to CHPL's resident warlock and prepare for the icy chill of the Snow-Fiend and Night! Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 22: Samuel Taylor Coleridge

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022 29:01


    “Podcasts, podcasts everywhere, nor any episode about Samuel Taylor Coleridge.” Suspend your disbelief as CHPL's resident warlock reads Taylor Coleridge's chilling poetry in this month's episode of Warlock Vorobok Reads. Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 21: John Milton

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2022 20:41


    Paradise Lost was the most famous example of fan fiction until Twilight came along. Catch a glimpse of hell with Warlock Vorobok as he reads some devilish passages from Books One and Two of Paradise Lost. Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 20: Robert Herrick

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2022 11:23


    Although this author is more known for his carpe-diem poem "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time," Robert Herrick also included some supernatural and fantastical elements in his poems "The Spell," "Oberon's Feast," "the Hag," and "Another to Bring in the Witch." Tune your senses towards the otherworldly void as Warlock Vorobok returns to read these paranormal poems. Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 19: John Donne

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2022 8:58


    Spurned love is the subject of many famous Shakespeare works, written in vivid prose and imagery. Another English poet at the time, John Donne expressed the tragedy of heartbreak in a more supernatural manner. With witches and ghosts abounding in spooky sonnets, listen closely as CHPL's Warlock Vorobok reads two of Donne's most chilling poems The Apparition and Witchcraft by a Picture.   Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 18: Beowulf

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 13:50


    For 12 long years, the monstrous Grendel has plagued Heorot, attacking the Hall all that find themselves inside. Luckily for us, the resident guide to all supernatural things, Warlock Vorobok, is here to tell the epic poem of Beowulf, who is tasked by the King to face Grendel once and for all! Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups. 

    Episode 17: The Odyssey

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 17:44


    Warlock Vorobok returns with a new focus on reading supernatural poetry starting with section from the Ancient Greek poet The Odyssey. Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 16: The Willows Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2021 63:03


    In the finale episode of the Warlock Vorobok Reads podcast, we come to the reality-crushing conclusion in which two stranded campers have to fend for themselves against something unearthly! Click https://player.captivate.fm/episode/78e110cc-842b-4db1-909f-9a0224dc7017 (here) to listen to part 2 of "The Willows" by Algernon Blackwood. Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 15: The Willows Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2021 50:19


    In part 2 of 3 of the finale of the Warlock Vorobok Reads podcast, the narrator and his friend realize they are trapped on the island, the willows are closing in, and they begin to suspect each other of sabotage. If you like John Carpenter's "The Thing", then this story is for you! Click https://player.captivate.fm/episode/d7322eac-d62d-4449-9fba-2f4c039b1a5a (here) to listen to part 1 of "The Willows" by Algernon Blackwood. Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 14: The Willows Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 57:05


    It's the beginning of the end! In this 3-part finale to the Warlock Vorobok Reads podcast, Adam begins to tell his favorite, creepy story of all time: "The Willows' by Algernon Blackwood! Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 13: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2021 40:20


    Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups. In this episode, Adam puts a cap on National Poetry Month with an excerpt from 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge!

    Episode 12: The Yellow Wallpaper

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2021 51:18


    Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups. In this episode, Adam reads an excerpt from 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Oscar Wilde once said, “either this wallpaper goes or I do.” Find out if there is something more sinister beyond the pattern in this feminist classic!

    A Christmas Carol Stave 5: The End of It

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2021 22:42


    You're listening to the finale of our extra-special episodes of Warlock Vorobok Reads featuring readings from a Christmas Carol! In this stave, Scrooge shows a change of heart and betters the world.

    A Christmas Carol Stave 4: The Last of the Three Spirits

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2021 45:36


    You're listening to part 4 of 5 extra-special episodes of Warlock Vorobok Reads featuring readings from a Christmas Carol! In this stave, Scrooge meets a silent ghost and attends other dispiriting events.

    A Christmas Carol Stave 3: The Second of the Three Spirits

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 63:51


    You're listening to part 3 of 5 extra-special episodes of Warlock Vorobok Reads featuring readings from a Christmas Carol! In this stave, Scrooge witnesses a lot of socially (un)distanced Xmas celebrations.

    A Christmas Carol Stave 2: The First of the Three Spirits

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 50:53


    You're listening to part 2 of 5 extra-special episodes of Warlock Vorobok Reads featuring readings from a Christmas Carol! In this stave, we witness Scrooge's past holidays with plenty of singing, dancing, and heartbreak.

    A Christmas Carol Stave 1: Marley's Ghost

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 56:04


    To usher in this holiday season, Warlock Vorobok Reads is releasing 5 extra-special episodes featuring readings from A Christmas Carol! One might not think of A Christmas Carol as a ghost story, but listen carefully, especially to “Stave I: Marley's Ghost.” Scrooge's house is richly described in a Gothic atmosphere full of darkness and anxiety. The shuddering realization that Marley wears his moral crimes on his incorporeal body as punishment is something mimicked later in Franz Kafka's In the Penal Colony.

    Episode 6: Midnight Horror Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2020 30:43


    Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    midnight horror show
    Episode 5: Gateway of the Monster

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2020 59:12


    Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 4: Survivor's Ball

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 53:54


    Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

    Episode 3: Hollister House

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2020 41:03


    Warlock Vorobok Reads is a monthly storytime for grownups.

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