Couching At The Door by D K Broster

Dorothy Kathleen Broster, known by her pen name D.K. Broster, stands as a notable but often overlooked figure in literature, recognized for her exceptional talent in crafting short horror stories. Despite her relative obscurity in contemporary discussions, her contributions to the genre, particularly with works like "Couching at the Door," showcase her prowess in weaving tales of the supernatural.
"Couching at the Door," although reprinted numerous times, may not be considered her magnum opus by some. Instead, stories like "Clairvoyance," "The Window," and "From the Abyss" are hailed as hidden gems, overlooked yet deserving of greater recognition. These tales, according to enthusiasts, have stood the test of time, maintaining their eerie allure even in the present day.
Born in England in 1877, D.K. Broster led a multifaceted life. Her experiences as a Red Cross nurse during World War I added depth to her writing, and she gained acclaim for her historical novels. However, it is her foray into the supernatural short story genre that captivates readers seeking tales of the macabre.
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[@caroleastwood9386]

You are marvellous Tony! Such a prolific and calming narrator. But also SO reliable. You are always there to be listened to. Thank You so much

[@angelaroberts2803]

This is how I unwind at then end of the day,listening to these wonderful stories.Thank you Tony.

[@ClassicGhost]

Glad you do

[@olgaanderson138]

Yikes! Decadent, primally spooky story, artfully narrated and perfect for a snowy day! Thank you, Tony, ❤to all of you, fellow travellers in the land of the mysterious 😊

[@ClassicGhost]

we are all one big gang!

[@donnahorgan2545]

I have had insomnia for over 8 years and a year ago I started listening to audio stories. Firstly I listened to all the Sherlock Holmes stories as I love them but then discovered you narrating stories and your voice is soothing and there has been only one incident where I did not drift off, a thousand thank you's. I never get to hear the middle of these stories let a known the endings!! Lol. And on that note I do so believe I owe you a number of coffees.

[@aurorawilliams282]

"Couching? Surely that can't be right?" But it was, and a fun story to boot!

[@TheCrone]

Sounds kinda kinky

[@shanonquinn5681]

I am honored to give you a sincere thanks more emphatic than any previous, today. The past month has been very challenging for my household, and most recently marred by illness and injury. Thank you for keeping us sane, calm, and looking positively toward the future. You are so very appreciated!

[@ClassicGhost]

Sorry to hear about those challenges but happy if i have helped ❤️

[@shanonquinn5681]

@ClassicGhost , I am not certain everyone realizes what a refreshing experience it is to take in the arts when one is low. In this case, it can not only transport the listener to another world when theirs is spiraling, but also give inspiration for beneficial life changes. Career wise, in my case. I'm going back to writing/editing.

[@DenWell-SeedsOfChaos]

My brain told my eyes that this was titled "Crouching at the Door" and until you said otherwise, I didn't know any better. I have never heard the word couching before. Though I do my share of sitting on a couch... I really enjoyed the story! Thank you for your superb narration and delightful "after words"... Oh, I just thought this thought: I don't like crouching it hurts my knees, I would definitely choose couching at a door...

[@pisiata3651]

I read it exactly same! And also never hear of couching before. Must google. Crouching would fit better in a spooky story in my opinion, but i m only 10 min into the story. Can t wait!

[@DenWell-SeedsOfChaos]

@@pisiata3651 Enjoy!

[@MrsWilberforce2]

There was also a 1915 silent movie called The Golem and a 1920 prequel, The Golem: How He Came into the World (both German, Paul Wegener), so D.K. may have seen those when they were brand new. Great story BTW!

[@medicalmisinformation]

Sincerely, thank you for introducing us to this author. How have I never heard of him? He's speaking my language. It's surreal. I understand every nuance. Edit: Ahh, "he's" she! 🤯 Edit #2: Wikipedia says "During her lifetime, many of her readers wrongly assumed she was both male and Scottish" & no wonder! Her tone and the rhythm of her thoughts are masculine.

[@ClassicGhost]

yes. much underrated

[@layali1]

She wrote novels about the jacobite rising. My mother had them. I did not know she wrote horrors too. Excellent

[@layali1]

Interesting remark about her style. I wonder about what in her writing made you think she was a man. Do you think you could pinpoint some of it ?

[@medicalmisinformation]

@@layali1 No, off the top of my head, I can't. That's a great challenge. I think it was a subconscious inference. I remember over 15 yrs ago there someone designed a javascript app that received some attention which could ascertain with an astonishing threshhold of accuracy the sex of the author of prose that was copied and pasted into it. I would be interested to try it on hers.

[@layali1]

@@medicalmisinformation Possibly I missed it because I read her Highland stories that are rather romantic thus feminine :) :) :)

[@deemac9263]

Another brilliant story and wrap up. Thankyou so much, Please, Keep it up, absolutely love it.

[@ClassicGhost]

Plenty more to come

[@THEDISAFFECTED]

Brother, don't reckon you wasted your time furnishing your mind. Somebody said well that education is what's left over when you've forgotten everything you were taught. Kudos!

[@DenWell-SeedsOfChaos]

I love hearing of Jasper & Ruby; their mommy-dog is the Monarch and knows how to keep her crown. I respect that. 🐕👑

[@terryi.6973]

I am a Romantic, much in the tradition of C.S. Lewis but he had more smarts in his little finger than I have in my whole head

[@anna3036]

Excellent, excellent, excellent.

[@ClassicGhost]

Many thanks!

[@norayoder3189]

Turn to the left…turn to the right😘 you made me snort which is the giveaway that my humor was truly tickled🤭You are a gifted AND truly humorous gentleman ❤

[@ClassicGhost]

ha ha. glad you liked it . the chat runs away with me sometimes

[@debra333]

Hi, Tony! I really love this macabre tale. And your work is always immaculate. Thank you. ❤

[@michelled5037]

Looking forward to this. 🎉

[@ronaldmussulman2735]

Weird in a fun way. I really like the dark fairytalesque tale. Cool.

[@missying1115]

That was delightfully freaky!!😮

[@violetfemme411]

Finally ready to kick back and listen to this. Happy weekend! 💜

[@billtomson5791]

Commenting to support of this channel.

[@ClassicGhost]

Much appreciated

[@AmandaLee-in2yl]

It's cold outside but I have this to listen to and a glass of wine the weekend starts here Thank you Tony

[@KristinChoruby]

I know Japan has tales about possessed futons and kimonos, but a possessed fur boa is a new one! D. K. Broster deserves far more credit for her ability to make such a goofy-sounding concept into a genuinely creepy story 👍

[@yesterdayitrained]

It’s not goofy (IMHO!)- it would not be uncommon for a woman, especially a ‘streetwalker’ as defined here, to wear a boa (feather or fur), especially during the time period. Which reminds me of how the word “streetwalker” is ‘spit out’ in the reading, as if such a person wasn’t _really_ a person, not worthy, not quite human- surely as Augustine saw her. One of his many, perhaps his most critical, mistakes.

[@boxfox2945]

Friday the 13th, the series.

[@zlmat]

Cheers from Portugal 🇵🇹

[@veganleigh4817]

Very creepy. Never heard of D K Broster, but looking forward to more of her work! And your narration is superb. I love your voice!

[@mrlume9475]

One word, superb.

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@lesleykaygosson315]

This is a great story. I'm interested in reading her other works now. My first hearing of and reading the author. Always look forward to your fascinating history and information after the story. Once again your ramblings are the best. ❤😉

[@lindadarveau1031]

Made my skin crawl, excellent!

[@Earnshawfully]

An interesting story. My thought was, Ask it what it wants! In Jungian terms, this thing was literally the protagonist's shadow.

[@TheMrCougarful]

The young artist immediately reminded me of Aubrey Beardsley, and the title he was working might have been Salome. Definitely corrupting.

[@rheinhartsilvento2576]

Yes, of course 💮🐛

[@kat4770]

Came across your channel and was attracted to your stories and narration, but your commentary afterwards is even more intriguing and yet calming.

[@ClassicGhost]

Great to have you here. I’m getting lots of love this morning in the comments:)

[@gerardkiff2026]

Great job. Really enjoyed this one .

[@ClassicGhost]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@seamusheinousproductions]

Best rant yet! Glad to hear your brand is growing

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks!

[@mariameere5807]

Thank you so much ❤❤❤

[@ClassicGhost]

You’re welcome Maria

[@micheler4120]

Beautifully read. Thank you very much for such great entertainment.

[@ClassicGhost]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@andromeda232]

i love stories that have that creeping sense of dread. This reminds me of the movie "It Follows"

[@jopanofmanypets1320]

I listened to this while I cleaned out my 20 pet snakes. Made me laugh. Wonderful job Tony, as always.

[@ClassicGhost]

+@jopanofmanypets1320 20 pet snakes! wow ! 🐍

[@Story-Voracious66]

Thank you Tony, I really enjoyed the imagery of this one. The descriptive writing brought me instantly into the redolent world of Nouveau and the Belle Epoch. It brought to mind the powerful scent of lilies, masking the faint door of corruption, ( I was working in the garden, and today is the second day of Summer ). At the start though, I couldn't shake the image of a tenacious dust bunny, stalking the protagonist.

[@jl8217]

This was a brilliant story, thank you.

[@ClassicGhost]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@martiwilliams4592]

Masterful, as always, Tony. Vivid, gripping narration, informative, interesting commentary. Much appreciated. Thank you.

[@The.Pickle]

Perhaps not Broster intent but I enjoyed viewing it from a cosmic horror perspective, with an odd touch of the "house monster" from The Babadook. The educuaction in the various literary periods was really fascinating and greatly appreciated.

[@carolmikolj5134]

Many thanks for a great reading of this rarely heard story. Broster is in my opinion vastly under rated.

[@ClassicGhost]

I totally agree!

[@kathleenellenford4816]

👏🏻thank you muchly much!!

[@piehole19]

Brilliant. I’ve listened three times. Your commentary at the end regarding the flowering of corruption is excellent.

[@lyndabrennan4560]

Nice, thank you Tony 💙

[@mahoganyeclipse3909]

Oh goody 😊

[@danielrestione1355]

Marvelous story and narration!

[@angelaroberts2803]

Interesting.Thanks tony.

[@janemaas4225]

Excellent. Really entertaining. Totally enjoyed this story. I love the way vintage authors use adverbs and adjectives.

[@clarewilde972]

I'm with you on the slinky...just kept thinking, what would Freud say about Dorothy and her boa-constrictor ?!!

[@Wombats555]

Love this to bits. I'd be thrilled hear more Broster. Thank you!

[@violetfemme411]

I had forgotten this, such a great story 💜

[@ImCarolB]

I read J.K. Huysmans' A Rebour (given the English title Against The Grain) many years ago. It is quite a ride through the decline and destruction of the main character. I have read that there is conjecture that this was the novel that Wilde meant as the influence on Dorian Gray, but there is no way anyone could be seduced into following the path of Huysmans' doomed man. The postscript by the author is a telling self-confession.

[@hindleygj]

Really enjoyed your closing.

[@bluegreenglue6565]

Gads! I went through a short period in high school where I was into Wilde and wearing velvet and flowery jackets and actual flowers all the time. But I got better. : D Great story - very visual. Thanks very much!

[@ClassicGhost]

Sounds good though !

[@snipehunter4771]

Wonderful, thank you for the introduction to a new author (for me).

[@veradennis7502]

I loved this story :) Your point about the furry thing not being intrinsically scary (as opposed to MR James's terrifying bedlinen) - I suspect that to begin with, the author's using the furry thing for comic effect, maybe to puncture the poet's pomposity a little, and reveal him as a petty coward...but not only that. By most people's standards, the poet is overreacting ridiculously to the apparently harmless fluffy thing - he clearly sees in it something very disturbing almost from the beginning. This makes me wonder whether it's his long-buried, atrophied guilty conscience making an appearance. It definitely gets more menacing as the story proceeds. It's a theory. It's a shame that he manages to override those vestiges of conscience and causes the downfall of the poor young artist, though! What a swine. You said there's nothing transformative in the story - sad, but true, as the poet is definitely not punished enough, and turning up at church a couple of times just doesn't cut it, in the atonement stakes ;)

[@donaldmccleary9015]

Good story and great narration! I love the chat at the end of this one. I listened to the story three times because I thought I missed key parts of the story. After the third time I said, "the heck with it" and listened to the chat, where Tony stated those part were not explained. Lol! I, too, loathed the main character throughout the entire story.

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks for listening. Hope you are well

[@donaldmccleary9015]

@ClassicGhost no problem! We are well. Thanks for asking. We hope the same holds true for you and your family.

[@tracibrown6431]

Thanks!

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks Traci

[@alopex1197]

I really liked this story! Just the kind I want more of. However, being a hard core rationalist, I still love ghost stories. I don't think there is a line between believing in ghosts and being a ghost story fan as is implied in the after talk. Perhaps on the "real ghost story" section...

[@thurayya8905]

I wonder if Augustine had gone to Laurence's aid, acknowledged his responsibility, and helped him, he may have redeemed himself. Instead, he was lazy and selfish, thinking only of himself, and thus earned the snake that came to him.

[@ClassicGhost]

he set him up!

[@edf777]

😊❤

[@thegreencat9947]

This story has two very familiar parts. The illustrator is very much Dorian Gray. The pond with the reeds and the being which resides in it...drawing young men in to their death...some sort of Irish fairie tale. Oh....and the mention of the Green Fairy...makes me thirsty. Good story..good night.

[@applewagon253]

Grade A waffle there at the end, though it did make me a bit sad and anxious. I can only hear someone say “satanism” so many times before I get uncomfortable 😅 this story was in the middle for me, but I learned a lot about the style. The main character really was the worst type of person, and the boa really was kind of silly.

[@louiseselfe616]

I wonder about the the phallic symbolism of the boa (and of course, traditionally, snakes)... Considering his own decadent antics that Marchant keeps referring to obliquely, this perhaps could be seen as karma ...A prime example of being "hoist by your own petard'. The form the manifestation takes is different for both men. Perhaps it is based on their individual subconscious self knowledge? Though I can't work out what the shifting black ground represents for the artist.... Just a thought anyway. 🤷

[@layali1]

Hello Tony if you enjoyed Clarimonde could you do Aria Marcella ?

[@lenoralee9553]

This kind of makes me think of this time that I wasn't wearing my glasses and went to pick up what I thought was a rolled up wool sock on the hall floor. It was not a sock. It was a dead vole my dog brought in.😬

[@ClassicGhost]

it could’ve been worse

[@PippaAT]

We used to say "skelebone."

[@jodyharnish9104]

The Dutch name Huijsman is pronounced like Houseman. It's a little different, but the uij is a sound we don't make in English. Houseman is close enough.

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you.

[@jodyharnish9104]

@@ClassicGhost I'm American, but I learned to speak Dutch as a hobby because I had a pen pal in The Netherlands for several years. A Dutch woman offered to teach me the language so that my pen pal wouldn't have to use my language all the time.

[@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagz]

Great story, but why did it not reward him like it did Augustus? I should think it should have given him the same rewards, for a space and time. [Edit: never mind, I get it, he made sure he went deeper into the occult]

[@thurayya8905]

You feel that the corrupting factor to Augustine, then, was murder? Dorothy never really says, just hints that the Paris incident had to do with black magic. Also, I thought that there was sex involved, rather than death. This lack of detail disappointed me as I was waiting for more of a reveal. Also, whatever Laurence did, it sounds as though it had quite a different effect on him, perhaps a completely different spell and one gone wrong.

[@ClassicGhost]

ye so think he nmurdered the girl

[@appalachianamerican7171]

👍

[@jamesdhickman]

100% thought the title was a typo....

[@craigatchison1956]

Tony...how bout reading "The Red Lodge?"

[@ClassicGhost]

by H R Wakefield? Splendid suggestion. I'll do it.

[@craigatchison1956]

@@ClassicGhost awesome! Thanks...btw..I enjoy your commentary as much as your readings...so..ramble on...

[@ClassicGhost]

Red Lodge will probably be in january 24

[@amgroves76]

I kind of see the boa as an expression of guilt.

[@ClassicGhost]

Interesting

[@boxfox2945]

Looks like they used 3 different bibles. Before James version. To write the Cain and able passage. From what I see, none of them have that exact verse. But each has a line of it. 🤔

[@CleCleHavez]

*Kills spider* I am so brave.

[@ropeburnsrussell]

Ugh! Really creepy! I hated liking it. I loved hating it. Lets have more from this author!!

[@MartieMc]

First

[@thurayya8905]

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." Hunter S. Thompson

[@wdobni]

a little over the top.....a bad acid trip

[@stevenshipman650]

Beautifully read, as usual! I didn’t care for the story at all.

[@tomcurran8470]

The Decadents sound like the rich and famous who went to Epstein Island.

[@JoeBamaSmokesCrack]

Pretentious writing.

[@Thomas-wn7cl]

👍