Damnable Tales A Folk Horror Anthology by Richard Wells. A first look by Tony Walker

Damnable Tales is an anthology of 24 folk horror stories selected and illustrated by Richard Wells. Richard Wells is an artist and illustrator producing moody and at times horrifying art work to accompany TV programmes and films. Richard's suggestion in collecting these stories which date from J Sheridan Le Fanu in 1875 to Robert Aickman in 1965 is that before there were folk horror movies, there were folk horror tales and these stories prove it. This is my 'unboxing' and review of the book and I make a promise that I will read out some of these stories on The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast and KZbin Channel
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[@angelatheriault8855]

I love when you digress because that’s when I learn so many new and fascinating things. Digress all you want!

[@stardust949]

I LOVE books such as this one, that are as you say, a "work of art" ~ quite literally. What an achievement! Something unique to share with the world. Thanks for the fab unboxing!

[@onepiecefan74]

The selection in this book are excellent. Wish there was an audiobook companion. Alot of these stories don't have audio versions.

[@stardust949]

My ladies "Locked Drawer" T-shirt came today too!! I tried it on, it's so soft----I Love It! No one is going to understand the line on the front of it, lol! yay!

[@ClassicGhost]

Really wow? What does the lettering look like ? I am still waiting for mine

[@stardust949]

@@ClassicGhost the lettering is exactly as shown in the photograph---playful and bouncy sort of font. I shared this news at Facebook too---and it's gotten a lot of laugh responses, which is exactly what I hoped for.

[@thelastsausage635]

I tried to get into the locked draw today😉 Lovely illustrations

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

I love books...always have. This looks like an awesome book. Love it when the stories are illustrated in that way. Thanks for the info on it.

[@Mi-yc3oy]

Sweet! My library has COLONIAL HORRORS, so after that, I will pick up this book. Thanks! 😊

[@morticialechatnoir6884]

Anything to support real actual physical ink and paper books.

[@wmnoffaith1]

I agree. I've bought a few online books, mostly either because of the price differential, or because I was too impatient; however, nothing is as satisfying as a paper book. Even for my own thoughts, and aphorisms or verses I run across that I want to remember, I buy myself beautiful reproductions of antique books from Pauper Press, hardbound with lined pages, and gold edges, and copy them in by hand in calligraphy with pen and ink. Books are just a sensual pleasure, and there is nothing like the smell and feel of a hardcover book. :)

[@suecondon1685]

I've been in the wonderful Folk Horror Revival group for some years, it's my favourite hangout. So professionally run and fascinating. Can't wait to get my hands on this, and to hear your new narrations!

[@ClassicGhost]

It will be a gold mine for me

[@walterfechter8080]

Many thanks, Tony Walker. Keep up the great work.

[@TheEldritchArchives]

I wish I had known about this and managed to get a copy, but it looks like its sold out! :( Hopefully they print more. So glad to see these early stories being acknowledged though. Folk-horror was certainly around a long time before the 1970's films picked up on the idea. I saw that Randalls Round is in the book, which is an excellent choice! I think it's one of the first stories that has all the right elements to be truly called folk-horror.

[@ClassicGhost]

I think they will reprint because it's sold so well

[@TheEldritchArchives]

@@ClassicGhost I hope so!

[@TGVScribe]

Hugely interested in finding this book for my library of ghost story anthologies. I have quite a few…. Fascinating history lesson, too, Tony. Thank you! I look forward to your live readings!

[@TGVScribe]

Your daughter’s artwork is wonderful!

[@ClassicGhost]

I think so too

[@TGVScribe]

Darn. Looks like the book project is closed for now. I hope he’ll be taking subscriptions in the future…

[@itgetter9]

A shout-out to Edward Said's Orientalism! And prints of stone circles?! Bonus! I love your work even more than I already did.

[@mariameere5807]

Thank you🙏

[@zero15388]

Great video. I have just ordered Damnable Tales.

[@ClassicGhost]

+zero15388 it’s a lovely beautiful book

[@janetcw9808]

And as you are showing us the book, I'm shouting Be Careful! Because all books are precious. I live in Wickerman land. This is a very interesting video, thanks so much. BLESSED BE XXX 🙏🏼 ❤️ 🍀 🗺️

[@martiwilliams4592]

A must have! Thank you for introducing us. Going to try to find it.. Now off to the Garden of Mirrors. Good night,sleep well.

[@hillaryclinton1232]

I have two different editions of The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion is a wide-ranging, comparative study of mythology and religion, written by the Scottish anthropologist Sir James George Frazer. It is also a audiobook on KZbin.

[@ClassicGhost]

I know it. I had a copy for years and I even read a bit of it

[@missy3240]

Oh! I didn’t know The Golden Bough had been made into an audio book. I will give that a listen . We have an old copy of it, but I haven’t read it for years. My husband actually wrote a song on his album released in 2007 that was based on the cat harvest mythologies in the book… I love this channel, firstly for Tony but also because there are always cool people commenting & sharing info. Definitely one of favorite online “communities”!

[@MSYNGWIE12]

Watched the original, The Wickerman, yesterday! Thanks to you Tony, I got much more from it, your talk on folklore and superstition and horror...I wouldn't want to be trapped with Christopher Lee in that awful, comical, Al Pacino, wig though! Al Pacino, in 1973 was SO handsome, And Justice For All, one of my fav films, it's his own hair! Christopher Lee should have persuaded the director to keep his own look. The British version is SO much better than the sanitized American one with Nicholas Cage- did they leave the nudity? Can't remember? Integral or gratuitous, suited me! And that Celtic, creature, the man in the red "horseback" who sweeps young girls under for fornication- just like the embellishments from the margins of those Hiberno Saxon Gospel Books, The Book of Kells etc. A fav pass time for a rainy day, some medieval music and a magnifying glass and a copy of one of those incredible books, maybe the Chi Ro page- all the hours spent in a freezing monastery making for the glory of the Lord and for posterity, arguably the most beautiful books ever made. Ah for a time machine, a vaccine to ensure I don't get Plague, a cape of course and a wee dram of one of the liqueurs also produced by our dear friars. No tonsure though! I did have a pixie cut so short before covid but the bowl and tonsure a la The Three Stooges- no. Those animal masks were horrific, much creepier than trashy Wes Craven blood gore guts abundantly squirting- why, because it's real, The Mummer's Dances. And inbreeding, all the implications- THAT IS SCARY! Namaste Z. ( can't remember if Nick Cage gets it inside The Wicker Creature?)

[@ClassicGhost]

The Nicholas Cage version is pretty awful sadly. I was laughing all over the place

[@bluegreenglue6565]

[insert big eyes emoji to represent my keen interest in this book and its contents] It's interesting that pagan observances were based on observations - unseen causes for experienced realities. The resurgence of interest in "the old ways" today I feel is a reflection of modern existential disillusionment. Modern popular media are overflowing with magical, escapist fantasy. We know it's fiction, but we desperately love to escape into the possibility that magic could save us or that some overpowered benevolent being will take physical action on our behalf - not just words of love and promises of post-mortem joy, but visible, visceral, perhaps even terrifying and bloody smiting of all manifestations of evil.

[@ClassicGhost]

I think You are bang on right with this. The discussion about evil deserves its own space

[@wmnoffaith1]

Well, I don't know about bloody smiting but I have seen some visible, visceral manifestations against evil, and actually know someone who saw St. Michael with his sword when he prayed for help. He was a small, unarmed middle-aged man being attacked by a gang of 5, and they ran for their lives. It does happen, but the people to whom it happens consider it a grace or a miracle and don't advertise it. They don't go on Reddit and post it as a "true" story :)

[@christine7956]

Have you read The Loney? Amazing book.

[@ClassicGhost]

I havne't. I just read Starve Acre though. That was good. Dreary and norrthern. I like that.

[@christine7956]

@@ClassicGhost that was very good too.

[@MSYNGWIE12]

I can't wait to see Imogen's art. What an exquisite, William Morris in his spirit, have nothing in your home which you regard as both beautiful and necessary. Not the exact quote. What a fascinating talk, the Pre Raphaelites were socialist. Like me you're a global soul, in the original good sense. Love your digressions. Does one then have to order a copy. £25 = what in Canadian plus they tax books here. Wasn't a socialist government that year, damn. Breathing is taxed here but then I look at USA Healthcare and cringe...! Namaste, Z.

[@mijiyoon5575]

G'afternoon ... that time here🕔🤔😊 5pm ... I'll share this vid soon on my social media platforms

[@jmch6359]

The hardcover version of this book seems to be quite scarce. I wonder why?

[@alanhoal6004]

How did you find a hardcover edition? I only see paperback online.

[@ClassicGhost]

I sponsored it before it was published.

[@Yoshoggutha]

Just found this great channel! I'm a huge Folk Horror fan as well. So, I recently ordered my paperback copy on Tuesday when it released from Amazon, and now it's lost or stuck somewhere in transit. Has anyone else had any issues with receiving their copy anywhere else online??? Does it take longer than usual since Unbound is UK based and takes longer to ship??? Thanks in advance for any help! 🙏

[@ClassicGhost]

I saw the paper back in our local Waterstones but they only had one copy

[@mitchsnow9719]

For a fascinating look at surviving practices see anthropologist Timothy Knab's' A War Of Witches: A Journey Into The Underworld Of The Contemporary Aztecs'

[@ClassicGhost]

That sound interesting

[@MSYNGWIE12]

People still use the library...trouble is I like to underline, fold pages, etc. While looking around for James Merrill, I discovered, W.B. Yeats was interested in Wiccans etc. All you discuss here. I am surprised. Dylan Thomas admired Yeats so much I associate them mentally with alcohol etc. Will that exquisite book be available on Amazon?

[@soundsilence2604]

Looking forward to live readings.

[@ClassicGhost]

Soon. Just need that hdmi cable

[@angeloofpalermo2612]

Really interesting to know where this idea of weird remote communities stems from. Good for you going out your comfort zone, you can have breaks or invite another writer/guest for an interlude

[@Tinyflypie]

Cultural appropriation is not showing interest in other cultures it is taking the cultural products or artefacts, and not acknowledging that culture. Stealing artifacts and keeping them in museums to enrich your own culture is too.

[@ClassicGhost]

I don’t do thst

[@sparklemotion8377]

And profiting from the people you colonize and oppress. So stealing land, resources, labour and culture

[@Tinyflypie]

@@ClassicGhost no you don't do it. I listened to what you said and you seemed to conflate interest in a culture and it's appropriation. I just wanted to clarify what cultural appropriation is. I have to admit I was shocked as a foreigner, by the cultural plunder still held by the British museum, all stolen from various powerless cultures when Britain was a world power. Cultural appropriation at it's most blatant.

[@karensmith2204]

Cool book, question: are you a witch?

[@ClassicGhost]

No I’m not

[@alisonduffy6206]

Not sure about that Tony; your narrations are spellbinding! @@ClassicGhost

[@angeloofpalermo2612]

Perhaps he's a Witcher

[@michaelselley3211]

Nobody mentioning Anthony???

[@jgordy4840]

Anthology

[@julielevinge266]

We do all like to look down on someone, what makes me laugh is immigrants that have been arriving for 1000s of years adding so much to all of us. My father used to say we’re all mongrels, such massive differences in size, colouring ect! Even the size of teeth! I have huge teeth with even bigger roots!! Only one in my family to have this characteristic! See said my dad your a mongrel just like everyone else. I think our differences enrich us. Cannot understand the fear that has always been there? Though establishment encourages it to its advantage. ( sorry about this waffle😃wasn’t even on subject😉)

[@onesunnyday5699]

Gatekeepers 🙄. I was extremely interested in African folklore religions & the Orishas, but told as a white person "Stay in your lane" by African American people pulling from pulling from European folklore 😥. I respect all religions & their rich heritage & believe it should be shared to be understood. I mean even 1 of the top Orishas had a Celtic wife for crying out loud.

[@ClassicGhost]

I am with you. When we begin to define people who have a right because they are authentic then problems arise

[@sparklemotion8377]

Yeah, that happend... I doubt that if you're really open-minded about other cultures you would only meet close minded people....

[@Scarter63]

"A Folk Horror Anthony"?

[@jgordy4840]

Anthology

[@sparklemotion8377]

I don't understand why you would mention gate keeping when showing interest in other cultures. You're giving the woke police more authority than they have. And it ridicules real problems.

[@ClassicGhost]

Once at a festival I was standing near someone who bought a replica Native American head dress. She was a white girl and this was Kendal . Someone passing by told her she could eat it as it was not authentically part of her culture. They used that term

[@sparklemotion8377]

@@ClassicGhost U don't know how native Americans feel about that. Personally if I want something from an other culture I buy it from them. Not made in China and sold by whoever has money to buy inventory. I doubt I have to explain the genocide on native Americans that is still going on this very day. Profiting from native Americans is textbook culture appropriation. Like killing an animal to hang it on the wall because you think it's beautiful. Eveybody loves the wise and patient Indian Chief but where is the love when they get their skulls cracked for trying to protect their land and water? But I don't see what that has to do with showing interest by education yourself about other cultures and their stories?