Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London!

This is our main one-hour Sunday-night episode. Including, after the break, the "Sixpenny Spookies" segment.

The first segment of the Sunday show contains a chapter of Varney the Vampire, along with sundry other tidbits of early-Victorian street literature — INCLUDING ...

• 01:06: VARNEY THE VAMPYRE; or, THE FEAST OF BLOOD, Chapter 25: Charles Holland consults his uncle and borrows 50 pounds, which he intends to place at Henry Bannerworth’s disposal to relieve his money woes. He asks the admiral if ever he has seen something so weird as this vampire business, and the admiral describes an encounter with a strange character at sea who appeared on his ship in defiance of the captain’s desires, seemed to command the weather, and vanished just before they arrived in port. We are left wondering, as the admiral obviously does, it that character might have been Sir Francis Varney himself …
• 33:15: TERRIFIC REGISTER ARTICLE: The curriculum vitae of a very interesting juvenile delinquent named Leary, whose exploits in theft, pickpocketing, and highway robbery have resulted in his being transported to Australia for life.

PART II: "THE SIXPENNY SPOOKIES," 0:38:10 — 1:09:30:

This second segment of the show brings you Victorian ghost stories, spooky street literature, and sundry other tidbits — INCLUDING ...

• 38:42: EARLY VICTORIAN GHOSTLY SHORT STORY, TO-WIT: Carmilla by J.S. Le Fanu, Part 7 of 9 (chapters 11 and 12): General Spielsdorf tells his story — a story of a strange noble lady in velvet who suddenly has to fly on a matter of life and death in her travelling-coach, leaving her beautiful dark-haired daughter Millarca in the care of the general and his young ward Bertha. The lady, the daughter, the travelling-coach — everything sounds so much like Carmilla’s story. Is it her? Or her twin sister? We will, hopefully, soon find out …
• 58:05: A SHORT GHOST STORY from a street broadside of the type called a “catchpenny” — which claims to be a true story, but probably isn’t: The ghost of a murdered woman appears to a miller to demand he help bring her killer to justice.
• 1:05:30: A FEW SQUEAKY-CLEAN DAD JOKES from the early-1800s' most popular joke book: "Joe Miller's Jests; or, The Wit's Vade-mecum."

A new episode of the show is released every Sunday and Thursday evening at 5:37 p.m. London time!

* The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a deep forest glade west of Arkham (where, as H.P. Lovecraft put it, “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

• NABOBS: Swell coves who have made their fortunes abroad and returned home to Old Blighty to enjoy it.
• NATTY LADS: Good-looking young pickpockets.
• FLICKER: Drinking glass.
• EYE WATER: Gin — utility grade, not the good stuff.
• JOBBER KNOTS: Tall stupid fellows.
• BLUNDERBUSSES: Blustering ignorant fellows.
• KNIGHTS OF THE BRUSH AND MOON: Drunken fellows wandering amok in meadows and ditches, trying to stagger home.
• CORINTHIAN: A fancy toff or titled swell. Used here as a reference to Corinthian Tom, the quintessential Regency rake depicted in Pierce Egan's "Life in London" (usually referred to as "Tom and Jerry").
• CHAFFING-CRIB: A room where drinking and bantering are going on.

A full glossary of the flash-cant terms used in this episode is at https://pennydread.com/discord in the "#season-4-episodes" thread.

A one-hour Ha'penny Horrid 'Hursday episode! In two parts, the first grim and dark, the second salty and spicy; to-wit:

PART I: "THE HA’PENNY HORRIDS," 0:00 — 34:50:

This first segment of the Thursday show contains a chapter of Sweeney Todd, along with the more darksome, loathly, and horrifying tidbits of the week: Tales of horrid murders, public executions, disasters, brutal crimes, and similar rays of sunshine — INCLUDING ...

• 01:40: DICKENS' DREADFUL ALMANAC for today: A tragic story of a young boy who was infected with rabies by a beloved neighborhood dog.
• 04:45: SWEENEY TODD, THE BARBER OF FLEET-STREET, Chapter 62-63: As Johanna and Arabella walk home from the Temple-garden meeting, Johanna is in a maudlin mood and talking crazy about death and destiny and eternity. Arabella, a little alarmed, tries to settle her down by proposing a plan of action, to take her mind off things. Unfortunately, that plan is — for Johanna to dress in boys’ clothes and apply for the vacant job as a “pious boy” in Todd’s shop! Too late, she realizes what a terrible and dangerous idea this would be. But, can she unring that bell, now that Johanna has heard her idea? And will Johanna follow through with it?
• 24:25: BROADSIDE BALLAD: The story of the trial and execution of a gang of “burkers” for murdering a poor Italian boy to sell his corpse to the nearest medical college.

PART II: "THE TWOPENNY TORRIDS," 35:10 — 1:09:25:

This second segment of the Thursday show contains a chapter or two of Dick Turpin's adventures, along with all the more salacious, cheeky, and naughty elements of the week — INCLUDING ...

• 35:45: BLACK BESS; or, THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD (starring HIGHWAYMAN DICK TURPIN), Chapter 30-31: Arriving at the stable where Black Bess was lodged, Tom and Dick pay a street urchin to watch their horses for them, and creep toward the stable. Soon Dick spots the ostler, Alf, and calls him over. Alf confirms the five officers are all in the stable, along with Tom Davis, whom they have taken prisoner. Tom and Dick decide to make a frontal attack, thrash the officers, and make their escape with Tom. But, it’s two against five. Can they bring it off? Not to worry, Alf says — he’s got a Cunning Plan ….
• 57:10: A FEW DIRTY JOKES from a salty joke book titled “The Joke-Cracker” (1803).
• 1:00:10: TWO VERY NAUGHTY COCK-AND-HEN-CLUB SONGS: "The Slap-Up Blowing” (a celebration of a particularly amazing lady of the evening) and “Oh no, I never mention it” (a young man’s musical tribute to a particular but unnamed lady’s “naughty bits”)
• 1:05:50: A FEW SQUEAKY-CLEAN DAD JOKES from the early-1800s' most popular joke book: "Joe Miller's Jests; or, The Wit's Vade-mecum."

A new episode of the show is released every Sunday and Thursday evening at 5:37 p.m. London time. (5:37 p.m. is Dick Turpin Scragging Hour: It's 17:37 in military time, and Dick Turpin — the historical figure — was hanged in 1737 A.D.)

Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London!

• * The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a wood west of Arkham (where “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

• A full glossary of the flash-cant terms used in this episode at https://pennydread.com/discord .

Our main one-hour Sunday-night episode!

This first segment of the Sunday show contains a chapter of Varney the Vampire, along with what we think of as the more humourous, melodramatic, and high-campy tidbits from this week’s explorations of early-Victorian street literature — INCLUDING ...

• 02:02: VARNEY THE VAMPYRE; or, THE FEAST OF BLOOD, Chapter 24: Admiral Bell, back from his meeting with Varney, confesses his plot to take the heat off Charles by usurping his role as duellist. Then a note comes from Varney himself, inviting Charles to meet him at midnight in the garden, alone, to talk things over or, if he likes, fight. Charles looks forward to it. He takes leave of Flora — kisses her for the first time — but as he leaves her room, he is oppressed by a foreshadowing sense that he will not see her again for a long, long time, if ever …
• 22:45: BROADSIDE BALLAD: The man who was hanged, who is still alive! This is an early-day form of clickbait, but it gave us a reason to look at failed hangings. Turns out several people, over the years, have survived being hanged.
• 29:35: TERRIFIC REGISTER ARTICLE: The ship was on fire! How to get the baby to safety? This mariner opted to tie the little tyke to the back of a sheep and let him ride the wooly beasty to shore … and it worked!
• 33:00: EARLY VICTORIAN GHOSTLY SHORT STORY, TO-WIT: Carmilla by J.S. Le Fanu, Part 6: Unexpectedly (to Laura) the little doctor arrives at the schloss to examine her. Her father has sent for him without telling her. The doctor hears her story with increasingly evident alarm and horror; inspects her throat — finding a small blue speck on the skin where she recalls the twin-needle pain. The doctor and the father have a long, animated colloquy before he delivers his prescription: She is never to be allowed to be alone. Madame is charged with staying close by her at all times. Then, Laura’s father sets out for Castle Karnstein in the carriage, for a visit and picnic. They leave at noon, before Carmilla wakes up, and Mademoiselle is going to bring her along later. On the way they meet the bereaved General Spielsdorf, he who has dedicated his life to destroying a monster. He also is going to Karnstein … he says, to perform “a pious sacrilege here, which will relieve our earth of certain monsters”...
• 51:27: A SHORT GHOST STORY from the scrapbook of Charles Lindley, Viscount Halifax: An English family rents a gorgeous French house for cheap … then learns why it was so inexpensive! “Madame, monsieur; il y a un revenant ici!”
• 1:06:20: A FEW SQUEAKY-CLEAN DAD JOKES from the early-1800s' most popular joke book: "Joe Miller's Jests; or, The Wit's Vade-mecum."

Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London! A new episode of the show is released every Sunday and Thursday evening at 5:37 p.m. London time.

• * The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a wood west of Arkham (where “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

A full glossary of the flash-cant terms used in this episode at https://pennydread.com/discord .

NOTE — for a glossary of "flash" terms used in this episode, see pennydread.com/discord. (Flash was the slang lingo used by the criminal underworld of the Regency and early Victorian period.)

A one-hour Ha'penny Horrid 'Hursday episode! In two parts, to-wit:

PART I: "THE HA’PENNY HORRIDS," 0:00 — 32:30:

This first segment of the Thursday show contains a chapter of Sweeney Todd, along with the more darksome, loathly, and horrifying tidbits of the week: Tales of horrid murders, public executions, disasters, brutal crimes, and similar rays of sunshine — INCLUDING ...

• 03:23: DICKENS' DREADFUL ALMANAC for today: A horrible mystery of the death of a boy abducted and murdered by persons unknown.
• 06:55: SWEENEY TODD, THE BARBER OF FLEET-STREET, Chapter 61: Johanna and Arabella meet up with Colonel Jeffery in the Temple Garden and he tells them about Tobias’s adventures. Arabella seems to be meditating on something, hatching a scheme. What could it be? And will it lead to ruin?
• 25:29: BROADSIDE BALLAD: A celebration of the sentencing of Barney, the Oilman of Brick-lane, to three weeks in prison for severely beating his 11-year-old shopboy with a cane.
• 29:07: TERRIFIC REGISTER ARTICLE: A dreadful tale, purportedly true, of a bad seed who made a shocking deathbed confession.

PART II: "THE TWOPENNY TORRIDS," 32:40 — 1:14:20:

This second segment of the Thursday show contains a chapter or two of Dick Turpin's adventures, along with all the more salacious, cheeky, and naughty elements of the week — INCLUDING ...

• 33:10: BLACK BESS; or, THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD (starring HIGHWAYMAN DICK TURPIN), Chapter 27-30: Turpin and King return to the Hand and Keys. Davis still has not returned, and Dick is getting very worried. He decides to travel to London and investigate, and free Tom Davis from the clutches of the grabs if he’s been touched; King volunteers to come with him. On the way, they talk over plans to rescue Black Bess. Then, in Chapter 29 — Turpin and King, on their journey to London, decide to “do a little business” with the horseman who’s coming toward them, reasoning that it won’t delay them much and he might have a rich booty. Accordingly they give him the old “Stand and Deliver” line; whereupon he draws his sword and attacks. He ends up in a great sword fight with Tom King. Then he calls a halt and offers King his purse; but King declines it, as does Dick. Both agree he’s defended himself so valiantly and cleanly that he’s earned their respect and friendship, and they don’t rob friends. Then he introduces himself — and both are astonished when they learn who they just tried to rob!

• 1:03:00: A FEW DIRTY JOKES from a collection from "The Chestnut Club," circa 1870.
• 1:05:55: TWO VERY NAUGHTY COCK-AND-HEN-CLUB SONGS: "The Chickster to her Dab has Gone” and “O Saw You My Ass When ‘Twas Out on the Green.”
• 1:11:10: A FEW SQUEAKY-CLEAN DAD JOKES from the early-1800s' most popular joke book: "Joe Miller's Jests; or, The Wit's Vade-mecum."

Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London!

*The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a wood west of Arkham (where “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

Our main one-hour Sunday-night episode! In two parts, to-wit:

PART I: “The HALF-CROWN CAMPIES” segment: 0:00 — 32:00:

This first segment of the Sunday show contains a chapter of Varney the Vampire, along with what we think of as the more humourous, melodramatic, and high-campy tidbits from this week’s explorations of early-Victorian street literature — INCLUDING ...

• 01:37: VARNEY THE VAMPYRE; or, THE FEAST OF BLOOD, Chapter 23: Charles Holland consults with his uncle, the admiral. He has determined to challenge the vampire to a duel. He is a little surprised to find his uncle is enthusiastically supportive … suspiciously so. What scheme does the old admiral have in mind? And will it work, or is Charles doomed to fall beneath the fast-flickering blade of a vampire?
• 29:30: TERRIFIC REGISTER ARTICLE: We take coroner’s inquests for granted in the case of sudden death, but did you ever wonder how they got started? It’s all to do with this one woman … and her six dead husbands.

PART II: "THE SIXPENNY SPOOKIES," 32:00 — 1:02:00:

This second segment of the show brings you Victorian ghost stories, spooky street literature, and sundry other tidbits — INCLUDING ...

• 32:40: EARLY VICTORIAN GHOSTLY SHORT STORY, TO-WIT: Carmilla by J.S. Le Fanu, Part 5 of 9 (chapters 7 and 8): In Part Five, we see Laura sinking beneath the influence of a terrible Something, and becoming pale, languid and melancholy, like Carmilla. Then one night, she is awakened by the voice of her long-dead Hungarian mother warning her to beware of an assassin! Waking up in a fright, she runs to Carmilla’s room … and finds her gone! Where could she be? And why?
• 47:25: A SHORT GHOST STORY from the scrapbook of Charles Lindley, Viscount Halifax: An account written by Lord Halifax himself recounting his personal experience meeting the ghost of an Argyll harper who was hanged by Marquis Montrose’s men during the Scottish Civil War.
• 59:20: A COUPLE SQUEAKY-CLEAN DAD JOKES from the early-1800s' most popular joke book: "Joe Miller's Jests; or, The Wit's Vade-mecum."

A new episode of the show is released every Sunday and Thursday evening at 5:37 p.m. London time. (5:37 p.m. is Dick Turpin Scragging Hour: It's 17:37 in military time, and Dick Turpin — the historical figure — was hanged in 1737 A.D.)

Join host Corinthian Finn, a.k.a. Finn J.D. John 18th Baron Dunwitch,* for a one-hour-long spree through the scandal-sheets and story papers of old London!

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

A full glossary of the flash-cant terms used in this episode at https://pennydread.com/discord .

*The Barony of Dunwitch is located in a wood west of Arkham (where “the hills rise wild, and there are valleys with deep woods that no axe has ever cut; there are dark narrow glens where the trees slope fantastically, and where thin brooklets trickle without ever having caught the glint of sunlight.”) Actually it is a good 3,000 miles west of Arkham. It is not to be confused with Dunwich, the English seacoast town that fell house by house into the sea centuries ago, or Dunsany, the home until 1957 of legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany.

A half-hour- long (plus a bit) Ha'penny Horror 'Hursday minisode IN WHICH —

0:02:15: THE BLACK BAND, Chapter 22:

• IN WHICH:— Ballet dancer Clara Melville, seeing Sir Frederick Beaumorris’s valet arriving with his traveling-things, is plunged into despair. Meanwhile, Sir Frederick is very pleased with himself, and looking forward to the conquest of breaking Clara’s spirit, right after dinner. He is on his way down to the table when who should make an unexpected appearance but Colonel Oscar Bertrand! What is he doing there? And what are Clara’s chances of getting out of this — stuck in a chateau in the middle of nowhere in a foreign country at the mercy of — not one, but TWO such thundering rogues?

0:25:30: TERRIBLE TIDBIT OF THE DAY (from "Dickens' Dreadful Almanac"):

• A little joking horseplay with what they thought was an unloaded antique blunderbuss hanging on the wall turned into a dreadful and fatal accident, 174 years ago today.

0:27:10: CRUEL AND INHUMAN MURDER COMMITTED UPON THE BODY OF CAPT. LAWSON: (street broadside)

• A broadsheet printed up telling the story of a maiden whose fiance, after throwing her over for a richer bride, tried to force her to give him back the letters he'd written her ... and she defended herself with a carving-knife. (The headline on this one is misleading.)

0:22:36: EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT FOR A TRIFLING EXPRESSION:

• A story of the Bad Old Days of the Thirty Years War, in the late 1640s, when a Catholic gentleman's joke at the expense of Stuart Princess Elizabeth (who had married the king of Bohemia) prompted Parliament to impose an outrageous punishment upon him for daring to make fun of the precious royal family.

Join host Finn J.D. John. for a half-hour-long spree through the darkest and loathliest stories seen on the streets of early-Victorian London! Grab a flicker of blue ruin, switch off your mirror neurons, and let's go!

GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

• HABERDASHERS: Smugglers of liquor.

• BITS OF MUSLIN: Pretty girls.
• KNIGHTS OF THE BRUSH AND MOON: Drunken fellows wandering amok in meadows and ditches, trying to stagger home.
• CORINTHIAN: A fancy toff or titled swell. Used here as a reference to Corinthian Tom, the quintessential Regency rake depicted in Pierce Egan's "Life in London" (usually referred to as "Tom and Jerry")
• CHAFFING-CRIB: A room where drinking and bantering are going on.
• SHERRY OFF: To run away at top speed. Adopted from the nautical term "to sheer off."
• CULLS: Mildly disparaging term for men.
• DOWN TO: Wised-up about, aware of.
• FAKEMENT: Plot or scheme.
• BUMS: Bailiffs.
• CRAPPING COVES: Pronounced "crêpe-ing," it means hangmen, who cause the widows of the criminals they execute to wear crêpe in mourning.
• THE OLD STONE JUG: Newgate Prison, or prisons in general.
• PADDINGTON FAIR: Execution day at Tyburn Tree gallows, which was in Paddington parish.
• DUNWICH, TOWN OF (spelled with no "T"): A seacoast town east of London, once very large, which eroded away and fell into the sea starting in the 13th century; only a few streets and houses remain today.
• DUNWITCH, BARONY OF (spelled with a "T"): A small estate in the hills West of Arkham, according to Colonial chronicler H.P. Lovecraft. Does not actually exist, but if it did, would be headed by Finn J.D. John, 18th Baron Dunwitch.

• DUNSANY, BARONY OF: A large estate in Ireland, including Dunsany Castle in County Meath, headed until 1957 by legendary fantasy author Edward J.M.D. Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany (Lord Dunsany), one of Mr. Lovecraft's favorite authors and a major influence upon his work.