May 19th, 2008
Dreadful Thoughts 6 tonight: Sheridan Le Fanu
The spooky short story bookclub Dreadful Thoughts rolls on tonight, with a distinctly Irish flavour. Tonight’s author is Dublin-born Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-1873), who is widely acknowledged as one of the masters of supernatural short fiction. The chosen story for tonight’s discussion is ‘Green Tea’ from his famous collection, Through A Glass Darkly. If you down gallons of the beverage for its anti-oxidants and cancer-busting properties, this story might put you off the stuff.
If you want to join in, just read the story (online versions here and here), and congregate chez Fústar at 9pm to share any thoughts on the story. Newcomers are more than welcome.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Sheridan Le Fanu. Ballyfermots finest writer.
May 19th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I’ve been on the green tay since early this morn. I’m already seeing a wild phantasmagoria of weird shapes and colours dance before my eyes. God knows what I’ll be like by 9 o’clock.
May 20th, 2008 at 7:14 am
That’s right - there’s a Le Fanu road over there somewhere, isn’t there ? Was he really from around there ? (when it was all green fields). Or was it just excessive green tea guzzlin’ in the Corpo namecalling section in the 40s / 50s.
His ‘House by the Churchyard’ gives a pretty good rendition of nearby Chapelizod too - apparently extensively (ab)used by Joyce for FW.
Me, I’m sticking to the shaggin’ Barry’s (with intravenous Columbian Arabica from time to time). Cleanlivin’, ye can’t beat it…
May 21st, 2008 at 8:01 am
Matt and Seán Báite, according to Wikipedia, he was born on Dominick Street, just off Parnell Street, so I wonder what the Ballyfermot connection is. I’m trying to remember if any other Ballyfermot roads are called after writers? Must have a look at a map.
Fústar - I’ll post some thoughts before the week is out over on the Green Tea post.
May 27th, 2008 at 9:02 am
He lived somewhere around Chapelizod for a few years. It was all green fields back then so Ballyfermot would have been part of Chapelizod.