Bone and Sickle

Al Ridenour
Bone and Sickle
BONUS EPISODES

15-40 Minute Monthly Shows

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BONE AND SICKLE explores historical topics related to folklore and horror. With acerbic wit and a scholarly penchant for the grotesque, rogue folklorist Al Ridenour delves into a wide but carefully curated range of topics illustrated by stories from historical texts. Narratives are given dramatic readings by “Mrs. Karswell” (Sarah Chavez) backed by richly produced soundscapes blending original music, sound design and effects. The source books, though real enough, are said to be pulled from an imaginary library on Ridenour's imaginary estate situated somewhere in the neighborhood of Charles Addams and Edward Gorey. Each episode begins with our hosts briefly discussing goings-on in this world before diving into the topic to be explored. Occasional alternate-format episodes are devoted to readings of classic horror stories or curious texts of antiquarian interest. Ridenour is the author of “The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas” (2016) and “A Season of Madness: Fools, Monsters, and Marvels of the Old-World Carnival” (Jan. 2025). Sarah Chavez produced the podcast “The Cabinet of Curiosities” (2011-2012) and contributed to “Death in the Afternoon” (2018-2023).

  1. FEB 18

    Mélusine, the Serpent Fairy

    Mélusine is a female fairy of medieval legend. who suffers under a curse transforming her once weekly into a monstrous form. In various tales she becomes either a serpent or fish from the waist down, or fully transforms into a dragon. Mélusine can only break this curse via marriage to a mortal who is obliged to allow her certain secret freedoms.  In return, her husband enjoys magical assistance and sees his fortunes flourish, at least until that day pact is broken. The most famous version of this story, and the one to which we devote the bulk of the show is a French tale set down in 1387 by Jean d’Arras, Mélusine or the Noble Story of the Lusignans. The patron for whom he wrote, Duke Jean de Berry, belonged to the House of Lusignan, whose ancestral claims to the lands around Poitiers were portrayed by Arras as a matter of supernatural destiny involving the fairy. We learn how Jean de Berry’s ancestor, Raymondin (Raymond) became engaged to Mélusine after a meeting at an enchanted fountain. Raymond is unaware that this encounter, and all that follows, is the subject of a prophecy set in motion by his accidental killing of his uncle. We hear the curious way in which this transpires, of Raymond and Mélusine’s wedding attended by a multitude of fairy folk, and of the building of Château de Lusignan through a sly collaboration of fairy magic, ingenuity, and human agency. We then learn of  Mélusine’s and Raymond’s offspring, all of whom are  handsome and strong yet also betray their supernatural parentage via certain disfigurements —  strange birthmarks, enormous stature, huge jutting teeth, or additional eyes.  Much of Arras’ narrative is devoted to the sons’ heroic exploits, particularly as Crusaders in the Middle East, where the historical Lusignans gained lands and reputations, but our episode, focuses only only two sons, “Geoffroy Big-Tooth” and Fromont, whose stories are more intertwined with that of Mélusine herself. Next comes the central drama, the breaking of the secret pact between Raymond and his fairy wife, which I’ll leave for you to enjoy without spoilers. Mrs. Karswell delivers a fine dramatic reading of this lengthier passage. While that  situation simmers, we hear how Geoffroy has returned from a giant-slaying adventure to discover that his brother, Fromont, is about to enter a monastery rather than devote himself to expanding the Lusignan empire.  This doesn’t sit well with Geoffroy, whose disproportionately wrathful response is at once horrible and comic. Reacting to the tragic fall-out of Geoffroy’s rampage, Raymond himself flies into a rage, accusing  Mélusine of producing offspring supernaturally inclined toward evil. Cruel as his words may be, Mélusine seems to validate them, assuming a diabolical presence as she abandons their marriage,  flying away from Castle Lusignan in the form of a dragon. Finally, we  examine the origins of the curse upon Mélusine, a strange backstory revealed through the discovery of a tablet in fantastic subterranean tomb, one which relates how she imprisoned  her human father inside a mountain and installed  there a giant as jailer. Our episode then considers some folkloric parallels to the figure of  Mélusine, a possible kinship with the Irish Banshee, the Scottish Bean-nighe or the Lavandières (“midnight washer women) of Brittany as well as earlier 13th-century literary sources for Arras’s tale including works by Gervase of Tilbury, Marie de France, Walter Map, and others. By the late 15th century, the story by Arras had been retold by the French author Coudrette in a version that became broadsheet fodder for German publishers.  We also hear how the tale  was embraced in Luxembourg, where it attached to Siegfried, Count of the Ardennes, and the magical construction of Luxembourg Castle.

    56 min

  2. FEB 13 • BONUS EPISODES ONLY

    True-Love Charms for Little Witches - Corrected Upload

    (Previous upload was truncated) Something with a Valentine's theme for you this month: TRUE-LOVE OMENS for LITTLE WITCHES. Mrs Karswell reads from a collection of children's fortunetelling games of the 1890S.

    21 min

  3. FEB 12 • BONUS EPISODES ONLY

    True-Love Omens for Little Witches

    Something with a Valentine's theme for you this month: TRUE-LOVE OMENS for LITTLE WITCHES. Mrs Karswell reads from a collection of children's fortunetelling games of the 1890S.

    2 min

  4. JAN 31

    Announcement: Show Delay

    Unfortunately, release of the episode scheduled for this month has been delayed thanks to the Eaton Wildfire in California. Your hosts are safe and sound, but complications from the fire temporarily halted production. The episode in question should be available in February. Thank you for your patience!

    29 sec

  5. JAN 30 • BONUS EPISODES ONLY

    Selkies

    Selkies are figures from Celtic and Norse folklore who can shapeshift between seal and human forms by removing or putting on their seal skin. Marriages and amorous relations with mortals are a frequent feature of their folklore.n this episode, we’ll be hearing selkie stories told as true in the 20th century – tales collected by a folklorist on the islands of Orkney and Shetland off the extreme northwestern tip of Scotland. I’ll be reading from a book published in 1901 by the Folklore Society, Examples of Folk-lore Concerning the Orkney & Shetland Islands by George Fraser Black.

    24 min

  6. 12/23/2024

    A Christmas Ghost Story VII

    The Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas has been celebrated by Bone and Sickle since 2018.  This year is no exception as we share two stories in this episode, one comic, and one frightening. We begin with the Introduction to the 1891 anthology, Told After Supper, by the British writer, Jerome K. Jerome, following this with “The Old Portrait” from  Scottish writer Hume Nisbet’s 1900 collection Stories Weird and Wonderful. Pour a brandy, douse the lights, and enjoy!

    33 min

  7. 12/15/2024

    La Befana, the Witch of Twelfth Night

    A short extra episode on Befana, the gift-bringing Italian witch associated with Twelfth Night, the end of the Christmas season.  Included in the show is material from the book, “The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas,” traditional music of the season, audio from actual celebrations, and a few pop songs associated with la Befana.

  8. 12/04/2024 • BONUS EPISODES ONLY

    Meeting the Krampus

    As the day itself is approaching, I thought a little Krampus content was in order. This material is from my book, "The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas," and describes my first encounters with Alpine devils, along with some related traditions and history of the region in Salzburg where this transpires.

    16 min
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Trailer

4.8
out of 5
280 Ratings

About

BONE AND SICKLE explores historical topics related to folklore and horror. With acerbic wit and a scholarly penchant for the grotesque, rogue folklorist Al Ridenour delves into a wide but carefully curated range of topics illustrated by stories from historical texts. Narratives are given dramatic readings by “Mrs. Karswell” (Sarah Chavez) backed by richly produced soundscapes blending original music, sound design and effects. The source books, though real enough, are said to be pulled from an imaginary library on Ridenour's imaginary estate situated somewhere in the neighborhood of Charles Addams and Edward Gorey. Each episode begins with our hosts briefly discussing goings-on in this world before diving into the topic to be explored. Occasional alternate-format episodes are devoted to readings of classic horror stories or curious texts of antiquarian interest. Ridenour is the author of “The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas” (2016) and “A Season of Madness: Fools, Monsters, and Marvels of the Old-World Carnival” (Jan. 2025). Sarah Chavez produced the podcast “The Cabinet of Curiosities” (2011-2012) and contributed to “Death in the Afternoon” (2018-2023).

Information

  • Creator
    Al Ridenour
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    150
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Bone and Sickle
  • Provider
    Al Ridenour

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