Tales of History and Imagination
145 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsEccentric tales from History by Simone Whitlow
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Episodes
Spencer Percival
June 23, 2022 06:28 - 12 minutes - 13.4 MBTrigger Warning: The following episode discusses political assassination. Also a quick note: this wasn’t the episode I had in mind for the second of my ‘From the Vaults’ episodes this break. I recorded both Carrington Event and The Bagradas Dragon with strained vocal cords (it shows in Carrington, and much more on Bagradas). I have had this week’s episode recorded since I bought the Rodecaster recording console. It was originally planned as a reserve episode. I’ll come back to The Bagrada...
Minisode: Spencer Percival
June 23, 2022 06:28 - 12 minutes - 13.4 MBTrigger Warning: The following episode discusses political assassination. Also a quick note: this wasn’t the episode I had in mind for the second of my ‘From the Vaults’ episodes this break. I recorded both Carrington Event and The Bagradas Dragon with strained vocal cords (it shows in Carrington, and much more on Bagradas). I have had this week’s episode recorded since I bought the Rodecaster recording console. It was originally planned as a reserve episode. I’ll come back to The Bagrada...
The Carrington Event
June 08, 2022 09:49 - 12 minutes - 13 MBStrange, magical things were afoot in Boston, Massachusetts on September 2nd 1859, as telegraph machines took on a life of their own. That night the skies the world over put on a magnificent light show on e reporter described as ‘painfully lurid’. What caused this phenomenon? In Surrey, England an amateur astronomer named Richard Carrington had more than an inkling. The blog post of the episode is here. Support the show on Patreon for just $2 a month and get access to exclusive content. ...
Minisode: The Carrington Event
June 08, 2022 09:49 - 12 minutes - 13 MBStrange, magical things were afoot in Boston, Massachusetts on September 2nd 1859, as telegraph machines took on a life of their own. That night the skies the world over put on a magnificent light show on e reporter described as ‘painfully lurid’. What caused this phenomenon? In Surrey, England an amateur astronomer named Richard Carrington had more than an inkling. The blog post of the episode is here. Support the show on Patreon for just $2 a month and get access to exclusive content. ...
The Old Man of The Mountain
May 29, 2022 08:47 - 20 minutes - 22.1 MBIn Part Three of our Assassins series we discuss the Syrian Assassins, Crusaders, Saladin, yet more assassinations and Baybars the Mamluk as we continue in our examination of the Ismaili. The blog post of the episode is here. Support the show on Patreon for just $2 a month and get access to exclusive content. Please leave me a like and review. The best way you can help support the show is to share an episode with a friend - Creative works grow best by word of mouth. I post episodes ...
The Mongols are Coming!
May 15, 2022 07:45 - 21 minutes - 22.7 MBIn Part Two of our Assassins series we discuss Mongols, Kwarazmians, Heretics, more assassinations and those camels as we continue in our examination of the Ismaili. The blog post of the episode is here. Support the show on Patreon for just $2 a month and get access to exclusive content. Please leave a like and review. The best way you can help support the show is to share an episode with a friend - Creative works grow best by word of mouth. I post episodes fortnightly, Wednesdays. ...
The Cult of Hassan-i Sabbah
May 01, 2022 05:30 - 23 minutes - 24.1 MBAdmin Note: The following is part one of three part Tale. I’ll be releasing these fortnightly. There’s a tale from the Medieval Near East that persists in the modern day - some of the details are somewhat accurate - some less so. Up in the mountains of Persia and Syria, in inaccessible mountain fortresses, lives a cult of fearless killers. Led by a prototypical James Bond Supervillain, known as the ‘Man of the Mountain’ the cult is greatly feared for its murders of many kings, generals, ad...
Admin Note: Assassins and Re-Uploads
April 24, 2022 02:46 - 1 minute - 1.68 MBHey all just a quick update, apologies I’m a little croaky on the recording. As I say I have been doing a lot of recording while on a long weekend. I’ll be back with an actual new episode once I have it all mixed, edited + added some music into the mix - Hopefully tomorrow night. - Simone.
The Bottle Conjuror
April 05, 2022 20:50 - 8 minutes - 9.05 MBQuick admin note: I was planning on dropping a couple of 10 minute episodes in May, giving me a little time to plan out the next run. A couple of day to day things (I’m feeling it prudent I update my CV, and begin looking for a new day job) are likely to put me behind a little in coming weeks so I’m moving at least one of those episodes up a little. Today we travel to London’s Haymarket Theatre - in 1749 a hotbed of middle class discontent towards the ruling class. The air is abuzz with an...
Beyond the Archway (a New Zealand Tale)
March 26, 2022 08:13 - 23 minutes - 23 MBThis week my (New Zealand) Government announced New Zealand schools would be teaching New Zealand History to all children. This IS actually quite an accomplishment - a lot of younger kids get little to no history at all, and those who take the subject as an elective option often don’t even touch on our own country. It only seems fitting to do a New Zealand Tale this week. What can one say about New Zealand and the act of Pseudocide - faking one’s own death to start anew elsewhere? Quite a b...
Beyond the Archway
March 26, 2022 08:13 - 23 minutes - 23 MBThis week my (New Zealand) Government announced New Zealand schools would be teaching New Zealand History to all children. This IS actually quite an accomplishment - a lot of younger kids get little to no history at all, and those who take the subject as an elective option often don’t even touch on our own country. It only seems fitting to do a New Zealand Tale this week. What can one say about New Zealand and the act of Pseudocide - faking one’s own death to start anew elsewhere? Quite a b...
Njinga of Ndongo
March 08, 2022 06:24 - 10 minutes - 10.5 MBHappy International Woman’s Day! This week I’m looking at one lesser known badass warrior Queen - Njinga, Queen (then later King) of Ndongo. The blog post of the episode is here. Support the show on Patreon for just $2 a month and get access to exclusive content. Please leave us a like and review. The best way you can help support the show is to share an episode with a friend - Creative works grow best by word of mouth. I post episodes fortnightly, Wednesdays. We’re on Facebook, Twi...
The Phantom Airships
February 24, 2022 06:23 - 20 minutes - 22.8 MBFrom November 1896 through 1897, the skies over America - if Tales are to be believed - were full of magnificent flying machines. Some possibly from another planet, most were believed by the populace to be the work of pioneering geniuses - such as a mysterious 47 year old dentist from California. What was really behind this spate of sightings? The blog post of the episode is here. Support the show on Patreon for just $2 a month and get access to exclusive content. Please leav...
29: The Phantom Airships
February 24, 2022 06:23 - 20 minutes - 22.8 MBFrom November 1896 through 1897, the skies over America - if Tales are to be believed - were full of magnificent flying machines. Some possibly from another planet, most were believed by the populace to be the work of pioneering geniuses - such as a mysterious 47 year old dentist from California. What was really behind this spate of sightings? The blog post of the episode is here. Support the show on Patreon for just $2 a month and get access to exclusive content. Please leav...
28: Doctor Sweet’s Defence
February 11, 2022 09:40 - 14 minutes - 14.8 MBContent Warning: This week’s Tale deals with several ugly topics including lynching, false arrests death by consumption, suicide and racism in general. Discretion advised. Set in Detroit Michigan in and around 1925 today we try to explain the awful reasons a dedicated family doctor fell foul of a ‘waterworks improvement association’ for wanting to move into a ‘nice neighbourhood’. The blog post of the episode is here. Support the show on Patreon for just $2 a month and get access to excl...
Doctor Sweet’s Defence
February 11, 2022 09:40 - 14 minutes - 14.8 MBContent Warning: This week’s Tale deals with several ugly topics including lynching, false arrests death by consumption, suicide and racism in general. Discretion advised. Set in Detroit Michigan in and around 1925 today we try to explain the awful reasons a dedicated family doctor fell foul of a ‘waterworks improvement association’ for wanting to move into a ‘nice neighbourhood’. The blog post of the episode is here. Support the show on Patreon for just $2 a month and get access to excl...
27: The Pendle Witches (Part Two)
January 28, 2022 11:32 - 16 minutes - 16 MBThis is part two of a two part series on England’s Pendle Witch trials of 1612. Last episode we looked at the lead in to the witch hunts in England and Scotland- Today we look at the Demdikes and the Chattoxes. I’ve split this episode into two parts as it was running closer to an hour than the usual 20 minutes in pre production. The blog post of the episode is here. Support the show on Patreon for just $2 a month and get access to exclusive content. Please leave us a like and r...
The Pendle Witches (Part Two)
January 28, 2022 11:32 - 16 minutes - 16 MBThis is part two of a two part series on England’s Pendle Witch trials of 1612. Last episode we looked at the lead in to the witch hunts in England and Scotland- Today we look at the Demdikes and the Chattoxes. I’ve split this episode into two parts as it was running closer to an hour than the usual 20 minutes in pre production. The blog post of the episode is here. Support the show on Patreon for just $2 a month and get access to exclusive content. Please leave us a like and r...
The Pendle Witches (Part One)
January 18, 2022 21:07 - 18 minutes - 19.4 MBIn 1612 Lancaster, England was abuzz with several reports of witchcraft - the new moral panic to have just hit England after a certain King of Scotland got a promotion and brought some strange ideas south with him. The following is the story of how the witch hunts affected two families - the Devices and the Chattoxes. I’ve split this episode into two parts as it was running closer to an hour than the usual 20 minutes in pre production. Part two will be out next week. The blog post of the ...
26: The Pendle Witches (Part One)
January 18, 2022 21:07 - 18 minutes - 19.4 MBIn 1612 Lancaster, England was abuzz with several reports of witchcraft - the new moral panic to have just hit England after a certain King of Scotland got a promotion and brought some strange ideas south with him. The following is the story of how the witch hunts affected two families - the Devices and the Chattoxes. I’ve split this episode into two parts as it was running closer to an hour than the usual 20 minutes in pre production. Part two will be out next week. The blog post of the ...
25: The Miser of Marcham Park
December 18, 2021 02:49 - 10 minutes - 10.7 MBHi all, Happy Holidays, however you choose to celebrate - or commiserate this year. The following episode is the last Tale of the year (I’ll be back round 19th January 2022) I wanted to close out the year by dissecting a figure who entered Xmas lore back in 1843 - Charles Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge - one of his many ‘Mean men’. Was there a real life equivalent who inspired Dickens’ fertile imagination? Hit the button and find out. The blog post of the episode is here. Check out the blog ...
The Miser of Marcham Park
December 18, 2021 02:49 - 10 minutes - 10.7 MBHi all, Happy Holidays, however you choose to celebrate - or commiserate this year. The following episode is the last Tale of the year (I’ll be back round 19th January 2022) I wanted to close out the year by dissecting a figure who entered Xmas lore back in 1843 - Charles Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge - one of his many ‘Mean men’. Was there a real life equivalent who inspired Dickens’ fertile imagination? Hit the button and find out. The blog post of the episode is here. Check out the blog ...
24 The Campden Wonder - The ‘Murder’ of William Harrison
November 25, 2021 08:12 - 12 minutes - 13.2 MBThis week we’re in the town of Campden, Gloucestershire. The date August 16th, 1660. William Harrison, the ageing rent collector - disappears while on a two mile walk to Charringworth. A local man is arrested, and a disturbing tale of betrayal emerges - but was any of it true? The blog post of the episode is here. Check out the blog at historyandimagination.com For just $2 US a month you can support the show on Patreon, and get access to exclusive content. Click for more, Patreon Con...
The Campden Wonder - The ‘Murder’ of William Harrison
November 25, 2021 08:12 - 12 minutes - 13.2 MBThis week we’re in the town of Campden, Gloucestershire. The date August 16th, 1660. William Harrison, the ageing rent collector - disappears while on a two mile walk to Charringworth. A local man is arrested, and a disturbing tale of betrayal emerges - but was any of it true? The blog post of the episode is here. Check out the blog at historyandimagination.com For just $2 US a month you can support the show on Patreon, and get access to exclusive content. Click for more, Patreon Con...
23: Franz Reichelt - What Goes Up….
November 09, 2021 22:00 - 16 minutes - 16.5 MBToday’s tale is set on a freezing cold morning, 57 metres above the ground, in Paris, France. The date February 4th 1912. Our subject, one unfortunate soul we’ll come to in a few minutes. Before I even begin this tale, I needs must take you all on a flight of fancy. This week we discuss Franz Reichelt, the flying tailor - and the early days of powered flight. Check out my Patreon. For just $2 US a month you help support the show, and get access to exclusive content. The blog post o...
Franz Reichelt - What Goes Up….
November 09, 2021 22:00 - 16 minutes - 16.5 MBToday’s tale is set on a freezing cold morning, 57 metres above the ground, in Paris, France. The date February 4th 1912. Our subject, one unfortunate soul we’ll come to in a few minutes. Before I even begin this tale, I needs must take you all on a flight of fancy. This week we discuss Franz Reichelt, the flying tailor - and the early days of powered flight. Check out my Patreon. For just $2 US a month you help support the show, and get access to exclusive content. The blog post o...
22. Spring Heeled Jack - The Terror of London
October 25, 2021 02:17 - 18 minutes - 19.9 MBSpring Heeled Jack would enter the public consciousness of Londoners at the tail end of 1837, as reports emerged of numerous attacks on lone women in the city. Tall, demonic, with glowing red eyes and an almost supernatural ability to scale tall objects - some wondered if the devil had come to London. Over time his legend spread and took on a surprising life of his own. This week’s Patreon only episode is on The Carrington Event. For just $2 US a month you can support the show, and get a...
Spring Heeled Jack - The Terror of London
October 25, 2021 02:17 - 18 minutes - 19.9 MBSpring Heeled Jack would enter the public consciousness of Londoners at the tail end of 1837, as reports emerged of numerous attacks on lone women in the city. Tall, demonic, with glowing red eyes and an almost supernatural ability to scale tall objects - some wondered if the devil had come to London. Over time his legend spread and took on a surprising life of his own. This week’s Patreon only episode is on The Carrington Event. For just $2 US a month you can support the show, and get a...
21: The Max Headroom Incident
October 05, 2021 18:58 - 11 minutes - 13.3 MBOn 9:14 pm, 22nd November 1987, Chicago’s WGN TV was ‘zipped’ by a mysterious attacker - a figure wearing a rubber Max Headroom mask. The attacker would strike again, upsetting Whovians in the Windy City. In this short Tale we discuss the Max Headroom Incident. This week’s Patreon only episode is on The Hammersmith Ghost. Support the show for just $2 US a month, and get access to exclusive content. The blog post of the episode is here. Check out the blog at historyandimagination.com ...
The Max Headroom Incident
October 05, 2021 18:58 - 11 minutes - 13.3 MBOn 9:14 pm, 22nd November 1987, Chicago’s WGN TV was ‘zipped’ by a mysterious attacker - a figure wearing a rubber Max Headroom mask. The attacker would strike again, upsetting Whovians in the Windy City. In this short Tale we discuss the Max Headroom Incident. This week’s Patreon only episode is on The Hammersmith Ghost. Support the show for just $2 US a month, and get access to exclusive content. The blog post of the episode is here. Check out the blog at historyandimagination.com ...
Willie The Wimp (and His Cadillac Coffin)
September 21, 2021 21:00 - 6 minutes - 7.14 MBSouth Side Chicago Still think of him often… so today we’re talking bout Willie ‘Wimp’ Stokes and his Cadillac Coffin. This week’s Patreon only episode is on Idi Amin and the Enfundu. For just $2 US a month you can support the show, and get access to exclusive content. The blog post of the episode is here. Check out the blog at historyandimagination.com Please leave a like or review on your pod-catcher of choice. If you enjoyed this episode, share us with someone you know will like ...
20: Willie The Wimp (and His Cadillac Coffin)
September 21, 2021 21:00 - 6 minutes - 7.45 MBSouth Side Chicago Still think of him often… so today we’re talking bout Willie ‘Wimp’ Stokes and his Cadillac Coffin. This week’s Patreon only episode is on Idi Amin and the Enfundu. For just $2 US a month you can support the show, and get access to exclusive content. The blog post of the episode is here. Check out the blog at historyandimagination.com Please leave a like or review on your pod-catcher of choice. If you enjoyed this episode, share us with someone you know will like ...
Mussolini vs The Mob
September 07, 2021 21:48 - 19 minutes - 22.1 MBThis week is all about presidents, dictators, mobsters, islands and how the theft of a hat was taken a little too seriously. Apologies again, voice a little scratchy in this one (was recorded 2 weeks ago) so have turned the background music down a little in this one. My Patreon is finally up! Click here to support the show, and get bonus episodes. This week’s episode is on Owney Madden. The blog post of the episode is here. Please leave a like or review on your pod catcher of choic...
19: Mussolini vs The Mob
September 07, 2021 21:48 - 19 minutes - 22.1 MBThis week is all about presidents, dictators, mobsters, islands and how the theft of a hat was taken a little too seriously. Apologies again, voice a little scratchy in this one (was recorded 2 weeks ago) so have turned the background music down a little in this one. My Patreon is finally up! Click here to support the show, and get bonus episodes. This week’s episode is on Owney Madden. The blog post of the episode is here. Please leave a like or review on your pod catcher of choic...
19: Mussolini’s Hat
September 07, 2021 21:48 - 19 minutes - 22.1 MBThis week is all about presidents, dictators, mobsters, islands and how the theft of a hat was taken a little too seriously. Apologies again, voice a little scratchy in this one (was recorded 2 weeks ago) so have turned the background music down a little in this one. My Patreon is finally up! Click here to support the show, and get bonus episodes. This week’s episode is on Owney Madden. The blog post of the episode is here. Please leave a like or review on your pod catcher of choic...
18: Giovanni Batista Belzoni - Tomb Raider.
August 24, 2021 21:00 - 17 minutes - 20.7 MBIn July I asked readers and listeners to choose a subject from two real world influences on the Indiana Jones movie character. The majority of you chose Giovanni Batista Belzoni. From apprentice monk, to fugitive, to circus strongman, and finally, tomb raider one could never say Giovanni Belzoni’s life wasn’t eventful. Today we discuss the time he stole an unmovable statue from the desert. My Patreon is finally up! Click here to support the show, and get bonus episodes. This week’s epi...
Giovanni Batista Belzoni - Tomb Raider.
August 24, 2021 21:00 - 17 minutes - 20.7 MBIn July I asked readers and listeners to choose a subject from two real world influences on the Indiana Jones movie character. The majority of you chose Giovanni Batista Belzoni. From apprentice monk, to fugitive, to circus strongman, and finally, tomb raider one could never say Giovanni Belzoni’s life wasn’t eventful. Today we discuss the time he stole an unmovable statue from the desert. My Patreon is finally up! Click here to support the show, and get bonus episodes. This week’s epi...
17: Ungern’s Army
July 27, 2021 20:01 - 18 minutes - 21 MBContent warning: This week’s episode features monsters doing monstrous things - as they are apt to do. The after-effects of World War One on the Western World are well documented. It also upturned significant parts of the East. Trapped between Russia and China, both imploding - Mongolia had it’s share of outlaws with large private armies to deal with. This is one such tale. My Patreon is finally up! Click here to support the show, and get bonus episodes. This week’s episode is on Puyi, Ch...
Ungern’s Army
July 27, 2021 20:01 - 18 minutes - 21 MBContent warning: This week’s episode features monsters doing monstrous things - as they are apt to do. The after-effects of World War One on the Western World are well documented. It also upturned significant parts of the East. Trapped between Russia and China, both imploding - Mongolia had it’s share of outlaws with large private armies to deal with. This is one such tale. My Patreon is finally up! Click here to support the show, and get bonus episodes. This week’s episode is on Puyi, Ch...
eden ahbez - Nature Boy
July 13, 2021 20:00 - 15 minutes - 17.3 MBThere was a boy, a very strange, enchanted boy - both his prototypical hippie lifestyle, long before the summer of love - and the ethereal song he left us in 1947 have fascinated me endlessly since first reading his Tale. Today, we discuss eden ahbez, and how the song Nature Boy came to be. Patreon episodes will start next episode, to help me make the show please show some love here! Read the blog post of this episode here. Please leave a like. Follow the show. Share the channel – it ...
16: eden ahbez - Nature Boy
July 13, 2021 20:00 - 15 minutes - 17.3 MBThere was a boy, a very strange, enchanted boy - both his prototypical hippie lifestyle, long before the summer of love - and the ethereal song he left us in 1947 have fascinated me endlessly since first reading his Tale. Today, we discuss eden ahbez, and how the song Nature Boy came to be. Patreon episodes will start next episode, to help me make the show please show some love here! Read the blog post of this episode here. Please leave a like. Follow the show. Share the channel – it ...
Nellie Bly
July 01, 2021 08:13 - 10 minutes - 12 MBIn an age where female reporters were few and far between, and wrote on little more than fashion and gardening - Nellie Bly got locked up in a ‘madhouse’ to expose the horrors of such an institution. In this 10 minute episode Simone discusses her 10 days in a madhouse. Check back in in a week’s time for a Patreon bonus episode - am playing catch up with those this week. You can read the blog post of the episode here. Please leave a like. Follow the show. Share the channel – it he...
15: Nellie Bly
July 01, 2021 08:13 - 10 minutes - 12 MBIn an age where female reporters were few and far between, and wrote on little more than fashion and gardening - Nellie Bly got locked up in a ‘madhouse’ to expose the horrors of such an institution. In this 10 minute episode Simone discusses her 10 days in a madhouse. Check back in in a week’s time for a Patreon bonus episode - am playing catch up with those this week. You can read the blog post of the episode here. Please leave a like. Follow the show. Share the channel – it he...
Nellie Bly (Re-Upload)
July 01, 2021 08:13 - 10 minutes - 13.3 MBIn an age where female reporters were few and far between, and wrote on little more than fashion and gardening - Nellie Bly got locked up in a ‘madhouse’ to expose the horrors of such an institution. In this 10 minute episode Simone discusses her 10 days in a madhouse. Check back in in a week’s time for a Patreon bonus episode - am playing catch up with those this week. You can read the blog post of the episode here. Please leave a like. Follow the show. Share the channel – it he...
14: Lord Lucan
June 20, 2021 03:07 - 26 minutes - 28.6 MBContent warning, this Tale deals with a murder. Richard John Bingham, John to his friends, ‘Lucky' to others – officially titled the 7th Earl of Lucan, entered the history books on November 7th 1974 for the worst kind of reasons. He then captured the imagination of much of the English speaking world when he vanished without a trace. This week, a You Choose topic chosen by the show's listeners and readers, Simone discusses the case. I’ll get the first Patreon only release, a companion piece...
Lord Lucan
June 20, 2021 03:07 - 26 minutes - 28.6 MBContent warning, this Tale deals with a murder. Richard John Bingham, John to his friends, ‘Lucky' to others – officially titled the 7th Earl of Lucan, entered the history books on November 7th 1974 for the worst kind of reasons. He then captured the imagination of much of the English speaking world when he vanished without a trace. This week, a You Choose topic chosen by the show's listeners and readers, Simone discusses the case. I’ll get the first Patreon only release, a companion piece...
13: Jack Parsons - Babalon‘s Rocketeer (Part Two)
June 03, 2021 19:29 - 23 minutes - 25.9 MBI may as well leave the content warning up from last fortnight... I don’t know, if you’re prudish I mention sex magick several times in this Tale – though hardly go into detail.. When John Whiteside Parsons – Jack to his friends – died suddenly in an explosion, one may have expected platitudes to the man. As a pioneering rocket scientist, the world - and the future would owe much to his innovations. Instead, all anyone could talk about was the gossip about his lifestyle – and membership to...
Jack Parsons - Babalon‘s Rocketeer (Part Two)
June 03, 2021 19:29 - 23 minutes - 25.9 MBI may as well leave the content warning up from last fortnight... I don’t know, if you’re prudish I mention sex magick several times in this Tale – though hardly go into detail.. When John Whiteside Parsons – Jack to his friends – died suddenly in an explosion, one may have expected platitudes to the man. As a pioneering rocket scientist, the world - and the future would owe much to his innovations. Instead, all anyone could talk about was the gossip about his lifestyle – and membership to...
13: Jack Parsons - Babalon's Rocketeer (Part Two)
June 03, 2021 19:29 - 23 minutes - 25.9 MBI may as well leave the content warning up from last fortnight... I don’t know, if you’re prudish I mention sex magick several times in this Tale – though hardly go into detail.. When John Whiteside Parsons – Jack to his friends – died suddenly in an explosion, one may have expected platitudes to the man. As a pioneering rocket scientist, the world - and the future would owe much to his innovations. Instead, all anyone could talk about was the gossip about his lifestyle – and membership to...
12: Jack Parsons - Babalon‘s Rocketeer (Part One)
May 21, 2021 09:34 - 21 minutes - 24.2 MBContent warning! I discuss a violent death in this Tale, and allude to another. When John Whiteside Parsons – Jack to his friends – died suddenly in an explosion, one may have expected platitudes to the man. As a pioneering rocket scientist, the world - and the future would owe much to his innovations. Instead, all anyone could talk about was the gossip about his lifestyle – and membership to a cult which worshipped a man known as ‘The Great Beast' Over the next two episodes, we're talki...