Vlad the Impaler: Sinner or Saint? (1490) - The October Rite

"Song: When I Am Dead, My Dearest" by Christina Rossetti

Today we return to Christina Rossetti's beautiful views on mortality and grief. In under a paragraph, Rossetti argues successfully for the autonomy of the desire to be remembered.

"Dust of Snow" by Robert Frost

In this episode, we return to Robert Frost and "Dust of Snow", a small, whimsical little thing, that I sense, holds more than meets the eye. Perfect for a quick listen and to satisfy (or increase) that yearning for winter in the middle of summer.

"When You Are Old" by W. B. Yeats

A moving reading of W.B. Yeats's "When You Are Old," a timeless poem of love, memory, and longing. Perfect for listeners who enjoy classic poetry, Irish literature, and intimate spoken-word performances.

"Music when Soft Voices Die" by Percy Shelley

A lyrical reading of Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Music when Soft Voices Die" exploring love, memory, beauty, and the lasting echo of feeling after sound fades. Perfect for listeners who love classic poetry, Romantic literature, and calm spoken-word performances.

A Year Without Summer: Polidori's Failed Pitch to Mary Shelley (The Vampyre) | The October Rite

We've all done unhinged things for love, but have you ever invented an entire cultural genre? In 1816, the "Year Without Summer," a volcanic winter traps five creative minds at the Villa Diodati. While Mary Shelley dreams up Frankenstein, her admirer, Dr. John Polidori, is busy being insecure, jumping off balconies, and spraining his ankle. From that humiliation and unrequited love, he conjures a new kind of monster: the aristocratic, seductive predator. This is the story of The Vampyre, the failed romantic who wrote him, and the brutal lesson of a sprained ankle. Key Works Mentioned & People * Work: The Vampyre (1819) by John Polidori * Work: Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Shelley * Concept: The Year Without Summer (1816) * Event: Mount Tambora eruption (1815) * Location: Villa Diodati, Lake Geneva * People: John William Polidori, Mary Godwin (Shelley), Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Claire Clairmont Further Reading & Resources * The Vampyre: A Tale by John Polidori * Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley * Vampires, Burial, and Death: Folklore and Reality by Paul Barber