EnCrypted Episode 11: 'Let Loose' by Mary Cholmondeley

 


Mary Cholmondeley (whose surname American readers may be surprised to learn is pronounced "Chumley") was an English novelist most famous for a religious satire called Red Pottage. I have not read Red Pottage so I can only speculate on the potential parallels between it and our current short story, Let Loose.

Religion is certainly a theme in the story, which otherwise concerns an ambitious young architect who gains access to a locked crypt (in order to view a stunning fresco there) only to "let loose" a malevolent spirit.  Along the way we are treated to lengthy diatribes from the clergyman of Wet Waste-on-the-Wolds, the oddly-named parish at which the horrific events of the story occur. 

First published in 1890 (I shall assume, for want of any confirmation I have so far found online, in The Graphic - a Victorian weekly paper), Let Loose is a terrifically entertaining tale, full of creeping dread and culminating in a thrilling grand guignol climax. Cholmondeley is also something of a wit, and our narrator's culture-shock north of the border in the wilds of...erm...Yorkshire...is likely to provoke chuckles, some of which I must assume were intended.

But just in case, and against my better judgement, I will offer a content warning for sensitive Yorkshire folk and dog lovers. For everyone else, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED...

Tarra, as they say oop North,

Jasper

*****

About the episode:

"Let Loose" by Mary Cholmondeley was first published in 1890.

Theme music: The Black Waltz by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

Incidental music: 

Gregorian Chant by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3825-gregorian-chant
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Road to Hell by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4297-road-to-hell
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Sound effect attributions: 

https://freesound.org/people/bulbastre/sounds/127005/*

https://freesound.org/people/Benboncan/sounds/67771/*

https://freesound.org/people/MilliiStewart15/sounds/566576/*

https://freesound.org/people/Razzvio/sounds/79141/*

https://freesound.org/people/phlair/sounds/388340/*

https://freesound.org/people/deleted_user_3424813/sounds/260776/*

https://freesound.org/people/Anton/sounds/157322/*

https://freesound.org/people/DrMinky/sounds/166187/*

*All used with the following licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

All other sound effects sourced at Freesound.org

The recording was created using Audacity and BandLab. Podcast hosted by Anchor.

COMING SOON: a special EnCrypted episode - "An Edwardian EVIL DEAD II"

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