Who would win in a fight between a man and a bed? Find the answer to this question and more in our new episode on The Weird of the Walfords by Louisa Baldwin! Also, if you like emotionally-repressed Victorian husbands, you will not leave disappointed. Show notes: Louisa Baldwin (1845–1925) (Wikipedia) Louisa was a member of an illustrious family who included Rudyard Kipling and Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. ‘The Shadow on the Blind, and Other Stories’ (Google Books) You can read this story and others form the same volume on Google Books. Royal beds in English history (wikipedia) There are a number of stately homes in England with similar legends about royalty spending a night in a specific bed, for example Sawston Hall in Cambridgeshire. Wyrd (wikipedia) The ‘Weird’ of the Walfords is actually a ‘wyrd’, an old English term meaning fate or destiny. Thanks to Debbie Wedge for providing the readings for this episode. Don’t forget to check out Debbie’s new Jamesian Wallop t-shirt and others inspired by M.R. James on Redbubble.com.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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