Shakespeare, Sesame Street, and Captain Picard

What do they have in common? Nothing really. Until now.

"B or NOT a B!!!"

Stephen King's "N" - Best of Stephen King With a Lovecraftian Touch

There's a new animated miniseries by Stephen King that's currently playing on the web. It's entitled "N". "N" is one of the most enthralling online series that I've ever watched and, right below, I've included its first episode, just to give you all a sample.



For the main website (which also contains much better video resolution), visit http://www.simonsays.com/specials/stephen-king-nishere/index.cfm. Keep in mind, a brand new episode of this series will be posted every weekday until August 29th, so be sure to bookmark this page!

"The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis (2nd Reading)

"For to be afraid of oneself is the last horror."

-C.S. Lewis

A Mad Hermit Disclaimer

I'm just writing this disclaimer to let people know where I stand with certain things that I post on this site.

For those of you who have been following "The Mad Hermit", every now and then, I have the habit of posting videos or various "art" pieces (namely in the artist's showcases) that I find either amusing or poetically crafted.

But I have to note that, just because I may promote certain pieces from select artists, it does not necessarily mean that I promote or share the same views of those said artists/performers.

FabledVerse, for example, is one artist who, although I enjoy some of his pieces, I do not share the same views as him based on what I saw from his other Youtube posts.

So I just wanted to clear that up for everyone out there just to be "safe".

Happy reading!

Anne Morrow Lindbergh - "Gift from the Sea" (Third Reading)

"The web of marriage is made by propinquity, in the day-to-day living side by side, looking outward and working outward in the same direction. It is woven in space and in time of the substance of life itself."

-Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Artist's Showcase - Shakespeare's "The Tempest"

This is a performance of the epilogue from Shakespeare's "The Tempest". I don't know who the performer is, but if anyone out there can give me his name, I'd be happy to mention it, since he does such a wonderful job!



Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own,
Which is most faint: now, 'tis true,
I must be here confined by you,
Or sent to Naples. Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell;
But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands:
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so that it assaults
Mercy itself and frees all faults.
As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence set me free.

-William Shakespeare

A Web Review of "Shakespeare Online"

Below is a web review of Shakespeare Online.



The link to this site (which will also be in the "Links" section of this blog) is: http://www.shakespeare-online.com/

Basic Run Down:
- This site is well-organized.
- This site is well-detailed down to the bone.
- It's perfect for both the serious academic and casual reader.
- Its sonnet-tranlation/paraphrasing feature rocks!

5 out of 5 stars!

A Reading of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Gift From the Sea" Part Two

Below is another reading of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Gift From the Sea".

Artists' Showcase - Colley Cibber & FabledVerse

Just the other day, I found this excellent reading of Colley Cibber's "Blind Boy" by a young man who refers to himself as, FabledVerse.



Colley Cibber was a British playwright and poet from the 18th century and for more information regarding him, please refer to this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colley_Cibber.

FabledVerse has other videos involving the reciting of various poetic works, including such works from Langston Hughes and William Blake. He does an excellent job implimenting his voice in such a sincere and poignant way that it is hard to miss the beauty of each recited work.

The address to his Youtube channel can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/FabledVerse. Enjoy!

Artists Showcase - Dante Alighieri, William Blake, and Loreena McKennitt

Today, on The Mad Hermit, I have special treat for all you viewers out there. Thanks to the help and technological artistry of an acquaintance that I met over the Youtube community (megansspark), a short montage has been put together, based on Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, a classic literary work.

Using the art work of William Blake, who made illustrations for the Divine Comedy, and the contemporary music of the Canadian singer, Loreena McKennitt, whose song, "Dante's Prayer", (played in the video) was inspired by the Divine Comedy, Megan has incorporated all the elements of art, music, and literature into one captivating piece. Feel free to sit back and enjoy!



For all of you who want to know more about Dante's Divine Comedy, check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Divine_Comedy

For all of you who want to know more about the life of William Blake, check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Blake

For additional information on the music and life of Loreena McKennitt, check out her official site at: http://www.quinlanroad.com/

And finally, for those of you who wish to explore the works of megansspark, check out her Youtube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/megansspark

"The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis

Below is a reading of an excerpt from C.S. Lewis' "The Great Divorce". The excerpt being read is specifically on the subject of lust and the enslavement of it. For those of you who want to know what happens next or before the reading or for those of you who can't stand my reading and want to read the work on your own, go out and buy the book (which is available at all major bookstores). It's a wonderful read!



Below is a poem that I found, recently, on Youtube that was written and recited by Samuel Godfrey George. It is a poem that's also about the subject of lust and it's not only wonderfully written, but also magnificently read. And it's also very appropriate for the subject matter of the C.S. Lewis reading for today. Enjoy!

An Excerpt Reading from "Gift from the Sea"

Below is a reading of an excerpt from "Gift from the Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. It's very wonderful book that's not only well written, but also poetically crafted.