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b"The Outcast by E F Benson\\nFirst we are introduced to Mrs Bertha Acres through the eyes of Tony and his wife Madge. The initial incident is her husband shooting himself due to detesting her. That is the first sign we have that this lady is to be the subject of the story and it is enough to make us prick up our ears and raise questions about her.\\xa0\\n(If You Appreciate The Work I\\u2019ve Put In Here - You could buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/tonywalker or join as a Patron for exclusive content here: https://www.patreon.com/barcud)\\nWe next have the description of the domestic scene in the little home and little village and here we see the wit of the humorist of upper middle-class social situations that came to the fore in the famous Mapp and Lucia series that made his name.\\xa0\\nThe theme of reincarnation is set by the brother-in-law Sir Charles Alington, particularly that a reincarnated spirit\\xa0 can inhabit a male or female body.\\nThen we are told the evil history of the Gate House and that one brother betrayed his brother for being a Catholic and then repented. Remember the end takes place around Easter, Judas Iscariot is mentioned. Benson\\u2019s father was a vicar and his brother a priest. Are these hearkenings to the Easter story: betrayal, sin and reincarnation an intentional inversion? \\xa0 The body is in the water three days (note three, surely not a coincidence?) and no corruption has come to it.\\xa0 It\\u2019s like an antichrist or Judas figure.\\xa0 \\xa0\\xa0\\nThe end, the purging by fire may represent the expiation of the sin of betrayal by this spirit who was forced to live again and again and wander without rest. The Flying Dutchman, the Wandering Jew. \\xa0\\nIn terms of style, it seemed to me that the story is made up of two. There is the witty social commentary (that we also find in The Pallinghurst Barrow by Grant Allen) poking fun at the haut bourgeois, and then a masterfully creepy horror story. Benson is unequalled I think it writing these scenes. First the body in the sack that tumbles over and follows Made (though that was reminiscent of Oh Whistle and I\\u2019ll Come to You)\\xa0\\nNew Patreon Request\\nBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!\\xa0Start for FREE\\nSupport the showVisit us here: www.ghostpod.orgBuy me a coffee if you're glad I do this: https://ko-fi.com/tonywalkerIf you really want to help me, become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barcudMusic by The Heartwood Institute: https://bit.ly/somecomeback\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices"