The King in Yellow (part 1)

We’re back and we’re taking a look at this odd play that’s appeared on our shelves. The King in Yellow? That’s not a volume we remember buying, but we do have so many books. The yellow snakeskin cover is rather appealing. Sure, we’ve heard dire warnings about its content, but we’re made of sterner stuff. The first act seems rather banal, after all. Nothing to worry about! Main Topic: The King in Yellow part 1 This is the first of a number of linked episodes looking at different aspects of Robert W Chambers’ most enduring creation, The King in Yellow. Confusingly, this is the title of the book he wrote, the play within it and an entity described in the play. Given the maddeningly vague nature of the Carcosa Mythos, this seems entirely appropriate. (We’ve borrowed the term “Carcosa Mythos” from The Yellow Site — a comprehensive and useful site for anyone interested in The King in Yellow.) In this first episode, we set the scene with some background on Chambers, an overview of The King in Yellow collection, and a look at some of the works that may have influenced it. In particular, we discuss: * The Maker of Moons by Robert W Chambers * The Mystery of Choice by Robert W Chambers * In Search of the Unknown by Robert W Chambers * The Tracer of Lost Persons by Robert W Chambers * Films based on the work of Robert W Chambers * Mr Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons – a radio series inspired by Chamber’s stories * “Haita the Shepherd” by Ambrose Bierce * “An Inhabitant of Carcosa” by Ambrose Bierce * “The Death of Halpin Frayser” by Ambrose Bierce * “Carcassonne” by Gustave Nadaud * The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde * The Yellow Book, edited by Aubrey Beardsley * “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman * “The King in the Yellow Mask” by Marcel Schwob *