Doppelgangers and Knights
Jonathan Hadary reads “What Happened Between Us” by Rivka Galchen, and Jane Curtin reads “Chivalry” by Neil Gaiman
Sunday, September 19, 2010
-
“ Mrs. Whitaker found the Holy Grail; it was under a fur coat.— Neil Gaiman, “Chivalry.”
In this week's episode of Selected Shorts, a husband thinks his wife is a doppelganger and a knight in shining armor makes an appearance in a London suburb.
First, Jonathan Hadary reads Rivka Galchen's "What Happened Between Us." Galchen has said that her writing deals with what happens when the familiar and the strange change places, and this story demonstrates that idea beautifully. Some of the story was written at the Hungarian Pastry Shop on Amsterdam Avenue, near Columbia University, which is to Upper West Side writers what Les Deux Magots, on the Left Bank in Paris, was to Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Ernest Hemingway.
The unfamiliar—or at least the wildly unlikely--makes an appearance in our second story also. It's Neil Gaiman’s charming tale, “Chivalry,” which is about a feisty widow finding the Holy Grail—in her local thrift shop—and a knight in shining armor turning up to reclaim it. Gaiman has been one of the top writers in modern comics for more than twenty years and is now a best selling novelist. His story collections include "Fragile Things" and "M is for Magic." He is also the author of the children’s book "Coraline," which was made into a feature film, and the Newberry-Award-winning children’s novel, "The Graveyard Book." Emmy Award-winning actor Jane Curtin reads Gaiman's story at the Mahaiwe Theater in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
The musical interlude is from Aaron Copland’s “Vitebsk.” The Selected Shorts theme is Roger Kellaway’s “Come to the Meadow.”
We’re interested in your response to these programs! Please leave us a comment below.
Comments [12]
Thank you for two wonderful stories! They were both well read, and both hit spots I wasn't expecting to be hit.
I'd love it if you did a Harlan Ellison and Neil Gamin set at some point!
A great reading of one of my favorite Gaiman stories. Enjoyed it quite a bit, thank you for making it available.
Thank you for a perfect end to my day. A wonderful reading by Jane Curtin by my favorite author Neil Gaiman. Sigh....
Jane Curtin did a wonderful job of reading "Chivalry." Perhaps we could get another Gaiman reading soon? Thanks.
I was fortunate enough to have a friend introduce me to the novels of Neil Gaiman a couple years ago. He is undoubtedly amongst the top of my favorite authors list. "Chivalry" is a lovely departure from the sometimes macabre style normally associated with Gaiman's vast spectrum of works. I am pleasantly surprised that NPR selected one of Gaiman's shorts and would very much appreciate hearing more in the future.
Wonderful! Just wonderful!
I love, though not in the carnal sense, me some Jane Curtain. A special treat to have her reading a fun short story from one of my favorite modern authors.
Thank you Jane and Neil, and of course all the supporters of Public Radio and the good work they do.
Thanks, it was a delicious way to rest mi eyes and keep my mind amuse by Neil´s stories.
Neil is G R E A T!
Thanks for noting what the music is, too, I appreciate that!
I heard the Neil Gaiman story, "Chivalry". I love his work to begin with, and this was no exception. It's one of his few, humorous stories, done with a light touch, and wonderfully read by Jane Curtain. I would love to hear more of his work on your show. Keep em coming!
In the first story, it appears that the author is having a stroke, and that a particular portion of the brain is affected. In addition to the "doppelganger" phenomenon, the author mentions that he has a migraine headache. This is discussed at length in the "RadioLab" episode, "Do I Know You", also from WNYC, from 8-Mar-10, see: http://www.radiolab.org/blogs/radiolab-blog/2010/mar/08/do-i-know-you/
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.