THE SIGNAL-MAN 📚: with John Bowen
THE SIGNAL-MAN 📚: with John Bowen  
Podcast: Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire! 🔥
Published On: Sat Oct 31 2026
Description: Dominic is joined by the inimitable Professor John Bowen who returns to this series to explore the hidden depths beneath the pages of one of Dickens' most iconic ghost stories -The Signal-ManWritten only a year after Dickens  survived the Staplehurst Rail Crash, The Signal-Man finds an author grappling with trauma and the conflicted feelings of fear and wonder at the new railways, mixed with a desperate yearning to know in advance where danger lies …Reading excerpts from the haunting tale is the fantastic actor and director Oliver DimsdaleOriginal cover headshot of Dominic Gerrard © Jane Lloyd / Original cover headshot of John Bowen © Paul Shields / Illustration "The Signal-Man" (1894) by an unknown author Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsThis episode was originally broadcast on 27th October 2023 Support the showIf you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardThank you so much!Host: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!