• This was a merry life for the Baron of Grogzwig, and a merrier still for the baron's retainers, who drank Rhine wine every night  
• till they fell under the table, and then had the bottles on the floor, and called for pipes. Never were such jolly, roystering, rollicking,
• merry-making blades, as the jovial crew of Grogzwig. But the pleasures of the table, or the pleasures of under the table,
• require a little variety; especially when the same five-and-twenty people sit daily down to the same board, to discuss the same subjects,
• and tell the same stories.

• Well, but the Baron Von Koëldwethout of Grogwig! He was a fine swarthy fellow, with dark hair and large moustachios,
• who rode a-hunting in clothes of Lincoln green, with russet boots on his feet, and a bugle slung over his shoulder,
• like the guard of a long stage. When he blew this bugle, four-and-twenty other gentlemen of inferior rank,
• in Lincoln green a little coarser, and russet boots with a little thicker soles, turned out directly; and away galloped the whole train,
• with spears in their hands like lackered area railings, to hunt down the boars, or perhaps encounter a bear:
• in which latter case the baron killed him first, and greased his whiskers with him afterwards.

• Talking of the baron's ancestor puts me in mind of the baron's great claims to respect, on the score of his pedigree.
• I am afraid to say, I am sure, how many ancestors the baron had; but I know that he had a great many more than any other man of his time;
• and I only wish that he had lived in these latter days, that he might have had more. It is a very hard thing upon the great men of
• past centuries, that they should have come into the world so soon, because a man who was born three or four hundred years ago,
• cannot reasonably be expected to have had as many relations before him, as a man who is born now. The last man, whoever he is
• - and he may be a cobbler or some low vulgar dog for aught we know - will have a longer pedigree than the greatest nobleman now alive;
• and I contend that this is not fair.

Off to a good start

We officially launched our first tweetarration (narration) of a classic Charles Dickens short story entitled "The Baron of Grogswig."  You can follow via twitter.com/tweetarrator or through this blog which is broadcast here and on tweetarrators facebook page.

As of today we have over 530 followers.  Great start but would love to a see many more join.  Let your friends know and sign up.  Go to @tweetarrator to join.

• she found her way through certain small loopholes in the wall, and actually made some parts of the wide halls and galleries quite light,
• while she left others in gloomy shadow. I believe that one of the baron's ancestors, being short of money,
• had inserted a dagger in a gentleman who called one night to ask his way,
• and it was supposed that these miraculous occurrences took place in consequence. And yet I hardly know how that could have been,
• either, because the baron's ancestor, who was an amiable man, felt very sorry afterwards for having been so rash,
• and laying violent hands upon a quantity of stone and timber which belonged to a weaker baron, built a chapel as an apology,
• and so took a receipt from Heaven, in full of all demands.

• The Baron Von Koëldwethout, of Grogzwig in Germany, was as likely a young baron as you would wish to see.
• I needn't say that he lived in a castle, because that's of course; neither need I say that he lived in an old castle;
• for what German baron ever lived in a new one? There were many strange circumstances connected with this venerable building,
• among which, not the least startling and mysterious were, that when the wind blew, it rumbled in the chimneys,
• or even howled among the trees in the neighboring forest; and that when the moon shone,

We have arrived – it's launch day!

Welcome to the official launch of @tweetarrator - where twitter and storytelling merge

Our first broadcast begins with an endorsement from twitter novelist Nick Belardes (@smallplaces) which will be broadcast later in the year.  Thanks so much Nick.

"Just when I thought @smallplaces might be forgotten, @tweetarrator reminds me that literary history is worth retelling now and then. Storytelling was around before paper. @tweetarrator is a new reminder that narrative traditions supersede the printed word." @nickbelardes

To follow @tweetarrator click here!