Showing results by author "Arthur Machen" in All Categories

A young woman, Helen Leicester, becomes concerned about her brother Francis when he begins spending all of his time locked in his room studying. At first Francis insists that he is fine, but eventually admits that he is not feeling well and agrees to see the family physician. The doctor prescribes a medication - a white powder which is mixed with water - and Francis begins to feel better. However, this "cure" doesn't last very long and Francis begins exhibiting peculiar and disturbing behavior.

Volume 7 starts off with Edgar Allan Poe's story of a gifted boy hounded by his shadow, "William Wilson". We take to the sky's with a pilots investigation into unexplainable events thousands of feet above ground in Arthur Conan Doyle's "A Horror of the Heights". Next up, Ambrose Bierce plays with time in "The Suitable Surroundings".

The short stories written during and about World War I are often overshadowed by the excellent verse of the War Poets. Yet the short story is perhaps their equal in other ways. Within these succinct little time capsules of words are captured ideas, attitudes, feelings and life that are expressed in a few minutes just as movingly, imaginatively and tellingly as in any other form. Some of these stories will be familiar, but some may not. From Virginia Woolf to Katharine Mansfield and John Buchan to C. E. Montague, various writing styles try to make sense of this world at war.

Lucian Taylor, the hero, is damned either through contact with an erotically pagan "other" world or through something degenerate in his own nature, which he thinks of as a "faun". He becomes a writer, and when he moves to London he becomes trapped by the increasing reality of the dark imaginings of this creature within him, which become increasingly real. One of the first explorations in fiction of the figure of the doomed artist, who is biographically so much a part of the decadent 1890s.

On publication, it was widely denounced by the press as degenerate and horrific because of its implied sexual content, and the novella hurt Machen's reputation as an author. Beginning in the 1920s, Machen's work was critically re-evaluated and The Great God Pan has since garnered a reputation as a classic of horror.

A masterpiece of Gothic horror and suspense that inspired such writers as H. P. Lovecraft, The Three Impostors is Machen’s famous collection of “weird tales” - a string of shocking short stories woven together with a fine narrative thread. The three impostors of the title are members of a secret society devoted to debauched pagan rites who weave a web of deception in the streets of London as they search for a missing Roman coin commemorating an infamous orgy by the Emperor Tiberius and close in on their prey: “the young man with spectacles”.

In a crumbling old mansion, three friends share a laughter that dances on the edge of madness. Their mirth is not of joy, but a sinister delight, as they plot and scheme in the shadows. Among them is a young woman, more piquant than beautiful, with captivating hazel eyes and a neatly wrapped parcel in her hands. It‚s destined for the doctors museum, but it drips ominously. Are you curious about what lies within? There are many tales to tell, but can you discern the truth? My dear listeners, are you prepared for what you might uncover? (Summary by Tony Oliva and put in the public domain.)

Step into the eerie world of Arthur Machens The White People, a haunting tale that delves into the mysterious realms of ancient magic through the eyes of a young girl. Written in the late 1890s, this influential horror story emerged from Machens unfinished novel and shares a literary lineage with notable works like Robert Louis Stevenson‚s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Bram Stoker‚s Dracula, and Oscar Wilde‚s The Picture of Dorian Gray. Celebrated by fans of supernatural fiction, The White People stands as a classic example of gothic storytelling, resonating with themes ...

For the first time ever, the complete works from both the 1923 and 1925 editions of The Shining Pyramid are united in one remarkable collection. This anthology features an array of stories and essays that demonstrate Arthur Machens exceptional talent as a storyteller and a keen observer of modern society. The title story stands out as a hallmark of folk horror, crafted during the same era that produced his renowned masterpieces like The Great God Pan and The White Children. Additionally, readers will embark on shorter, eerie adventures through tales such as Out of the Earth, The Happy Children...

Join two sophisticated Londoners as they delve into the intriguing evolution of mankind, their journey marked by a chilling murder investigation involving an archaic weapon used in the contemporary world. - Summary by Wanda White

In Hill of Dreams, the captivating tale of Lucian Taylor unfolds as he navigates his idyllic childhood in the enchanting rural landscape of Wales, inspired by the town of Caerleon. Central to the story is the Hill of Dreams, an ancient Roman fort where Lucian experiences hauntingly beautiful visions, including glimpses of life during Roman Britain. As he matures, Lucians journey takes him to London, where he grapples with the harsh realities of poverty while fervently pursuing his passion for writing. Often hailed as Arthur Machens masterpiece, this novel, written between 1895 and 1897, blends...

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. They can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere. In this volume we come up against the definition of Northern Europe. There are many, each with plausibility and each so obvious. So, here’s ours.

Arthur Machen, born March 3, 1863, in Caerleon, Monmouthshire, Wales, The United Kingdom, was a leading author of the 1890s. He is best known for his influential supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. "The Great God Pan," published in 1894 made him famous and controversial in his lifetime.

Tauchen Sie ein in die unheimliche Geschichte Das innerste Licht von Arthur Machen, in neuer Übersetzung und packend gelesen von Benjamin Werner. In dieser Erzählung führen private Ermittlungen zu einem mysteriösen Wissenschaftler, namens Dr. Black, der ein düsteres Experiment durchführt und dabei die Grenzen von Wissen, Moral und dem Übernatürlichen überschreitet - und die Folgen sind katastrophal. Perfekt für Liebhaber von düsteren Geschichten und Schauerliteratur.