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An ancient Roman hilltop fort proves an irresistible draw to Lucian Taylor, but what awaits at the top isn't just a view of the surrounding Welsh landscape but a bacchal experience his young soul isn't ready for. This experience sets his path as he attempts to transcribe his increasingly elaborate visions into the perfect book; the book that will actually mean something more than the banal novels he sees the publishing houses push out.
The Hill of Dreams is a semiautobiographical work, with Arthur Machen following a similar physical journey to the novel: a childhood in rural Wales followed by attempts to become an author in London. Machen was inspired by a review of Tristram Shandy that described it as "a picaresque of the mind," and determined to write "a Robinson Crusoe of the soul." The protagonist's isolation from the rest of society certainly resonates with that description.
Machen wrote this ten years earlier than its original 1907 publication, it having been turned down by the publishers of the time. While it was mostly ignored on its initial release, it has picked up admirers over the years and is now viewed as one of Machen's most important works.
'A Fragment of Life' is a short story by Arthur Machen taking a close look at the life of a young couple who turn to spirituality for fulfillment and away from the unsatisfying banality of their everyday lives. They make an inward journey towards mysticism and an outward journey to the land of their birth, Wales. But perhaps they should've been a little more careful with what they wished for.
'A Fragment of Life' is an eerie and macabre adventure into the mystical land of Wales that fans of supernatural horror fiction will definitely love.
Jorge Luis Borges cited Machen as a great writer and an inspiration for the magical realism movement in literature. Notorious occultist Aleister Crowley also greatly admired Machen for effortlessly crossing over the threshold that separates reality and the magical realm.
Strongly recommended for fans of the 'Good Omens' series inspired by Terry Pratchett's fiction and starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant. Fans of the HBO show 'Lovecraft Country' may also find a true Lovecraft-ian treasure trove hidden between the pages.
Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh writer of supernatural, fantasy, and horror novels. Before his literary career skyrocketed he also worked as a journalist and an actor. His major belief was that the ordinary and external world surreptitiously conceals something far more mysterious and bizarre. In turn, we are deeply interested in trying to lift the veil enshrouding the threshold separating the two. His most acclaimed works include the classic horror novella 'The Great God Pan' and the semi-autobiographical 'The Hill of Dreams'.
'The Angels of Mons' is a short story by Arthur Machen based on a popular British legend - at the beginning of the First World War some soldiers claimed to have been aided by a supernatural force at the decisive moment in the Battle of Mons (1915).
Machen creates a storyline that blends supernatural elements with patriotism, folk tales and urban legends. A must-read for fans of supernatural yet 'based on a true story' narratives.
Jorge Luis Borges cited Machen as a great writer and an inspiration for the magical realism movement in literature. Notorious occultist Aleister Crowley also greatly admired Machen for effortlessly crossing over the threshold that separates reality and the magical realm.
'The Angels of Mons' is highly recommended for fans of the 'Good Omens' series inspired by Terry Pratchett's fiction and starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant.
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Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh writer of supernatural, fantasy, and horror novels. Before his literary career skyrocketed he also worked as a journalist and an actor. His major belief was that the ordinary and external world surreptitiously conceals something far more mysterious and bizarre. In turn, we are deeply interested in trying to lift the veil enshrouding the threshold separating the two. His most acclaimed works include the classic horror novella 'The Great God Pan' and the semi-autobiographical 'The Hill of Dreams'.
'The Secret Glory' follows the story of young Ambrose Meyrick, who is enchanted by the legend of the San Graal and the forces that kept it secret in his Welsh homeland. Ambrose's Christian public school is a living hell, its violence and superficiality is a stark contrast to the true spirituality that he seeks. Thus, his only choice is to go on a quest for the Graal and become one with the past.
'The Secret Glory' closely parallels Machen's best-known work 'The Hill of Dreams' in its fascination with the hidden mysteries of art and nature waiting to be explored.
Jorge Luis Borges cited Machen as a great writer and an inspiration for the magical realism movement in literature. Notorious occultist Aleister Crowley also greatly admired Machen for effortlessly crossing over the threshold that separates reality and the magical realm.
Strongly recommended for fans of the 'Good Omens' series inspired by Terry Pratchett's fiction and starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant. Fans of the HBO show 'Lovecraft Country' may also find a true Lovecraft-ian treasure trove hidden between the pages of 'The White People'.
Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh writer of supernatural, fantasy, and horror novels. Before his literary career skyrocketed he also worked as a journalist and an actor. His major belief was that the ordinary and external world surreptitiously conceals something far more mysterious and bizarre. In turn, we are deeply interested in trying to lift the veil enshrouding the threshold separating the two. His most acclaimed works include the classic horror novella 'The Great God Pan' and the semi-autobiographical 'The Hill of Dreams'.
A little girl takes a shortcut on her way home and is never to be seen again. Luckily Machen's favourite supernatural investigator Dyson is tasked with unravelling the mystery. While examining the girl's route Dyson encounters peculiar stone arrangements which resemble little pyramids. He is left baffled and perplexed - who could have planted these stones in such an exquisite manner and whatever for?
'The Shining Pyramid' is a fine detective story infused with eerie supernatural aspects. A must-read for fans of David Lynch's world-famous 'Twin Peaks' TV series.
Jorge Luis Borges cited Machen as a great writer and an inspiration for the magical realism movement in literature. Notorious occultist Aleister Crowley also greatly admired Machen for effortlessly crossing over the threshold that separates reality and the magical realm.
Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh writer of supernatural, fantasy, and horror novels. Before his literary career skyrocketed he also worked as a journalist and an actor. His major belief was that the ordinary and external world surreptitiously conceals something far more mysterious and bizarre. In turn, we are deeply interested in trying to lift the veil enshrouding the threshold separating the two. His most acclaimed works include the classic horror novella 'The Great God Pan' and the semi-autobiographical 'The Hill of Dreams'.
Set in the middle of the First World War, 'The Terror' unfurls the atrocities of the German invasion alongside the terrifying fear of the unknown - unexplained murders, surreptitious occurrences and collective paranoia. All of these spine-chilling factors culminate in a magical yet macabre denouement that will leave you at the edge of your seat.
A gripping and haunting novella, 'The Terror' is a must-read for Machen enthusiasts and all horror fiction aficionados - in particular fans of H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe.
Jorge Luis Borges cited Machen as a great writer and an inspiration for the magical realism movement in literature. Notorious occultist Aleister Crowley also greatly admired Machen for effortlessly crossing over the threshold that separates reality and the magical realm.
Strongly recommended for fans of the 'Good Omens' series inspired by Terry Pratchett's fiction and starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant. Fans of the HBO show 'Lovecraft Country' may also find a true Lovecraft-ian treasure trove hidden between these pages.
Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh writer of supernatural, fantasy, and horror novels. Before his literary career skyrocketed he also worked as a journalist and an actor. His major belief was that the ordinary and external world surreptitiously conceals something far more mysterious and bizarre. In turn, we are deeply interested in trying to lift the veil enshrouding the threshold separating the two. His most acclaimed works include the classic horror novella 'The Great God Pan' and the semi-autobiographical 'The Hill of Dreams'.
'The White People' is a horror short story by Arthur Machen in which two men discuss the eternal battle between good and evil. Eventually one of them pulls out and opens a mysterious diary filled with archaic folklore and studies of the occult. A hallucinogenic labyrinth of madness, witchcraft and the vileness of mankind - 'The White People' is a must-read for devotees of Machen, H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe.
Jorge Luis Borges cited Machen as a great writer and an inspiration for the magical realism movement in literature. Notorious occultist Aleister Crowley also greatly admired Machen for effortlessly crossing over the threshold that separates reality and the magical realm.
Strongly recommended for fans of the 'Good Omens' series inspired by Terry Pratchett's fiction and starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant. Fans of the HBO show 'Lovecraft Country' may also find a true Lovecraft-ian treasure trove hidden between the pages of 'The White People'.
Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh writer of supernatural, fantasy, and horror novels. Before his literary career skyrocketed he also worked as a journalist and an actor. His major belief was that the ordinary and external world surreptitiously conceals something far more mysterious and bizarre. In turn, we are deeply interested in trying to lift the veil enshrouding the threshold separating the two. His most acclaimed works include the classic horror novella 'The Great God Pan' and the semi-autobiographical 'The Hill of Dreams'.
The pagan rituals and ancient ruins in Machen's portrayal of Wales played a pivotal role in guiding the creative force responsible for the horror novella 'The Great God Pan'. Upon publication in 1894 it was widely scorned due to its overtly decadent and sexual motifs.
The narrative unfolds around a mad scientist who is convinced he can make the mind experience the spiritual world and envision the beyond. Predictably proves his hypothesis to be mistaken. But is it really a mistake?
Horror legend Stephen King, whose bestselling books have been adapted into blockbuster films such as 'The Stand', 'It', 'Misery' and 'The Shining', considers this terrifying story to be one of his favourites.
Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh writer of supernatural, fantasy, and horror novels. Before his literary career skyrocketed he also worked as a journalist and an actor. His major belief was that the ordinary and external world surreptitiously conceals something far more mysterious and bizarre. In turn, we are deeply interested in trying to lift the veil enshrouding the threshold separating the two. His most acclaimed works include the classic horror novella 'The Great God Pan' and the semi-autobiographical 'The Hill of Dreams'.
Machen's occult investigator Dyson is back to the job with another murder mystery. 'The Inmost Light' presents Dyson's first-hand account of a story he witnessed - the wife of a famous London doctor is found dead. However, the factors that came into play to cause her death can only be described as supernatural. A horrific transformation and a tinkering with the soul that resulted in her inevitable demise.
'The Inmost Light' presents implicit horrors rather than the overt horrors commonplace in for example H. P. Lovecraft's fiction. Fans of the supernatural horror genre will love this story.
Jorge Luis Borges cited Machen as a great writer and an inspiration for the magical realism movement in literature. Notorious occultist Aleister Crowley also greatly admired Machen for effortlessly crossing over the threshold that separates reality and the magical realm.
Strongly recommended for fans of the 'Good Omens' series inspired by Terry Pratchett's fiction and starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant. Fans of the HBO show 'Lovecraft Country' may also find a true Lovecraft-ian treasure trove hidden between these pages
Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh writer of supernatural, fantasy, and horror novels. Before his literary career skyrocketed he also worked as a journalist and an actor. His major belief was that the ordinary and external world surreptitiously conceals something far more mysterious and bizarre. In turn, we are deeply interested in trying to lift the veil enshrouding the threshold separating the two. His most acclaimed works include the classic horror novella 'The Great God Pan' and the semi-autobiographical 'The Hill of Dreams'.
"Of living creators of cosmic fear raised to its most artistic pitch, few if any can hope to equal the versatile Arthur Machen." -H.P. Lovecraft
Dr. Thomas Vivian has been brutally murdered and supernatural detectives Dyson and Phillips are rushed to the grisly crime scene due to its extraordinary nature. To their horror, the only clue remaining is a blood-spattered axe dating back to primordial times. Yet this is only the start of the strangeness and mayhem the two detectives are to uncover over the course of their investigation.
Strongly recommended for fans of the 'Good Omens' series based on Terry Pratchett's fiction and starring a modern day rendition of Aleister Crowley. The late Crowley was also a lifelong follower of Machen's writing. Fans of H.P. Lovecraft and the TV series 'Lovecraft Country' will also love Machen's supernatural horror stories.
Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh writer of supernatural, fantasy, and horror novels. Before his literary career skyrocketed he also worked as a journalist and an actor. His major belief was that the ordinary and external world surreptitiously conceals something far more mysterious and bizarre. In turn, we are deeply interested in trying to lift the veil enshrouding the threshold separating the two. His most acclaimed works include the classic horror novella 'The Great God Pan' and the semi-autobiographical 'The Hill of Dreams'.
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"The Great God Pan" is a novella written by Arthur Machen in 1890. The story is about a doctor named Raymond who performs an experiment to open the mind of a patient to experience the spiritual world. The experiment results in the patient becoming an "idiot". Years later, a woman named Helen Vaughan causes mysterious happenings in her town. It is revealed that Helen was the wife of a man named Herbert, who died of fright after seeing something in their home. Helen disappears and is later found to have taken part in disturbing orgies in the Americas. The novella has been classified as Gothic horror, science fiction, and Decadent literature. It has influenced the work of horror writers such as Bram Stoker, H. P. Lovecraft, and Stephen King. Machen's inspiration for the story came from his childhood visits to the ruined Roman temple at Caerwent, which he believed was dedicated to the god Nodens. The novella has been adapted for the stage twice and has been highly influential on the circle of writers around H. P. Lovecraft.
The centerpieces of this collection are two essays by Arthur Machen, Strange Roads and With the Gods in Spring. Both use images of journeys through the countryside to evoke a sense of place and an innate spiritualism found in nature. In addition to these two essays, taken from a stand-alone chapbook publication are two thematically similar poems by Machen that evoke folk legends of his native Wales. The collection is kicked off by an insightful appraisal of Machen's literary career and his place in the pantheon of great authors of late Victorian period literature by Vincent Starlett.
A forlorn London suburb. Four people are gathered around a table in a derelict abandoned house. One is a beautiful woman with hazel eyes, Helen. Two are men who are maniacally laughing along with Helen. The fourth is a "young man with spectacles" named Joseph Walters who is not to remain among the living for much longer. The trio then bid a "farewell to occult adventures" and leave the house.
Supernatural detectives Dyson and Phillips stroll by and notice the magnificent old house. When they walk in, it immediately strikes them that they are once again dealing with the "three impostors" when an Ancient Roman coin just happens to roll by.
'The Three Impostors' is a labyrinth of sinister and horrific situations from which there may seem to be no escape at times. A must-read for devotees of Machen, H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe.
Strongly recommended for fans of the 'Good Omens' series inspired by Terry Pratchett's fiction and starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant. Fans of the HBO show 'Lovecraft Country' may also find a true Lovecraft-ian treasure trove hidden between the pages of 'The White People'.
Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh writer of supernatural, fantasy, and horror novels. Before his literary career skyrocketed he also worked as a journalist and an actor. His major belief was that the ordinary and external world surreptitiously conceals something far more mysterious and bizarre. In turn, we are deeply interested in trying to lift the veil enshrouding the threshold separating the two. His most acclaimed works include the classic horror novella 'The Great God Pan' and the semi-autobiographical 'The Hill of Dreams'.
Le docteur Raymond opère le cerveau de sa pupille, Mary, afin qu'elle puisse voir la nature profonde du monde derrière le voile des apparences et des illusions. L'opération est un échec. Mary pert la raison mais donne naissance neuf mois plus tard à une petite fille, Helen, qui passe son enfance dans une ferme du pays de Galles. Des villageois l'aperçoivent un jour dans la forêt, sur un ancien lieu de culte païen, en compagnie d'un étrange homme des bois mi-homme mi-bouc. Quelques années plus tard, la belle et mystérieuse Helen Vaughan - alias Mme Herbert, ou encore Mme de Beaumont - trouble la bonne société londonienne. Plusieurs hommes de son entourage deviennent fous et se suicident. On les retrouve les traits convulsés par l'horreur. Il s'avère que cette femme fatale, la fille de Mary, est une incarnation du Grand Dieu Pan, l'antique dieu de l'univers et de la nature originelle. Comparé à certaines oeuvres d'Edgar Poe, mais sévèrement critiqué à l'époque de sa parution en raison de son caractère sexuel implicite, ce roman halluciné d'Arthur Machen, mené à la façon d'une enquête imprégnée de mythologie et de diabolisme, est aujourd'hui considéré comme un classique des récits d'horreur. Il a inspiré de nombreux écrivains dont entre autres H. P. Lovecraft, Peter Straub et Stephen King.
'The Hill of Dreams' follows the story of the introverted rector's son Lucian Taylor. He stumbles upon an odd Roman hill fort in his Welsh hometown which possesses his mind with supernatural visions and pagan erotic imagery. Compelled by the strange desires stirring in his soul, he moves to London to become a writer. But his hopes that the change of scenery would restore his sanity prove futile as his darkest hallucinations begin to assume a very tangible form.
'The Hill of Dreams' is a moving story, one which pioneered discussions on the concept of the doomed artist in literature. Jorge Luis Borges cited Machen as a great writer and an inspiration for the magical realism movement in literature. Notorious occultist Aleister Crowley also greatly admired Machen for effortlessly crossing over the threshold that separates reality and the magical realm.
Strongly recommended for fans of the 'Good Omens' series inspired by Terry Pratchett's fiction and starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant.
Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh writer of supernatural, fantasy, and horror novels. Before his literary career skyrocketed he also worked as a journalist and an actor. His major belief was that the ordinary and external world surreptitiously conceals something far more mysterious and bizarre. In turn, we are deeply interested in trying to lift the veil enshrouding the threshold separating the two. His most acclaimed works include the classic horror novella 'The Great God Pan' and the semi-autobiographical 'The Hill of Dreams'.
Arthur Machen (1863-1947) "- Je suis très content de vous voir, Clarke, très content ; je craignais qu'il ne vous fût impossible de venir. - J'ai pu m'arranger pour quelques jours. Les affaires ne vont pas beaucoup, par le temps qu'il fait. Mais vous, Raymond, êtes-vous sans inquiétude pour ce que vous aller essayer, et cela ne présente-t-il aucun danger ? Le long de la terrasse, qui bordait de front la maison du docteur, les deux hommes se promenaient sans hâte. Vers l'ouest, le soleil couchant surplombait encore les montagnes, mais d'un éclat sombre et rouge qui ne faisait plus d'ombre. L'atmosphère était paisible ; en face d'eux, la forêt épaisse sur le penchant des coteaux exhalait une haleine faible, et, par intervalles, l'appel tendre et murmurant des tourterelles sauvages. Plus bas, au creux de la vallée, la rivière serpentait parmi les collines solitaires, et, tandis que le soleil, un instant suspendu, disparaissait derrière l'horizon, une buée blanche et comme hésitante monta entre les rives." 1864... Clarke est invité par le docteur Raymond à assister à une intervention chirurgicale sur la jeune Mary, intervention qui sera l'apogée de ses recherches en "médecine transcendantale". Mais quel en est but et le résultat ? Mary devient folle... Quelques années plus tard, une femme, belle et étrange, fait son apparition à Londres. Elle semble semer la mort autour d'elle. Qui est-elle et a-t-elle un lien avec cette mystérieuse opération effectuée, quelques années auparavant, par le docteur Raymond . Roman court et démoniaque d'Arthur Machen considéré par certains comme l'un des plus grands écrivains fantastiques.
