Books by Arthur Machen

This second volume of Machen's collected fiction begins with Machen's most accomplished novel, The Hill of Dreams (written in 1895-97 and published in 1907), which H. P. Lovecraft called a "memorable epic of the sensitive aesthetic mind." It features Lucian Taylor, a young man from the country who struggles to become a writer in London. His ruminations on life, love, and authorship are extraordinarily poignant, and at one point he engages in a lengthy dream of being back in ancient Rome, in the town of Isca Silurum, near his birthplace in Wales. Later in 1897 Machen wrote a series of exquisite prose poems that were later published as Ornaments in Jade (1924). These ten vignettes display Machen's luminous prose at its most evocative, and they touch upon the possibility of strange and wondrous phenomena concealed behind the outward façade of the mundane world. Machen's most accomplished weird tale, "The White People," is also found here. Its account of a young girl insidiously inculcated in the witch-cult, told entirely from her own perspective as she jots down her thoughts and impressions in a diary, achieves the pinnacle of clutching fear. A very different work is the short novel A Fragment of Life, telling of how a seemingly ordinary couple rediscover their sense of wonder in the world around them. The novel The Secret Glory (written around 1907) is a discursive novel that searingly condemns the British school system for destroying the imaginations of its pupils. The entire work-including the final two chapters, first published only in a limited edition in 1992-is included here. The edition has been prepared by S. T. Joshi, a leading authority on weird fiction and the author of The Weird Tale (1990) and Unutterable Horror: A History of Supernatural Fiction (2012). Joshi has prepared textually corrected editions of the work of H. P. Lovecraft, Ambrose Bierce, and many other weird writers.

Welsh writer Arthur Machen (1863-1947) is one of the towering figures in the Golden Age of weird fiction, and his novels and tales have influenced generations of weird writers and remain immensely popular among readers. But much of his work has been difficult to obtain, remaining buried in obscure magazines and newspapers of a century ago or published in expensive limited editions. This is the first edition of Machen's fiction to be based on a thorough examination of his manuscripts and early publications. It is also the first edition to arrange Machen's fiction chronologically by date of writing. This first volume contains his charming picaresque novel The Chronicle of Clemendy (1888), an exquisite imitation of the medieval narratives of Chaucer and Boccaccio. At this time Machen was a young journalist who had moved from his native Wales to London, and he wrote a number of humorous and slightly risqué sketches for fashionable London magazines. But then he published "The Great God Pan" (1894), one of the pioneering works in the entire range of weird fiction. It was condemned by contemporary reviewers as the work of a diseased mind. Machen followed it up with the episodic novel The Three Impostors (1895), containing the brilliant segments "The Novel of the Black Seal" (which features the Little People, a sub-human race lurking on the edges of civilization), "The Novel of the White Powder," and other vivid narratives. The edition has been prepared by S. T. Joshi, a leading authority on weird fiction and the author of The Weird Tale (1990) and Unutterable Horror: A History of Supernatural Fiction (2012). Joshi has prepared textually corrected editions of the work of H. P. Lovecraft, Ambrose Bierce, and many other weird writers.

Mysterious deaths in London baffle authorities, but for two men the reason is quite clear: they have seen something unspeakably terrible and lost their lives for it. For Clark it goes back to events from years ago; events he had strangely forgotten.The Great God Pan was written in the style of Bram Stoker's Dracula and first published in the Victorian year, 1894. The monster: the elusive pagan god figure, Pan, who none dare to look upon lest they die of horror.

Written during the First World War and first published in 1922, "Far Off Things" is the first volume of Arthur Machan's autobiography. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. This volume offers a fascinating insight into both this important time in history and the life and mind of Arthur Machan, a modern master of supernatural and horror fiction. Not to be missed by fans of the genre and those with an interest in Arthur Machan's fascinating life. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

"The Secret Glory" is a 1922 novel by Welsh author Arthur Machan. Considered by some to be his final masterpiece, it follows the story of a public-school boy who becomes obsessed by incredible stories of the Holy Grail. To this end, he escapes from his repressive school and begins a quest for a deeper meaning to life. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

First published in 1902, "Hieroglyphics: A Note upon Ecstasy in Literature" is an analysis of the nature of literature by Welsh author Arthur Machan. Within it, Machan concludes that to be 'true' literature, the work must contain or convey a sense of 'ecstasy'. This fascinating volume will appeal to both writers and readers with an interest in Machan's seminal work, and it would make for a worthy addition to collections of allied literature. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

"The Great God Pan" is a novella by Welsh writer Arthur Machen. Now his most celebrated work, it was broadly condemned by the media as horrific and degenerate due to its sexual content and decadent style when first published. The plot revolves around a man called Clarke who agrees to witness an odd experiment performed by his friend, Dr. Raymond in an attempt to open a person's mind to the spiritual world. After some minor brain surgery, Mary-the test subject-awakens to utter horror before quickly becoming "a hopeless idiot". Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

First published in 1917, "The Terror" is a short novel by Welsh author Arthur Machan set in England during the First World War. After an inexplicable series of murders are committed with no clue as to the perpetrator, a mystery starts to unravel in front of the townspeople. A gripping murder mystery by a modern master of the genre, "The Terror" is not to be missed by those with a love of the uncanny and unexplained. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

"The Great Return" is a 1915 short story by Welsh author and mystic Arthur Machan. Set in a small Welsh village, the story revolves around the return of the Holy Grail to the home of its alleged origin. The story refers to the Nanteos Cup, a medieval wood mazer bowl held for many years at Nanteos Mansion, Rhydyfelin, near Aberystwyth in Wales. It is believed by some that this Bowl is a candidate for the Holy Grail, which has the supernatural ability to heal those who drink from it and that is traditionally believed to be fashioned from a piece of the True Cross. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

"The Three Impostors" is a collection of interwoven tales by Welsh author Arthur Machan, first published in 1895. As with most of Machan's work, the tales are of a supernatural horror bent, each chilling and masterfully written in their own right. The novel and the stories within it would eventually be considered as some of Machen's best works; but, due to the scandal concerning Oscar Wilde, Machen's relationship with decadent horror was unattractive to publishers and, as a result, the popularity of this work suffered at the time of publication. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

"The House of Souls" is a 1922 collection of short stories by Arthur Machan. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. When first published, this collection relit Machan's career by including his most notable works of the eighteen-nineties and bringing them to a new audience of horror fans. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

First published in 1907, "The Hill of Dreams" is a semi-autobiographical novel by Welsh author and mystic Arthur Machan. The tale revolves around the life of Lucian Taylor, a young man who had an idyllic childhood in rural Wales. Lucian experiences mystical visions at an old Roman fort locally known as The Hill of Dreams, and later becomes an impoverished author in London pursing art and history. Offering an illuminating insight into Machan's life and mind, "The Hill of Dreams" is not to be missed by lovers of his work or supernatural fiction in general. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

"Tales of Horror and the Supernatural" is a collection of some of Welsh author and mystic Arthur Machan's best horror and mystery fiction. Throughout his life, Machan espoused the existence of the mystical and supernatural, a belief reinforced by numerous inexplicable and, he would argue, preternatural experience that he himself was witness to. His life and work revolved around this idea, and in time he became one of the masters of modern supernatural horror fiction. The stories of this collection include: "The Novel Of The Black Seal", "The Novel Of The White Powder", "The Great God Pan", "The White People", "The Inmost Light", "The Shining Pyramid", "The Happy Children", "The Bright Boy", "Out Of The Earth", "Children Of The Pool", and "The Terror". Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. This chilling tale of inexplicable circumstances in London's borough of Islington is highly recommended for fans of the macabre and is not to be missed by collectors of vintage supernatural fiction. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

"The Islington Mystery" is a classic horror mystery story by one of the modern masters of supernatural and horror fiction, Arthur Machan. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. This chilling tale of inexplicable circumstances in London's borough of Islington is highly recommended for fans of the macabre and is not to be missed by collectors of vintage supernatural fiction. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

"A Fragment of Life" is a 1904 short story by Welsh author Arthur Machan. A young couple unsatisfied with their banal married life turn to spirituality for fulfilment, but what they find in the end isn't exactly what they were looking for. A masterful supernatural tale with macabre undertones, "A Fragment of Life" constitutes a must-read for fans of classic fantasy and sci-fi fiction. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle, and his work has been compared to Robert Louis Stevenson's "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde", Bram Stoker's "Dracula", and Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray". Other notable works by this author include: "The Great God Pan" (1894), "The Hill of Dreams" (1907), and "The White People" (1904)". Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

This vintage book contains a collection of chilling and macabre stories by Welsh author and mystic Arthur Machan. The stories include: "The Brightest Boy", "The Tree of Life", "Opening the Door", "The Marriage of Panurge", "The Holy Things", "Psychology", "The Turanians", "The Rose Garden", "The Ceremony", "The Soldiers' Rest", "The Happy Children", "The Cosy Room", "Munitions of War", "The Great Return", and more. These unsettling supernatural tales are not to be missed by lovers of horror or mystery fiction, and they would make for worthy additions to allied collections. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

"The Novel of the White Powder" is a short story by Welsh author Arthur Machan, first published in his novel "The Three Imposters" (1895). The story concerns a man whose behaviour alters dramatically as the result a change in his prescription. However, even though some of these changes are indubitably for the better, his sister remains sceptical-and with good reason. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

"The Shining Pyramid" is a 1895 short story by Welsh author and mystic Arthur Machan. When stones begin miraculously arranging themselves on the edge of one young man's private land, he and his friend begin trying to decipher them in any way possible. When they realise that it might be a dark portent, they become desperate to achieve their goal before it is too late. A fantastic example of classic supernatural fiction, "The Shining Pyramid" would make for a worthy addition to collections of allied literature. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

"The Children of the Pool" is a 1936 collection of six stories by Welsh author and mystic Arthur Machan. Each tale is imbued with the supernatural or inexplicable that dominated Machan's life and work, featuring characters such as the bookish recluse in "The Exalted Omega" and the kabbalistic artist in "Out of the Picture". Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories ever written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. Contents include: "The Exalted Omega", "The Children of the Pool", "The Bright Boy", "The Tree of Life", "Out of the Picture", and "Change". Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

"Change" is a short story written by Welsh author and renowned mystic Arthur Machan. The plot revolves around a strange piece of paper with a series of repeated letters on it that is intrinsically linked to an uncanny historical mystery. Clever and chilling, Machan's "Change" is a perfect example of a masterful short story infused with mystery and the macabre that it is not to be missed by lovers of supernatural fiction. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

First published in 1895, "The Red Hand" is a short story by Welsh author Arthur Machan that includes the main characters from his novella "The Three Impostors". The story revolves around gruesome a murder, the only glue for which is an interesting ancient stone axe. Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. This fantastic example of classic horror fiction is highly recommended for fans of the macabre and those who have enjoyed other works by this author. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947) was a Welsh author and renowned mystic during the 1890s and early 20th century who garnered literary acclaim for his contributions to the supernatural, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. His seminal novella "The Great God Pan" (1890) has become a classic of horror fiction, with Stephen King describing it as one of the best horror stories written in the English language. Other notable fans of his gruesome tales include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his work has been compared to that of Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. "The White People" is a decidedly Lovecraftian supernatural short story presented in the form of a young girl's diary, within which she recounts her increasingly profound experiments with witchcraft. A fantastic example of classic supernatural fiction, Machan's "The White People" is not to be missed by lovers of the genre and collectors of classic macabre literature. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.