Arthur Machen

Arthur Machen (1863-1947), al igual que su contemporáneo Lord Dunsany , fue un obstinado soñador que creó una de las obras más líricas y exquisitas que ha dado hasta la fecha el denominado género de terror. La presente antologia recoge catorce relatos (algunos de ellos ineditos en castellano), lo mas granado y significativo de la ingente obra fantastica de Machen, que tanto influyo en el maestro del horror sobrenatural, H.P. Lovecraft

• Los arqueros• Los niños felices• Un nuevo Cuento de Navidad Arthur Machen (1863 - 1947), escritor y periodista galés, fue autor de relatos de terro

The Welsh writer, poet and novelist Arthur Machen, best known for his influential supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction, was above all a great mystic and initiate, and a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.From the beginning of his literary career, Machen espoused a mystical belief that the humdrum ordinary world hid a more mysterious and strange world beyond. His later works became somewhat less obviously full of gothic trappings, but for him investigations into mysteries invariably resulted in life-changing transformation.Arthur Machen wrote his amazing poem Eleusinia in 1881, when he was only 18 years old. In our opinion, it is one of his best poetic works.Was Arthur Machen an Eleusinian initiate? We have no certainty about it, even if we know how much the Eleusinian mystery tradition, which survived in secrecy throughout the Middle Ages and reached the modern age, was also widespread and practiced in Great Britain in the 19th century. In any case, his great propensity for mysticism and spirituality and his initiatory belonging to the Golden Dawn led Machen to want to understand the great mystery of Eleusis and to try to undo its millennial veil.We propose to our readers the poem Eleusinia, preceded by a beautiful biographical essay on Machen written and published in Chicago in 1918 by the American writer, journalist, and bibliophile Vincent Starrett: Arthur Machen: A Novelist of Ecstasy and Sin. An essay that, better than many others, has captured the authentic spirit of the great Welsh writer. Starrett, a great connoisseur and admirer of British literature, was a major enthusiast of Arthur Machen and was instrumental in bringing Machens work to an American audience for the first time.

RITUAL

Sulle coste gallesi una strana luce fa parlare di se?, mentre una chiesa di un paesino locale profuma improvvisamente di incenso...Questi fatti apparentemente insignificanti spingono il protagonista, amante del mistero e del meraviglioso a recarsi sul posto a indagare. Ben presto scoprira? che in quegli sperduti anfratti del Galles unantica leggenda ha ripreso vita.In appendice, un saggio dellautore sulla leggenda del Santo Graal.

In Hieroglyphics, Arthur Machen delves into the intricate relationship between art and the supernatural, exploring the often-overlooked depths of human experience. With a unique blend of rich, evocative prose and philosophical musings, Machen constructs a narrative that oscillates between the mystical and the mundane. The book is a precursor to the modernist movement, revealing Machens understanding of symbolism and the significance of the unseen in art, effectively challenging the conventional perceptions of reality and expression at the turn of the 20th century. Arthur Machen, a Welsh author and mystic, is renowned for his influential works that blur the lines between horror, fantasy, and philosophical inquiry. His background is steeped in both the occult and a robust literary tradition that includes Gothic literature and symbolism. These influences, combined with his enchantment with the unknown, led him to explore the profound ways in which art engages with the metaphysical realm, culminating in this thought-provoking text. Hieroglyphics is a must-read for anyone intrigued by the intersections of literature, philosophy, and spirituality. Machens exploration of the hidden meanings within art invites readers to reflect on their own perceptions and encourages a deeper understanding of the complexities that lie beneath the surface.

Arthur Machens "The Great God Pan" is a seminal work in the genre of supernatural horror, weaving a complex narrative that explores themes of transcendence, forbidden knowledge, and the fragility of the human psyche. Through its vivid prose and rich symbolism, Machen crafts a tale that reveals the horror lurking beneath the veneer of civilization. Set in the Victorian era, the story follows scientific experimentation that inadvertently unleashes forces far beyond human comprehension, challenging the boundaries of reality and morality in a manner that prefigures modern horror literature. The haunting descriptions and pervasive atmosphere of dread have earned Machen a distinguished place within the canon of Gothic literature, inviting readers to reflect on the enigmatic nature of existence itself. Arthur Machen, a Welsh author born in 1863, drew much of his inspiration from mysticism, folklore, and his own spiritual explorations. His understanding of the esoteric, coupled with a fascination for the arcane, profoundly influenced the creation of "The Great God Pan." Machens experiences in the changing social landscape of late 19th-century Britain, as well as his interest in the occult, culminate in a narrative that not only entertains but also provokes profound philosophical inquiry about reality and the unknown. For readers who seek a profound exploration of existential terror and the supernatural, "The Great God Pan" serves as an essential read. It is a cornerstone text that delves into the darker aspects of human nature and the untapped potential of the cosmos, ensuring its relevance in contemporary discussions of horror literature. Machens masterful storytelling and philosophical depth will resonate with anyone intrigued by the mysteries that lie just beneath the surface of our reality.

Explosion at Munition Works in the Northern District: Many Fatalities. The working man told me about it, and added some dreadful details. Corpses so terribly maimed that coffins had been kept covered; faces mutilated as if by some gnawing animal. . . . I took a tram to the location of the disaster; a raw and hideous shed with a walled yard about it, and a shut gate. The roof was quite undamaged -- this had had been a strange accident. There had been an explosion of sufficient violence to kill work-people in the building, but the building itself showed no wounds or scars.

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An experiment into the sources of the human brain through the mind of a young woman has gone horribly wrong. She has seen the great god Pan and will die giving birth to a daughter.Twenty years later, feted society hostess Helen Vaughan becomes the source of much fevered speculation. Many men are infactuated with her beauty, but great beauty has a price, and sometimes you have to pay with the only thing you have left...The Great God Pan was a sensation when published in 1894. Its author, Arthur Machen, was a struggling unknown writer living in London. He had translated Casanovas memoirs and was living on a small inheritance. He immediately became one of the most talked-about writers of the last years of the nineteenth century, while the publications marked the start of his ongoing influence on modern fantasy and horror.

A discussion between two men on the nature of evil leads one of them to reveal a mysterious diary in his possession. Written by a young girl in the care of a nurse, its pages detail a horrifying initiation into a world of witchcraft, folklore and ritual magic which may have culminated in tragedy.Originally published in 1904 and considered by E. F. Bleiler to be "probably the finest single supernatural story of the century, perhaps in the literature", this is one of Machens most celebrated stories, with its influence being seen in the works of genre greats such as H. P. Lovecraft (who called it "a triumph of skilful selectiveness and restraint") and T. E. D. Klein.

Strange arrangements of stones appear at the edge of a young mans property. When he and a friend attempt to decipher their meaning, they uncover something ancient dwelling deep underground - something best left untouched ... Originally published in 1895, this classic tale of subterranean prehistoric entities was acclaimed by genre legends such as H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard, so much so that the latter would later write and publish a sequel of sorts - The Little People - in 1970.

An experiment into the sources of the human brain through the mind of a young woman has gone horribly wrong. She has seen the great god Pan and will die giving birth to a daughter.Twenty years later feted society hostess Helen Vaughan becomes the source of much fevered speculation. Many men are infatuated with her beauty, but great beauty has a price, sometimes you have to pay with the only thing you have left.The Great God Pan was a sensation when first published in 1894. Its author, Arthur Machen, was a struggling unknown writer living in London. He had translated Casanovas memoirs and was living on a small inheritance. He immediately became one of the most talked-about writers of the last years of the nineteenth century, while the publication marked the start of his ongoing influence on modern fantasy and horror.Machens dark imaginings of the reality behind ancient beliefs feature again in the acclaimed, mesmerising short story The White People and the curious tale The Shining Pyramid, also in this volume.

"El gran deu Pan" narra la historia del Dr. Raymond, un científic que realitza un experiment per revelar la veritat oculta de la realitat. Mitjançant aquest experiment i amb l'ajuda de la Mary, crea una jove anomenada Helen. A mesura que es desenvolupa la trama, es descobreix que Mary es l'encarnacio de "El gran deu Pan", un esser ancestral que porta la destruccio. La novel·la explora temes de ciencia, misticisme i les consequencies de jugar amb forces mes enlla de la comprensio humana, creant una atmosfera inquietant que destaca els limits de la percepcio i els perills d'indagar en els misteris de l'existencia.aA La llum mes intensa el mateix autor explora temes ocults i mistics. La historia segueix l'investigador Dyson, involucrat en un misterios experiment mistic amb la intencio d'obtenir una visio de la veritat ultima. Utilitzant antigues formules magiques, l'experiment revela forces incontrolables i entitats ocultes. La narrativa barreja elements de terror i misticisme, oferint una exploracio fascinant de les fronteres de la realitat i les consequencies de buscar la veritat profunda. El conte destaca la capacitat de Machen per crear una atmosfera enigmatica i inquietant mentre examina les consequencies d'explorar els secrets mes profunds de l'univers.