🩸 Horror Fiction

A Mirror Of Shalott: Being A Collection Of Tales Told At An Unprofessional Symposium (1912)

✍️ Robert Hugh Benson
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$31.95
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A 1912 horror collection reprinted with original imperfections intact.

The core appeal is historical preservation over textual perfection. This reprint keeps the marginalia and flaws visible, offering a direct window into early twentieth-century reading habits. It functions as a cultural artifact as much as a story collection. The unprofessional symposium format provides a unique structural context for the tales. Readers gain insight into how horror was shared and consumed in that era. The physical condition of the book is its defining feature.

Key Themes
unprofessional symposium gothic fiction supernatural tales
Literary Context

Published in 1912, this work reflects early twentieth-century literary culture. The 2007 reprint by Kessinger Publishing addresses the preservation of scarce antiquarian books. It highlights the tension between historical accuracy and modern accessibility in publishing.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
M.R. James · Bram Stoker · Arthur Machen · Gothic anthology collections
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Kessinger Publishing 📅 2007 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780548793800

📝 Description: A Mirror Of Shalott: Being A Collection Of Tales Told At An Unprofessional Symposium (1912)

Robert Hugh Benson presents a collection of tales in A Mirror Of Shalott, originally published in 1912. This volume gathers stories shared during an unprofessional symposium, blending horror, gothic, and supernatural fiction into a single narrative frame. The text relies on the traditions of early twentieth-century literary gatherings to structure its content. Readers will find a series of interconnected narratives that reflect the eerie and mysterious themes typical of Benson’s work. This edition is a facsimile reprint produced by Kessinger Publishing in 2007. It aims to preserve the original text while acknowledging the physical realities of age. The book contains marks, notations, marginalia, and flawed pages that remain from its early publication. These imperfections are part of the historical record rather than errors in reproduction. The publisher states a commitment to protecting world literature through affordable modern editions. This book suits readers interested in antique horror collections and those who appreciate the physical history of printed texts. It may not satisfy those seeking pristine, clean copies or contemporary interpretations of gothic fiction. The value lies in its authenticity as a preserved artifact. Readers should expect the visual evidence of its age on every page.

💎 Our verdict on A Mirror Of Shalott: Being A Collection Of Tales Told At An Unprofessional Symposium (1912)

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
This facsimile reprint succeeds as a cultural artifact, prioritizing historical preservation above textual clarity. By retaining original imperfections and marginalia, it provides an authentic view of early twentieth-century gothic fiction consumption. The unprofessional symposium structure adds a layer of intrigue to the horror tales, grounding them in a specific social context. While it may disappoint readers seeking clean, modern editions, it excels for those studying the physical history of printed texts. It is a compelling resource for historians and collectors who view the book itself as the primary subject of interest.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who value historical authenticity over pristine presentation will find this volume essential. It offers a unique window into early twentieth-century reading habits by preserving marginalia and physical flaws as part of the narrative experience. Those interested in the cultural artifact status of horror literature, or how supernatural tales were consumed in their original context, will appreciate this unpolished glimpse into the past. It serves not just as a story collection but as a preserved record of literary gatherings from that era.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

This facsimile reprint succeeds as a cultural artifact, prioritizing historical preservation above textual clarity. By retaining original imperfections and marginalia, it provides an authentic view of early twentieth-century gothic fiction consumption. The unprofessional symposium structure adds a layer of intrigue to the horror tales, grounding them in a specific social context. While it may disappoint readers seeking clean, modern editions, it excels for those studying the physical history of printed texts. It is a compelling resource for historians and collectors who view the book itself as the primary subject of interest.

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