🩸 Horror Fiction

The Glorious Mystery

✍️ Arthur Machen
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$20.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A 2018 reprint of Arthur Machen's essays on mysticism and horror.

This edition republishes The Glorious Mystery, originally released in 1924. White Press has updated the text for modern availability. The volume contains vignettes that reflect Machen’s reputation as a renowned mystic. It includes a new biography to help readers understand his background. The work connects to the broader tradition of horror and fantasy fiction established by authors like Bram Stoker. It is positioned as an important resource for understanding the development of the genre in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Key Themes
supernatural fiction gothic literature Welsh mysticism
Literary Context

Arthur Machen was a Welsh author active during the 1890s and early twentieth century. His work contributed significantly to horror and fantasy genres. He is compared to Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. Stephen King considers The Great God Pan among the best English horror stories.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Bram Stoker · Robert Louis Stevenson · Oscar Wilde
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 White Press 📅 2018 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781528704991

📝 Description: The Glorious Mystery

Arthur Machen presents a collection of essays and vignettes in The Glorious Mystery. This Welsh author, known for his work in supernatural and horror fiction during the 1890s and early twentieth century, offers readers a glimpse into his mystical perspective. Stephen King has praised his seminal novella The Great God Pan as one of the best horror stories ever written in English. Other notable admirers include William Butler Yeats and Arthur Conan Doyle, whose appreciation places Machen alongside literary figures like Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. This volume gathers these scattered writings into a single affordable edition. White Press has produced this modern reprint to make the work accessible to contemporary readers who might otherwise struggle to find it. The book includes a specially commissioned new biography of the author, providing context for his life and creative process. It is designed for those interested in the mind of a seminal writer whose gruesome tales have influenced generations of horror fiction fans. The text does not appeal to casual readers seeking light entertainment. It suits scholars and enthusiasts of gothic literature who wish to understand the foundations of modern supernatural fiction. The collection remains relevant for its historical significance and the enduring quality of Machen’s prose. Readers looking for a concise overview of his thematic concerns will find this compilation valuable.

💎 Our verdict on The Glorious Mystery

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Machen’s collection offers a profound glimpse into the mystical mindset that shaped early modern horror. The essays and vignettes reflect his reputation as a renowned mystic, connecting directly to the broader tradition established by literary giants of his time. While not suitable for those seeking light entertainment, the volume excels in providing historical context through its specially commissioned biography. It is particularly well-suited for scholars and gothic literature enthusiasts who wish to explore the foundations of supernatural fiction. The text’s enduring quality and significance make it a worthy addition to any serious collection focused on the development of the genre during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This collection serves as an essential resource for scholars and dedicated enthusiasts of gothic literature who seek to understand the foundational elements of modern supernatural fiction. By gathering scattered writings into a single accessible format, it provides deep insight into the mystical perspective of Arthur Machen, a Welsh author whose work profoundly influenced generations of horror fans. The inclusion of a new biography offers necessary context for his creative process and life, helping readers appreciate the historical significance of these essays. It is specifically designed for those interested in the intellectual mind behind seminal works like The Great God Pan, rather than casual readers seeking light entertainment. Those wishing to trace the lineage of horror fiction from its late nineteenth-century roots will find this volume invaluable for its enduring prose and historical relevance.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Machen’s collection offers a profound glimpse into the mystical mindset that shaped early modern horror. The essays and vignettes reflect his reputation as a renowned mystic, connecting directly to the broader tradition established by literary giants of his time. While not suitable for those seeking light entertainment, the volume excels in providing historical context through its specially commissioned biography. It is particularly well-suited for scholars and gothic literature enthusiasts who wish to explore the foundations of supernatural fiction. The text’s enduring quality and significance make it a worthy addition to any serious collection focused on the development of the genre during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

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