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Machen, Arthur (Arthur Machen)
Once upon a foggy night in Wales, there emerged a wizard in the realm of literature whose pen was mightier than any wand. No, he didn't wear a pointy hat, but his words cast spells that sent shivers down the spines of his readers. Arthur Machen, the name this wordsmith went by, wove tales so rich and mystic, they would make a Ouija board seem like a kiddie toy.
His claim to spooky fame was ‘The Great God Pan’. Ah, this novella! Stephen King, a mere mortal in horror, dubbed it “Maybe the best [horror story] in the English language.” If that doesn’t give it the chilling stamp of approval, what will? It was scandalous, creepy and downright terrifying, basically the ‘Penny Dreadful’ of its time.
Arthur wasn't just about horrors and haunted happenings. His mind danced with fairies and dabbled with the divine. He became entangled with the mystery of the Holy Grail and King Arthur (no relation, we assume). The good old Grail turned out to be a recurring motif in his works and even sashayed into modern pop culture. Indiana Jones, we are looking at you!
The Welsh hills, where sheep might outnumber humans, provided Arthur with a landscape where ancient, non-human beings lurked. His ‘Novel of the Black Seal’ was an eerie precursor to H.P. Lovecraft, which is saying something. If you took a walk in the Welsh hills after reading this, you’d probably see the sheep plotting against you.
While Arthur was the toast of the horror society, he faced some trouble during the infamous Oscar Wilde scandal, since horror and decadence were practically cousins back then. But Arthur, like any good protagonist, overcame his struggles and eventually charmed readers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Arthur had a close encounter with the angelic when he penned “The Bowmen”. Set during World War I, this short story had ghostly archers saving the day. People actually believed it was true! (And you thought fake news was a new thing.)
Now, let’s talk about his masterpiece. ‘The Hill of Dreams’ took readers on a rollercoaster through dark madness, sensuality, horror, and ecstasy. It’s like he threw all emotions into a cauldron and brewed an intense literary potion.
Throughout his life, Arthur penned a cornucopia of stories ranging from mystical, horror, and spiritual. His whimsical quill sculpted stories that were adored by his peers, and his legacy continues to enchant new generations. Arthur Machen, the bearded sorcerer of letters, remains an enduring figure whose tales continue to cloak readers in a blanket of wonder, mystery, and, occasionally, goosebumps. You can search the Nest for articles on Machen, Arthur (Arthur Machen) over at https://www.SFcrowsnest.info/tag/Arthur-Machen
