Imagine the audacious organisers of a Hen or Stag party, gleefully arranging for a Hypnotist solely to amuse themselves at the expense of their inebriated guests, who may be compelled to cluck like chickens or strike poses reminiscent of tea pots. The absurdity of such a spectacle is almost Poe-esque in its dark humour, a … Continue reading Mesmerism and Mortality: Edgar Allan Poe’s Macabre Exploration in ‘The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar’
Tag: horror
The Haunting of Power and Remorse
Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan, painted by Ilya Repin in 1885 - Public Domain Stare into the absolute, tormenting agony etched in those eyes! I first encountered this haunting image as a schoolboy, and it's lingered in my memory ever since. The distress conveyed in those eyes is almost tangible. They're wide, brimming … Continue reading The Haunting of Power and Remorse
A Beating Heart and a Babbling Fool: The Tell-tale Heart
While there isn't a single confirmed real-life story that directly inspired The Tell-Tale Heart, it's likely that a combination of contemporary crime stories, specific cases like that of James Wood, Poe's personal experiences, and the broader influence of Gothic literature all contributed to the creation of this iconic tale. Poe's genius lay in his ability … Continue reading A Beating Heart and a Babbling Fool: The Tell-tale Heart
The Nightmare!
The Nightmare, Henry Fuseli, 1781 Strap yourself in, this is a long one. Henry Fuseli’s The Nightmare, first exhibited in 1782 (produced 1781), is a painting that delves deep into the uncanny and the bizarre, managing to be both unsettling and darkly intriguing. This masterpiece explores themes of terror, sexuality, and the supernatural, wrapped up … Continue reading The Nightmare!
Don’t Whistle!
A very short but entertaining read; leaves one feeling a little sombre. Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad is one of M. R. James' most renowned ghost stories, included in his collection "Ghost Stories of an Antiquary," published in 1904. The title is derived from a poem by Robert Burns, suggesting a … Continue reading Don’t Whistle!
Wording 