bickleyhouse's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to my son-in-law for loaning me this book! These are some delightfully chilling ghost stories, written in a style that you just don't see much, any more. I love a good ghost story, and am quite fond of the short story genre, so this is a doubly good offering. These stories were written between 1906 and 1938.
The Willows relates the tale of a couple of friends on a boating trip on the Danube, and their encounter with an other-worldly presence in middle of a desolate area of small islands populated with willow trees.
Secret Worship is a tale of a man who returns to an old school which he attended as a child. He finds a little bit more than he expected, and narrowly escapes with his life.
Ancient Sorceries made me think of Cat People, as a traveler gets sidetracked in a small village.
In The Glamour of the Snow, a man encounters a ghostly woman on a skating rink. She leads him to a near death experience on a mountain.
The Wendigo deals with the famous mythical beast in the wild as a group of moose hunters have a wild night or two.
The Other Wing is a lovely sort of haunted house story, dealing with a section of a mansion that no one goes into any more.
The Transfer is a creepy story about a plot of land in the garden that needs to suck the life out of humans.
Ancient Lights is a delightful story about a man trying to take a shortcut through a small wooded area. The small wooded area has other ideas.
The Listener relates a man's encounter with a ghostly presence in his rented room. A rather smelly ghostly presence. Cats also figure heavily in this story.
In The Empty House, a man and his elderly aunt spend the night in a house that has a reputation of being haunted, as a murder occurred there some years ago. This story reminds me of Stephen King's 1408.
Accessory Before the Fact is a tragic tale of a man and his opportunity (through a kind of supernatural vision) to save a man's life.
Keeping His Promise is a rather classic type of ghost story, dealing with a vow made (with blood) between two friends.
The final story, Max Hensig is not a "ghost story" (and this is explained in the introduction), but is still a chilling crime story, and is, in some ways, more terrifying than all of the ghost stories in the book.
This is a marvelous book! I recommend it to all fans of the classic ghost story.
The Willows relates the tale of a couple of friends on a boating trip on the Danube, and their encounter with an other-worldly presence in middle of a desolate area of small islands populated with willow trees.
Secret Worship is a tale of a man who returns to an old school which he attended as a child. He finds a little bit more than he expected, and narrowly escapes with his life.
Ancient Sorceries made me think of Cat People, as a traveler gets sidetracked in a small village.
In The Glamour of the Snow, a man encounters a ghostly woman on a skating rink. She leads him to a near death experience on a mountain.
The Wendigo deals with the famous mythical beast in the wild as a group of moose hunters have a wild night or two.
The Other Wing is a lovely sort of haunted house story, dealing with a section of a mansion that no one goes into any more.
The Transfer is a creepy story about a plot of land in the garden that needs to suck the life out of humans.
Ancient Lights is a delightful story about a man trying to take a shortcut through a small wooded area. The small wooded area has other ideas.
The Listener relates a man's encounter with a ghostly presence in his rented room. A rather smelly ghostly presence. Cats also figure heavily in this story.
In The Empty House, a man and his elderly aunt spend the night in a house that has a reputation of being haunted, as a murder occurred there some years ago. This story reminds me of Stephen King's 1408.
Accessory Before the Fact is a tragic tale of a man and his opportunity (through a kind of supernatural vision) to save a man's life.
Keeping His Promise is a rather classic type of ghost story, dealing with a vow made (with blood) between two friends.
The final story, Max Hensig is not a "ghost story" (and this is explained in the introduction), but is still a chilling crime story, and is, in some ways, more terrifying than all of the ghost stories in the book.
This is a marvelous book! I recommend it to all fans of the classic ghost story.
arthurbdd's review against another edition
3.0
If this truly represents Blackwood's best, then it rather exposes him as a somewhat waffly writer whose best work is undeniably powerful, but represents a rare gem amid much more lukewarm material. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2020/09/28/willows-for-algernon/
biblio_kel's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I am very taken with Blackwood's writing style and the almost poetic imagery he invokes.
Unfortunately, some of his stories do suffer from racist terms and descriptions common in stories from his era.
Unfortunately, some of his stories do suffer from racist terms and descriptions common in stories from his era.
schomj's review against another edition
2.0
Not sure if I should mark this read or did-not-finish. I did get through three of the stories in this compilation, and enjoyed the world building and the eery tone Blackwood created, but in every one I was disappointed by the ending. I think it was a reflection of the time in which it was written, but I don't want my ghost stories to end with pseudo-scientific rationalizations; if I wanted that, I'd read science fiction. Also, maybe two of the three stories involved actual ghosts, and one of those two only counts if you consider reincarnation as a type of ghost story.
So, saying goodbye to Blackwood and continuing my search for another great (spooky, not gross) Gothic horror author, preferably one with a thing for ghosts.
So, saying goodbye to Blackwood and continuing my search for another great (spooky, not gross) Gothic horror author, preferably one with a thing for ghosts.
mirificmoxie's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think I've ever read anything by Algernon Blackwood before, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection of ghost stories.
To start with, he has one of the coolest names ever, especially for a ghost story writer. I thought at first that it must be a pen name, but it was apparently his real name.
This was a collection of assorted ghost stories. In a forward written by Blackwood for a previous edition, he makes the distinction that these are ghost stories not horror stories. There are no masked psychos or chopped up bodies. Instead, these stories focus on the supernatural or at least the unexplained. One thing I really enjoyed was that the characters often go through spooky situations in a realistic way; they find themselves in an eerie situation and proceed to attempt to rationalize everything they see and hear all the while becoming increasingly frightened. None of the stories were too bizarre, and it was easy to follow along on the adventures. Many of these stories were at least partially inspired by events experienced by Blackwood during his extensive travels throughout Europe and North America. His writing style also adapted depending on the setting. The diction used in the contemporary New York setting for "Max Hensig" was distinctive from that used in the Black Forest setting of "Secret Worship."
His descriptions were amazing. Written with an effortless prose, I had no trouble picturing each scene whether it was a medieval town in France or the Canadian wilderness. Take, for instance, this quote from "The Glamour of the Snow:"
“Like a forest rose the huge peaks above the slumbering village, measuring the night and heavens. They beckoned him. And something born of the snowy desolation, born of the midnight and silent grandeur, born of the great listening hollows of the night, something that lay 'twixt terror and wonder, dropped from the vast wintry spaces down into his heart-- and called him. Very softly, unrecorded in any word or thought his brain could compass, it laid its spell upon him. Fingers of snow brushed the surface of his heart. The power and quiet majesty of the winter's night appalled him....”
There is a certain timelessness to Blackwood's work. These stories were written over a century ago, but they did not feel dated the way many older works do. I also thoroughly enjoyed his diverse vocabulary, which included words such as fecundity, dishabille, and serried. I get a similar feeling when reading most older works. I am not sure if I am simply drawn to those particular works that feature more diverse vocabulary or if the standard for writing was simply higher in those days.
I liked "The Glamour of the Snow" the best and "Ancient Sorceries" the least mainly because that piece seemed a little drawn out and the "cat-like" analogy was over-used. Overall, I really enjoyed this collection of stories. I can definitely see how much Blackwood influenced the genre.
I will end with one more quote:
"'It is, alas, chiefly the evil emotions that are able to leave their photographs upon surrounding scenes and objects,' the other added, 'and who ever heard of a place haunted by a noble deed, or of beautiful and lovely ghosts revisiting the glimpses of the moon? It is unfortunate. But the wicked passions of men's hearts alone seem strong enough to leave pictures that persist; the good are ever too lukewarm.'"
To start with, he has one of the coolest names ever, especially for a ghost story writer. I thought at first that it must be a pen name, but it was apparently his real name.
This was a collection of assorted ghost stories. In a forward written by Blackwood for a previous edition, he makes the distinction that these are ghost stories not horror stories. There are no masked psychos or chopped up bodies. Instead, these stories focus on the supernatural or at least the unexplained. One thing I really enjoyed was that the characters often go through spooky situations in a realistic way; they find themselves in an eerie situation and proceed to attempt to rationalize everything they see and hear all the while becoming increasingly frightened. None of the stories were too bizarre, and it was easy to follow along on the adventures. Many of these stories were at least partially inspired by events experienced by Blackwood during his extensive travels throughout Europe and North America. His writing style also adapted depending on the setting. The diction used in the contemporary New York setting for "Max Hensig" was distinctive from that used in the Black Forest setting of "Secret Worship."
His descriptions were amazing. Written with an effortless prose, I had no trouble picturing each scene whether it was a medieval town in France or the Canadian wilderness. Take, for instance, this quote from "The Glamour of the Snow:"
“Like a forest rose the huge peaks above the slumbering village, measuring the night and heavens. They beckoned him. And something born of the snowy desolation, born of the midnight and silent grandeur, born of the great listening hollows of the night, something that lay 'twixt terror and wonder, dropped from the vast wintry spaces down into his heart-- and called him. Very softly, unrecorded in any word or thought his brain could compass, it laid its spell upon him. Fingers of snow brushed the surface of his heart. The power and quiet majesty of the winter's night appalled him....”
There is a certain timelessness to Blackwood's work. These stories were written over a century ago, but they did not feel dated the way many older works do. I also thoroughly enjoyed his diverse vocabulary, which included words such as fecundity, dishabille, and serried. I get a similar feeling when reading most older works. I am not sure if I am simply drawn to those particular works that feature more diverse vocabulary or if the standard for writing was simply higher in those days.
I liked "The Glamour of the Snow" the best and "Ancient Sorceries" the least mainly because that piece seemed a little drawn out and the "cat-like" analogy was over-used. Overall, I really enjoyed this collection of stories. I can definitely see how much Blackwood influenced the genre.
I will end with one more quote:
"'It is, alas, chiefly the evil emotions that are able to leave their photographs upon surrounding scenes and objects,' the other added, 'and who ever heard of a place haunted by a noble deed, or of beautiful and lovely ghosts revisiting the glimpses of the moon? It is unfortunate. But the wicked passions of men's hearts alone seem strong enough to leave pictures that persist; the good are ever too lukewarm.'"
beecatbell's review against another edition
3.0
As with all short story collections, I enjoyed some more than I enjoyed others.
The Wendigo and and The Listener were my two favorite stories included.
The common themes present in Blackwood's stories seemed to be: stout, even-tempered Englishmen, eccentric foreigners, seductive women, forces of Nature, "Other" indescribable entities, and occasionally an actual ghost.
I think to call this the best "ghost stories" is a little deceptive. A better title might have been "best horror stories".
The Wendigo and and The Listener were my two favorite stories included.
The common themes present in Blackwood's stories seemed to be: stout, even-tempered Englishmen, eccentric foreigners, seductive women, forces of Nature, "Other" indescribable entities, and occasionally an actual ghost.
I think to call this the best "ghost stories" is a little deceptive. A better title might have been "best horror stories".
otterno11's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Drawn in by that trippy cover, I recently returned to this collection of eerie weird fiction for the first time in more than a decade. Overall, I felt like I liked it a little less in this rereading, with some stories having stuck in my mind more than others. While this collection may, as per the title, represent the best of turn of the twentieth century English writer Algernon Blackwood’s work, though consisting of far more than what could simply be described as “ghost stories,” I found the tales became a little repetitive by the end. With works spanning 1906-1917 of Blackwood’s career, these stories highlight Blackwood’s talents in building strong atmospheres and mood through his languid pace and well drawn feelings and emotions of his characters. His building of compelling relationships and feelings for his characters, refreshing for a writer of weird tales, is perhaps due to the strong autobiographical elements that appear throughout the collection.
Including a few works featuring his “psychic doctor” character, John Silence (who, it seems, often merely listens to a story one of his clients have already experienced), these tales explore a variety of settings and ideas, from Satan-worshippers in France and Germany, watchful ghosts in the English countryside, and a serial killer stalking New York City. At the same time, there is a focus on certain recurring themes that Blackwood returns to often, particularly the idea of the explicable yet enticing threat of nature. Throughout these stories, Blackwood returns to the idea of the natural world being beautiful and enchanting but imitable to human life, Blackwood writes deliberately with these tales being very slow paced, even ponderous, which in some cases helps to build the atmosphere but in others just drags. As for subject matter, I feel that, while Blackwood was expressing some innovative, modernist takes on supernatural horror, they are, in general, quite traditionalist in subject, and his period’s attitudes towards race and culture can be distracting.
My favorite was definitely “The Willows,” which, I feel, exemplifies and best expresses these motifs, making some of the other works included, like “The Glamour of the Snow,” “Ancient Lights,” or even his famous tale “The Wendigo” feel a little superfluous. Still, for those who enjoyed the stories mentioned above, the John Silence pieces “Secret Worship” and “Ancient Sorceries,” may be of interest and for those who enjoy creepy and personal ghost stories, “The Other Wing” and “The Listener” are gripping and eerie reads. His crime stories, “Max Hensig” in particular, suffured most from a sluggish pace and had the least to offer for me, at least.
As a whole, this is a fairly exemplative exhibition of Algernon Blackwood’s career in general and is representative of his ideas and moods, consisting of perhaps his most essential works.
Including a few works featuring his “psychic doctor” character, John Silence (who, it seems, often merely listens to a story one of his clients have already experienced), these tales explore a variety of settings and ideas, from Satan-worshippers in France and Germany, watchful ghosts in the English countryside, and a serial killer stalking New York City. At the same time, there is a focus on certain recurring themes that Blackwood returns to often, particularly the idea of the explicable yet enticing threat of nature. Throughout these stories, Blackwood returns to the idea of the natural world being beautiful and enchanting but imitable to human life, Blackwood writes deliberately with these tales being very slow paced, even ponderous, which in some cases helps to build the atmosphere but in others just drags. As for subject matter, I feel that, while Blackwood was expressing some innovative, modernist takes on supernatural horror, they are, in general, quite traditionalist in subject, and his period’s attitudes towards race and culture can be distracting.
My favorite was definitely “The Willows,” which, I feel, exemplifies and best expresses these motifs, making some of the other works included, like “The Glamour of the Snow,” “Ancient Lights,” or even his famous tale “The Wendigo” feel a little superfluous. Still, for those who enjoyed the stories mentioned above, the John Silence pieces “Secret Worship” and “Ancient Sorceries,” may be of interest and for those who enjoy creepy and personal ghost stories, “The Other Wing” and “The Listener” are gripping and eerie reads. His crime stories, “Max Hensig” in particular, suffured most from a sluggish pace and had the least to offer for me, at least.
As a whole, this is a fairly exemplative exhibition of Algernon Blackwood’s career in general and is representative of his ideas and moods, consisting of perhaps his most essential works.
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