Subject
Supernatural -- Fiction Books
Best books
Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde is a philosophical fiction and Gothic horror novel published in 1890. When a beautiful young man wishes that his portrait would age instead of himself, his desire becomes terrifyingly real. As Dorian pursues a life of pleasure and moral corruption, he remains eternally youthful while his painted image transforms into a horrifying record of his sins. Wilde explores beauty, morality, and the dangerous influence of hedonistic philosophy in this tale of vanity and its consequences.
Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde is a philosophical fiction and Gothic horror novel published in 1890. When a beautiful young man wishes that his portrait would age instead of himself, his desire comes horrifyingly true. As Dorian pursues a life of hedonistic pleasure and immoral experiences, he remains youthful while his portrait darkens with every sin. Wilde explores themes of beauty, morality, and the corrupting influence of unchecked desire in this classic work that sparked controversy upon release but remains his most famous novel.
Saki
Beasts and Super-Beasts
"Beasts and Super-Beasts" by Saki is a collection of short stories published in 1914. This volume showcases Saki's signature cynicism and wry humor through tales that largely feature animals, including the frequently anthologized "The Open Window." Several stories feature the recurring character Clovis Sangrail. As Saki's final collection before his death in World War I, the work displays the simple language and sardonic wit that defined his literary style, parodying George Bernard Shaw's title while delivering sharp social commentary.
Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde is a philosophical fiction and Gothic horror novel published in 1890. When a beautiful young man named Dorian Gray sees his portrait, he rashly wishes that the painting would age instead of himself. His wish granted, Dorian pursues a life of hedonistic pleasure and immoral experiences while remaining eternally young. Meanwhile, the portrait mysteriously ages and reveals the true cost of his sins. This provocative tale explores beauty, morality, and the consequences of living without ethical boundaries.
Arthur Machen
The House of Souls
"The House of Souls" by Arthur Machen is a collection of short stories first published in the early 20th century. The compendium is characterized by Machen's exploration of supernatural themes and the intersections between the mundane and the mystical. The stories delve into the mysterious aspects of life, often revealing an unseen world lying just beneath the surface of everyday existence. The opening portion of "A Fragment of Life" introduces Edward Darnell, who awakens from a dream reminiscent of an ancient woods, only to face the routine of his daily life with his wife, Mary. As they discuss the lodestar of his wish to furnish their spare room with a modest amount of money, their conversation reveals hints of their backgrounds, aspirations, and the mundane tensions of suburbia. This sets the stage for deeper reflections on human experience, identity, and perhaps a yearning for something more profound that lies beyond the mechanisms of daily existence. The passage masterfully combines the ordinary with an ambience that suggests a lingering presence of the extraordinary.
Oscar Wilde
Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray
"Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde is a philosophical fiction and Gothic horror novel published in 1890. When a beautiful young man wishes that his portrait would age instead of himself, his desire becomes horrifyingly real. As Dorian pursues a life of hedonistic pleasure and immoral experiences, he remains eternally youthful while his painted image darkly transforms, recording every sin. This exploration of beauty, morality, and the corruption of the soul became Wilde's only novel and a cornerstone of Gothic literature.
F. Marion (Francis Marion) Crawford
The Upper Berth; By the Waters of Paradise
"The Upper Berth; By the Waters of Paradise" by F. Marion Crawford is a collection of short stories written in the late 19th century. The first story, "The Upper Berth," revolves around a mysterious and unsettling experience of the protagonist aboard a ship, exploring themes of isolation, the supernatural, and human fear. "By the Waters of Paradise" unfolds the melancholic tale of a young man, growing up in a gloomy castle and grappling with a sense of fatalism, until he encounters a ghostly figure that transforms his life. The beginning of "The Upper Berth" sets a vivid scene aboard a ship where a group converses listlessly until Brisbane, a strong and intriguing character, claims to have seen a ghost. The atmosphere becomes charged as Brisbane recounts his experiences, foreshadowing ominous events. His crossing on the "Kamtschatka" takes a dark turn when he discovers an unsettling history about his assigned state-room—Room 105. As strange happenings and disappearances unfold, including the disappearance of his roommate, the tension escalates into horror, compelling him towards a confrontation with the supernatural. Meanwhile, the opening of "By the Waters of Paradise" introduces us to a nostalgic and melancholic protagonist reflecting on his unhappy childhood and the peculiar influence of his old Welsh nurse, laying the groundwork for themes of love, loss, and the uncanny as his life takes an unexpected turn following the encounter with the woman in his dreams.
Henry Fielding
A Journey from This World to the Next
"A Journey from This World to the Next" by Henry Fielding is a satirical novel written in the early 18th century. The narrative follows a protagonist who, upon dying, embarks on an allegorical journey to the afterlife, encountering various spirits and interpreting the experiences of life and death through whimsical adventures and philosophical reflections. The opening of the novel introduces the protagonist's death and his immediate meeting with Mercury, who guides him to the stage that leads to the other world. After a humorous escape from his lifeless body, the protagonist learns he must quickly depart for the afterlife. The narrative is rich with whimsical observations about the nature of life and death, as he begins his journey filled with interactions with other spirits, each offering tales of their own deaths and engaging in discussions about the follies of the earthly realm. The tone is light-hearted yet thought-provoking, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of moral and philosophical themes through satire.
Walter De la Mare
The Return
"The Return" by Walter de la Mare is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows Arthur Lawford, who, after suffering from illness, takes a solitary stroll through an old churchyard. During his contemplative wanderings, he becomes engulfed in a profound disturbance when he returns home feeling different—both physically and emotionally. This mysterious transformation sets the stage for an exploration of identity, the self, and the complexities of human relationships. At the start of the novel, Arthur Lawford finds himself in a tranquil churchyard, reflecting on life and death amidst old gravestones. Despite a lingering melancholy, the peaceful environment provokes deep introspection about his past and the nature of existence. However, after unexpectedly dozing off, he awakens to find that he has changed profoundly—his appearance is unrecognizable, leading to a panic about his identity. As he confronts his altered self and the reactions of those around him, particularly his wife Sheila, the narrative delves into themes of isolation, reality, and the struggle to maintain one's integrity amid unforeseen change.
Oscar Wilde
Le portrait de Dorian Gray
"Le portrait de Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde is a philosophical fiction and Gothic horror novel published in 1890. When a beautiful young man named Dorian Gray sees his portrait, he wishes it would age instead of him. His wish is granted, and Dorian pursues a life of hedonistic pleasure and immoral experiences while remaining eternally young. Meanwhile, his portrait ages and reveals the corruption of his soul. The novel explores themes of beauty, morality, and the influence of art on life.
Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev
Knock, Knock, Knock and Other Stories
"Knock, Knock, Knock and Other Stories" by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev is a collection of short stories written during the late 19th century. The book introduces the themes of fate, character complexity, and the intricacies of human relationships through various narratives that revolve around compelling individuals, notably focusing on Lieutenant Ilya Tyeglev, who embodies a mix of romantic fatalism and tragic self-awareness in his life experiences. At the start of "Knock, Knock, Knock," we are introduced to the narrator and his reflections on the character of Lieutenant Tyeglev, described as a man marked by a sense of "fatality" despite his ordinary exterior. The opening vignette revisits Tyeglev's past experiences, detailing his ambiguous reputation and unique interactions that hint at deeper emotional currents. As the narrator recalls Tyeglev’s interactions with friends and his own inner complexities, he begins to unravel Tyeglev's heavy heart, ultimately leading up to a mysterious, haunting night where strange knocking sounds begin to echo and lead to deeper revelations about destiny and love, setting a contemplative and eerie tone for the reader.
George Chetwynd Griffith
The mummy and Miss Nitocris : a phantasy of the fourth dimension
"The Mummy and Miss Nitocris: A Phantasy of the Fourth Dimension" by George Griffith is a supernatural novel written in the early 20th century. It intertwines themes of Egyptology, time, and dimensions, featuring a brilliant yet overworked professor, Franklin Marmion, and his daughter, Miss Nitocris Marmion. The story delves into their lives as they encounter an ancient mummy that sets off a sequence of supernatural events, including visions of the past and the enigma of dimensions beyond human comprehension. At the start of the story, Professor Marmion is engrossed in his work when his daughter, Nitocris, excitedly discusses the mummy that has just been delivered to their home. Their playful banter reveals both a touch of humor and their scientific minds, pondering the concepts of time and dimensions. As the narrative unfolds, the professor experiences a strange connection with the mummy, drawing him into a surreal confrontation with the spirit of Queen Nitocris and profound implications of existence. This collision of past and present hints at a broader exploration of love, vengeance, and the paradoxes of time as the story progresses.
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