"Cominciatelo per l’orrore e la paura montanti, continuatelo per l’analisi devastante della natura dei segreti di famiglia" - The New York Times Book Review Una giovane regista decide di indagare sulla strana storia del villaggio dove abitava sua nonna… Nell’estate del 1959, il piccolo villaggio minerario di Silvertjärn è stato teatro di un evento inspiegabile: i suoi novecento abitanti sono svaniti nel nulla, lasciandosi dietro soltanto una città fantasma, il cadavere di una donna lapidata nella piazza del paese e una neonata di pochi giorni abbandonata sui banchi della scuola. A distanza di decenni, la regista Alice Lindstedt si lascia ossessionare da questa storia... Nata in Svezia nel 1992, è la figlia della famosa scrittrice di gialli Viveca Sten. Dopo alcuni libri per ragazzi, “Il villaggio perduto” è il suo primo romanzo per adulti: successo da duecentomila copie tradotto in ventuno paesi, verrà presto adattato da Netflix per una serie TV.

Il villaggio perduto

Su invito del professor Montague, intenzionato ad indagare e catalogare i fenomeni dentro la sinistra Hill House, tre giovani, scelti non a caso, si ritrovano a coesistere per una settimana nell’oscura dimora. Eleanor, giovane infelice, quando era molto piccola, è stata protagonista di una manifestazione di un poltergeist; Theodora è in possesso di facoltà incredibili, che vanno dalla premonizione alla telepatia; Luke nipote della vecchia proprietaria di Hill House è incaricato di rappresentare la famiglia Sanderson durante l’esperimento. Ma la vera protagonista della storia è naturalmente la vecchia casa: un posto claustrofobico, infestato, dotato di vita propria, da incubo appunto

L'incubo di Hill House

From atop the choppy waves to the choking darkness of the abyss, the seas are full of mystery and rife with tales of inexplicable events and encounters with the unknown. In this anthology we see a thrilling spread of narratives; sailors are pitched against a nightmare from the depths, invisible to the naked eye; a German U-boat commander is tormented by an impossible transmission via Morse Code; a ship ensnares itself in the kelp of the Sargasso Sea and dooms a crew of mutineers, seemingly out of revenge for her lost captain. The supernatural is set alongside the grim affairs of sailors scorned in these salt-soaked tales, recovered from obscurity for the 21st century.

British Library Tales of the Weird

From the Depths

Nel 1919 le acque nere del fiume sommergono la cittadina di Perdido in Alabama. I ricchissimi Caskey, proprietari di boschi e segherie, devono fronteggiare il disastro provocato dalla furia dell’acqua. Ma il clan, capeggiato dalla potente matriarca Mary-Love e dal figlio devoto Oscar, dovrà anche fare i conti con un’apparizione sconvolgente. Dalla città sommersa compare Elinor, una donna dai capelli rossi e un passato misterioso che sembra volersi insinuarsi nel cuore dei Caskey. Primo episodio della saga bestseller dell’autore amato da Stephen King.

Blackwater

La piena. Blackwater I

Quando, nel 1871, la squattrinata e intrepida Philomela Drax riceve una lettera dal ricco nonno, che le rivela di temere per la sua vita a causa di una famiglia senza scrupoli, gli Slape, la nipote si precipita in suo soccorso. Ma il tempo stringe, perché Katie Slape, una donna crudele con il dono della chiaroveggenza e una certa abilità nello sferrare colpi di martello, sta per avere la meglio... Dalle strade polverose di un villaggio del New Jersey ai marciapiedi scintillanti di Saratoga e fino alle banchine di New York, Philo insegue Katie. O è il contrario? Perché nessuno può sfuggire alla furia di Katie!

Katie

EMILIA HART'S STUNNING NEW BOOK THE SIRENS IS OUT NOWTHE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLEROVER 700,000 COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDEAs seen on BBC’s BETWEEN THE COVERS'A bewitching debut. I can’t wait to see what Emilia Hart writes next'KATE MORTON ‘A much-heralded epic’ OBSERVER ‘Empowering’ GLAMOUR Three women, five centuries, one spellbinding story In the present day, Kate flees a traumatic relationship to the Cumbrian cottage she inherited from her great-aunt; but the cottage hides secrets of its own. In 1942, Violet rebels against her father’s ideas of a ‘proper young lady’ … until he takes matters into his own hands. In 1619, Altha is on trial for witchcraft, implicated in the gruesome death of a local man. Three women they tried to cage – but Weyward women belong to the wild. And they cannot be tamed… Weyward was a Times bestseller w/e 18-02-2023.

Weyward

"A compelling, gory, ghostly romp." —Paul Tremblay, New York Times bestselling author of Horror Movie "This is what it felt like to live in New York City during lockdown: haunted, absurd, terrifying, ridiculous, and full of hungry ghosts." —Grady Hendrix, New York Times bestselling author of How to Sell a Haunted House In this explosive horror novel, a woman is haunted by inner trauma, hungry ghosts, and a serial killer as she confronts the brutal violence experienced by East Asians during the pandemic. Cora Zeng is a crime scene cleaner, washing away the remains of brutal murders and suicides in Chinatown. But none of that seems so terrible when she’s already witnessed the most horrific thing possible: her sister, Delilah, being pushed in front of a train. Before fleeing the scene, the murderer shouted two words: bat eater. So the bloody messes don’t really bother Cora—she’s more bothered by the germs on the subway railing, the bare hands of a stranger, the hidden viruses in every corner, and the bite marks on her coffee table. Of course, ever since Delilah was killed in front of her, Cora can’t be sure what's real and what’s in her head. She pushes away all feelings and ignores the advice of her aunt to prepare for the Hungry Ghost Festival, when the gates of hell open. But she can't ignore the dread in her stomach as she keeps finding bat carcasses at crime scenes, or the scary fact that all her recent cleanups have been the bodies of East Asian women. As Cora will soon learn, you can’t just ignore hungry ghosts. For fans of Stephen Graham Jones and Gretchen Felker-Martin, Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng is a wildly original, darkly humorous, and subversive contemporary novel from a striking new voice in horror.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng

1922. Mentre Perdido si sta riprendendo dalla devastazione, la costruzione di una diga è l'unica difesa possibile contro la furia dell'acqua. Ma il cantiere riversa sulla cittadina ancora precaria, un ulteriore carico di imprevisti: la rivolta degli operai, il capriccio delle correnti, il mistero di alcune sparizioni. La matriarca Mary-Love si scontra con Elinor, ora parte della famiglia Caskey. Macchinazioni, alleanze amene, sacrifici: a Perdido i mutamenti saranno profondi, le conseguenze irreversibili. La lotta è appena cominciata. Secondo episodio della saga bestseller dell’autore amato da Stephen King.

La diga. Blackwater II

La determinazione di Elinor finalmente dà i suoi frutti. I nemici di ieri diverranno gli amici di domani e i mutamenti giungeranno da luoghi inaspettati. Anche per il mondo si apre una nuova èra, portatrice però di pericolo e distruzione: il conflitto in Europa farà affluire sangue nuovo a Perdido. Nella proprietà dei Caskey, gli uomini vanno e vengono. Come marionette che non sanno di essere appese a un filo. Quarto episodio della saga bestseller dell’autore amato da Stephen King.

La guerra. Blackwater 4

Strangling vines and meat-hungry flora fill this unruly garden of strange stories, selected for their significance as the seeds of the villainous (or perhaps just misunderstood) 'killer plant' in fiction, film and video games. Step within to marvel at Charlotte Perkins Gilman's giant wistaria and H.G. Wells' hungry orchid; hear the calls of the ethereal women of the wood, and the frightful drone of the moaning lily; and do tread carefully around E. Nesbit's wandering creepers. Every strain of vegetable threat (and one deadly fungus) can be found within this new collection, representing the very best tales from the undergrowth of Gothic fiction.

Evil Roots

With “an ever-rising tone of dread that builds to a terrifying crescendo” (Marcus Kliewar, author of We Used to Live Here), this unputdownable horror novel follows a teenager searching for answers about the mysterious events and disappearances that plague the wilderness camp for troubled teens he was sent to, taking survival and discipline to a frightening extreme. Thirteen-year-old Ben is sent to an isolated reform program for troubled teens by a juvenile court judge. But when he arrives at the camp, located on the edge of the vast wilderness of northwestern Montana, he immediately recognizes that there is something weird about the counselors. They’re too friendly and upbeat…yet Ben can tell there’s an undercurrent of menace. As he gets to know the boys in his cabin, he soon discovers that they each have far more going for them than whatever crime landed them there. And each has a different critical skill, one that could help them unearth what is really going on in this place—and how to make it out alive. They are inching ever closer to the truth, but the hidden evil beneath the camp’s surface will make itself known in order to deter them. Brooding, clever, and sinister, Wilderness Reform will keep you “in a vice-grip until the very end” (Matt Wesolowski, author of the Six Stories series).

Wilderness Reform

The Body Artist begins with normality: breakfast between a married couple, Lauren and Rey, in their ramshackle rented house on the New England coast. Recording their delicate, intimate, half-complete thoughts and words, Don DeLillo proves himself a stunningly unsentimental observer of our idiosyncratic relationships. But after breakfast, Rey makes a decision that leaves Lauren utterly alone, or seems to. As Lauren, the body artist of the title, becomes strangely detached from herself and the temporal world, the novel becomes an exploration of a highly abnormal grieving process; a fascinating exposé of 'who we are when we are not rehearsing who we are'; and a rarefied study of trauma and creativity, absence and presence, isolation and communion.

The Body Artist

"Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck is a classic novella that explores the dreams, hardships, and complexities of human relationships during the Great Depression. The story revolves around two itinerant ranch workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, as they navigate a world marked by economic hardship and social injustice. Set against the backdrop of the American West, the narrative delves into the deep friendship between George and Lennie, two contrasting characters bound by a shared dream of owning a piece of land. Lennie, despite his immense physical strength, possesses a childlike innocence that complicates their journey. The novel poignantly addresses themes of loneliness, the pursuit of the American Dream, and the harsh realities faced by those on the margins of society. Steinbeck's rich prose captures the essence of the time and place, offering a compelling exploration of human resilience and the fragility of dreams. "Of Mice and Men" stands as a timeless work that continues to resonate with readers, prompting reflection on the enduring nature of friendship, the pursuit of happiness, and the societal challenges that shape the human experience.

Of Mice and Men

A DAKOTA JOHNSON TEATIME BOOK CLUB PICK · INSTANT #2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A FOLK TALE. A HORROR STORY. A LOVE STORY. AN ENCHANTMENT. ""A dark, gorgeous concoction.”—New York Times “Beautiful, terrifying . . . . Destined to become a classic.""—Washington Post From an incendiary new talent, a contemporary queer folktale about a mother and daughter living in the woods, for fans of Angela Carter, Margaret Atwood, and Julia Armfield. Margot and Mama have lived by the forest ever since Margot can remember. When Margot is not at school, they spend quiet days together in their cottage, waiting for strangers to knock on their door. Strays, Mama calls them. People who have strayed too far from the road. Mama loves the strays. She feeds them wine, keeps them warm. Then she satisfies her burning appetite by picking apart their bodies. But Mama’s want is stronger than her hunger sometimes, and when a beautiful, white-toothed stray named Eden turns up in the heart of a snowstorm, Margot must confront the shifting dynamics of her family, untangle her own desires, and make her bid for freedom. With this gothic coming-of-age tale, debut novelist Lucy Rose explores how women swallow their anger, desire, and animal instincts—and wrings the relationship between mother and daughter until blood drips from it.

The Lamb

This newly discovered story by literary legend Sylvia Plath stands on its own and is remarkable for its symbolic, allegorical approach to a young woman’s rebellion against convention and forceful taking control of her own life. Written while Sylvia Plath was a student at Smith College in 1952, Mary Ventura and The Ninth Kingdom tells the story of a young woman’s fateful train journey. Lips the color of blood, the sun an unprecedented orange, train wheels that sound like “guilt, and guilt, and guilt”: these are just some of the things Mary Ventura begins to notice on her journey to the ninth kingdom. “But what is the ninth kingdom?” she asks a kind-seeming lady in her carriage. “It is the kingdom of the frozen will,” comes the reply. “There is no going back.” Sylvia Plath’s strange, dark tale of female agency and independence, written not long after she herself left home, grapples with mortality in motion.

Mary Ventura and The Ninth Kingdom

Audrey Rose Wadsworth e il suo assillante compagno, Thomas Cresswell, si imbarcano sulla lussuosa RMS Etruria, diretti alla loro prossima meta, l'America. La settimana di spettacoli circensi che allieterà la traversata - compresa l'esibizione di un giovane e promettente artista della fuga - sembra la distrazione ideale prima del tetro incarico che li attende oltreoceano. Ma presto il viaggio si trasforma in un festival degli orrori quando, una dopo l'altra, giovani donne vengono trovate morte. Per Audrey Rose, il Circo al chiaro di luna - con i suoi numeri inquietanti e i personaggi grotteschi - si trasforma in un incubo e la fa tornare alla sua ossessiva ricerca di risposte. Gli indizi sull'identità di una delle vittime sembrano condurre a qualcuno a cui Audrey Rose vuole molto bene: riuscirà la ragazza a fermare il misterioso assassino prima del suo terrificante gran finale?

In fuga da Houdini

Charles Dexter Ward è un giovane proveniente da un'agiata famiglia del Rhode Island, studioso di scienze e antichità, che si imbatte durante le sue ricerche nella figura di Joseph Curwen, suo antenato dall'oscura fama di stregone e negromante. Ben presto il giovane diventa ossessionato dal suo avo e, chiusosi nel suo laboratorio, inizia a studiarne i documenti e a praticare le arti oscure giungendo sino alla soglia della follia. A scoprire gli orrori evocati dalle terribili pratiche messe in atto dal ragazzo sarà il dottor Willett, medico di famiglia incaricato dai parenti di Charles di far luce sulle cause della degenerazione mentale del protagonista. Howard Phillips Lovecraft, spesso citato come H.P. Lovecraft (Providence, 20 agosto 1890 – Providence, 15 marzo 1937), è stato uno scrittore, poeta, critico letterario e saggista statunitense, riconosciuto tra i maggiori scrittori di letteratura horror insieme ad Edgar Allan Poe e considerato da molti uno dei precursori della fantascienza angloamericana. Le sue opere, una contaminazione tra horror, fantascienza soft, dark fantasy e low fantasy, sono state spesso descritte, anche da lui stesso, col termine weird fiction (dove weird sta per "strano"), venendo riconosciute tra le principali origini del moderno genere letterario del new weird.Autore di numerosi racconti, come Dagon, Il colore venuto dallo spazio, Il richiamo di Cthulhu e L'orrore di Dunwich, e di romanzi, tra cui Il caso di Charles Dexter Ward, Le montagne della follia e La maschera di Innsmouth, oltre ad alcuni racconti in versi, Lovecraft non venne apprezzato in particolar modo dai critici del suo tempo. Ad esempio, il racconto Il richiamo di Cthulhu venne inizialmente rifiutato in quanto definito troppo "straniante" secondo l'espressione di Wright, e non godette mai di buona fama se non dopo la sua morte. Molte delle sue opere sono state fonte di ispirazione per artisti di tutto il mondo, nella letteratura così come nel cinema e nella musica. Uno dei maggiori studiosi lovecraftiani, S. T. Joshi, definisce infatti la sua opera come "un inclassificabile amalgama di fantasy e fantascienza, e non è sorprendente che abbia influenzato in maniera considerevole lo sviluppo successivo di entrambi i generi". Dal punto di vista del pensiero nei suoi racconti e saggi coniò la filosofia del cosmicismo, in conseguenza del suo ateismo e delle nuove scoperte scientifiche, e le sue idee in molti campi furono spesso controverse.

Il caso di Charles Dexter Ward

Il racconto La casa stregata venne ispirato a Lovecraft da una casa realmente esistente a Providence, da lui definita «maledetta o nutrita di cadaveri». Il tema di antichi orrori che si risvegliano, di misteriose auree demoniache, la suspense e il senso di oppressione soprannaturale trasmessi da queste pagine si incontrano anche nel celebre L’orrore a Red Hook, molto citato dagli appassionati di Lovecraft che sostengono l’ipotesi che lo scrittore fosse un affiliato di una setta occulta, vista la precisione con cui riporta alcune formule usate durante rituali esoterici. Con L’orrore di Dunwich entriamo in un altro mondo, in quell’universo alieno inaugurato dalla figura di Cthulhu che lo scrittore svilupperà in una serie di famose raccolte. Ne I sogni nella casa stregata Lovecraft introduce un’intuizione che influenzerà molti scrittori di fantasy suoi contemporanei: l’orrore non proviene solo dallo spazio infinito, ma anche dall’infinità di universi paralleli al nostro. Creatore e caposcuola incontestato del filone dell’orrore soprannaturale, Lovecraft fa risalire le radici della sua narrativa alle angosce e agli incubi più oscuri dell’animo umano. Howard Phillips Lovecraft è stato uno scrittore, poeta, critico letterario e saggista statunitense, riconosciuto tra i maggiori scrittori di letteratura horror insieme ad Edgar Allan Poe e considerato da molti uno dei precursori della fantascienza angloamericana. Le sue opere, una contaminazione tra horror, fantascienza soft, dark fantasy e low fantasy, sono state spesso descritte, anche da lui stesso, col termine weird fiction, venendo riconosciute tra le principali origini del moderno genere letterario del new weird. Autore di numerosi racconti, come Dagon, Il colore venuto dallo spazio, Il richiamo di Cthulhu e L'orrore di Dunwich, e di romanzi, tra cui Il caso di Charles Dexter Ward, Le montagne della follia e La maschera di Innsmouth, oltre ad alcuni racconti in versi, Lovecraft non venne apprezzato in particolar modo dai critici del suo tempo. Ad esempio, il racconto Il richiamo di Cthulhu venne inizialmente rifiutato in quanto definito troppo "straniante" secondo l'espressione di Wright, e non godette mai di buona fama se non dopo la sua morte. Molte delle sue opere sono state fonte di ispirazione per artisti di tutto il mondo, nella letteratura così come nel cinema e nella musica. Uno dei maggiori studiosi lovecraftiani, S. T. Joshi, definisce infatti la sua opera come "un inclassificabile amalgama di fantasy e fantascienza, e non è sorprendente che abbia influenzato in maniera considerevole lo sviluppo successivo di entrambi i generi". Dal punto di vista del pensiero nei suoi racconti e saggi coniò la filosofia del cosmicismo, in conseguenza del suo ateismo e delle nuove scoperte scientifiche, e le sue idee in molti campi furono spesso controverse.

World Classics

La casa stregata

"Fu in una lugubre notte di novembre che vidi la realizzazione delle mie fatiche. Preso da grande angoscia, raccolsi i miei speciali strumenti così da poter infondere una scintilla di vita nella cosa inanimata che giaceva ai miei piedi. Era già l’una di notte; la pioggia picchiettava ossessiva contro i vetri, e la mia candela era quasi consumata, quando, alla debole luce semi-estinta, scorsi l’occhio giallo, fermo, della creatura aprirsi; respirava a fatica e un moto convulso agitava le sue membra. [...]" Sono curiose le circostanze che portarono alla stesura di quest’opera così amata. Tutto accadde nella piovosa estate del 1816, che gli Shelley trascorsero sul Lago di Ginevra, a casa del poeta Lord Byron. Byron, avvinto da alcuni racconti tedeschi dell’orrore, sfidò i suoi ospiti nella stesura di storie horror per vincer la noia. Dopo aver pensato invano a un trama, una notte Mary fece un “sogno a occhi aperti” e scrisse di getto il suo racconto, che piacque a tutti e vinse la sfida. Proprio da qui si svilupperà il romanzo che conosciamo. Lungi dall’essere una semplice storia di mostri, Mary Shelley indaga le conseguenze nefaste di un’ambizione che diventa ossessione mortale e svela la brutalità di una società che non perdona la difformità e tanto meno la deformità. È il primo, e per certi aspetti unico, racconto di questo genere a porsi anche dalla prospettiva del mostro: vittima prima ancor che carnefice. Se nel racconto di Mary Shelley a parlare è sempre il capitan Walton (che descrive alla sorella, in un diario di bordo, i fatti straordinari di Victor Frankenstein e del “mostro”), la scelta di una voce femminile per leggere il testo può sembrar bizzarra. Ma se la stessa Shelley avesse letto queste pagine ai suoi amici in quella lontana, tempestosa notte ginevrina?

Frankenstein

1958. Gli anni passano, tra ricevimenti fastosi, unioni insolite e rivelazioni travolgenti, ma non portano quiete per i membri della famiglia Caskey. Dopo l’età dell’oro, ritornano giorni foschi. Qualcosa di terribile incombe su Perdido, i suoi abitanti e i suoi fiumi. Il tempo delle profezie è ormai giunto. Sesto e ultimo episodio della saga bestseller dell’autore amato da Stephen King.

Pioggia. Blackwater 6

1928, Perdido. Il clan Caskey è tormentato dalla diatriba tra Mary-Love ed Elinor. Ma all'orizzonte arrivano altre ombre: sui legami, sui patrimoni, sulle anime. E le ripercussioni varcheranno i confini dell’immaginazione. Da quando Elinor ha preso possesso della casa più bella di Perdido, negli angoli bui della magione si annidano ricordi spaventosi che, come ragni instancabili, tessono tele mortali. Terzo episodio della saga bestseller dell’autore amato da Stephen King.

La casa. Blackwater III

Pura e semplice descrizione della lotteria che si svolge nell’atmosfera pastorale, quasi idilliaca, di un villaggio del New England in un luminoso mattino di giugno – come ogni anno da tempo immemore. Eppure, giunto al termine di questo racconto, l’ascoltatore scoprirà da sé, cosa renda questo racconto un vero e proprio classico della letteratura del terrore.

La lotteria

La diciottenne Mary Katherine ci racconta della grande casa dove vive reclusa con la bella sorella Constance e lo zio invalido. Tutti gli altri membri della famiglia Blackwood sono morti avvelenati sei anni prima, seduti a tavola, proprio lì in sala da pranzo. E quando arriva il cugino Charles a rompere l’armonia, si snoda sotto i nostri occhi, con piccoli tocchi stregoneschi, una storia sottilmente perturbante che ha le ingannevoli caratteristiche formali di una commedia.

Abbiamo sempre vissuto nel castello + La Lotteria

1946. Come un organismo vivente, la famiglia Caskey si sviluppa e si trasforma, tra riavvicinamenti inattesi, rancori sordi e separazioni inevitabili le relazioni si evolvono. Ormai a capo della segheria e punto di riferimento del clan, Miriam lavora instancabilmente per rendere i Caskey sempre più ricchi. Una scoperta sorprendente e miracolosa distribuirà la ricchezza anche in città. Ma sarà sufficiente questa improvvisa fortuna, ora che la natura reclama il suo debito? Quinto episodio della saga bestseller dell’autore amato da Stephen King.

La fortuna. Blackwater 5

All'inizio del secolo scorso il professore Nathaniel Peaslee sviene in aula durante una lezione. Riprende conoscenza solo cinque anni dopo, e scopre che in quel lasso di tempo qualcuno o qualcosa si è impossessato del suo corpo. Si è trattato di uno scambio di coscienze che lo ha portato a vivere in un luogo e un tempo remoti, prigioniero di una razza aliena. O almeno questo è ciò che teme. Howard Phillips Lovecraft, spesso citato come H.P. Lovecraft (Providence, 20 agosto 1890 – Providence, 15 marzo 1937), è stato uno scrittore, poeta, critico letterario e saggista statunitense, riconosciuto tra i maggiori scrittori di letteratura horror insieme ad Edgar Allan Poe e considerato da molti uno dei precursori della fantascienza angloamericana. Le sue opere, una contaminazione tra horror, fantascienza soft, dark fantasy e low fantasy, sono state spesso descritte, anche da lui stesso, col termine weird fiction (dove weird sta per "strano"), venendo riconosciute tra le principali origini del moderno genere letterario del new weird.Autore di numerosi racconti, come Dagon, Il colore venuto dallo spazio, Il richiamo di Cthulhu e L'orrore di Dunwich, e di romanzi, tra cui Il caso di Charles Dexter Ward, Le montagne della follia e La maschera di Innsmouth, oltre ad alcuni racconti in versi, Lovecraft non venne apprezzato in particolar modo dai critici del suo tempo. Ad esempio, il racconto Il richiamo di Cthulhu venne inizialmente rifiutato in quanto definito troppo "straniante" secondo l'espressione di Wright, e non godette mai di buona fama se non dopo la sua morte. Molte delle sue opere sono state fonte di ispirazione per artisti di tutto il mondo, nella letteratura così come nel cinema e nella musica. Uno dei maggiori studiosi lovecraftiani, S. T. Joshi, definisce infatti la sua opera come "un inclassificabile amalgama di fantasy e fantascienza, e non è sorprendente che abbia influenzato in maniera considerevole lo sviluppo successivo di entrambi i generi". Dal punto di vista del pensiero nei suoi racconti e saggi coniò la filosofia del cosmicismo, in conseguenza del suo ateismo e delle nuove scoperte scientifiche, e le sue idee in molti campi furono spesso controverse.

L'ombra calata dal tempo

Chills & Goosebumps for Holidays is a captivating anthology that intertwines the spine-tingling thrills of gothic and mystery genres with the festive charm of holiday tales. This eclectic collection showcases a wide spectrum of literary forms—ranging from classic ghost stories to detective mysteries and tales of psychological suspense—pivoting around the theme of holidays. The anthology dives into the timeless allure of spectral and suspenseful fiction, offering readers a stirring mix of narratives that evoke both the warmth and the eerie atmospheres of holiday gatherings. Its remarkable variety ensures that each story, while uniquely unsettling, complements the next, delivering a vivid panorama of bygone literary brilliance. The contributing authors of Chills & Goosebumps for Holidays are towering figures of the 19th and early 20th-century literary landscape—visionaries whose works have been pivotal in shaping the gothic and mystery genres. The anthology unites these luminaries under the festive pretext, drawing from their distinct cultural and literary backgrounds, which serve to breathe life into the overarching themes of suspense and festivity. Through their diverse narrative voices, the anthology captures the zeitgeist of their respective eras, offering readers a multifaceted exploration of fear and delight intertwined with celebratory rituals. This anthology is an exceptional gateway for readers to embark on a journey through diverse narrative landscapes, granting them invaluable insights into the cultural and thematic nuances of noir fiction during the holidays. It is a treasure trove of literary gems that invites scholars, enthusiasts, and casual readers alike to experience the confluence of fear and festivity through the eyes of literary masters. Chills & Goosebumps for Holidays is more than just a collection of stories—it is a dynamic dialogue between classic authors that transcends time, offering an enriching and thought-provoking reading experience.

Chills & Goosebumps for Holidays

In "Rosa Alchemica," W. B. Yeats explores the mystical and philosophical dimensions of alchemy through a symbolic narrative that intertwines the material and spiritual realms. Written in a lyrical style characteristic of Yeats's later work, the text delves into themes of transformation, desire, and the quest for ultimate knowledge. The book is steeped in rich imagery and esoteric symbolism, reflecting Yeats'Äôs engagement with various traditions, including mysticism and occult practices, and illustrates his conviction in the interrelation between the physical and spiritual worlds, presenting alchemy as both a metaphorical and literal pathway to enlightenment. W. B. Yeats, a pivotal figure in the Irish literary revival and a Nobel laureate, was deeply influenced by the esoteric traditions of his day, including the Theosophical Society and the Golden Dawn. His fascination with the mystical and the metaphysical is intricately woven into his poetry and prose. "Rosa Alchemica" stands as an embodiment of his exploration into the metaphysical, reflecting his desire to synthesize profound philosophical concepts with personal and national identity amidst the backdrop of a rapidly changing Ireland. For readers intrigued by the intersection of poetry and philosophy, "Rosa Alchemica" is an essential addition to Yeats's oeuvre. This work beckons not only those interested in literary aesthetics but also readers who seek to unpack the deeper spiritual and philosophical inquiries that challenge the boundaries of understanding. Yeats'Äôs profound engagement with the theme of transformation invites readers to reflect on their own journeys of self-discovery.

Rosa Alchemica

During her lifetime Violet Paget, who wrote as Vernon Lee, was referred to as 'the greatest of modern exponents of the supernatural in fiction', and yet today she remains on the periphery of the genre. This collection of her uniquely weird short stories and dark fantasies proves why she was once considered among the best of the genre, and why she deserves to return to those ranks today. From modernised folk tales such as 'Marsyas in Flanders' and 'The Legend of Madame Krasinska' to ingenious psychological hauntings such as the titular 'A Phantom Lover' and 'A Wicked Voice', Lee's own voice is just as distinctive and captivating - her weird imaginings just as freshly unsettling - as in her fin-de-siècle heyday.

A Phantom Lover and Other Dark Tales by Vernon Lee

A figure emerges from a painting to pursue a bitter vengeance; the last transmission of a dying man haunts the airwaves, seeking to reveal his murderer; a treasure hunt disturbs an ancient presence in the silence of a lost tomb. From the vaults of the British Library comes a new anthology celebrating the best works of forgotten, never since republished, supernatural fiction from the early 20th century. Waiting within are malevolent spirits eager to possess the living and mysterious spectral guardians a diverse host of phantoms exhumed from the rare pages of literary magazines and newspaper serials to thrill once more.

Glimpses of the Unknown

"The Call of Cthulhu" is a short story by American writer H. P. Lovecraft. Written in the summer of 1926, it was first published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales, in February 1928. The story's narrator, Francis Wayland Thurston, recounts his discovery of various notes left behind by his great uncle, George Gammell Angell, a prominent Professor of Semitic languages at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, who died during the winter of 1926 after being "jostled by a nautical-looking negro".

The Call of Cthulhu (Unabridged)

Silence A Fable by Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Demon recounts the story of how he tormented a man in the Congo. The man was seated on a rock on the edge of a churning river. The river was bordered by water lillies and surrounded by a forest of poisonous flowers. The man trembled in fear but did not run from the world he saw. Demon then cast a spell that turned the world into a violent one. The winds raged. The Earth shook, but the man remained still trembling. The Demon then cast a spell of silence. The Earth ceased to move. The wind stopped as did the water. There was complete silence. The man stood and strained to hear something. The man was then overcome with terror and “fled afar off, in haste.” Edgar Allan Poe The name Poe brings to mind images of murderers and madmen, premature burials, and mysterious women who return from the dead. His works have been in print since 1827 and include such literary classics as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and The Fall of the House of Usher. This versatile writer’s oeuvre includes short stories, poetry, a novel, a textbook, a book of scientific theory, and hundreds of essays and book reviews. He is widely acknowledged as the inventor of the modern detective story and an innovator in the science fiction genre, but he made his living as America’s first great literary critic and theoretician. Poe’s reputation today rests primarily on his tales of terror as well as on his haunting lyric poetry. Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.

Silence: A Fable

"The Oval Portrait" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe involving the disturbing circumstances surrounding a portrait in a chateau. It is one of his shortest stories, filling only two pages in its initial publication in 1842. The tale begins with an injured narrator (the story offers no further explanation of his or her impairment) seeking refuge in an abandoned mansion in the Apennines. The narrator spends his or her time admiring the paintings that decorate the strangely shaped room and perusing a volume, found upon a pillow, that describes them...

The Oval Portrait

"Fascinating... Witty and Sage." Library Journal. In the polluted River Thames, a monster is born. Formed of filth and grime, Derek Leech emerges from the murky depths, destined to found a global media empire. In 1978, three school friends with high aspirations—Michael, Mark and Mickey—are offered a deal by the mysterious magnate. If they agree, their future wealth will be ensured, but they must offer Leech a sacrifice in return, a conspiracy of lifelong pain against their absent friend, Neil. Accepting the terms, the men prosper over the next fifteen years. But as the era of excess comes to an end, the trio must pay the price for their success, and they soon discover that fame and fortune is a fate worse than death. A brand-new edition of the critically acclaimed novel, featuring five short stories by the award-winning author. "Newman's sprinting intensity... puts him into the first rank of current horror novelists." Booklist "Fans of 'Deal with the Devil' stories ought to be delighted with this novel... which brings a new twist or two to the genre." Publishers Weekly

The Quorum

This is the unabridged audio recording of M.R. James' excellent ghost story 'A Vignette'. The author's stories were written with the purpose of being read aloud in the long tradition of spooky Christmas Eve tales. This highly-praised version, narrated by David Collings, is sure to scare and delight in equal measure.

The Complete Ghost Stories of M.R. James

A Vignette

Late one summer night, Elizabeth Sanderson receives the devastating news that every mother fears: her 13-year-old son, Tommy, has vanished in the woods of a local park. Riddled with worry, pain, and guilt, Elizabeth is wholly unprepared for the strange series of events that follow. As the search grows more desperate, and the implications of what happened become more haunting and sinister, no one is prepared for the shocking truth about that night.

Disappearance at Devil's Rock

Embarking upon a journey to discover the limits of one’s sanity and guilty conscience, "The Black Cat" is a perfect example of how no bad deed goes unpunished. Obsessively dark and violent, the story draws a psychological portrait of Poe’s own miserable life spent in depression and alcoholism. Together with the superstitious symbolism of the black cat, Poe’s narrative teems with guilt, violence, and dark portents. Similar to "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado", the story shows to what extent can man’s barbarity and viciousness go, and how dire the consequences for his sanity can be. Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American poet, author, and literary critic. Most famous for his poetry, short stories, and tales of the supernatural, mysterious, and macabre, he is also regarded as the inventor of the detective genre and a contributor to the emergence of science fiction, dark romanticism, and weird fiction. His most famous works include "The Raven" (1945), "The Black Cat" (1943), and "The Gold-Bug" (1843).

Horror Classics

The Black Cat

This is the unabridged audio recording of M.R. James' excellent ghost story 'Mr Humphreys and His Inheritance'. The author's stories were written with the purpose of being read aloud in the long tradition of spooky Christmas Eve tales. This highly-praised version, narrated by David Collings, is sure to scare and delight in equal measure.

Mr Humphreys and His Inheritance

A haunted mansion. A frustrated ghost. A family that refuses to be scared. When the Otis family moves into Canterville Chase, they discover that the mansion is home to a ghost who has terrified generations. But to his dismay, the Otises not only ignore his attempts to frighten them—they mock him. Desperate, Sir Simon, the mansion's resident ghost, faces his worst nightmare: a fearless family. Only Virginia, the eldest daughter, seems to understand his suffering and may hold the key to his eternal rest. With humor and a touch of melancholy, The Canterville Ghost is a literary gem that blends the supernatural with satire.

Universals

The Canterville Ghost

When the Cabot Museum of Archaeology acquires an ancient mummy from a mysterious island in the Pacific, it becomes the center of eerie fascination and growing dread. As scholars and visitors alike are drawn to its unsettling presence, strange events unfold, revealing secrets that transcend time and sanity. H.P. Lovecraft and Hazel Heald craft a chilling tale of cosmic horror, forbidden knowledge, and the terror of the unknown.

Out of the Eons

A Gothic Horror of the Vampire, predating Dracula by some 26 years. Carmilla is a tale of creeping horror, narrated by a young girl, who finds herself beset by a mysterious illness, that her newfound and mysterious friend, Carmilla surely can't have anything to do with... Considered one of the founding works within the Vampire genre, its influence can be found throughout popular horror fiction and other media. Written by Sheridan Le Fanu and narrated by Michael Ward.

Carmilla

The best of M R James' ghost stories. Includes the classics "The Mezzotint", "Whistle and I'll Come for You My Lad", "Lost Hearts", "The Tractate Middoth", and "The Casting of the Runes". Narrated by Michael Ward

Ghost Stories of an Antiquary

F. Scott Fitzgerald created the novella "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" as a short story, originally published in Collier's magazine in 1922. It tells the tale of Benjamin, son of Roger Button, who was born as an old man and who, over the course of his life, miraculously ages backwards. Beginning life as an octogenarian in his crib, Benjamin grows "older" while his body, conversely, appears younger and younger with each passing birthday. The story takes us through Benjamin's entire life; his difficult adolescence, his marriage, life as a soldier and father and, ultimately, his inevitable descent into infanthood. At once hilarious, frightening and satiric, Fitzgerald's wonderful story has been adapted for both the stage and screen and is presented here in its original, unabridged format.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Unabridged

Varney the Vampire stands as a monumental collection in the Gothic literature domain, eloquently showcasing the emergence and evolution of vampire lore in Victorian England. This anthology encapsulates rigorous explorations of themes such as morality, immortality, and existential dread, articulated through a mosaic of epistolary accounts, poetic prose, and chilling narrative segments. Its resonance with the angst and aestheticism of the Victorian era invites readers to a profound journey through the darkest recesses of human fear and fascination with the supernatural, making it a cornerstone collection for enthusiasts and scholars alike. The anthology's masterful weaving by James Malcolm Rymer and Thomas Peckett Prest, both pivotal figures in the penny dreadful phenomenon, offers a panoramic view of the cultural and literary impulses that shaped the era's affinity for horror and melodrama. These authors, through their collaborative zeitgeist, align Varney the Vampire with pivotal gothic conventions and the public's voracious appetite for sensationalism, thereby enriching the gothic tapestry with their serialized narratives that captivated and horrified their contemporaries. Varney the Vampire is an indispensable resource for anyone keen to delve into the origins and complexities of vampire mythology and 19th-century Gothic literature. It provides an exceptional opportunity to explore a pivotal era in literary history through a diverse array of narrative styles and thematic explorations. Readers will find in Varney not only a historical artifact but also a source of continuing relevance and intrigue that invites reflection on larger existential questions through the lens of its immortal protagonist.

Varney the Vampire

"The Great God Pan" is a novella written by Arthur Machen. A version of the story was published in the magazine Whirlwind in 1890, and Machen revised and extended it for its book publication (together with another story, "The Inmost Light") in 1894. On publication it was widely denounced by the press as degenerate and horrific because of its decadent style and sexual content, although it has since garnered a reputation as a classic of horror. Machen's story was only one of many at the time to focus on Pan as a useful symbol for the power of nature and paganism.

The Great God Pan

Graphic novel adaptation of the Shirley Jackson Award nominated novelette “Pale Toes” by Marko Hautala A backpacker couple arrive at a village in Southern France. At the local inn, they meet a man who offers to take them to prehistoric underground caves that are off limits for regular tourists. He shows them his bare foot which has only one toe left. The rest, he says, are still somewhere in the caves. The mystery of the missing toes takes the couple deep into the timeless darkness underground. Artist Broci and author Marko Hautala will take you on a claustrophobic journey to the center of your deepest fears.

Pale Toes

Originally appearing in serial format just before the turn of the twentieth century, The Turn of the Screw is considered a classic of Gothic fiction. Critically acclaimed for its ability to create a sense of confusion and an atmosphere of suspense in the reader, the story focuses on a governess caring for two children at a remote country estate who becomes convinced that the grounds are haunted. With so many works since drawing on the themes explored by Henry James in this novella, this is an absolute must-read for any fan of the paranormal.

The Turn of the Screw

A grisly spirit turns travelling companion for the unwitting passenger of a London bus; a repulsive neighbour returns from the grave, rejected by the very earth; an innocuous back garden becomes the stage for a nightmare encounter with druidic sacrifice. From deep in the British Library vaults emerges a new selection of E.F. Benson's most innovative, spine-tingling and satisfyingly dark 'spook stories'. Complete with an introduction exploring the fascinating story of Benson's life, and including the never-before-republished story 'Billy Comes Through', this volume hails the chilling return of an experimental master to whom writers of supernatural fiction have long been indebted.

The Outcast and Other Dark Tales by E.F. Benson

When pop megastar Zach Crystal dies in a fire at his remote mansion, his mysterious demise rips open the bitter divide between those who adored his music and his endless charity work, and those who viewed him as a despicable predator, who manipulated and abused young and vulnerable girls. Online journalist, Scott King, whose Six Stories podcasts have become an internet sensation, investigates the accusations of sexual abuse and murder that were levelled at Crystal before he died. But as Scott begins to ask questions and rake over old graves, some startling inconsistencies emerge: Was the fire at Crystal's remote home really an accident? Are reports of a haunting really true? Why was he never officially charged?

Six Stories

Deity

An old-fashioned ghost story with a twist and a chuckle, "The legend of Countess Bertha" shows us the more playful side of Alexandre Dumas.

The Legend of Countess Bertha

Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker, featuring as its primary antagonist the vampire Count Dracula. Dracula has been attributed to many literary genres including vampire literature, horror fiction, the gothic novel and invasion literature. Structurally it is an epistolary novel, that is, told as a series of diary entries and letters. Literary critics have examined many themes in the novel, such as the role of women in Victorian culture, conventional and conservative sexuality, immigration, colonialism, postcolonialism and folklore. Although Stoker did not invent the vampire, the novel's influence on the popularity of vampires has been singularly responsible for many theatrical and film interpretations throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.

Dracula

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