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In the shadow of the Emerald Isle, the old gods and the vengeful dead still hold sway.
This comprehensive volume gathers a chilling collection of supernatural and weird fiction from Ireland's most renowned literary figures, spanning the foundational Gothic masters to the sophisticated modernists. It explores the unique flavor of Irish terror, characterised by intense atmosphere, deep folklore, and psychological dread.
Prepare for encounters with the truly terrifying:
Masters of the Gothic and Macabre:
Footsteps in the Lobby by J. Sheridan le Fanu: From the father of the Irish ghost story, a masterclass in atmospheric suspense where a mundane sound in an old house becomes the chilling, relentless herald of a ghostly doom.
The Man from Shorrox' by Bram Stoker: The author of Dracula offers a tale of uncanny menace, exploring a strange visitor or creature with dark, unsettling origins.
The Doomed Sisters by Charles Robert Maturin: A piece of high-stakes, intense Romantic Gothicism, focusing on religious terror, melodrama, and the chilling finality of an inescapable, shared curse.
The Child Who Loved a Grave by Fitz-James O'Brien: An early master of bizarre fantasy and horror, O'Brien delivers an unsettling tale that mixes innocent curiosity with macabre obsession.
Literary Giants and Unsettling Tales:
The Miraculous Revenge by George Bernard Shaw: A fascinating and rare piece of fiction from the Nobel laureate, a witty, philosophical take on justice, consequence, and a very Irish form of supernatural retribution.
Five Pounds of Flesh by J. M. Synge: From the celebrated playwright, a tale rooted in the stark realism of peasant life but touching upon themes of moral decay, grim bargaining, or supernatural debt.
Hidden Horrors and Global Weirdness:
The Unburied Legs by Gerald Griffin: A grim and grotesque piece, reflecting the darker, more visceral side of Irish folklore and the terror of the incomplete dead.
The Water O' the Dead by John Guinan: A story steeped in traditional Irish myth, exploring a localised, chilling entity or dangerous supernatural pool.
The Cedar Closet by Patrick Lafcadio Hearn: Written by the Irish-Greek author who became a master of Japanese ghost stories, this tale returns to Western roots with a piece of haunting, claustrophobic dread.
A House Possessed by Sax Rohmer: The creator of Fu Manchu offers a story of psychic invasion or haunting that locks the reader in a battle against a palpable, internal evil.
Will by Vincent O' Sullivan and The Bride by M. P. Shiel: Two more contributions from masters of the weird and fantastic, ensuring a diverse range of supernatural shock and existential dread.
This collection is a definitive testament to Ireland's rich and terrifying literary heritage.
