Arthur Machen was a Welsh author born in Caerleon in 1863. He was known for his chilling tales that could raise the hair on even the most stoic necks. Often hailed as the master of horror and comparable to other authors such as H. P. Lovecraft, he had a knack for crafting stories that would leave readers haunted.
Machen’s works, like The Great God Pan, are a treat for those who love a fright. He had a talent for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary, proving that the real horror is often lurking just beyond the veil of the mundane—or maybe just behind the nearest pumpkin!
Though he wasn’t a fan of modernity, Machen had a flair for the uncanny, making him a spooky literary figure who’d give you the chills! So, if you’re in the mood for a literary fright night, grab a cozy blanket, turn off the lights, and dive into the eerie world of Machen- just be sure to watch out for any lurking creatures in the dark. They might just be Machenic monsters!
A selection of Arthur Machen’s works from the National Library’s collection
Arthur Machen horror stories, 2024. (ISBN: 9781804177952)
The Chronicle of Clemendy, 2022. (ISBN: 9781838062835)
Faunus: the decorative imagination of Arthur Machen, 2019. (ISBN: 9781907222757)
The autobiography of Arthur Machen, 2017. (ISBN: 9781905784929)
Arthur Machen: masters of the weird tale, 2013. (ISBN: 9781613470046)
Strange Roads, 1923.
The Great God Pan, and The Inmost Light, 1895.
Marguerite, Queen. The fortunate lovers: twenty-seven novels of the Queen of Navarre, 1887. [Translated by Arthur Machen]
Image credits
Arthur Machen: masters of the weird tale
- Artwork copyright 2013 by Matthew Jaffe
Arthur Machen horror stories
- Images copyright 2024 Flame Tree Publishing Ltd.
Faunus: the decorative imagination of Arthur Machen
- Illustrations by Sidney Sime
The autobiography of Arthur Machen
- Copyright the estate of Arthur Machen
Ian Evans
Shared Cataloguing Programme Manager
Category: Article