The 5th Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories is unreasonably priced on Amazon, but
for whatever reason the sixth volume is less valued. Although the stories in this volume are “selected
by Robert Aickman”, he didn’t contribute either an introduction or a story of
his own. His selection includes:
“Clarimonde (La Morte
Amoureuse)” by Théophile Gautier. “My
story is a strange and terrible one,” says the elderly priest Romauld as he
recounts how at the very moment of his ordination, his eye falls upon an
enticing stranger who tempts him to renounce his vows. It is the titular Clarimonde, a lovely and
debauched courtesan. Summoned to her
deathbed (“With her, death seemed but a last coquetry”), he is told that “the
tombstone of Clarimonde should be sealed down with a triple seal, for, if
report be true, it is not the first time she has died.” Romauld learns that his love of the flesh may
be stronger than his love of God, and the fact that Gautier (in Lafcadio Hearn’s
silky translation) is ambiguous about which is the preferred choice makes this
excellent story all the better. “Clarimonde”
was published in 1836, and it seems highly likely that the story was a big
influence on Bram Stoker. I hadn’t heard
of Gautier before this, but based on “Clarimonde” I will be seeking out his
other works.
“The Grey Ones” by J.B. Priestley. From priests to Priestley. Mr. Patson consults a psychiatrist about his
worry that an “Evil Principle” seeks to “turn us into automatic creatures, mass
beings without individuality, soulless machines of flesh and blood… to wipe
from the face of this earth all wonder, joy, deep feeling, the desire to
create, to praise life.” Today, don’t we
call this the internet?
“The Door in the Wall” by H.G. Wells. This is Wells’ well-anthologized poignant
tale of the lost things of childhood. It
is miles away from his science fiction stories.
“Priscilla and Emily Lofft” by George Moore. These two sisters were, at least
superficially, “as alike as two casts come out of the same mold”, but now Priscilla
has died, and Emily has time to reflect.
“The dead are never really dead, Emily said, until we cease to think of
them.” I must confess I missed the point
of this story, or the reason for inclusion in this collection.
“Sorworth Place”, by Russell Kirk. Former soldier Ralph Bain comes to Scotland
and the town of Sorworth, finding that the “dirty and dreary little town” holds
“a big ancient house, wraithlike against the heather and gorse and bracken.” Intrigued
by the lovely proprietress of Sorworth Place, Bain wrangles an invitation. As they draw closer, she tells him:
“Don’t you understand? I’m afraid of my husband.”
Bain stared at her. “Your husband? I understood – I thought
he’s dead.”
“Quite,” said Ann Lurlin.
“Sorworth Place” is cozily ominous and eminently
entertaining. It was adapted, probably
horribly, for Rod Serling’s Night Gallery.
“Where Their Fire Is Not Quenched”, by May Sinclair. This is a bleak, sad, and savage tale of
adultery and eternity. Most of Sinclair’s
work did not involve the supernatural, but based on this story any of her
writings would be worth seeking out.
“Oke of Okehurst”, by Vernon Lee. This novella is the basis for the cover
illustration of the unfortunate Elizabethan gent in the ditch. It takes up over a quarter of The 6th Fontana Book of Great
Ghost Stories, space which might have been used more wisely. It is the story of an artist hired for a
portrait of Mrs. Oke (of Okehurst), who greatly resembles a 16th
century ancestor. Lee (pen name of
Violet Paget) takes a long time to get where she is going, and provides only
mild enjoyment along the way.
“The Lips”, by Henry S. Whitehead. Whitehead was a frequent contributor to Weird
Tales and other pulps, and a good friend of H.P. Lovecraft. He was best known for his West
Indian-flavored stories. “The Lips” is
the simple story of a slave trader who gets a nasty comeuppance, although the
racist language is the most unpleasant part.
It bears a strong resemblance to Edward Lucas White’s “Lukundoo”, which
was published a few years before “The Lips”.
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