Ancient Sorceries and Other Chilling Tales by Algernon BlackwoodMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Often lumped together with similar writers such as Machen, this small collection of stories by Blackwood (6 in total) explores the scope of his own brand of psychological horror. I particularly enjoyed 'The Willows', in which two explorers are haunted by the strange spectral landscape of shifting islands amid willow bushes on the banks of the Danube; and 'Ancient Sorceries', in which the protagonist is isolated in a strange town inhabited entirely by shape shifting witches, who prowl around after dark in the guise of cats.
What I feel Blackwood does so successfully is inhabit the strange limits of human consciousness, and explores the depths of the human mind and psyche. It is never quite clear if the events he narrates are genuine or are exploring the chaotic and warped subconscious of individuals.
This Capuchin press edition is particularly nicely bound, with foiled title lettering on the cover and spine, and I feel would serve as a good introduction to Blackwood's oeuvre.
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