A Stable for Nightmares; or, Weird Tales

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26451

Title

A Stable for Nightmares; or, Weird Tales

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A collection of supernatural tales set in atmospheric locales like Lancashire and Lyons, featuring haunted houses, invisible entities, and ghostly interventions. Le Fanu's gothic style blends detailed Victorian settings with chilling encounters, exploring themes of fear, the unseen, and the thin veil between reality and the supernatural.

Summary up to 500 words

In *A Stable for Nightmares; or, Weird Tales*, a collection of supernatural and historical horror stories, the narrative begins with "Dickon the Devil." The tale follows a surveyor who travels to the neglected Barwyke Hall in Lancashire, the estate of the late Squire Bowes. The grounds are haunted by Dickon, a man who has not slept indoors for twenty years since the Squire's death. Known as "Dickon the Devil," the figure is described as an idiot driven mad by the house's influence. That night, the narrator is attacked by an invisible force he can feel but not see. After struggling with the entity until his friend Hammond arrives, they bind the being with a rope. Later, they create a plaster cast of its form, revealing a hideous, muscular humanoid shape. After days of deliberation and the departure of other boarders, the creature dies and is buried. The collection transitions to "The Spirit's Whisper," where a similar phenomenon occurs in a boarding house, leading to the capture and eventual death of another invisible being. The narrator describes the terrifying experience of holding a living, breathing entity that is completely invisible to the eye, only to be felt through touch and weight. The story details the scientific curiosity and horror of the situation as the men attempt to understand and contain the "Enigma" before it passes away. Another tale, "Pichon & Sons," shifts the setting to revolutionary France. It follows the Marquis de Sénanges and his nephew Paul, who flees the Revolution. Paul seeks refuge with Prosper Alix, a new owner of the Marquis's confiscated estate. The narrative weaves through political turmoil, family tragedy, and the struggle for survival, contrasting the supernatural terror of the first stories with the historical horror of the French Revolution. The story highlights the harsh realities faced by the aristocracy during the upheaval, where property was confiscated and families were torn apart by the guillotine. Throughout the collection, Le Fanu demonstrates mastery of mood, utilizing detailed descriptions of decaying architecture, wild landscapes, and atmospheric settings to heighten the sense of dread and mystery. Whether confronting a ghostly presence in a haunted hall or navigating the dangers of a revolution, the tales explore themes of fear, the unknown, and the resilience of the human spirit against overwhelming odds.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fantasy
• Horror