Sign-In
Cart
The Witching Hour - A Collection of Victorian Tales Concerning Witchcraft and Wizardry
Paperback
ISBN13: 9781447407362
Publisher: Fantasy and Horror Classics
Published: May 4 2011
Pages: 356
Weight: 0.99
Height: 0.79 Width: 5.50 Depth: 8.50
Language: English
The darkness of the Victorian age was not only Gothic, it was powerfully, terrifyingly female.
This extraordinary collection focuses exclusively on the theme of witchcraft and wizardry, gathering short stories, legends, and historical accounts penned entirely by women authors of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. These writers, often overlooked, shaped the era's understanding of magic, female power, and the supernatural.
From scholarly reports on folklore to thrilling narratives of dark magic, this volume reclaims the feminine voice in horror.
PART ONE: The Geography of Fear
This section looks into the historical and folkloric roots of magic across the British Isles:
-
Witchcraft in England and The Witches of Scotland by Mrs. E. Lynn Linton: Sharp, detailed examinations of the historical fear, persecution, and documented practices of witchcraft in the two nations.
-
Irish Witch Tales by Lady Wilde: A vital record of authentic Irish legends and beliefs surrounding powerful sorceresses and the persistence of ancient magic.
-
Witchcraft and Wizardry in Wales by Miss Mary Lewis: A focused look at the unique, often Celtic-rooted, traditions of magic and sorcery in the Welsh landscape.
PART TWO: Encounters with the Occult
The second part features thrilling fictional narratives of curses, spells, and magical encounters:
-
The Amber Witch by Lady Duff-Gordon: A classic German tale of witchcraft and persecution, expertly translated and popularised for English audiences.
-
Possessed by Demons by Catherine Crowe: From one of the most important writers of supernatural Victorian fiction, this story explores the terrifying reality of spiritual invasion and exorcism.
-
The Enchanted Woman by Anna Kingsford: A mystical and evocative tale from a figure famous for her own involvement in esoteric societies, exploring hidden powers and spiritual transformation.
-
Bound by a Spell by The Hon. Mrs. Greene and The Witch of the Marsh by Mrs. Ethel Marriott-Wilson: Classic atmospheric stories that use isolation and nature as the breeding grounds for dark enchantments.
-
Ye Lyttle Salem Maide by Pauline Mackie: A narrative that reaches across the Atlantic to explore the intense fear and tragedy of the colonial American witch trials.
-
The Devil Stone by Beatrice Heron-Maxwell and Black Magic: A Story of the East by Jessie Adelaide Middleton: Tales of curses, malignant artifacts, and the dangerous appeal of sorcery, often with exotic or sensational backdrops.
-
The Satanist by Mrs. Hugh Fraser: A gripping story that plunges into the dark heart of diabolism and the ultimate blasphemous pact.
This powerful collection reveals the depth and diversity of women's writing in the Gothic and supernatural genres, making it an essential volume for horror fans and feminist literary history alike.
1 different editions
Also available
Also in
Horror
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Paperback
Japanese Gothic: A Folk Horror Novel of Japanese Mythology, Murder, and Family Duty Across Two Timelines
Baker, Kylie Lee
Hardcover
Incidents Around the House: A Novel: The Inspiration for the Movie Other Mommy
Malerman, Josh
Paperback
The Amalfi Curse: A Bewitching Tale of Sunken Treasure, Forbidden Love, and Ancient Magic on the Amalfi Coast
Penner, Sarah
Paperback
Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Stoker, Bram
Shelley, Mary
Paperback
THE GIRLS IN THE CABIN an absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller packed with heart-stopping twists
Stephens, Caleb
Paperback
From the Library of Jurgen Leitner (the Magnus Archives)
Mohamed, Premee
Sims, Jonathan
Rusty Quill
Hardcover
Dracula: A Deluxe Hardcover Collector's Edition of the Bestselling Vampire Classic
Stoker, Bram
Hardcover