The Wendigo and Other Stories

Algernon Blackwood is a pioneering master of cosmic horror and nature Gothic, blurring the boundaries between human and nonhuman, living and dead. This new selection of his shorter fiction is the most comprehensive critical edition of his work to date, including such classics as The Wendigo, The Willows, and Ancient Sorceries. Aaron Worth's introduction and notes situate these tales in the context of Blackwood's upbringing in an evangelical Victorian household.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 496 pages
Publication date: 09 November 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The woods are abuzz with activity! The Great Ones have already arrived, and the dance is about to commence! The salve is here! Anoint yourself and join the festivities! Algernon Blackwood, one of the most renowned authors of the strange and eerie, has undergone a remarkable transformation. He has evolved from a storyteller of ghost stories to a pioneering master of emerging fictional genres such as cosmic horror and nature Gothic. In his tales, which span from the haunting North Woods of Canada to the enigmatic sands of the Egyptian desert, Blackwood skillfully blurs the boundaries between human and nonhuman, life and death, enticing readers into enigmatic borderlands where alien forces lurk, eagerly awaiting the chance to invade our world. This new collection of Blackwood's shorter fiction represents the most comprehensive critical edition of his work to date. Included within are such undisputed classics as "The Wendigo," "The Willows," and "Ancient Sorceries," as well as two unsettling novellas, "The Man Whom the Trees Loved" and "A Descent into Egypt," and ten other captivating stories, both short and long, drawn from collections spanning Blackwood's illustrious writing career. Aaron Worth's introduction and notes provide valuable context, situating these tales within the backdrop of Blackwood's upbringing in an evangelical Victorian household and exploring themes such as late-imperial British history and the emergence of modern ecological thought.

ABOUT THE SERIES:

Oxford World's Classics has been a trusted source of literature for over a century, offering a wide range of literature from across the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text accompanied by a wealth of valuable features. Expert introductions by renowned authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more make these volumes an essential resource for literature enthusiasts and students alike.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198848882