Saturday, June 2, 2018

Rereading: "N" by Arthur Machen

"N" by Arthur Machen


Three men in London spend several evenings debating strange recollections about a part of town they knew - or thought they knew - when young. What weird landscape did one see out a lodging house window?

A great late tale.

Read it here:

https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/m/machen/arthur/n/


Excerpt:


"....After that night at the King of Jamaica," he began, "I went home and thought it all over. There seemed no more to be done. Still, I felt as if I would like to have another look at this singular park, and I went up there one dark afternoon. And then and there I came upon the young man who had lost his way, and had lost — as he said — the one who lived in the white house on the hill. And I am not going to tell you about her, or her house, or her enchanted gardens. But I am sure that the young man was lost also — and for ever."

And after a pause, he added: "I believe that there is a perichoresis, an interpenetration. It is possible, indeed, that we three are now sitting among desolate rocks, by bitter streams...And with what companions?"


*


Jay

2 June 2018




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