Although praised by many, including Stephen King, Arthur Machens work remains a niche interest (with some exceptions) largely overshadowed by work of other late-19th- and early-20th-century writers of the supernatural and gothic. In the introduction to this book Sanna provides a thorough introduction to Machens life and work. This is followed by a dozen careful essays grouped into three sections: Human Beings and Their Environments, Darwinism and Degeneration," and Spirituality." Two of Machens most familiar texts, The Great God Pan and The Bowmen, are treated in separate essays, but the volume is more valuable for the discussions of Machans less-known workhis detective stories, his prose poetry, and some of his other novels... Sannas own contribution, Heterotopic Spaces in Machens Fiction, invokes Foucault in a sophisticated treatment of alternative worlds. Although Machen died in 1947, this collection leaves one with the sense that he was well rooted in fin de sičcle decadence. * Choice Reviews * This rich and wide-ranging collection reveals the complexity of Arthur Machens life, his ideas, and his writing. The contributors to this volume provide significant insights into Machens interests in archaeology and antiquarianism, materialism and medicine, spiritualism and the occult. Perhaps especially, there is much to learn here about Machens relationship to place: how he excavated Londons out-of-the-way passages and Waless mystical hills to prise out secret histories and hidden lives. Arthur Machen: Critical Essays will appeal particularly to those interested in gothic literature, fantasy and horror, decadence, and Victorian and Edwardian culture. -- Corinna Wagner, University of Exeter All Machen scholars will be delighted with this critical collection. Not only do these lively essays add to the understanding of Arthur Machen's unique literary accomplishments, they can be read, and enjoyed, and appreciated by all with interests in supernatural fiction. Best of all, their diverse critical viewpoints and conclusions show that Machen's writings remain alive and vital in the 21st century. -- Richard J. Bleiler, author of The Strange Case of The Angels of Mons: Arthur Machens World War I Story, The Insistent Believers, and His Refutations
