Written in 1928, Henry Chapman Mercer weaved his knowledge of archaeology, archiecture, antiquaries and historical legend into a superb set of gothic tales, which read like the combination of the supernatural or weird imaginings of such as M R James, Conan Doyle, Edgar Allen Poe & the occasional exotic adventure of early Sax Rohmer.

Mercer’s stories often feel a lot more lively than the drier style of many of his predecessors and contemporaries and that’s largely thanks to his experience and love of each historical influence he draws upon shining through, alongside a willingness to vary his settings. We read tales of a mad scientist plotting on gaslit riversides and warehouses; deadly spiritual customs and creepy avian nightmares; before travelling to the Carpathian mountains and its ancient monastic scrolls and early werewolf legends. We are even treated to parallels of Jason’s adventure to seek the Golden Fleece, a trip to the beautiful locales around Sicily and finally a wonderful mystery surrounding a forgotten piece of Italian art.

Sometimes Mercer’s enthusiastic informational flourishes divert a story off course as it does slightly in ‘The Blackbirds’ or in the even more indulgent ‘Sunken City’, and his occasional longer sentences are of an older era which will be slightly jarring to modern readers. But, these are minor quibbles. Once again Valancourt have brought back a fine collection of little known supernatural/weird tales to warm oneself with by the fire on any cold November night. Or even any night. ( )

I've been too harsh in my treatment of this slim tome of strange tales rescued from deserved obscurity by Valancourt Press. None of the stories, while not really bad, rise above the level of mediocrity. Easily readable and all showing the odd moment of real interest.

If Mercer hadn't been notable for other reasons it is unlikely these stories would have been published in the first place, much less forgotten and rediscovered. Curiously the last story here which was not in the original collection and only found posthumously, is the best of the lot. ( )