Herne The Hunter

[poliphilo]

Because it has haunted me for 40 years.....

"Here, owing to the thickness of the hollies and the projecting arms of the other overhanging timber, added to the uncertain light above, the gloom was almost impervious, and he could scarcely see a yard before him. He pressed on unhesitatingly, and with a sort of pleasurable sensation at the difficulties he was encountering. Suddenly, however, he was startled by a blue phosphoric light streaming through the bushes on the left, and, looking up, he beheld at the foot of an enormous oak, whose giant roots protruded like giant snakes from the bank, a wild spectral-looking object, possessing some slight resemblance to humanity, and habited, so far as it could be determined, in the skin of deer, strangely disposed about its gaunt and tawny-coloured limbs. On its head was seen a sort of helmet, formed of the skull of a stag, from which branched a large pair of antlers; from its left arm hung a heavy and rusty-looking chain, in the links of which burnt the phosphoric fire before mentioned; while on its right wrist was perched a large horned owl, with its feathers erected, and red staring eyes."

from Windsor Castle (1843) by W. Harrison Ainsworth.

Comments

[sovay]

That is haunting.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Windsor Castle is one of the oddest books I've read. An historical novel with elements of gothic romance and high Victorian melodrama.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

I think I have that around the house. In two volumes.

I also have _The Goldsmith's Wife_, same author, about Jane Shore. It's an amazing piece of work.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Mine's a cheap one volume edition

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

OOO, and I have never heard of it. The writing is that fine atmospheric stuff that makes the best stories.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's very long and a lot of it is just Victorian feather-bedding, but the stuff with Herne is weird and delightful.

Ainsworth was a writer of mid-19th century blockbusters. I encountered him as a boy (he was still considered a "classic" author back then) and I've retained a fondness for him. At his best he was a myth-maker.