Damnable Tales: A Folk Horror Anthology

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But as this collection shows, writers of uncanny fiction were dabbling in the dark side of folklore long before those films. These 22 stories take the reader beyond the safety and familiarity of the town into the isolated and untamed wilderness. Unholy rites, witches’ curses, sinister village traditions and ancient horrors that lurk within the landscape all combine to remind us that the shiny modern, urban world might not have all the answers… The Music on the Hill’, by the enigmatically pen-named Saki (Hector Hugh Munro to his friends), first published in the collection The Chronicles of Clovis, 1911.

Man-Size in Marble | Unbound

Concerning the dark folklore of Gavon’s Loch, and the sinister practice that can be held at a certain spot on a certain night…All Hallows" - Walter de la Mare. Wandering traveller learns of strange influences at work on a rural church. The author uses powerfully suggestive phrases to create an atmosphere of oppressive dread. The Devil of the Marsh• (1893) • short story by H. B. Marriott Watson [as by H. B. Marriott-Watson] There was none of that eerie foreboding that you get from communities just outside the modern world going balls deep into some old school religion much to the horror of the modern watchers on. There was nothing unexplained and just down right creepy. Blood on Satans Claw these stories ain’t.

Damnable Tales: A Folk Horror Anthology | Stanfords

Fresh off the printing press once more, here's the latest lino printed illustration for Damnable Tales. Really more of a 3.5 stars. Some of these stories really rip, some are total duds. One is written in Scots so I couldn't even understand it. Fresh off the printing press once more, here’s my latest lino print for Damnable Tales. This time, it’s ‘Man-Size in Marble’ by Edith Nesbit, first published in the December issue of Home Chimes magazine, 1887. A newly married couple relocate to the country (always an unwise move where Folk Horror is concerned!), and fall foul of the local legend of the shapes “that walked in their marble”.

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And what a book it is: a considerable and considered selection, and delivered handsomely. When I heard it was being crowd-funded I was a bit wary of what the quality would be like, but there’s no complaint here. It is solidly constructed and well presented. The subtle touch of adding an earthy red to some of the chapter openings is just a little thing, but I found it nice attention to detail. And the illustrations are superb. Sharply printed, and the old woodcut style suits the material. There is a quirkiness and humour to some which suits folk horror tales really well, yet – even so – the image for Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Thrawn Janet’ is rather disturbing (and also my favourite illustration in the book). Loved the image of the witch turning into rabbit to escape when caught stealing potion supplies, and another of the witch themed stories where the horror comes from the mob that is trying to kill a child (sadly historically accurate) for supposed witchcraft. As with any anthology, the stories are of mixed quality. There are 23 short stories in this volume, and each is accompanied by its own newly commissioned woodcut style lino print at the beginning of each tale.