An intriguing tale of psychological horror, ambiguous and mystifying.
From childhood, Stella Maberly has been violently wilful and jealous, yet certain of her own superiority. She can be loving and friendly, but soon loses friends, when in the grip of her “demons” she acts with disdain and subtle cruelty, and then revels in the misery of her loneliness. Her paranoia results in tragedy for her best friend Evelyn, and Stella comes to believe that Evelyn is possessed by an evil spirit. In this statement Stella reflects on the events leading to her present situation.… Was the evil imagined? Who was “possessed”? Is Stella to be blamed or pitied? This story can be seen from two viewpoints: do we take the words of the other characters literally at face value, or are we being influenced by Stella’s interpretation?
(— Summary by Anne F., Librivox)
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Thomas Anstey Guthrie (8 August 1856 – 10 March 1934) was an English author (writing as F. Anstey), most noted for his comic novel
Vice Versa about a boarding-school boy and his father exchanging identities. His reputation was confirmed by
The Tinted Venus and many humorous parodies in
Punch magazine. Guthrie became an important member of the staff of
Punch, in which his “Voces Populi” pieces and his humorous parodies of a reciter’s stock-pieces (“Burglar Bill,” etc.) represent his best work. Other familiar titles include
The Black Poodle and
The Brass Bottle. Many of Anstey’s stories have been adapted into theatrical productions and motion pictures.
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This novel was first published in 1896.
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