"The Beckoning fair one" by Oliver Onions

Lobolover · 05-02-2008, 07:20 PM

http://www.english.upenn.edu/~nauerbac/onions.html

"On the surface, this is a conventional haunted house story: an unsuccessful writer moves into rooms in an otherwise empty house, in the hope that isolation will help his failing creativity. His sensitivity and imagination are enhanced by his seclusion, but his art, his only friend and his sanity are all destroyed in the process. The story can be read as narrating the gradual possession of the protagonist by a mysterious and possessive feminine spirit, or as a realistic description of a psychotic outbreak culminating in catatonia and murder, told from the sufferer's point of view. The precise description of the slow disintegration of the protagonist's mind is terrifying in either case. Another theme, shared with others of Onions' stories, is a connection between creativity and insanity; in this view, the artist is in danger of withdrawing from the world altogether and losing himself in his creation."

also availible from Horrormasters.com

Ervserver · 05-03-2008, 12:12 AM

looks great

astra · 05-03-2008, 08:40 AM

Frankly speaking I am fed up with protagonist - writer. At some point I stopped reading King because in many of his books the protagonist was writer.
Just cannot stand this cliche.

Lobolover · 05-03-2008, 12:35 PM

This is much earlier and that realy hasn't got so much to do with the plot.

BenG · 05-09-2008, 05:13 PM

Yes, this was written before it was a cliché.
BTW, it's also available in a collection of short stories by Onions called Widdershins which can be downloaded here at Mobileread.

05-02-2008, 07:20 PM	#1
Lobolover Gorosei Posts: 421 Karma: 334 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Microsoft Word	"The Beckoning fair one" by Oliver Onions http://www.english.upenn.edu/~nauerbac/onions.html "On the surface, this is a conventional haunted house story: an unsuccessful writer moves into rooms in an otherwise empty house, in the hope that isolation will help his failing creativity. His sensitivity and imagination are enhanced by his seclusion, but his art, his only friend and his sanity are all destroyed in the process. The story can be read as narrating the gradual possession of the protagonist by a mysterious and possessive feminine spirit, or as a realistic description of a psychotic outbreak culminating in catatonia and murder, told from the sufferer's point of view. The precise description of the slow disintegration of the protagonist's mind is terrifying in either case. Another theme, shared with others of Onions' stories, is a connection between creativity and insanity; in this view, the artist is in danger of withdrawing from the world altogether and losing himself in his creation." also availible from Horrormasters.com

05-09-2008, 05:13 PM	#5
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,729 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	Yes, this was written before it was a cliché. BTW, it's also available in a collection of short stories by Onions called Widdershins which can be downloaded here at Mobileread. Last edited by BenG; 05-09-2008 at 05:15 PM.

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05-03-2008, 12:12 AM	#2
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	looks great

05-03-2008, 08:40 AM	#3
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Frankly speaking I am fed up with protagonist - writer. At some point I stopped reading King because in many of his books the protagonist was writer. Just cannot stand this cliche.

05-03-2008, 12:35 PM	#4
Lobolover Gorosei Posts: 421 Karma: 334 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Microsoft Word	This is much earlier and that realy hasn't got so much to do with the plot.

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