Wildwood: Tales of Terror and Transformation from the Forest
This collection of tales is a perfect summer read, when the air is fresh and the trees are buzzing with life around you. Beware, though, as that life will take on a new meaning once you have traversed the Pagan woods within these pages.
My favorite thing about William P. Simmons' collections is that he always manages to gather the lesser known, most impactful stories from authors from the past. I have read a story or two from most of them, but others I've not even heard of. These are true diamonds in the rough that should not be missed, and Simmons is doing a huge service to these authors by resurfacing their noteworthy and haunting works.
Simmons' Introduction is in-depth and he lays the groundwork for the stories about to be devoured. It is clear that he has a special place in his heart for the simultaneous horrors and beauties of nature and Paganism.
I loved nearly every story within these pages. Of course, I had favorites, and so here they are in my order of appreciation:
1) View from a Hill by M.R. James - An uncanny, terrifying concept of seeing things from the past through supernatural looking-glasses. This story will certainly live in my head rent-free for the rest of my life.
2) The White People by Arthur Machen - This one was longer, a bit drawn out, but the imagery was that of Alice in Wonderland with magic and Pagan rites. It swept me up and filled my mind with mystical descriptions.
3) The Man Who Went too Far by E.F. Benson - I read this story on a rainy day while taking a lovely bath, which certainly helped set the mood. Our main character, Frank, has abandoned all regular walks of life and is dedicated only to getting closer to Pan by becoming one with nature. He listens and understands the birds, bathes in the cool, clear water outside, and finds true joy in nature. He tries to explain his lifestyle choices to his friend and visitor, and as he evolves to become closer to Pan, the joy becomes something merciless and terrifying. I loved this.
4) The Grove of Ashtaroth by John Buchan - An incredibly vivid tale about a man possessed by the lands he occupies, and his friend recognizing that it is the nature itself that is tearing his friend apart. The cool thing about this story is that it presents the Grove as being both evil and beautiful, depending on who is looking and how they are looking at it. I felt like that captured the reality of nature so subtly and wonderfully.
5) The Wind in the Woods by Bessie Kyffin-Taylor - An artist goes into the "Silent Woods" to paint and stumbles across a ruined home, beholding wicked deeds of men from the past that play out before his eyes. The "Silent Wood" becomes rife with mocking winds and malevolent echoes. I felt like I was in the woods described, but also in a painting of said woods. It is beautifully written and left an artistic impression in my mind.
6) The Next Heir by Theo Douglas - What a wicked story! A man is looking for an heir to take over his land, but his stipulations are dark. A comparison is made to Cain and Abel that changes Abel into the evil one and Cain into the victim. It's delightful how large a part Pan plays in this story and how the flip of good and evil is essentially taking a Christian ideal and making it Pagan.
Finally, I absolutely LOVED the Appendix that included Byways of Ghost-Land, Chapter V, Sylvan Horrors by Elliott O'Donnell. What an unnerving insight into demons, pixies, and Other creatures that dwell within and about trees and nature. It is scarier because the author was a ghost hunter who truly believed he'd seen some of those things, and so his descriptions are rife with conviction. It was a perfect ending to an incredible collection.
I highly recommend all lovers of nature's bounties (and horrors) pick this book up when it comes out this month. Allow yourself to become enveloped in the comforts and dark whispers of age-old beasts and Gods that still dwell within the sylvan forest.
A huge thank you to William P. Simmons for providing me with an ARC of this book for review.
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