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Post by dem bones on Mar 25, 2009 17:43:30 GMT
Kevin Carolan (ed.) - Churchyard Whispers (Hodder & Stoughton, 1999)  Cover picture: detail taken from SC24848 Stoke Poges Church by John Constable (1776-1837)
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK/Bridgeman Art Library.
W. E. Aytoun - The Man In The Bell
Guy De Maupassant - The Graveyard Sisterhood
Edgar Allan Poe - The Pit and the Pendulum
Viscount De L'isle - The Torture Of Hope
Herman Melville - The Bell-Tower
Walter de la Mare - All Hallows
O. Henry - The Cop And The Anthem
Sherwood Anderson - The Strength Of God
T.F. Powys - The Hunted BeastTales Of Crime & DetectionJack London - The Master Of Mystery
Melville Davisson Post - The Angel Of The Lord
Catherine Louisa Pirkis - The Sisterhood
H. Jenkins - The Gylston Slander
Robert Louis Stevenson - The Young Man In Holy Orders
J. MacLaren-Ross - The Episcopal Seal
E. C. Bentley - The Genuine Tabard
R. Ellis Roberts - The Narrow Way
H.C. Bailey - The Yellow Slugs
Kevin Carolan - Churchyard ShadowsBlurb: Most of us must have walked around a country churchyard at some time or other, looking at the carefully laid-out gravestones, and felt a sense of peace and order. But there can also be movements in the shadows which make us uncomfortable. The desolation of many churches and cemeteries makes them an ideal spot to commit atrocious crimes. The vicarage can be filled with bitterness and religious frenzy as much as spiritual calm.
Churchyard Shadows draws together the best stories of crime and mystery that take the church as their backdrop, written by some of the greatest masters of the short story. Tales such as Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum, T.F. Powys' The Hunted Beast and Walter de la Mare's All Hallows hold us in unbearable suspense. H.C. Bailey's The Yellow Slugs sees spiritual cruelty lead to murder. Robert Louis Stevenson examines the corrupting effect of an enormous diamond on a young clergyman. On the other hand, we witness the celebrated Uncle Abner and Jack London's tribal shaman solve crimes using their religious insights. This is an anthology to entertain and enthrall - but not to be read in a darkened churchyard!These covers with embossed lettering are sent to try us, but the content looks very strong. Hadn't heard of Kevin Carolan before, but, from the back cover, he "writes and lectures on a wide variety of subjects, and is the editor of the short-story collection Celtic Mysteries." Includes: W. E. Aytoun - The Man In The Bell: Shades of Poe's The Pit And The Pendulum as Jack climbs into the Cathedral belfry to unmuffle a clapper while his friend keeps watch below. Unfortunately, said friend is easily distracted and wanders away in pursuit of a pretty passer by. The bell-ringers arrive and, unaware of Jack's current activities, begin their work. Viscount De Lisle (Villiers de L’isle Adam) - A Torture By Hope: Segovia. Having endured the torture chamber for a year and still not renounced his faith, Rabbi Aser Abarbanel is to be burned alive at tomorrow’s auto de fe. No sooner has the Grand Inquistor broken this cheering news and left his cell however, than the Rabbi realises his tormentor has forgotten to lock the door behind him … T. F. Powys - The Hunted Beast: Mr. Walter Gidden, Vicar of East Dodder, is so appalled at witnessing three children torturing a rabbit in a trap, that he attacks one of them and beats her to death. Horrified at what he’s done, still he’s determined not to be taken alive and drowns a puppy when it threatens to give him away - the first time he’s ever harmed an animal in his life. ‘Harrowing’ doesn’t really do it justice. R. Ellis Roberts - The Narrow Way: Was it a black miracle, or did Father Lascelles poison his congregation and single-handedly "convert" the parish of Uny to Catholicism in August 1912? According to Lascelles, he prayed to the Lord on All Souls Night to visit the community as the Grim Reaper and, as a result, a plague decimated the population. To Lascelles, the end justifies the means as "all of those who died were reconciled to the Holy Church before death. Of those who remain, nearly all have adhered to the church." He has even converted Mr. Trengrowse of "the primitives." Dr. Marlowe and Sir Joshua confront the fanatic and he assures them there'll be no more deaths as he has prayed for them to cease. To be continued ..... perhaps
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