biff
New Face In Hell
Posts: 3
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Post by biff on Jan 23, 2010 23:02:10 GMT
I wonder if anyone could help me identify a short story I read about 40 years ago. It was the only ghost story I have read that truly frightened me and I had nightmares for weeks after so I’ve no idea why I want to repeat the experience.
It was set in an abbey or cathedral; I think in the chancel or choir stalls and the gist of the story concerned the opening of a tomb that was either exposed by repair work or as a consequence of it. The occupant successively frightened everyone involved in the exhumation out of their wits including me.
Such was the level of malevolence that the hero’s of the story stood within a ring of garlic; holy water or whatever, throughout the night, and waited for the apparition to appear so they might confront the blighter which they duly did. Theres no way I would have been there helping!
This tale was not the stalls of Barchester Cathedral but there are close similarities. It was one of several short stories in a paperback like the Pan or Fontana series and I think, Ringing the changes by R Aickman was another of the tales told.
I have tried hard to identify this tale but cant. I'm sure it must be a classic because of its dark creepy gloom and I would be grateful if anyone recognises it or for any help or suggestions in tracking it down.
Biff
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Post by monker on Jan 24, 2010 7:10:15 GMT
It does sound like M. R. James' "An Episode Of Cathedral History" but I don't remember any garlic being involved.
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biff
New Face In Hell
Posts: 3
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Post by biff on Jan 24, 2010 11:55:12 GMT
Thanks Monker
This story by MR James is very reminiscent of the tale and there are enough parallels to imagine that one was inspired by the other but it is not the one.
The story I am thinking of was very well written and was consequently able to reach deep into my primitive superstitions and touch all the nerves. I can enjoy James stories but I don't find them memorable in the same way.
Don't take me too literally over the garlic!
Biff
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Post by Dr Strange on Jan 24, 2010 13:09:23 GMT
"The Tomb of Sarah" by F.G. Loring?
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Post by Steve on Jan 24, 2010 15:46:08 GMT
"The Tomb of Sarah" by F.G. Loring? "The Tomb of Sarah" certainly seems to meet all the relevant criteria; tomb disturbed by church restoration, occupant takes to wandering the countryside of an evening, subsequent nocturnal vigil... it's even got the ring of garlic and what have you. I think the Doctor's got it but if you'd like to check the story out for yourself you can read it online here - www.litgothic.com/Texts/loring_tomb_of_sarah.pdf - amongst other places. |
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Post by Michael Connolly on Jan 25, 2010 13:03:23 GMT
In terms of overall plot, but not how the story is told, "The Tomb of Sarah" bears many resemblances to "An Episode of Cathedral History". Both are worth reading. For handiness, both are included in a new anthology, THE VAMPIRE ARCHIVE, edited by Otto Penzler. It has over a thousand pages and I got it from Amazon for £9.99. It is the thickest paperback I have and seems to have plundered every other anthology of vampire stories. It has many good stories among its 80 plus items, like "The Tomb of Sarah" and "An Episode of Cathedral History", and many bad ones. You can decide yourself.
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Post by Dr Strange on Jan 25, 2010 13:36:02 GMT
In terms of overall plot, but not how the story is told, "The Tomb of Sarah" bears many resemblances to "An Episode of Cathedral History". Both are worth reading. For handiness, both are included in a new anthology, THE VAMPIRE ARCHIVE, edited by Otto Penzler. It has over a thousand pages and I got it from Amazon for £9.99. It is the thickest paperback I have and seems to have plundered every other anthology of vampire stories. It has many good stories among its 80 plus items, like "The Tomb of Sarah" and "An Episode of Cathedral History", and many bad ones. You can decide yourself. Contents for this anthology are listed here - vaultofevil.proboards.com/thread/4019/otto-penzler-vampire-archivesSurprised to see "Tomb of Sarah" listed as "Pre-Dracula" !!! Did a quick Google - "Literary Gothic" site says it was first published in "Pall Mall" magazine Dec. 1897, but every other site I looked at (e.g. Locus index) says "Pall Mall" Dec. 1900. Moral - always double-check your sources, even if they are usually reliable. May be sticking my neck out here - but I really find it hard to believe that "Sarah" could have been written before "Dracula". However, with either date, it looks like it pre-dates MRJ's vampires. Later add - Some (very superficial) internet research suggests "F.G. Loring" was Commander Frederick George Loring RN OBE (1869-1951) - son of Admiral Sir William Loring RN KCB, and one-time Inspector of Wireless Telegraphy for the GPO. It also seems that "The Tomb of Sarah" was the only piece of fiction he ever had published. And I think the confusion over publication dates may have come from a too hasty reading of this paragraph from the Introduction to Montague Summers' Supernatural Omnibus (1931) - "August and September of the Pall Mall Magazine, 1897, gave A Tribute of Souls, by Lord Frederic Hamilton and Robert Hichens, which was afterwards reprinted in the latter writer's Byways. October, 1900, had A Night on the Moor, by R. Murray Gilchrist, and one of the best vampire stories I know appropriately appeared in December of that year — The Tomb of Sarah, by F.G. Loring." MUCH LATER - I contacted Literary Gothic about the date: they checked, agreed that it should have been 1900, changed it on their site, and sent me a nice email! |
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Post by jamesdoig on Jan 25, 2010 22:34:08 GMT
Looks like the new anthology owes a bit to Richard Dalby's Dracula's Brood for the early stuff. That must be one of the best historical anthologies ever assembled. It doesn't include 'The Tomb of Sarah' but it does have the very similar Mary Cholmondeley's 'Let Loose'. Dalby has it that 'The Tomb of Sarah' was published in 1900, after 'Let Loose', which appeared in the 1890s. Famously, Cholmondeley had to fight charges of plagiarism, though her story appeared first.
What seems to be a genuine case of plagiarism is H.T.W. Bousfield's 'Death and the Duchess' from his collection Vinegar and Cream, which is ripped-off Mary Braddon's 'Good Lady Ducayne'.
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biff
New Face In Hell
Posts: 3
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Post by biff on Jan 26, 2010 0:57:10 GMT
Well its time I replied and thanked you all for suggesting "The tomb of Sarah".
I'd forgotten it was a vampire story, in fact I forgot most things about it except that it gave me the creeps.
Looking on the web it seems I'm not alone in thinking it a cracking tale, considered to be among the best of its kind. I'm rather disappointed not to be able to find anything else by F G Loring though.
I haven't re read it yet though its readily available on the web. It would seem somehow irreverent to read it off a computer screen, a bit like buying a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, then fitting it with low profile tyres. It is a product of its time and I will treat it as such. I will buy "Victorian Ghost Stories" and read it aloud, and by candlelight to my other half, Anne, whist sitting in my favorite leather chair in my smoking jacket.
This is her suggestion, but as she is afraid of reversing, let alone the dead rising from the grave, I dread the outcome, but such are the simple pleasures we allow ourselves here in the Cotswolds.
Interesting that the Victorians are credited with such good storytelling by the way. At a time when the proclamation of death was largely a matter of human judgment and your chances of being buried "not quite as dead as thought" fairly good, is it any wonder that there was so much imagination regarding things that could go wrong.
Clive Anderson wrote an amusing book called "patent nonsense" regarding ill fated inventions where several patents were granted for devices that would alert the living to the plight of the person who was "buried alive". they included periscopes to view the buried corpse. Air pipes, tug wires to ring the church bell etc, etc.
These were very real fears of very real people at that time and it is in that context that I like to view the impact of stories like "Sarah" and even some of the more Ho hum stuff that was about then. It must have had a lot of punch at the time.
Once more my thanks to you all.
Biff
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Post by monker on Jan 30, 2010 13:06:29 GMT
No problems Biff.
In regards to reading online - no, it's not ideal, but sometimes it is practical, particularly when you have a lot of catching up to do like I have. It does not happen very often, however, if only because it is not the most comfortable way to read.
By the way, from the eloquence of your last response, I can't help but wonder who the mysterious 'Biff' is.
Anyway, I hope the story still packs a punch.
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Post by Jaqhama on Feb 20, 2010 15:21:33 GMT
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Post by ramseycampbell on Feb 21, 2010 8:28:15 GMT
Interesting anthology (the Penzler), but "most complete"? Not sure. No "Carmilla"? "Share Alike"? "Pages from a Young Girl's Journal"? "To See the Sun"?
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Post by dem on Feb 21, 2010 13:47:10 GMT
Interesting anthology (the Penzler), but "most complete"? Not sure. No "Carmilla"? "Share Alike"? "Pages from a Young Girl's Journal"? "To See the Sun"? Perhaps they're saving them for a volume 2? i'm sure there's enough decent material for a follow up, even if it means returning to the same source anthologies for what they left behind. Still, at £10 The Vampire Archives is certainly excellent value. Welcome to the board, Mr. Campbell. I hope you enjoy your time with us. |
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Jun 24, 2010 15:21:07 GMT
"Carmilla" is in THE VAMPIRE ARCHIVES.
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Post by ramseycampbell on Jun 25, 2010 11:11:13 GMT
"Carmilla" is in THE VAMPIRE ARCHIVES. So it is! My old eyes must have blinked. |
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