Mary Shelley: The Dream

Mary Shelley: The Dream

In Mary Shelley’s The Dream, the young and beautiful Countess Constance de Villeneuve lives in solitude, grieving the loss of her father and brothers in the civil wars. Determined to enter a convent, her plans are challenged by the unexpected visit of the king and Gaspar de Vaudemont, an old love whose return awakens intense emotions in her heart. On a stormy night, Constance, seeking divine guidance, enters a sacred cave, where revelatory visions confront her with her love and destiny. In a struggle between duty and passion, Constance faces decisions that could change her life forever.

Mary Shelley: The Mortal Immortal

Mary Shelley: The Mortal Immortal

“The Mortal Immortal,” a short story by Mary Shelley, tells the story of Winzy, a young apprentice of the alchemist Cornelius Agrippa, madly in love with Bertha, a haughty and ambitious woman. In a desperate attempt to free himself from Bertha’s emotional spell, Winzy accidentally drinks an elixir prepared by Agrippa, obtaining immortality. As the years pass, Winzy faces loneliness and isolation, reflecting on the true nature of her condition and questioning whether immortality is a gift or a curse.

Angela Carter: The Kiss

Angela Carter: The Kiss

The Kiss is a story by Angela Carter, published in 1985 in the collection Black Venus. Set in the magical city of Samarkand, the story intertwines myth and history to narrate an episode in the life of Tamerlane’s wife. Against a backdrop of vivid colors and exotic landscapes, the wife tries to surprise the famous warrior, returning from his conquests, by erecting a mosque in his honor. However, the cunning architect sets an unexpected condition for finishing the job on time.

Saki: Reginald’s Christmas Revel

Saki: Reginald’s Christmas Revel

In Reginald’s Christmas Revel, published in 1904, Saki introduces us to the witty and acerbic Reginald, who ironically recounts his misadventures during a Christmas spent with the Babwolds, a family as solemn as they are eccentric. Forced to attend due to a family commitment, the protagonist observes with sharp sarcasm the absurd rituals of the evening: a commander obsessed with his hunt, tedious social activities and a hostess whose earnestness borders on the grotesque. With his biting humour, Reginald transforms the monotony of the experience into a brilliant satire that questions social conventions and the emptiness of bourgeois life.

Algernon Blackwood: The Transfer

Algernon Blackwood: The Transfer

In Algernon Blackwood’s 1911 short story, “The Transfer,” the narrative revolves around a governess endowed with exceptional perceptive abilities who serves in the household of a wealthy family. The woman forms a unique bond with Jamie, one of the children in the household, who is particularly distressed by a visit from his father’s older brother. It appears that Jamie is experiencing a sense of apprehension towards his uncle, a sentiment that is not fully comprehended by the other members of the household, with the exception of the governess. She hypothesises that she is aware of the underlying cause of the child’s apprehension and its potential correlation with an isolated section of the garden, where, intriguingly, the flora exhibits a distinct lack of growth.