Halloween | Lecturia

Robert Bloch: The Secret in the Tomb

“The Secret in the Tomb” is a gothic horror tale written by Robert Bloch and published in Weird Tales in May 1935. It is the author’s first story set within the Cthulhu Mythos, created by H. P. Lovecraft. The narrative follows the last heir of a family of sorcerers, who ventures into the cemetery in search of an ancient and sinister secret hidden within his ancestors’ vault. In this grim and mysterious setting, the protagonist confronts supernatural forces that defy reason, while the macabre and oppressive atmosphere reveals forbidden and hidden terrors.

M. R. James: Lost Hearts

“Lost Hearts” is a gothic tale written by Montague Rhodes James (M. R. James), first published in The Pall Mall Magazine in 1895. The story follows Stephen Elliot, an orphaned boy who arrives at Aswarby Hall, the mansion of his enigmatic distant cousin, Mr. Abney. This solitary scholar, fascinated by ancient religions and esoteric practices, invites the boy to live in his austere residence in Lincolnshire. As Stephen adjusts to his new home, he grows increasingly intrigued by the mysterious atmosphere of the house and the strange sculptures and books that decorate it. Through conversations with the kind housekeeper, Mrs. Bunch, he uncovers unsettling stories about the mansion and begins to suspect that his cousin’s true intentions may be far darker than they seem.

H. P. Lovecraft: The Festival

“The Festival” is a haunting tale by H.P. Lovecraft, published in January 1925 in Weird Tales magazine. On Christmas Eve, a man travels to the ancient coastal town of Kingsport to take part in an enigmatic winter solstice ritual. His purpose is to connect with the arcane roots of his lineage, which trace back to times predating the colonization of America. Immersed in an oppressive atmosphere of mystery, the protagonist finds himself in a transformed Kingsport, where the shadows of the past come alive and family secrets intertwine with ancient horrors.

Horacio Quiroga: The Decapitated Chicken

“The Decapitated Chicken” (La gallina degollada) is a short story by Horacio Quiroga that was first published on July 10, 1909, in the magazine Caras y Caretas and later included in the collection Cuentos de amor locura y muerte (1917). It tells the story of Mazzini and Berta, a married couple whose first four children suffer a mysterious deterioration in their development that causes them severe cognitive limitations. The parents, caught between despair and love, are plunged into a cycle of anguish temporarily alleviated by the birth of their fifth daughter, Bertita, who grows up healthy and vigorous. However, the family’s apparent normality is only a facade, and a tragic event reveals the deep fractures that remain within it.

Shirley Jackson: The Lottery

In “The Lottery,” a short story by Shirley Jackson published in The New Yorker on June 26, 1948, the residents of a small town participate in an annual lottery, which at first glance appears to be an innocent community tradition. However, a disturbing reality behind this entrenched practice is revealed as the narrative unfolds. The story delves into social conformity, the aversion to change, and the sinister nature that can lie in the traditions of a community. It is a disturbing story, controversial in its time, which has become one of the most relevant short stories in the history of the American narrative.

Edgar Allan Poe: The Masque of the Red Death

The Masque of the Red Death, a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in 1842, immerses the reader in an allegory about the inevitability of death. Set in an indeterminate time plagued by a devastating plague known as the Red Death, the kingdom’s prince decides to isolate himself in his fortified abbey along with other nobles, seeking to escape the disease. He organizes a luxurious masked ball in his refuge, ignoring the suffering ravaging the outside world. However, some guests do show up, even if they are not called.