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Mary Shelley: The Pilgrims

Mary Shelley: The Pilgrims

“The Pilgrims” is a short story by Mary Shelley, published in 1837 in The Keepsake and later included in the collection Tales and Stories (1891). Burkhardt of Unspunnen, a lonely old knight, lives tormented by painful memories. One night, two young pilgrims arrive at his castle seeking shelter, and he welcomes them generously. The strangers, moved by their host’s obvious distress, beg him to share the reason for his sorrow. Burkhardt then recounts the story of an irreparable loss and devastating regret that consumes his existence.

Lord Dunsany: The Hoard of the Gibbelins

Lord Dunsany: The Hoard of the Gibbelins

“The Hoard of the Gibbelins” is a short story by Lord Dunsany, first published on January 25, 1911, in the magazine The Sketch, and later collected in The Book of Wonder (1912). At the world’s edge, beyond an ancient river, rises the tower of the gibbelins—monstrous beings who hoard fabulous riches to lure men to their doom and devour them. Alderic, a knight, studies for years the means of stripping the gibbelins of their treasure, until one day, mounted on a dragon, he embarks upon the perilous venture.

Arthur Conan Doyle: The New Catacomb

Arthur Conan Doyle: The New Catacomb

“The New Catacomb” is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1898 in The Sunlight Year-Book. In late nineteenth-century Rome, Burger and Kennedy are two young, eminent archaeologists bound by a relationship of intellectual rivalry and mutual admiration. During a conversation at Kennedy’s house, Burger confides to him an extraordinary discovery: he has found a Christian catacomb from the Roman period, intact and previously unknown. Fascinated, Kennedy presses to see the site and gain access to its secrets. After showing some reluctance, Burger agrees to guide him on a nocturnal exploration, but first imposes a peculiar condition.

Mary Shelley: The Evil Eye

Mary Shelley: The Evil Eye

“The Evil Eye” is a short story by Mary Shelley, first published in 1829 in The Keepsake and later collected in Tales and Stories (1891). Set in the Balkans under Ottoman rule, it tells the story of Dmitri, a feared Albanian bandit believed to possess the supernatural power to cause harm with his gaze. His tragic past and formidable reputation inspire fear and superstition among the region’s inhabitants. When a former companion arrives seeking his help to recover a family inheritance, Dmitri agrees to take part in a scheme that will lead him through a labyrinth of adventures, where violence, honor, and a thirst for revenge threaten to awaken ghosts long thought buried.