Reminded me of HPL's The Alchemist.
Showing posts with label The Alchemist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Alchemist. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
The Madness From the Sea: Part 6 Dracula?
"Before long the searchlight discovered some distance away a schooner with all sails set, apparently the same vessel which had been noticed earlier in the evening. The wind had by this time backed to the east, and there was a shudder amongst the watchers on the cliff as they realized the terrible danger in which she now was. ... I shall send, in time for your next issue, further details of the derelict ship which found her way so miraculously into harbour in the storm."
The passage from Dracula must surely have been in mind as HPL delineated the voyage of the ship. He declares, "Mystery Derelict Found At Sea" and later we discover that it is a "schooner".
Dracula pops up in HPL's stories as a parody and backdrop from time to time. From the Alchemist's broken battlements, to The Hound's bats, and beyond, there is always a sly smile in Lovecraft's words for the old Count.
The passage from Dracula must surely have been in mind as HPL delineated the voyage of the ship. He declares, "Mystery Derelict Found At Sea" and later we discover that it is a "schooner".
Dracula pops up in HPL's stories as a parody and backdrop from time to time. From the Alchemist's broken battlements, to The Hound's bats, and beyond, there is always a sly smile in Lovecraft's words for the old Count.
Monday, February 26, 2007
A Correllary to Lovecraft's Alchemist
The Alchemist, to Chrispy, shows two periods of composition. Soemtime, down the road, Chrispy will deconstruct it and show the redacted parts. (One man's opinion.) For instance compare the fourth paragraph tot he identical paragraph in The Tomb.
In any event, the bits about the 13th century (i.e. 1201-1299) is reflective of Susan Lovecraft's deep knowledge of French Literature. The story is so clever and well told, it appears to he historic. Lovecraft often parodied history in his post 1915 era.
However, other than a slight allusion to Jacques de Molay, where in the world did this story come from and what is its import? Just made up of whole cloth?
Chrispy think's not.
The story basically is an insertion, and follows this plot: A French peasant, Michel - Mauvais the Evil - looked for the Philosopher's Stone (the method of making gold) and the Elixir of Life (the means of eternal life). Charles, Michel's son, was the father's pupil.
** Interuption. Shades of Charles Dexter Ward Meets The Dunwich Horror ***
Michel burned his wife, allegedly. Then, the plot twists. Godfrey, son of Henri, came up missing and suspicion descended upon Michel and was slain by Henri. Then, Godfrey is found. Charles Le Sorcier - the sorcerer - proclaimed a curse.
** So far this is very reminiscent of the Capet line of French Kings**
Robert, the next count was found slain in a field.
His, son, Louis, was then found drowned in a moat.
Here we stop. Why? The latter, Louis, is extremely reminiscent of the ancient legend of the Rape of Maude. I suspect this is a very ancient legend that was part of some eerie folk tale that circulated in and out of France, Normandy, and England.
It is very long and can be found here ... click. I will also place it in "comments".
Basically, an innocent maid through a series of exotic and politically wrongful events is killed, her corpse impaled, and her mother burned.
A key pericope is, "Then in a fit of shame and sorrow she had killed herself, flinging herself into the brook. Of Godfrey Bowen it was assumed that as he had raped his own niece God had slain him. As was the custom and practice of the day, Maude Bowen was taken to the nearest cross-roads to where she had died, impaled with a stake of living wood and buried, lest she return as a vampire."
Read and please add any comments.
In any event, the bits about the 13th century (i.e. 1201-1299) is reflective of Susan Lovecraft's deep knowledge of French Literature. The story is so clever and well told, it appears to he historic. Lovecraft often parodied history in his post 1915 era.
However, other than a slight allusion to Jacques de Molay, where in the world did this story come from and what is its import? Just made up of whole cloth?
Chrispy think's not.
The story basically is an insertion, and follows this plot: A French peasant, Michel - Mauvais the Evil - looked for the Philosopher's Stone (the method of making gold) and the Elixir of Life (the means of eternal life). Charles, Michel's son, was the father's pupil.
** Interuption. Shades of Charles Dexter Ward Meets The Dunwich Horror ***
Michel burned his wife, allegedly. Then, the plot twists. Godfrey, son of Henri, came up missing and suspicion descended upon Michel and was slain by Henri. Then, Godfrey is found. Charles Le Sorcier - the sorcerer - proclaimed a curse.
** So far this is very reminiscent of the Capet line of French Kings**
Robert, the next count was found slain in a field.
His, son, Louis, was then found drowned in a moat.
Here we stop. Why? The latter, Louis, is extremely reminiscent of the ancient legend of the Rape of Maude. I suspect this is a very ancient legend that was part of some eerie folk tale that circulated in and out of France, Normandy, and England.
It is very long and can be found here ... click. I will also place it in "comments".
Basically, an innocent maid through a series of exotic and politically wrongful events is killed, her corpse impaled, and her mother burned.
A key pericope is, "Then in a fit of shame and sorrow she had killed herself, flinging herself into the brook. Of Godfrey Bowen it was assumed that as he had raped his own niece God had slain him. As was the custom and practice of the day, Maude Bowen was taken to the nearest cross-roads to where she had died, impaled with a stake of living wood and buried, lest she return as a vampire."
Read and please add any comments.
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