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The Bright Messenger
Journey into the mysterious and metaphysical with Algernon Blackwood’s “The Bright Messenger”.
Originally published in 1921, this novel delves into the realms of spiritualism, mysticism, and the profound connection between the human and the divine.
The narrative unfolds as protagonist Paul Devon encounters a mysterious and charismatic figure, Melchizedek Howard. Howard possesses extraordinary abilities and claims to be a messenger from higher realms. As Paul becomes entwined in Howard’s world, the novel explores themes of spiritual awakening, the search for meaning, and the transformative power of transcendent experiences.
Algernon Blackwood, known for his expertise in supernatural fiction, weaves a tale that combines elements of mysticism with psychological depth. “The Bright Messenger” invites readers to contemplate the boundaries between the material and the spiritual, the known and the unknown.
For those who seek literature that explores the intersection of the mystical and the mundane, “The Bright Messenger” offers a thought-provoking and spiritually charged narrative. Join Paul Devon as he navigates a world where the boundaries between the earthly and the ethereal become blurred, and the pursuit of higher truths leads to unexpected revelations.
***
This Algernon Blackwood's novel is a sequel to his earlier Julius LeVallon.
Originally published in 1921, this novel delves into the realms of spiritualism, mysticism, and the profound connection between the human and the divine.
The narrative unfolds as protagonist Paul Devon encounters a mysterious and charismatic figure, Melchizedek Howard. Howard possesses extraordinary abilities and claims to be a messenger from higher realms. As Paul becomes entwined in Howard’s world, the novel explores themes of spiritual awakening, the search for meaning, and the transformative power of transcendent experiences.
Algernon Blackwood, known for his expertise in supernatural fiction, weaves a tale that combines elements of mysticism with psychological depth. “The Bright Messenger” invites readers to contemplate the boundaries between the material and the spiritual, the known and the unknown.
For those who seek literature that explores the intersection of the mystical and the mundane, “The Bright Messenger” offers a thought-provoking and spiritually charged narrative. Join Paul Devon as he navigates a world where the boundaries between the earthly and the ethereal become blurred, and the pursuit of higher truths leads to unexpected revelations.
***
This Algernon Blackwood's novel is a sequel to his earlier Julius LeVallon.
388 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1921
4 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Algernon Blackwood
1,351 books1,176 followersAlgernon Henry Blackwood (1869–1951) was an English broadcasting narrator, journalist, novelist and short story writer, and among the most prolific ghost story writers in the history of the genre. The literary critic S. T. Joshi stated, "His work is more consistently meritorious than any weird writer's except Dunsany's" and that his short story collection Incredible Adventures (1914) "may be the premier weird collection of this or any other century".
Blackwood was born in Shooter's Hill (today part of south-east London, but then part of northwest Kent) and educated at Wellington College. His father was a Post Office administrator who, according to Peter Penzoldt, "though not devoid of genuine good-heartedness, had appallingly narrow religious ideas." Blackwood had a varied career, farming in Canada, operating a hotel, as a newspaper reporter in New York City, and, throughout his adult life, an occasional essayist for various periodicals. In his late thirties, he moved back to England and started to write stories of the supernatural. He was very successful, writing at least ten original collections of short stories and eventually appearing on both radio and television to tell them. He also wrote fourteen novels, several children's books, and a number of plays, most of which were produced but not published. He was an avid lover of nature and the outdoors, and many of his stories reflect this.
H.P. Lovecraft wrote of Blackwood: "He is the one absolute and unquestioned master of weird atmosphere." His powerful story "The Willows," which effectively describes another dimension impinging upon our own, was reckoned by Lovecraft to be not only "foremost of all" Blackwood's tales but the best "weird tale" of all time.
Among his thirty-odd books, Blackwood wrote a series of stories and short novels published as John Silence, Physician Extraordinary (1908), which featured a "psychic detective" who combined the skills of a Sherlock Holmes and a psychic medium. Blackwood also wrote light fantasy and juvenile books.
Blackwood was born in Shooter's Hill (today part of south-east London, but then part of northwest Kent) and educated at Wellington College. His father was a Post Office administrator who, according to Peter Penzoldt, "though not devoid of genuine good-heartedness, had appallingly narrow religious ideas." Blackwood had a varied career, farming in Canada, operating a hotel, as a newspaper reporter in New York City, and, throughout his adult life, an occasional essayist for various periodicals. In his late thirties, he moved back to England and started to write stories of the supernatural. He was very successful, writing at least ten original collections of short stories and eventually appearing on both radio and television to tell them. He also wrote fourteen novels, several children's books, and a number of plays, most of which were produced but not published. He was an avid lover of nature and the outdoors, and many of his stories reflect this.
H.P. Lovecraft wrote of Blackwood: "He is the one absolute and unquestioned master of weird atmosphere." His powerful story "The Willows," which effectively describes another dimension impinging upon our own, was reckoned by Lovecraft to be not only "foremost of all" Blackwood's tales but the best "weird tale" of all time.
Among his thirty-odd books, Blackwood wrote a series of stories and short novels published as John Silence, Physician Extraordinary (1908), which featured a "psychic detective" who combined the skills of a Sherlock Holmes and a psychic medium. Blackwood also wrote light fantasy and juvenile books.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 22, 2018
As much as I've enjoyed Algernon Blackwood's tales of ghosts and other inexplicable horrors, I find nothing enjoyable about The Bright Messenger whose beliefs and philosophies are silly, naive, and trite to me. I've read six chapters and that will be all.
August 12, 2020
Note: Endurance and concentration necessary, not for the faint of heart.
If you’ve read his smaller works The Regeneration of Lord Ernie, the human chord, the centaur, or simply appreciate Blackwood’s prose, I recommend this food for thought to your collection.
There is an essence, I feel, from all his previous works transmuted, as it were, into something more complete. Though he has written this quite uniquely I’d say ‘with all stops out.’
Perhaps his masterpiece?
If you’ve not had hope you’ve none to recover.
The story is Arduous and rewarding, leading through a wilderness strange to the reader.
Know something of the author, or, of the period it was written (1911-1921). Started before WW1 but mostly written after and completed; by a changed man.
A great author is like a composer of classical music, trying to introduce something new and, at least, describe the old thing a new way. Praying for originality.
I believe he reached the farthest for this story.
If you’ve read his smaller works The Regeneration of Lord Ernie, the human chord, the centaur, or simply appreciate Blackwood’s prose, I recommend this food for thought to your collection.
There is an essence, I feel, from all his previous works transmuted, as it were, into something more complete. Though he has written this quite uniquely I’d say ‘with all stops out.’
Perhaps his masterpiece?
If you’ve not had hope you’ve none to recover.
The story is Arduous and rewarding, leading through a wilderness strange to the reader.
Know something of the author, or, of the period it was written (1911-1921). Started before WW1 but mostly written after and completed; by a changed man.
A great author is like a composer of classical music, trying to introduce something new and, at least, describe the old thing a new way. Praying for originality.
I believe he reached the farthest for this story.
October 27, 2021
I'd never read anything by Blackwood, but he was mentioned as one of a group of British authors who were influenced by the French philosopher Henri Bergson. The mention was in a Phd. Thesis that I came across online, by a woman named Helen L. Green. The thesis, titled Middlebrow Mystics; Henri Bergson and British culture, 1899 - 1939; was written while at Northumbria U.K. I enjoyed the story though it seemed a little overwrought. Not quite my style. But I'm glad I've learned about him. The Thesis by Ms. Green, by the way, is really good.
March 5, 2016
If there was ever a book that didn't need a sequel, it would be any on of Blackwood's novels. There is literally no one in the world I would recommend this to out of fear that some of its BS might rub off on them. The chapter about the Promethean society was like a celebration of all the woo-woo that still plagues society today. You can't just start making crap up at the edge of scientific knowledge. Blackwood's works would have benefited tremendously had he tried on some critical thinking in his life. Instead, he tries to push fantasy into reality and credulously believes anything with a hint of mysticism just because it sounds good to him. The result is yet another tedious and practically unreadable novel.
January 6, 2020
I don't regret the time spent getting through this book but I don't think I'll revisit it ever. It was mostly a poetic/metaphoric description of what it would be like for an angel to inhabit the body of a human. That is OK as a premise but I don't think it provided a compelling vision for it or anything. It sometimes seemed like he was trying to be profound or mysterious but just ended up sounding like a late night radio call in show. Which I guess is kind of impressive for being new-age before new-age was a thing.
February 27, 2016
Terribly happy to have discovered this book and author who pushes the envelope of reality, allowing us all, for a time, to experience other more glorious dimensions.
March 4, 2018
One star because this was painfully tedious. Two stars because he had the balls to write it.
March 21, 2020
I thought that a tale of what it would be like for an angel to inhabit a human body would be poetic, profound, and mysterious. The writing did not provid a compelling vision. It was kind of an impressive tool for inducing sleep, however.
For an otherworldy experience, read A Voyage to Arcturus instead.
For an otherworldy experience, read A Voyage to Arcturus instead.
February 14, 2024
Too "wordy." I like Algernon Blackwood. I don't like this book. It repeats the same incident over and over from different points of view, maddeningly slow. It's repetitious and builds too slowly to keep my interest. Toward the end it got interesting. Kind of reminded me of K-PAX.
January 22, 2020
While a lot of it confused me, the ending was satisfying and I really enjoyed the story overall.
September 23, 2015
"....and you won't read that book again
because the ending's just too hard to take..."
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jqMG3VR...
That's what this book feels like.
November 23, 2016
A long, long, LONG way to get to where it was going...
But it may take that long trip to get the point.
Still, as good as that is it can be a bit tedious and repetitive.
But it may take that long trip to get the point.
Still, as good as that is it can be a bit tedious and repetitive.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews