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A Mirror of Shalott
At a symposium in Rome, a group of priests gather by candlelight to discuss the shadowy world of the supernatural. Each in turn tells of their encounters with ghosts, demons and other mysterious phenomenon, sharing their knowledge of the evils they have been called upon to guard against.
This chilling collection was originally published in 1907. Carefully formatted and proof-read, it is now available for the first time on kindle, for the delectation of classic horror fans!
This chilling collection was originally published in 1907. Carefully formatted and proof-read, it is now available for the first time on kindle, for the delectation of classic horror fans!
106 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1907
13 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Robert Hugh Benson
322 books186 followersMrsgr. Robert Hugh Benson AFSC KC*SG KGCHS was an English Catholic priest and writer. First an Anglican pastor, he was received into the Catholic Church in 1903 and ordained therein the next year. He was also a prolific writer of fiction, writing the notable dystopian novel Lord of the World, as well as Come Rack! Come Rope!.
His output encompassed historical, horror and science fiction, contemporary fiction, children's stories, plays, apologetics, devotional works and articles. He continued his writing career at the same time as he progressed through the hierarchy to become a Chamberlain to Pope Pius X in 1911, and gain the title of Monsignor before his death a few years later.
His output encompassed historical, horror and science fiction, contemporary fiction, children's stories, plays, apologetics, devotional works and articles. He continued his writing career at the same time as he progressed through the hierarchy to become a Chamberlain to Pope Pius X in 1911, and gain the title of Monsignor before his death a few years later.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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August 3, 2022Perhaps the most peculiar member of the peculiar Benson family. AC was an incredibly prolific repressed-gay church bore who wrote Land of Hope and Glory, EF was an incredibly prolific and not even slightly repressed gay party animal who wrote the Mapp and Lucia books, Maggie was a lesbian Egyptologist, writer, and artist, and RH veered between being an Anglican priest, a Catholic priest, and a, yes, prolific writer of historical and SF novels, and horror and occult tales, who spent his time when he wasn't being extremely religious hanging out with dubious characters including Baron Corvo and Lord Alfred Douglas. Their mother was a magnificently intelligent woman whose life was pretty much ruined by her horrible grooming by and marriage to the ghastly EW Benson, who first proposed when he was 24 and she was 12. He then became the Archbishop of Canterbury. I mean.
This is basically a collection of ghost stories told through a mystical-Catholic prism. Sort of like what Chesterton did for detective stories with Father Brown, only with creepiness. Not as weird as I hoped, tbh, I'm going to try a novel.
This is basically a collection of ghost stories told through a mystical-Catholic prism. Sort of like what Chesterton did for detective stories with Father Brown, only with creepiness. Not as weird as I hoped, tbh, I'm going to try a novel.
December 31, 2019
Intense and dripping with a taste for life as few writing can give to the readers......despite being a particular book with stories about the supernatural. ,I was moved to read the conviction of lived faith, that the Savior embraces everything...even the most extreme evil can be forgiven...
Carl Vilhelm Meyer
Intenso e grondante di un gusto di vita come pochi......nonostante sia un libro particolare con storie sul sovrannaturale. ,io mi sono commossa nel leggere la mia convinzione di fede vissuta, Cristo abbraccia tutto...anche il male più estremo può essere perdonato...
Carl Vilhelm Meyer
Intenso e grondante di un gusto di vita come pochi......nonostante sia un libro particolare con storie sul sovrannaturale. ,io mi sono commossa nel leggere la mia convinzione di fede vissuta, Cristo abbraccia tutto...anche il male più estremo può essere perdonato...
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August 9, 2018A gathering of priests each tell their one most unusual experience of the supernatural.
The first one was about a devout brother who wanted to ‘save’ his sibling by taking on the other’s loss of faith. Others included: witnessing an exorcism, a child visionary, a real-life Dorian Gray artist, haunted dwellings, near-death experience, a visitation and a life-transforming dream. Some were rather creepy, but only 1 seemed really scary to me.
There were a couple things totally unexpected in this book which made it a rich spiritual treasure-trove and not just your average run-of-the-mill ghost story. One was Msgr. Benson’s explanation of the Prayer of Quiet which was a joy to read. Here are the relevant sections extracted from the story narrative, a bit long but hopefully you will agree as to their beauty:
The first one was about a devout brother who wanted to ‘save’ his sibling by taking on the other’s loss of faith. Others included: witnessing an exorcism, a child visionary, a real-life Dorian Gray artist, haunted dwellings, near-death experience, a visitation and a life-transforming dream. Some were rather creepy, but only 1 seemed really scary to me.
There were a couple things totally unexpected in this book which made it a rich spiritual treasure-trove and not just your average run-of-the-mill ghost story. One was Msgr. Benson’s explanation of the Prayer of Quiet which was a joy to read. Here are the relevant sections extracted from the story narrative, a bit long but hopefully you will agree as to their beauty:
First I had withdrawn myself from the world of sense. That takes, as you know, sometimes several minutes; it is necessary to sink down in thought in such a manner that sounds no longer distract the attention even though they may be heard, and even considered and reflected upon. Then the second step is to leave behind all intellectual considerations and images, and that too sometimes is troublesome, especially if the mind is naturally active. ... It is the introversion of the soul. Instead of considering this object or that, either by looking upon it or reflecting upon it, the soul turns inwards. There are the two distinct planes on which many men, especially those who pay little or no attention to the soul, live continually. Either they continually seek distractions; they cannot be devout except in company or before an image; or else—as indeed many do who have even the gift of recollection—they dwell entirely upon considerations and mental images. Now the true introversion is beneath all this. The soul sinks, turning inwards upon itself. . . there are no actual considerations at all; those become in their turn as much distractions to the energy of the soul as external objects to the energy of the mind. ... well. There was that strange tranquility all about me. . . . I cannot put it into words except by saying, as all do who practice that method, that it is a living tranquility full of a very vital energy. This is not of course that to which contemplatives penetrate; St. John of the Cross makes that very plain; it is no more than that in which we ought always to live. It is that Kingdom of God within, of which our Blessed Lord tells us; but it is not the Palace itself. . . . However, as I have said, when one has but learnt the way there—and the difficulty of doing so lies only in its extreme and singular simplicity—when one has learnt the way there it is full of pleasure and consolation.Review to be continued...
March 6, 2025
Książka dla ludzi, którzy boją się ateistów. I agnostyków. Ogólnie bez sensu.
December 29, 2017
A group of clergymen discuss their different views on the existence of the spiritual world and its purpose. They agree to a peculiar exercise: each one will tell a first-hand story in which they were faced with preternatural events, no matter how inexplicable or senseless the story may seem. Eventually some guests are also brought into the circle to tell their stories. They all give their consent that the author, a layman, record their tales for future publishing.
I was very excited about this book when I came across it by chance when I typed 'Shalott' on my usual bookstore's site. It was very affordable and reminded me of Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by M.R. James, which I enjoyed a couple of years ago. There's something I can't resist about early 20th century ghost stories.
As expected, the tales weren't shocking and had somewhat anticlimactic endings. I said 'as expected' because of what I've seen on other authors' works from around that time but also because this particular book had the premise of the spiritual world being something beyond our logic and not necessarily meant for the living to see. In my opinion, old ghost stories were more focused on painting a scene or setting a mood than being shocking. In a way they're reminiscent of poetry to me.
The stories vary in length and also in how interesting they can be but I found them all still enjoyable. Religious themes are present in almost all of them (such as the corruption of the soul, what happens to souls after dead) but there were also some more scientific inclined explanations discussed (such as Charcot's explanation of symptoms created by suggestion, epilepsy, and ghost referred as echoing energies).
The one thing I was a bit let down by was the lack of discussion. I didn't expect answers but I would have enjoyed see the characters comment on the tales presented. The jump from one story's end to another's beginning without any mention of the characters' impressions felt too abrupt.
I was very excited about this book when I came across it by chance when I typed 'Shalott' on my usual bookstore's site. It was very affordable and reminded me of Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by M.R. James, which I enjoyed a couple of years ago. There's something I can't resist about early 20th century ghost stories.
As expected, the tales weren't shocking and had somewhat anticlimactic endings. I said 'as expected' because of what I've seen on other authors' works from around that time but also because this particular book had the premise of the spiritual world being something beyond our logic and not necessarily meant for the living to see. In my opinion, old ghost stories were more focused on painting a scene or setting a mood than being shocking. In a way they're reminiscent of poetry to me.
The stories vary in length and also in how interesting they can be but I found them all still enjoyable. Religious themes are present in almost all of them (such as the corruption of the soul, what happens to souls after dead) but there were also some more scientific inclined explanations discussed (such as Charcot's explanation of symptoms created by suggestion, epilepsy, and ghost referred as echoing energies).
The one thing I was a bit let down by was the lack of discussion. I didn't expect answers but I would have enjoyed see the characters comment on the tales presented. The jump from one story's end to another's beginning without any mention of the characters' impressions felt too abrupt.
September 8, 2019
I find that reviewers often give books a low rating based on disagreement with the author's philosophical or religious beliefs. I consider that rather unfair and somewhat like my trashing of a beautifully written book about football (if you can imagine such a thing) because I don't care for or understand football. That being said, I think this book will resonate only with those who can take a spiritual threat seriously - a threat to the soul. Robert Hugh Benson was, after all, a Catholic priest. His concern is not with threats to the physical body but with evil, separation from God, threats to one's spiritual welfare. In this way, I would compare him more readily with Walter De la Mare, another subtle writer who can conjure up profound disquiet and a sense that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness. . . " As a writer, R. H. Benson is eloquent, even masterly, writing a prose of great beauty. I found these tales mesmerizing and highly original in their development (though, again, not for everyone).
January 19, 2023
This book is Robert Hugh Benson's collection of supernatural horror stories told by a group of Catholic clerics gathered at a symposium in Rome where each gathered in a group and told a particular story that happened to them. Originally published in various periodicals and later collected in book form. In this volume Benson contrives to establish "that horrible sense of silence round about us, in which dreadful forces are alert and watching us."
Contents:
Prologue ✔
Monsignor Maxwell’s Tale 3.25⭐
Father Meuron’s Tale 2⭐
Father Brent’s Tale 3⭐
The Father Rector’s Tale 3⭐
Father Girdlestone’s Tale 3.5⭐
Father Bianchi’s Tale 3.25⭐
Father Jenks' Tale 3⭐
Father Martin’s Tale 4⭐
Mr. Bosanquet’s Tale 3.25⭐
Father Maddox's Tale 3.25⭐
Father Macclesfield’s Tale 4⭐
Father Stein’s Tale 2⭐
Mr. Percival’s Tale 2⭐
My Own Tale 2.5⭐
Contents:
Prologue ✔
Monsignor Maxwell’s Tale 3.25⭐
Father Meuron’s Tale 2⭐
Father Brent’s Tale 3⭐
The Father Rector’s Tale 3⭐
Father Girdlestone’s Tale 3.5⭐
Father Bianchi’s Tale 3.25⭐
Father Jenks' Tale 3⭐
Father Martin’s Tale 4⭐
Mr. Bosanquet’s Tale 3.25⭐
Father Maddox's Tale 3.25⭐
Father Macclesfield’s Tale 4⭐
Father Stein’s Tale 2⭐
Mr. Percival’s Tale 2⭐
My Own Tale 2.5⭐
August 31, 2021
Just like M. R. James, but boring
March 31, 2021
Opowieści o zjawiskach nadprzyrodzonych, o mocach pozaziemskich, o nawiedzonych domostwach, o samych duchach wreszcie. Kto ich nie lubi? Kto choć raz ich nie opowiadał czy o nich nie słuchał? A może nawet zdarzyło się Wam przeżyć na własnej skórze właśnie taki kontakt ze światem duchów.
O takich "przygodach" traktuje zbiór opowiadań "Zwierciadło z Shalott". Pan Benson spisał w tejże książce opowiadania swoich przyjaciół, księży i nie tylko, których był wysłuchał podczas pobytu w Watykanie.
Podczas sympozjum w Watykanie grupa księży postanawia co wieczór prezentować jedną historię z własnego życia czy też zasłyszaną od znajomych bądź bliskich, historię spotkania z rzeczywistością nadprzyrodzoną, które w mniejszy czy większy sposób wpłynęło na opowiadających.
Przeczytamy więc tu opowieści o duchach, proroczych snach, o przypadkach demonicznego opętania, o walce Boga z Szatanem w duszy człowieka, o śmierci klinicznej, o dziwnych domostwach, czy o kontakcie z przeszłością, która dawno minęła. Znajdziemy tu dreszcz niepokoju, odrobinę strachu, lęku, przerażenia, ale także nadzieję, siłę wiary, szczęśliwe chwile powrotu do Boga, zwycięstwo dobra nad złem.
"Zwierciadło z Shalott" to zbiór czternastu opowiadań, które niosą ze sobą ostrzeżenie i ważne przesłanie, spisane w formie klasycznych opowieści o niesamowitych zjawiskach nie z tego świata, zapewniają miłośnikom grozy sporą dawkę emocji, które uwielbiają, a dla tych, których świat duchów i zjawisk nadprzyrodzonych intryguje i są przekonani o jego faktycznym istnieniu, są kolejnym dowodem potwierdzającym to.
Czytając ten zbiór opowiadań sama niejednokrotnie czułam się nieswojo, czułam niepokój, a nawet zimny dreszcz przemykający po plecach. Jeśli ktoś lubi takie dość mroczne opowieści, jest to pozycja w sam raz dla niego. Ja osobiście boję się wszelakich historii o duchach, opętaniach, nawiedzonych domostwach (tak, wierzę w istnienie świata, którego ludzkie oko nie dostrzega, a jedynie czasem stajemy się świadkami pewnych zjawisk, przy udziale naszych zmysłów, i nie wiem jak to rozpatrywać, w ramach zaszczytu czy raczej pecha 😁), ale mimo to ten świat mnie na dziwny sposób fascynuje, tak to już chyba jest, że to co nieznane, ciekawi i przyciąga nas najbardziej. 😂
Na uwagę zasługuje okładka tego zbioru opowiadań, mroczna, ciemna zieleń zatopiona w czerni, a pośrodku zwierciadło, spowite mgłą, jakby zaraz, za chwilę, miało się tam coś pojawić... Buduje klimat ta okładka, bez dwóch zdań. 😍
"Zwierciadło z Shalott" to historie idealne na jesienne, spowite woalem mgły wieczory. Polecam !
Za egzemplarz do recenzji dziękuję @Klub Książki Katolickiej i @Wydawnictwu Aa
A wy lubicie takie historie, może zdarzyło wam się coś nadzwyczajnego? 😉
Miłego wieczoru !
O takich "przygodach" traktuje zbiór opowiadań "Zwierciadło z Shalott". Pan Benson spisał w tejże książce opowiadania swoich przyjaciół, księży i nie tylko, których był wysłuchał podczas pobytu w Watykanie.
Podczas sympozjum w Watykanie grupa księży postanawia co wieczór prezentować jedną historię z własnego życia czy też zasłyszaną od znajomych bądź bliskich, historię spotkania z rzeczywistością nadprzyrodzoną, które w mniejszy czy większy sposób wpłynęło na opowiadających.
Przeczytamy więc tu opowieści o duchach, proroczych snach, o przypadkach demonicznego opętania, o walce Boga z Szatanem w duszy człowieka, o śmierci klinicznej, o dziwnych domostwach, czy o kontakcie z przeszłością, która dawno minęła. Znajdziemy tu dreszcz niepokoju, odrobinę strachu, lęku, przerażenia, ale także nadzieję, siłę wiary, szczęśliwe chwile powrotu do Boga, zwycięstwo dobra nad złem.
"Zwierciadło z Shalott" to zbiór czternastu opowiadań, które niosą ze sobą ostrzeżenie i ważne przesłanie, spisane w formie klasycznych opowieści o niesamowitych zjawiskach nie z tego świata, zapewniają miłośnikom grozy sporą dawkę emocji, które uwielbiają, a dla tych, których świat duchów i zjawisk nadprzyrodzonych intryguje i są przekonani o jego faktycznym istnieniu, są kolejnym dowodem potwierdzającym to.
Czytając ten zbiór opowiadań sama niejednokrotnie czułam się nieswojo, czułam niepokój, a nawet zimny dreszcz przemykający po plecach. Jeśli ktoś lubi takie dość mroczne opowieści, jest to pozycja w sam raz dla niego. Ja osobiście boję się wszelakich historii o duchach, opętaniach, nawiedzonych domostwach (tak, wierzę w istnienie świata, którego ludzkie oko nie dostrzega, a jedynie czasem stajemy się świadkami pewnych zjawisk, przy udziale naszych zmysłów, i nie wiem jak to rozpatrywać, w ramach zaszczytu czy raczej pecha 😁), ale mimo to ten świat mnie na dziwny sposób fascynuje, tak to już chyba jest, że to co nieznane, ciekawi i przyciąga nas najbardziej. 😂
Na uwagę zasługuje okładka tego zbioru opowiadań, mroczna, ciemna zieleń zatopiona w czerni, a pośrodku zwierciadło, spowite mgłą, jakby zaraz, za chwilę, miało się tam coś pojawić... Buduje klimat ta okładka, bez dwóch zdań. 😍
"Zwierciadło z Shalott" to historie idealne na jesienne, spowite woalem mgły wieczory. Polecam !
Za egzemplarz do recenzji dziękuję @Klub Książki Katolickiej i @Wydawnictwu Aa
A wy lubicie takie historie, może zdarzyło wam się coś nadzwyczajnego? 😉
Miłego wieczoru !
October 11, 2013
Robert Benson was a master of the supernatural story, but many of his stories don't play well with the religious themes he earnestly believed in. MR James managed a better balance.
September 26, 2017
A little slow at first but it built up quite a head of steam as it went on. And besides, there were foreshadowings of Charles Williams.
March 10, 2019
Hugh Robert Benson, best known for his classic "Lord of the World" was also a writer of horror fiction. A Mirror of Shalott is a symposium of tales regarding the preternatural as told over after-dinner-drinks at a parish rectory in Rome.
None of these stories meet what contemporary audiences would expect from horror fiction. Rather, it is much more subtle and seems to be aiming for disquiet.
Since the tales are predominantly told from the perspective of 1920s Catholic priests, it offers a glimpse into the lives (if idealized) of Catholic clergy at a time when spiritualism and seances were pop culture.
Recommended for: fans of fine literature, horror fans looking for something (very) different.
None of these stories meet what contemporary audiences would expect from horror fiction. Rather, it is much more subtle and seems to be aiming for disquiet.
Since the tales are predominantly told from the perspective of 1920s Catholic priests, it offers a glimpse into the lives (if idealized) of Catholic clergy at a time when spiritualism and seances were pop culture.
Recommended for: fans of fine literature, horror fans looking for something (very) different.
July 28, 2022
"Catholics were the only genuine agnostics alive... "
A series of ghost-stories told by priests. Some more intriguing than others, but overall a pleasure to read. Couldn't put it down.
"The agnostic position is certainly the soundest in all matters outside the deposit of Faith."
A series of ghost-stories told by priests. Some more intriguing than others, but overall a pleasure to read. Couldn't put it down.
"The agnostic position is certainly the soundest in all matters outside the deposit of Faith."
September 5, 2019
A Catholic answer to Lovecraft.
February 11, 2022
I enjoyed these stories of the unknown. Not everything can be explained.
January 8, 2023
A paasable collection of stories; if rather arcane at times. Robert Benson's writing does not share the lightness of touch which is a trademark of his brother's, Edward's writing.
Want to read
April 14, 2025Read so far:
*Prologue
Monsignor Maxwells̓ tale--
Father Meuron's tale--2
*Father Brent's tale--
The Father rector's tale--
Father Girdlestone's tale--
*Father Bianchi's tale--
Father Jenks' tale--
Father Martin's tale--
Mr. Bosanquet's tale--
Father Maddox's tale--
Father Macclesfield's tale--2
*Father Stein's tale--
*Mr. Percival's tale--
*My own tale--
***
[other stories:]
The green robe
The traveller--3
The watcher--2
*Prologue
Monsignor Maxwells̓ tale--
Father Meuron's tale--2
*Father Brent's tale--
The Father rector's tale--
Father Girdlestone's tale--
*Father Bianchi's tale--
Father Jenks' tale--
Father Martin's tale--
Mr. Bosanquet's tale--
Father Maddox's tale--
Father Macclesfield's tale--2
*Father Stein's tale--
*Mr. Percival's tale--
*My own tale--
***
[other stories:]
The green robe
The traveller--3
The watcher--2
December 9, 2019
85/100 (= 5.0/6) ≈ 5 Stars
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I really enjoyed this one. A collection of stories about glimpses into the supernatural, told in a masterful way Msgr. Benson (as if the characters in the book are telling the stories). Superb. Good discussions on the meaning (or lack thereof) of such occurrences.
-----------------------------------------
I really enjoyed this one. A collection of stories about glimpses into the supernatural, told in a masterful way Msgr. Benson (as if the characters in the book are telling the stories). Superb. Good discussions on the meaning (or lack thereof) of such occurrences.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews