The Angel

by Patrick McGrath

Contains The Angel, The Black Hand of the Raj, The Arnold Crombeck Story and The E(rot)ic Potato, all taken from the collection Blood and Water.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Classics

53 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1995

About the author

Patrick McGrath was born in London and grew up near Broadmoor Hospital where his father was Medical Superintendent. He was educated at Stonyhurst College. He is a British novelist whose work has been categorized as gothic fiction. He is married to actress Maria Aitken and lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Coenraad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I am not a fan of horror stories, Patrick McGrath's deft handling and ability to surprise made these four stories a pleasant read. The shock of 'The angel' puts a whole new spin on this celestial being; 'The black hand of the Raj' invokes the whole question of colonialism and the exotic; 'The Arnold Crombeck story' tells of an American journalist's series of interviews with a convicted British murderer shortly before his execution; and 'The e(rot)ic potato' is not only a brilliant lesson in ecology, but also demonstrates that every now and again (but ever so sparingly) it is OK to have a paragraph where every sentence ends with an exclamation mark! A surprisingly wonderful find.

In Patrick McGrath se hande word grillerverhale leesbaar omdat hy die leser boei en verras. Al is ek nie gaande oor die genre nie, is die vier verhale wat hier versamel word, mild en interessant genoeg om mee te voer. Veral die skitterende les oor die ekologie (die eerstepersoonsverteller is 'n vlieg!) in 'The e(rot)ic potato' val op, en daarmee saam die demonstrasie dat jy wel soms - uiters selde, maar tog - 'n hele paragraaf kan hê waarin elke sin eindig met 'n uitroepteken.

[Russio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am given to understand that Mr Kavanagh was a poet of some significance and an influence on Seamus Heaney. This small prose collection consists of four pieces, the best of which is the second (about a serial killer) and the fourth, convincingly from the point of view of a bluebottle, feasting grotesquely on remains. There is a macabre pleasure in both stories. In the first three, each gave me a moment of reflection on the changing times, and the portrayal of women, gay men and black people, unanchored by an authorial correction, is allowed to stand in unreconstructed terms. Which is a shame.

[Paul Barnes · Rating 2 out of 5]

[Penguin Books] (1995). SB. 52 Pages. Purchased from The British Heart Foundation.

Four short stories, all lifted from “Blood and Water and Other Tales” (1988).

“The Angel” - [8/20] Repulsive.
“The Black Hand of the Raj” - [4/20] Unpleasant.
“The Arnold Crombeck Story” - [10/20] Okay.
“The E(rot)ic Potato” - [0/20] Vile drivel.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

These strange stories captured my imagination for the short time I was exposed to them. They were something between literary ghost stories and urban fantasy. I have no doubt that although I read them in under an hour, I'll wind up thinking about them for a lot longer.

[Mx Józef Dírêctøùr · Rating 2 out of 5]

E(rot)ic Potato is the standout, but gosh, a pun weakens with repetition.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

favourite: the Arnold Crombeck Story

[Matilde Fonseca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow
So weird and disturbing, love it!
4,6

[Stephen Bywater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to see the word estivating been used in a short story.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good old creepy stories

[Laila · Rating 2 out of 5]

"How about we close that story collection with some interspecial insect porn?"

[Abbie Denyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best styles of writing I have read in a long time

[Bulletproof · Rating 4 out of 5]

now that's the type of gothic fiction I like

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

fucked up homoerotic horror. 10/10

[Daren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four short stories published as a Penguin 60, all taken from Blood and Water and Other Tales.
The Angel, The Black Hand of the Raj, The Arnold Crombeck Story and The E(rot)ic Potato.

These were interesting and well formed short stories, and worked together in a short collection.

[محمد قرط الجزمي · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure.
I read it since year 2000, so I don't remember exactly how it was.
but I rated it as 3 stars because I remember it was like this when I read it.

I think I must read it again. It is just 52 pages.

[Stephen Theaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb stories - frightening and comical. My favourite was "The Black Hand of the Raj".

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

What bizzare stories, especially the potato one! Gruesome and disturbing at times. I recommend reading long after eating and not in the dark!

[Velvetink]

short stories. Gothic.
*note to self. Copy from A.