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’Twixt Dog and Wolf
C.F. Keary’s collection of stories and sketches, ’Twixt Dog and Wolf (1901), is one of the rarest and most sought-after volumes in the annals of weird fiction. Collected here are ‘The Message from the God’, a decadent paean to the Great God Pan; ‘Elizabeth’, a tale of witchcraft in medieval Germany that John Buchan called ‘one of the finest witch tales I know’; ‘The Four Students’, a story of black magic and alchemy in the bloody days of the French Reign of Terror; and a series of ten ‘Phantasies’, bizarre and hallucinatory nightmares in prose.
This first-ever reissue includes the unabridged text of the original edition, plus a new introduction and notes by James Machin.
This first-ever reissue includes the unabridged text of the original edition, plus a new introduction and notes by James Machin.
110 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1901
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 31, 2017
a) it won't be everyone's cuppa, but for me the writing in this book made the experience like reading great art
b) the outside world disappeared while I was reading it (a rare feat, but it happens with the best books)
c) Valancourt has truly outdone itself here. More like this one, please.
Once again I hate to do this (and my apologies), but I really can't reduce what I think to a few lines,
so my post about this book is here:
http://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/2017...
b) the outside world disappeared while I was reading it (a rare feat, but it happens with the best books)
c) Valancourt has truly outdone itself here. More like this one, please.
Once again I hate to do this (and my apologies), but I really can't reduce what I think to a few lines,
so my post about this book is here:
http://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/2017...
December 2, 2017
Valancourt Books has--once again--brought to my attention an author who I may not have become aware of otherwise. Some stories hit me stronger than others in this beautiful collection, but I consider ALL of them to be well-worth reading.
Recommended!
Recommended!
September 14, 2017
Superb Romantic fantasies, written in gorgeous prose and bursting with erudition. They often read as if they came from the pen of some long-forgotten early-19th century German author.
Opening short story is a melancholic little piece, starting with the discussion between young priest of Apollo and his friend, about Olympian Gods and those chthonic forces that predate them… and that will live on long after their temples are nothing but rubble and dust. It is as if the running water, wind in the trees, twittering birds, all have a message for the priest. Only, that message is not the one that he cares to receive.
Second, longest story – novella “Elisabeth” - evokes Romantic masters like Tieck, or Hoffman in the mode of his “The Forrest Warden” and “The Mines of Falun”. This is Romantic fable par excellence, in its evocation of Nature, of the twilit world and its forces, its rich symbolism, its use of medieval folk beliefs. Already dreamlike tale is mixed with sequences whose imagery is taken directly from the medieval alchemical allegories, resulting in something quite unlike anything else that I’ve read recently.
Third story, and second novella in the pack, “The Four Students“, is another masterpiece. Here, French Revolution is evoked at its most absurdly grotesque. Carelessly conducted occult ritual, Parisians who act if they are demon-possessed (which, in a way, they are), malicious spirit of place – only one ensouled trough blood-thirsty ancient ritual, and one seeking new worshippers and new sacrifice now that the veneer of old order and faith that were keeping it in check is gone – and inevitable tragic conclusion.
Finally, we have a set of ten „phantastes“, shorts whose length varies between something approaching the opening story and only a couple of paragraphs. These are dream-like, often overtly allegorical, pieces. Some, like „The Skeletons“, are quite accomplished little tales that stand on their own.
That this book initially fell into complete obscurity is, as noted in the introduction, result of unfortunate circumstances at the time of its writing. Those who were lucky enough to read it back then were more than impressed. John Buchan, well known author who was also accomplished supernaturalist (and who, I think, shared some of Keary‘s sensibilities) wrote thusly:
„He writes carefully and exquisitely, without the vice of artifice which spoils so much of modern work. His sketches are stories of diablerie of the strange sights and sounds which follow on the twilight, between the dog barking and the appearance of the grey wolf. The first is a tale of the conflict between the ordinary Greek religion and the old wild nature worship—of Pan and the nymphs—which it displaced. The second Elizabeth is a story of medieval Germany—one of the finest witch-tales I know. The Four Students is a tale of the Paris of the Revolution. Phantasies are slightly different: I am not sure that I always catch Keary’s meaning; but they seem to me in the whole to be nearly as good work in metaphysics as Stevenson’s Fables.
Mr Keary has wide knowledge, a great gift of style, and a wonderful power of suggesting vague mystery. His work is in every way admirable and I gladly recommend you to take the book.”
One cannot help but wonder what further supernatural tales Keary might have produced if things played out differently.
Valancourt is to be commended for its service to another long lost author, and to us readers. This slim collection isn't for everyone but, for the right kind of reader, it will be something to cherish and re-read.
Opening short story is a melancholic little piece, starting with the discussion between young priest of Apollo and his friend, about Olympian Gods and those chthonic forces that predate them… and that will live on long after their temples are nothing but rubble and dust. It is as if the running water, wind in the trees, twittering birds, all have a message for the priest. Only, that message is not the one that he cares to receive.
Second, longest story – novella “Elisabeth” - evokes Romantic masters like Tieck, or Hoffman in the mode of his “The Forrest Warden” and “The Mines of Falun”. This is Romantic fable par excellence, in its evocation of Nature, of the twilit world and its forces, its rich symbolism, its use of medieval folk beliefs. Already dreamlike tale is mixed with sequences whose imagery is taken directly from the medieval alchemical allegories, resulting in something quite unlike anything else that I’ve read recently.
Third story, and second novella in the pack, “The Four Students“, is another masterpiece. Here, French Revolution is evoked at its most absurdly grotesque. Carelessly conducted occult ritual, Parisians who act if they are demon-possessed (which, in a way, they are), malicious spirit of place – only one ensouled trough blood-thirsty ancient ritual, and one seeking new worshippers and new sacrifice now that the veneer of old order and faith that were keeping it in check is gone – and inevitable tragic conclusion.
Finally, we have a set of ten „phantastes“, shorts whose length varies between something approaching the opening story and only a couple of paragraphs. These are dream-like, often overtly allegorical, pieces. Some, like „The Skeletons“, are quite accomplished little tales that stand on their own.
That this book initially fell into complete obscurity is, as noted in the introduction, result of unfortunate circumstances at the time of its writing. Those who were lucky enough to read it back then were more than impressed. John Buchan, well known author who was also accomplished supernaturalist (and who, I think, shared some of Keary‘s sensibilities) wrote thusly:
„He writes carefully and exquisitely, without the vice of artifice which spoils so much of modern work. His sketches are stories of diablerie of the strange sights and sounds which follow on the twilight, between the dog barking and the appearance of the grey wolf. The first is a tale of the conflict between the ordinary Greek religion and the old wild nature worship—of Pan and the nymphs—which it displaced. The second Elizabeth is a story of medieval Germany—one of the finest witch-tales I know. The Four Students is a tale of the Paris of the Revolution. Phantasies are slightly different: I am not sure that I always catch Keary’s meaning; but they seem to me in the whole to be nearly as good work in metaphysics as Stevenson’s Fables.
Mr Keary has wide knowledge, a great gift of style, and a wonderful power of suggesting vague mystery. His work is in every way admirable and I gladly recommend you to take the book.”
One cannot help but wonder what further supernatural tales Keary might have produced if things played out differently.
Valancourt is to be commended for its service to another long lost author, and to us readers. This slim collection isn't for everyone but, for the right kind of reader, it will be something to cherish and re-read.
August 30, 2017
A collection of three wonderfully strange stories and some negligible prose poems.
June 22, 2020
3.9*
Keary's stories are interesting, his prose can be a bit heavy though! So if you are looking for a light read, you shouldn't be picking this one up. But if you are in the mood, give it a shot. Most of the stories are more like dark fantasy, than horror, but obviously you could go ahead and call them horror stories as well. If you like Arthur Machen, then you gotta give this one a shot.
Keary's stories are interesting, his prose can be a bit heavy though! So if you are looking for a light read, you shouldn't be picking this one up. But if you are in the mood, give it a shot. Most of the stories are more like dark fantasy, than horror, but obviously you could go ahead and call them horror stories as well. If you like Arthur Machen, then you gotta give this one a shot.
December 22, 2021
The Message from the God ⭐⭐⭐
Elizabeth ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Four Students ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Phantasies
Elizabeth ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Four Students ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Phantasies
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews