Starlight Man: The Extraordinary Life of Algernon Blackwood

by Mike Ashley

Algernon Blackwood has been called “the central figure in the British supernatural literature of the twentieth century” by Michael Dirda in the New York Review of Books. S. T. Joshi referred to him as “a master of narrative pacing.” He has been labeled “one of the most influential supernatural writers of his time” by Storm Constantine, author of The Wraeththu Chronicles. In his essay, Supernatural Horror in Literature, H. P. Lovecraft stated that “of the quality of Mr. Blackwood’s genius there can be no dispute.” Writers and reviewers throughout the last 100 years have been extolling the virtues of Algernon Blackwood’s tales. But Blackwood was a rolling stone and kept virtually no papers or private records. When Mike Ashley decided to research Blackwood's life in 1978 he had no idea that over forty years later he would still be researching. A first edition of the biography was published in 2001 but that had to be edited down, and Ashley knew at that time that there were still many unanswered questions. Since then some of those questions have been answered and though there still remains some mystery about Blackwood—and maybe that adds to his aura and fascination—Ashley has now brought the biography up to date, restoring the text that was removed and adding more of the results of his researches. Here, now, is the most extensive and thorough study of Blackwood's life and works revealing more about the mystic, the adventurer, the innocent, the seeker.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

462 pages, Paperback

Published January 31, 2019

About the author

Michael Raymond Donald Ashley is the author and editor of over sixty books that in total have sold over a million copies worldwide. He lives in Chatham, Kent.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure I first read Algernon Blackwood's work when I picked up the reprint anthology Tales of the Mysterious and Macabre at a used book sale. I could tell then that his writing was something unusual and special.

His tales aren't so much horror tales as they are stories of imagination that represent the Truth beyond the veil as he saw it, especially as embodied in his relationship with Nature.

Though I'm not particularly interested in the occult myself, I could identify with the young Blackwood's unhappiness and frustration with his upbringing in a strict evangelical Christian tradition. For him, it led to explorations with groups like the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. I am more interested in the ideas that he eventually settled into--a more liberal view of God in everything, something that is probably not incompatible with a sort of Christian mysticism. Truth that can be found in various traditions and places.

This biography was dense with details and I skimmed a lot of the last quarter or so of it. It was, however, a really impressive piece of work, painstakingly sourced, and painting a fascinating portrait of who Blackwood was as a friend, an adventurer, and a writer who deserves to be better remembered.

[Dave Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent biography of Algernon Blackwood. Mike Ashley clearly loves the writer's work, and has devoted a vast amount of time and energy to research and tell his story. I also found the book gives a delightful insight into the world of the intellectual, privileged set of the late 19th century up to the end of the 1940s. Algernon Blackwood knew many writers and influential people, which adds to the book's interest. Highly enjoyable.

[Vesper Doom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written and entertaining biography of one of the most prolific supernatural writers to live. Even if you only have a passing interest in weird or supernatural fiction, you should give this book a try. Blackwood’s live a life that was worth writing a booK about.

[Ainslie Marksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4-1/2 stars. Well-written, evocative (esp. toward the beginning of Blackwood's life), informative, exhaustive in the best way; Ashley's biography is excellent if you are into Blackwood or his era and contemporaries. I must confess that I was hoping for more on Blackwood's writing process itself--I have noticed that in biographies of writers this is almost never mentioned and just as often glossed over as if no one would care--but I find it fascinating. The other tiny complaint--which is not Ashley's fault at all--is that like all biographies I have ever read, even the best ones, the final quarter of the book is simply not as interesting because even people as active and energetic as Blackwood do not lead lives as interesting in the back half. Although trivial, I kind of like to know quotidian details about people as intriguing as Blackwood, like: What was his favorite time of day? Favorite weather or season? What did he like to eat and drink? What did he dislike? Blackwood lived a long time ago and I guess these small intricacies have been forgotten or discarded. Highly recommended though.