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The Necromancer
He is all but forgotten today, but in his time, British author GEORGE WILLIAM MACARTHUR REYNOLDS (1814-1879) was a veritable Victorian Stephen King whose "penny dreadful" serials were more widely read than the works of Dickens, and shocked delighted readers with their lurid tales of murder, intrigue, and supernatural doings. This "horrible" tale, first published in 1851-2, opens in the year 1510 in an actual Gothic hall, where a young lady of "exquisite beauty" has been terribly affrighted. From there flows a tale so fiendishly wicked--at least to 19th-century sensibilities--that even a King may find himself haunted... Fans of horror and students of the history of pulp fiction will be enthralled by this little-remembered novel, which Cosimo is proud to present here in a charming replica of an 1857 edition, complete with the original illustrations.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1857
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About the author
George W.M. Reynolds
363 books23 followersGeorge William MacArthur Reynolds was a journalist and, as author of "penny dreadful" serials, one of the most popular authors of Victorian England. He was also a leading proponent of the working-class Chartist movement for expanded suffrage and other populist Parliamentary reforms.
During his lifetime, Reynolds greatly outsold Dickens and Thackery, and on his death, he was described by The Bookseller as 'the most popular writer of our times'.
During his lifetime, Reynolds greatly outsold Dickens and Thackery, and on his death, he was described by The Bookseller as 'the most popular writer of our times'.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 14, 2012
*Breathe in Breathe out*
This has got to be my first official book review ever. And I couldn't have chosen a better book to crack the account with :)
George Reynolds was one of the first few to toss around serialization, keeping people ravenous for the next issue of the novel. Am so glad I wasn't born then cause I'd have never survived the agony.
Necromancer is a special book! It teaches u the spelling of 'chilliness' and all the association words.
Lionel Danvers can be shelved in my list of 'Irresistibly Hot' Anti-Heroes. Reynolds sure did make DIABOLICAL sound like an 'IN' thing.
The plot revolves around a string of beautiful girls disappearing off the face of the planet after being wooed by the Nefarious clan of Danvers. The mystery is thick and the back stories keep you glued even though the outcome of every story is pretty predictable. What makes Musidora different is that she's been through something sinister and escaped it, only just. Forcing herself to pack ice into her veins she goes about her life till everything falls apart again.
Grippin' story. The twist floats on the surface almost but I can bet my pointed canines that it'll still keep ur pages turning.
Reynolds may not be remembered now.....But Boy! People sure don't know what they're missing out on.
This has got to be my first official book review ever. And I couldn't have chosen a better book to crack the account with :)
George Reynolds was one of the first few to toss around serialization, keeping people ravenous for the next issue of the novel. Am so glad I wasn't born then cause I'd have never survived the agony.
Necromancer is a special book! It teaches u the spelling of 'chilliness' and all the association words.
Lionel Danvers can be shelved in my list of 'Irresistibly Hot' Anti-Heroes. Reynolds sure did make DIABOLICAL sound like an 'IN' thing.
The plot revolves around a string of beautiful girls disappearing off the face of the planet after being wooed by the Nefarious clan of Danvers. The mystery is thick and the back stories keep you glued even though the outcome of every story is pretty predictable. What makes Musidora different is that she's been through something sinister and escaped it, only just. Forcing herself to pack ice into her veins she goes about her life till everything falls apart again.
Grippin' story. The twist floats on the surface almost but I can bet my pointed canines that it'll still keep ur pages turning.
Reynolds may not be remembered now.....But Boy! People sure don't know what they're missing out on.
November 2, 2013
Reynolds is rapidly turning into one of my favourite authors. This is the third book I've read of his and I totally loved it. He has a glorious wordy Victorian style I love. This was a lovely supernatural tale about a man who had sold his soul to the devil and needed to offer up virgin sacrifices in order to escape his bargain. Reynolds did a lovely job of intertwining the different histories of the family who over the space of 150 years had fallen victim to Danvers. What I liked was that Danvers always rescued the women from a worst fate in order to get them to fall in love with him. The story was very long and in places more historical romance than occult thriller but there was always plenty going on behind the scenes. Definitely one I would recommend. It was perfect to finish reading on Halloween.
August 12, 2025
An absorbing "Penny Dreadful" first published in serial form in 1851-1852 and then as a book in 1857. Not the equal of Reynolds's masterpiece "The Mysteries of London," but still a good read. The Valancourt Books edition has an excellent biographical sketch of Reynolds and a fine afterword. Four stars rather than four because the book was just a little too long. It is a shame that Reynolds, once THE bestselling author in Victorian England has been all but forgotten.
Of humorous interest is the fact that Reynolds apparently loved the word "beauteous." It appears in this book more times than the reader can shake a stick at.
Of humorous interest is the fact that Reynolds apparently loved the word "beauteous." It appears in this book more times than the reader can shake a stick at.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews