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The Messenger
The day had become misty and overcast. Heavy, wet clouds hung in the east. I heard the surf thundering against the cliffs, and the gray gulls squealed as they tossed and turned high in the.sky. The tide was creeping across the river sands, higher, higher, and I saw the seaweed floating on the beach, and the lançons springing from the foam, silvery threadlike flashes in the gloom. Curlew were flying up the river in twos and threes; the timid sea swallows skimmed across the moors toward some quiet, lonely pool, safe from the coming tempest. In every hedge field birds were gathering, huddling together, twittering restlessly. When I reached the cliffs I sat down, resting my chin on my clenched hands. Already a vast curtain of rain, sweeping across the ocean miles away, hid the island of Groix. To the east, behind the white semaphore on the hills, black clouds crowded up over the horizon. After a little the thunder boomed, dull, distant, and slender skeins of lightning unravelled across the crest of the coming storm. Under the cliff at my feet the surf rushed foaming over the shore, and the lançons jumped and skipped and quivered until they seemed to be but the reflections of the meshed lightning. I turned to the east. It was raining over Groix, it was raining at Sainte Barbe, it was raining now at the semaphore. High in the storm whirl a few gulls pitched; a nearer cloud trailed veils of rain in its wake; the sky was spattered with lightning; the thunder boomed. As I rose to go, a cold raindrop fell upon the back of my hand, and another, and yet another on my face. I gave a last glance at the sea, where the waves were bursting into strange white shapes that seemed to fling out menacing arms toward me. Then something moved on the cliff, something black as the black rock it clutched-a filthy cormorant, craning its hideous head at the sky. Slowly I plodded homeward across the sombre moorland, where the gorse stems glimmered with a dull metallic green, and the heather, no longer violet and purple, hung drenched and dun-coloured among the dreary rocks. The wet turf creaked under my heavy boots, the black-thorn scraped and grated against knee and elbow. Over all lay a strange light, pallid, ghastly, where the sea spray whirled across the landscape and drove into my face until it grew numb with the cold.
31 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
2 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Robert W. Chambers
866 books577 followersRobert William Chambers was an American artist and writer.
Chambers was first educated at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute,and then entered the Art Students' League at around the age of twenty, where the artist Charles Dana Gibson was his fellow student. Chambers studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, and at Académie Julian, in Paris from 1886 to 1893, and his work was displayed at the Salon as early as 1889. On his return to New York, he succeeded in selling his illustrations to Life, Truth, and Vogue magazines. Then, for reasons unclear, he devoted his time to writing, producing his first novel, In the Quarter (written in 1887 in Munich). His most famous, and perhaps most meritorious, effort is The King in Yellow, a collection of weird short stories, connected by the theme of the fictitious drama The King in Yellow, which drives those who read it insane.
Chambers returned to the weird genre in his later short story collections The Maker of Moons and The Tree of Heaven, but neither earned him such success as The King in Yellow.
Chambers later turned to writing romantic fiction to earn a living. According to some estimates, Chambers was one of the most successful literary careers of his period, his later novels selling well and a handful achieving best-seller status. Many of his works were also serialized in magazines.
After 1924 he devoted himself solely to writing historical fiction.
Chambers for several years made Broadalbin his summer home. Some of his novels touch upon colonial life in Broadalbin and Johnstown.
On July 12, 1898, he married Elsa Vaughn Moller (1882-1939). They had a son, Robert Edward Stuart Chambers (later calling himself Robert Husted Chambers) who also gained some fame as an author.
Chambers died at his home in the village of Broadalbin, New York, on December 16th 1933.
Chambers was first educated at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute,and then entered the Art Students' League at around the age of twenty, where the artist Charles Dana Gibson was his fellow student. Chambers studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, and at Académie Julian, in Paris from 1886 to 1893, and his work was displayed at the Salon as early as 1889. On his return to New York, he succeeded in selling his illustrations to Life, Truth, and Vogue magazines. Then, for reasons unclear, he devoted his time to writing, producing his first novel, In the Quarter (written in 1887 in Munich). His most famous, and perhaps most meritorious, effort is The King in Yellow, a collection of weird short stories, connected by the theme of the fictitious drama The King in Yellow, which drives those who read it insane.
Chambers returned to the weird genre in his later short story collections The Maker of Moons and The Tree of Heaven, but neither earned him such success as The King in Yellow.
Chambers later turned to writing romantic fiction to earn a living. According to some estimates, Chambers was one of the most successful literary careers of his period, his later novels selling well and a handful achieving best-seller status. Many of his works were also serialized in magazines.
After 1924 he devoted himself solely to writing historical fiction.
Chambers for several years made Broadalbin his summer home. Some of his novels touch upon colonial life in Broadalbin and Johnstown.
On July 12, 1898, he married Elsa Vaughn Moller (1882-1939). They had a son, Robert Edward Stuart Chambers (later calling himself Robert Husted Chambers) who also gained some fame as an author.
Chambers died at his home in the village of Broadalbin, New York, on December 16th 1933.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 27, 2011
I read this one with the Classic Horror Lovers group (albeit late), and I enjoyed it. Mr. Chambers took the time to establish the mood, the setting, and the characters. I like the way each person was given particular traits that brought the characters to life. He also established the Breton setting very well. The people are steeped in superstition, which the protagonist (Dick) frowns and dismisses. However, he would be wise to heed their warnings.
The scenes in which the 39th skull, the skull of the Black Priest, somehow continues to find it's way uphill out of the mass grave were quite scary. Also, when the masked priest shows up outside the window of Lys, Dick's wife. As were the climactic scenes and near the finish. I was sure that Dick and his wife were a goner. Oh, that last scene was quite creepy.
I liked how Chambers kept me guessing. He built up my expectation for tragedy, learning that Dick and his wife were so in love, and expecting a happy event. I was scared to keep reading, because I was sure the Black Priest was going to carry off poor Lys. I liked that Lys hung fast to her faith and didn't fear death, and her faith seemed to inspire Dick. Her actions, which seemed really superstitious, helped to save the day, which I am grateful about.
I have to say I enjoyed Mr. Chambers' writing, although some of the history aspects were a tad dry. I like his ability to build tension, and his romantic/melodramatic elements. I will be reading more of him.
The scenes in which the 39th skull, the skull of the Black Priest, somehow continues to find it's way uphill out of the mass grave were quite scary. Also, when the masked priest shows up outside the window of Lys, Dick's wife. As were the climactic scenes and near the finish. I was sure that Dick and his wife were a goner. Oh, that last scene was quite creepy.
I liked how Chambers kept me guessing. He built up my expectation for tragedy, learning that Dick and his wife were so in love, and expecting a happy event. I was scared to keep reading, because I was sure the Black Priest was going to carry off poor Lys. I liked that Lys hung fast to her faith and didn't fear death, and her faith seemed to inspire Dick. Her actions, which seemed really superstitious, helped to save the day, which I am grateful about.
I have to say I enjoyed Mr. Chambers' writing, although some of the history aspects were a tad dry. I like his ability to build tension, and his romantic/melodramatic elements. I will be reading more of him.
March 2, 2018
There was a couple creepy scenes but they did not save this story. The guy telling us the story is a jerk. "Oh, look at those superstitious fools. Wife, don't be a fool too."
October 19, 2018
Read as part of the Literary Advent Calendar for Halloween. Includes links to all of the stories.
September 11, 2025
Hey, quit it!
Coastal Brittany, France, 1896. In the village of St. Gildas, a group of archeologists work and dig in the vicinity of a ruined castle, when they unexpectedly stumble upon a large cluster of human skulls on their dig-site. Fears and alarms set off when they realize it may belong to a small English army, led by the infamous Black Priest, who invaded and sacked the land a hundred and thirty years ago. Captured and beheaded at the time, and said that will curse and haunt anyone who dares to disturb his eternal sleep.
I suppose this was ok, mostly. 4 chapters. A bit long for a short story, maybe too long. I don't think the story is bad, it just felt somewhat drawn out sometimes. Skimmed most of the many, irrelevant descriptions. I'm writing this review only a day later of reading it and I'm already having great difficulty remembering how I really felt about it, so I guess it isn't even that impactful neither. Or I just have a sucky memory. Meh, probably both.
It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1895] [48p] [Horror] [2.5] [Not Recommendable] [Lys de Trevec & NN]
-----------------------------------------------
★★☆☆☆ The Messenger [2.5]
★☆☆☆☆ The Repairer of Reputations
-----------------------------------------------
Oye, ¡déjame!
Costa de Bretaña, Francia, 1896. En el pueblo de St. Gildas, un grupo de arqueólogos trabajan y excavan en las cercanías de un castillo en ruinas, cuando inesperadamente se topan con un gran grupo de cráneos humanos en su sitio de excavación. Los miedos y las alarmas saltan cuando descubren que puede pertenecer a un pequeño ejército inglés, liderado por el infame Cura Oscuro, que invadió y saqueó la tierra hace ciento y treinta años atrás. Capturado y decapitado en su tiempo, y que se dice maldecirá y perseguirá a cualquiera que se ose perturbar su sueño eterno.
Supongo que esto estuvo ok, en su mayor parte. 4 capítulos. Un poco largo para un cuento corto, tal vez demasiado. No creo que la historia sea mala, sólo que a veces se sientió un poco estirada. Salteé la mayoría de las muchas e irrelevantes descripciones. Estoy escribiendo la reseña solo un día después de esto y ya estoy teniendo grandes dificultades para recordar cómo me sentí realmente al leerlo, así que supongo que tampoco es muy impactante. O simplemente tengo una muy mala memoria. Bah, probablemente ambos.
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1895] [48p] [Horror] [2.5] [No Recomendable] [Lys de Trevec y NN]
-----------------------------------------------
Coastal Brittany, France, 1896. In the village of St. Gildas, a group of archeologists work and dig in the vicinity of a ruined castle, when they unexpectedly stumble upon a large cluster of human skulls on their dig-site. Fears and alarms set off when they realize it may belong to a small English army, led by the infamous Black Priest, who invaded and sacked the land a hundred and thirty years ago. Captured and beheaded at the time, and said that will curse and haunt anyone who dares to disturb his eternal sleep.
I suppose this was ok, mostly. 4 chapters. A bit long for a short story, maybe too long. I don't think the story is bad, it just felt somewhat drawn out sometimes. Skimmed most of the many, irrelevant descriptions. I'm writing this review only a day later of reading it and I'm already having great difficulty remembering how I really felt about it, so I guess it isn't even that impactful neither. Or I just have a sucky memory. Meh, probably both.
It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1895] [48p] [Horror] [2.5] [Not Recommendable] [Lys de Trevec & NN]
-----------------------------------------------
★★☆☆☆ The Messenger [2.5]
★☆☆☆☆ The Repairer of Reputations
-----------------------------------------------
Oye, ¡déjame!
Costa de Bretaña, Francia, 1896. En el pueblo de St. Gildas, un grupo de arqueólogos trabajan y excavan en las cercanías de un castillo en ruinas, cuando inesperadamente se topan con un gran grupo de cráneos humanos en su sitio de excavación. Los miedos y las alarmas saltan cuando descubren que puede pertenecer a un pequeño ejército inglés, liderado por el infame Cura Oscuro, que invadió y saqueó la tierra hace ciento y treinta años atrás. Capturado y decapitado en su tiempo, y que se dice maldecirá y perseguirá a cualquiera que se ose perturbar su sueño eterno.
Supongo que esto estuvo ok, en su mayor parte. 4 capítulos. Un poco largo para un cuento corto, tal vez demasiado. No creo que la historia sea mala, sólo que a veces se sientió un poco estirada. Salteé la mayoría de las muchas e irrelevantes descripciones. Estoy escribiendo la reseña solo un día después de esto y ya estoy teniendo grandes dificultades para recordar cómo me sentí realmente al leerlo, así que supongo que tampoco es muy impactante. O simplemente tengo una muy mala memoria. Bah, probablemente ambos.
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1895] [48p] [Horror] [2.5] [No Recomendable] [Lys de Trevec y NN]
-----------------------------------------------
October 7, 2019
31 Classic Horror Stories Every Fan Should Read in October: A Literary Advent Calender for Halloween: Day 3:
https://www.oldstyletales.com/single-...
https://www.oldstyletales.com/single-...
October 4, 2020
Set in 1896 Brittany (St. Julien and St. Gildas) about a former aristocratic family’s past history of revenge and betrayal.
The supernatural events start in 1760 when a fort was besieged by the English (27th Foot) coming across from the island of Groix, ending up with 38 Englishmen buried in a mass grave on the cliffs of St. Gildas - and the betrayer - the 39th skull.
(The fort was built by Louis XIV, dismantled twice by the English, Louis XV restored it in 1730 - in 1760 it was carried by assault by the English).
...this burial was by order of the Count of Soisic camped out in Kerselec Forest, along with the betrayer - the Black Priest (L’abbe Sorgue).
The 1760 fort betrayal goes back to an incident of aristocratic betrayal during the third crusade: ...the Black Priest … turned apostate, and sold himself to the enemies of Christ...Sieur de Trevec...
The death’s messenger - a moth that flies by night - becomes paramount to the story when the Black Priest is exacting his revenge:
The feared moth is mentioned by Jacque Sorgue, the son of an unfrocked priest:
...Froissart speaks of it in his commentaries on Jacques Sorgue's Chronicles…
The nocturnal insect is also mentioned during the retelling of the incident which initiated the Black Priest's betrayal:
...Black Mass celebrated in the chapel of St. Gildas-on-the-Cliff. And it was said by the Abbé Sorgue, my kinsman: for which deadly sin the apostate priest was seized by the most noble Marquis of Plougastel...
Evocative of past eras where powerful political groups including the aristocracy, the Church and the English wreaked havoc on each other while trying to extend the realm of Christianity.
Circling back to 1896 the Anglo-American husband (narrator) aids his (formerly aristocratic wife), Lys de Trevec, defeat their old black priestly enemy from the spiritual world of Breton folklore.
The black priestly enemy, is whom the husband feels is most threatening to the sanity of the local Republican populace - Brigadir Durand, Le Bilan (Mayor) Jean Marie Tregunc - who becomes the de Trevec's gardener at a decent rate of pay.
The narrator, himself, becomes a bit jittery with a skull repeatedly rolling up hill and subsequent gunshots through an unopened window in his house.
The actions seem to create a better relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and the state with less superstition and more common sense - the English relics are left in peace.
Reminds me of some of Balzac's stories.
The supernatural events start in 1760 when a fort was besieged by the English (27th Foot) coming across from the island of Groix, ending up with 38 Englishmen buried in a mass grave on the cliffs of St. Gildas - and the betrayer - the 39th skull.
(The fort was built by Louis XIV, dismantled twice by the English, Louis XV restored it in 1730 - in 1760 it was carried by assault by the English).
...this burial was by order of the Count of Soisic camped out in Kerselec Forest, along with the betrayer - the Black Priest (L’abbe Sorgue).
The 1760 fort betrayal goes back to an incident of aristocratic betrayal during the third crusade: ...the Black Priest … turned apostate, and sold himself to the enemies of Christ...Sieur de Trevec...
The death’s messenger - a moth that flies by night - becomes paramount to the story when the Black Priest is exacting his revenge:
The feared moth is mentioned by Jacque Sorgue, the son of an unfrocked priest:
...Froissart speaks of it in his commentaries on Jacques Sorgue's Chronicles…
The nocturnal insect is also mentioned during the retelling of the incident which initiated the Black Priest's betrayal:
...Black Mass celebrated in the chapel of St. Gildas-on-the-Cliff. And it was said by the Abbé Sorgue, my kinsman: for which deadly sin the apostate priest was seized by the most noble Marquis of Plougastel...
Evocative of past eras where powerful political groups including the aristocracy, the Church and the English wreaked havoc on each other while trying to extend the realm of Christianity.
Circling back to 1896 the Anglo-American husband (narrator) aids his (formerly aristocratic wife), Lys de Trevec, defeat their old black priestly enemy from the spiritual world of Breton folklore.
The black priestly enemy, is whom the husband feels is most threatening to the sanity of the local Republican populace - Brigadir Durand, Le Bilan (Mayor) Jean Marie Tregunc - who becomes the de Trevec's gardener at a decent rate of pay.
The narrator, himself, becomes a bit jittery with a skull repeatedly rolling up hill and subsequent gunshots through an unopened window in his house.
The actions seem to create a better relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and the state with less superstition and more common sense - the English relics are left in peace.
Reminds me of some of Balzac's stories.
May 26, 2022
The Messenger (1897) is a superb strange story.
Not an antiquarian, but a spectral archeology tale, told by an American living in Brittany. He is wed to a local woman with famous antecedents:
"....There was one in the last century, here in St. Gildas. He cast a white shadow in the sun. He wrote in the Breton language. Chronicles, too, I believe. I never saw them. His name was the same as that of the old chronicler, and of the other priest, Jacques Sorgue. Some said he was a lineal descendant of the traitor. Of course the first Black Priest was bad enough for anything. But if he did have a child, it need not have been the ancestor of the last Jacques Sorgue. They say this one was a holy man. They say he was so good he was not allowed to die, but was caught up to heaven one day," added Lys, with believing eyes.
I smiled.
"But he disappeared," persisted Lys.
"I'm afraid his journey was in another direction," I said jestingly, and thoughtlessly told her the story of the morning. I had utterly forgotten the masked man at her window, but before I finished I remembered him fast enough, and realized what I had done as I saw her face whiten.
"Lys," I urged tenderly, "that was only some clumsy clown's trick. You said so yourself. You are not superstitious, my dear?"
Her eyes were on mine. She slowly drew the little gold cross from her bosom and kissed it. But her lips trembled as they pressed the symbol of faith.
Not an antiquarian, but a spectral archeology tale, told by an American living in Brittany. He is wed to a local woman with famous antecedents:
"....There was one in the last century, here in St. Gildas. He cast a white shadow in the sun. He wrote in the Breton language. Chronicles, too, I believe. I never saw them. His name was the same as that of the old chronicler, and of the other priest, Jacques Sorgue. Some said he was a lineal descendant of the traitor. Of course the first Black Priest was bad enough for anything. But if he did have a child, it need not have been the ancestor of the last Jacques Sorgue. They say this one was a holy man. They say he was so good he was not allowed to die, but was caught up to heaven one day," added Lys, with believing eyes.
I smiled.
"But he disappeared," persisted Lys.
"I'm afraid his journey was in another direction," I said jestingly, and thoughtlessly told her the story of the morning. I had utterly forgotten the masked man at her window, but before I finished I remembered him fast enough, and realized what I had done as I saw her face whiten.
"Lys," I urged tenderly, "that was only some clumsy clown's trick. You said so yourself. You are not superstitious, my dear?"
Her eyes were on mine. She slowly drew the little gold cross from her bosom and kissed it. But her lips trembled as they pressed the symbol of faith.
September 20, 2025
Un piccolo racconto gotico in cui Chambers costruisce un'atmosfera tetra e angosciante. "Il messaggero" è un breve racconto di tombe ritrovate, morti da non disturbare, scheletri che si muovono con il favore delle tenebre e maledizioni lanciate in punto di morte.
Il confine tra realtà e superstizione è sottile e pronto ad essere oltrepassato, la tragedia aleggia nell'aria, specialmente se due persone sono molto innamorate, mi aspettavo accadesse qualcosa di brutto e così non è stato, a suo modo mi ha sorpreso.
Il confine tra realtà e superstizione è sottile e pronto ad essere oltrepassato, la tragedia aleggia nell'aria, specialmente se due persone sono molto innamorate, mi aspettavo accadesse qualcosa di brutto e così non è stato, a suo modo mi ha sorpreso.
December 12, 2024
I enjoyed this little ghost story. I strongly believe you don’t mess with grave sites and don’t go against curses, so the authors actions stressed me out. I felt like the ending came abruptly, but I enjoyed a conclusion vs a cliff hanger at the end. Could have made this into a whole novel and I think I would have enjoyed it.
June 21, 2018
This tale reminded me of a Hammer film. It was scary but it had a little intrigue and mystery to it
October 8, 2019
This one feels like a chapter from a book? But it was rather scary and enjoyable.
February 23, 2020
Decent, with some well written moments but otherwise bland and the main character is unlikable and, worse, boring. Decent ideas in the story but doesn’t really work.
October 14, 2020
Part of the 31 classic horror stories advent!
https://www.oldstyletales.com/single-...
https://www.oldstyletales.com/single-...
March 10, 2022
Wonderful quick fantasy listening
A will written entertaining fantasy adventure by Robert W. Chambers.
A will written entertaining fantasy adventure by Robert W. Chambers.
December 6, 2022
Five star old skool shivers
February 9, 2023
Buenisimo
March 2, 2023
Short but interesting
May 13, 2024
Cuentito de tarde para no dormir, da miedo pero así como se siente se acaba de golpe.
January 18, 2025
Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Style: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Setting: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Theme: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Style: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Setting: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Theme: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 1, 2025
To opowiadanie nie związane z tematyką Króla w żółci wprowadzało stopniowo niepokój ujmująco. Przeraziła mnie ta historia, strona po stronie czułam coraz to większy lęk i uważam, że Chambersowi naprawdę udało się w tym przypadku stworzyć coś wzbudzającego liczne emocje. Autora wyróżniają romantyczne wątki z którymi spotykałam się w prawie każdym opowiadaniu i szczerze taki zabieg bardzo mi przypadł, jako dodatek do całego tego zamysłu weird fiction i powieści grozy. Tragedię unoszą się w powietrzu a nic tak nie porusza człowieka jak tragedia dwóch bliskich sobie osób.
November 13, 2011
On the rugged Brittany coast, thirty-eight skulls are found buried.
July 11, 2015
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews