Valancourt Books discussion

Now available! A rediscovered Victorian classic of madness and possession, F. Anstey's THE STATEMENT OF STELLA MABERLY (1896). Stella believes her friend Evelyn – seemingly lovely and innocent – is actually dead and that her body has been reanimated by an evil spirit. Is Stella insane, or could her horrific conjectures be true? Features a new introduction and notes, plus several previously unpublished manuscripts, including the 1916 screenplay for a never-produced film adaptation, An Evil Spirit.



Book Description

After her father loses his fortune, Stella Maberly is forced to go into service as a paid companion to her former schoolfellow, Evelyn Heseltine. When Stella finds Evelyn one morning apparently dead from an accidental--or perhaps intentional--poisoning, she is shocked and horrified. But it is nothing compared to her horror when Evelyn reawakens. Stella believes her friend's body is animated by something evil. Is Stella insane, or has a spirit of darkness actually taken possession of Evelyn?

Available worldwide:

Paperback
Website | Amazon US | Amazon UK
eBook
Website | Amazon US | Amazon UK

I ordered mine yesterday! I'm beyond excited.

Nancy wrote: "I ordered mine yesterday! I'm beyond excited."

I ordered mine with the paperback of ELTONSBRODY just a few days ago--when I saw an "unannounced" Valancourt title, I had to pounce on it!!!

*We need to get our Valancourt buddy reads back together--I have quite a few still waiting (they keep getting pushed back by NEW Valancourt releases--LOL).*

Kimberly wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I ordered mine yesterday! I'm beyond excited."

I ordered mine with the paperback of ELTONSBRODY just a few days ago--when I saw an "unannounced" Valancourt title, I had to pounce on ..."

Eltonsbrody is such a good book - I hope you like it, Kimberly.

Nancy wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I ordered mine yesterday! I'm beyond excited."

I ordered mine with the paperback of ELTONSBRODY just a few days ago--when I saw an "unannounced" Valancourt title, I ..."

I LOVED it! Review will be on Horror After Dark tomorrow, and already up on Amazon, Amazon UK, and here. :)

Kimberly wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I ordered mine yesterday! I'm beyond excited."

I ordered mine with the paperback of ELTONSBRODY just a few days ago--when I saw an "unannounced" Valanc..."

It was beyond good, wasn't it? I loved it.

Nancy wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I ordered mine yesterday! I'm beyond excited."

I ordered mine with the paperback of ELTONSBRODY just a few days ago--when I saw an "un..."

I couldn't think of a more "perfect" example of a Gothic horror novel if I tried! I would have never heard of most of these if Valancourt wasn't re-releasing them. I'm "gifting" a kindle version to my mother. I have one and ordered the paperback, but if she doesn't get her OWN copy to read and RE-read, my paperback will be mysteriously "missing" after her next visit.... ;)

Kimberly wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I ordered mine yesterday! I'm beyond excited."

I ordered mine with the paperback of ELTONSBRODY just a few days ago--whe..."

"a more "perfect" example of a Gothic horror novel" -- spot on.

Let me know how STELLA MABERLY goes for you, Nancy!

Kimberly, when I read ELTONSBRODY for the first time I was on vacation at my Grandmother's house. I finished it around 4 am and started texting Jay to get the book at all costs. And plan a trip to Barbados. :P

I'm still waiting on my trip to Barbados.

Valancourt Books wrote: "Let me know how STELLA MABERLY goes for you, Nancy!

Kimberly, when I read ELTONSBRODY for the first time I was on vacation at my Grandmother's house. I finished it around 4 am and started texting ..."

You will love Barbados. Beautiful island.

Valancourt Books wrote: "Let me know how STELLA MABERLY goes for you, Nancy!

Kimberly, when I read ELTONSBRODY for the first time I was on vacation at my Grandmother's house. I finished it around 4 am and started texting ..."

My mother already "claimed" her gift of ELTONSBRODY! I'm STILL thinking of that one--I HAD to get the paperback because I can see myself re-reading it a dozen times. Overall, I've purchased more books from Valancourt over the past year than any other publisher--you and Jay have done something incredible in bringing these books back into print. When I ordered STELL MABERLY, I didn't know anything about it, other than it was being released by Valancourt--LOL!

(I'd keep at him about that trip to Barbados.... And take lots of pictures to share!!)

My book's here!!!! Guess what I'm reading tonight! Thanks, guys.

you had me at madness and possession <3 my car will be paid off soon and i need to take that extra income and order a massive amount of your books.

Nancy wrote: "My book's here!!!! Guess what I'm reading tonight! Thanks, guys."

I have shipping notices for 3 separate Vanancourt books from Amazon (paperbacks), but nothing here yet :(. May have to read one of my other Valancourt titles to tide me over!

@Latasha: What book are you up for next for a buddy read? (I have a pretty good selection already on shelves just waiting to be read!!)

Oh wow, I have no idea! I'll look this evening or you can pick one.

I think the priest and the witch has been in my to read list the longest, or it might be the other way around.

Do you have DEVIL IN THE DARKNESS , or THE DEADLY DOWAGER ? I recently saw a good review for DEVIL IN THE DARKNESS.

(Also have THE MUMMY, ALL SOULS' NIGHT, NOVEMBER NIGHT TALES, GOLGOTHA FALLS, I AM YOUR BROTHER, NOVEMBER NIGHT TALES, THE CADAVER OF GIDEON WYCK, and FENGRIFFEN & Other Tales.....(waiting on the delivery of 3 more--LOL)! If not, I'll look up the priest and the witch.

No I don't have any so I'll have to buy the book either way.

I also have the Victorian Christmas stories (collection)--I never got a chance to read during the season. The witch and the priest looks good, too--I don't mind buying that one. Should we post it on the "buddy reads" as a VALANCOURT read, and see if anyone else is interested in a specific title??? I could read anything of theirs. :)

Let's see if anyone else has a suggestion.

Latasha wrote: "Let's see if anyone else has a suggestion."

Works for me. :)

Sorry I was scatter brain, my mom was visiting. I'd post it in the buddy read, just a valancourt read, say we're open for suggestions and go from there. I can do it sometime this weekend or you can. I'm easy to get along with. :)

Finished. The shrieks of delight in my head didn't stop the entire time I was reading it.

Nancy wrote: "Finished. The shrieks of delight in my head didn't stop the entire time I was reading it."

Still waiting for mine--I'm going to check if I get the free eBook for ordering the paperback.

Kimberly, let's read Devil In The Darkness

Latasha wrote: "Kimberly, let's read Devil In The Darkness"

Sounds good to me!

Let's wait til after the 13th to start.

Latasha wrote: "Let's wait til after the 13th to start."

Good plan--I can get the few I'm working on now finished by then. :)

Kimberly wrote: "Latasha wrote: "Let's wait til after the 13th to start."

Good plan--I can get the few I'm working on now finished by then. :)"

ok, I wasn't near a calendar but I am now. how about....the 25th or later?

That's the big Guitar Fest weekend for my one son (I'll have a book in my bag at all times!) A lot of time waiting for other group classes to end.... :)

Ok how about next month?

I meant the 25th will be "good for reading"--LOL! I mostly have to sit around at these things, waiting for his turn. I have 2 reviews @ the 15th, but after that, I only have 1 lined up. So 25th or after is great. :)

Nancy wrote: "Finished. The shrieks of delight in my head didn't stop the entire time I was reading it."

Glad you enjoyed it!! :)

Oh ok Kimberly.

My paperback of THE STATEMENT OF STELLA MAYBERLY is shipping soon; but I did go through and get the "matchbook kindle" version of all, so I don't have to wait for my paperbacks to arrive now! I may have to jump right into this one....

Kimberly wrote: "My paperback of THE STATEMENT OF STELLA MAYBERLY is shipping soon; but I did go through and get the "matchbook kindle" version of all, so I don't have to wait for my paperbacks to arrive now! I may..."

My suggestion -- read it twice. It pays off big time in the long run.

Nancy wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "My paperback of THE STATEMENT OF STELLA MAYBERLY is shipping soon; but I did go through and get the "matchbook kindle" version of all, so I don't have to wait for my paperbacks to ..."

That's why I get the paperbacks--old school; it's so much easier to pick it off my shelves to re-read..... :) I'm excited to start this one now! Although Eltonsbrody is STILL on my mind....I know I'm going to have to re-read that one sooner, rather than later--just in case I missed something.

Reviewed today in the Washington Post, Michael Dirda says, "This shocker—contemporaneous with Henry James’s 'The Turn of the Screw' and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s 'The Yellow Wallpaper'— remains a chillingly ambiguous masterpiece."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...

Valancourt Books wrote: "Reviewed today in the Washington Post, Michael Dirda says, "This shocker—contemporaneous with Henry James’s 'The Turn of the Screw' and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s 'The Yellow Wallpaper'— remains a ..."

GREAT review!!

The ambiguity is everything in this book. I read it twice taking two different points of view and it works both ways.