Questions About The Beckoning Fair One

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Is the question about whether this is really supernatural horror, or simply "psychological", a moot point ? Or misleading ?

Jim Ballard This novelette rates a fiver in my book...Certainly Oliver Onions' best, and Robert Arthur argues (convincingly) that it may well be the greatest horr…moreThis novelette rates a fiver in my book...Certainly Oliver Onions' best, and Robert Arthur argues (convincingly) that it may well be the greatest horror short ever written. I agree.

Pure supernatural, and the well grounded female character clinches that the story is purely supernatural.

If Oliver Onions meant the story only to be purely "psychological", then he would not have grounded so firmly in reality the pivotal character, Elsie Bengough, who intuitively senses something very wrong with the new apartment lodgings. You can't say both poor Oleron and Elsie are having mutual, psychotic delusions...

No. This story is a masterful teaser, crafted brilliantly by the author, but make no mistake... It's meant to be purely supernatural.

...And that makes it all the more spookier !(less)

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