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The Invisible Eye
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About the author
Erckmann-Chatrian
638 books15 followersErckmann-Chatrian is a pen name for two writers : Émile Erckmann (Phalsbourg 1822 - Lunéville 1899) and Alexandre Chatrian (Soldatenthal 1826 - Villemomble 1890)
Both Erckmann and Chatrian were born in the département of Moselle, in the Lorraine region in the extreme north-east of France. They specialised in military fiction and ghost stories in a rustic mode, applying to the Vosges mountain range and the Alsace-Lorraine region techniques inspired by story-tellers from the Black Forest. Lifelong friends who first met in the spring of 1847, they finally quarreled during the mid-1880s, after which they did not produce any more stories jointly. During 1890 Chatrian died, and Erckmann wrote a few pieces under his own name.
Many of Erckmann-Chatrian's works were translated into English by Adrian Ross.
Tales of supernatural horror by the duo that are famous in English include "The Wild Huntsman" (tr. 1871), "The Man-Wolf" (tr. 1876) and "The Crab Spider." These stories received praise from the renowned English ghost story writer, M. R. James, as well as H. P. Lovecraft.
Erckmann-Chatrian wrote numerous historical novels, some of which attacked the Second Empire in anti-monarchist terms. Partly as a result of their republicanism, they were praised by Victor Hugo and Émile Zola, and fiercely attacked in the pages of Le Figaro. Gaining popularity from 1859 for their nationalistic, anti-militaristic and anti-German sentiments, they were well-selling authors but had trouble with political censorship throughout their careers. Generally the novels were written by Erckmann, and the plays mostly by Chatrian.
Both Erckmann and Chatrian were born in the département of Moselle, in the Lorraine region in the extreme north-east of France. They specialised in military fiction and ghost stories in a rustic mode, applying to the Vosges mountain range and the Alsace-Lorraine region techniques inspired by story-tellers from the Black Forest. Lifelong friends who first met in the spring of 1847, they finally quarreled during the mid-1880s, after which they did not produce any more stories jointly. During 1890 Chatrian died, and Erckmann wrote a few pieces under his own name.
Many of Erckmann-Chatrian's works were translated into English by Adrian Ross.
Tales of supernatural horror by the duo that are famous in English include "The Wild Huntsman" (tr. 1871), "The Man-Wolf" (tr. 1876) and "The Crab Spider." These stories received praise from the renowned English ghost story writer, M. R. James, as well as H. P. Lovecraft.
Erckmann-Chatrian wrote numerous historical novels, some of which attacked the Second Empire in anti-monarchist terms. Partly as a result of their republicanism, they were praised by Victor Hugo and Émile Zola, and fiercely attacked in the pages of Le Figaro. Gaining popularity from 1859 for their nationalistic, anti-militaristic and anti-German sentiments, they were well-selling authors but had trouble with political censorship throughout their careers. Generally the novels were written by Erckmann, and the plays mostly by Chatrian.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 9, 2021
2.5 stars. This is a really weird tale that involves a painter who is staying in Nuremberg. He spies on an old crone whom he suspects of involvement in a series of hanging suicides. This is also available on youtube.
December 16, 2022
3.5 stars
January 21, 2026
An eerie and uncanny tale about a nosey Painter of Landscapes, living in a Dusty Attic Loft, who becomes suspiciously obsessed with an Old Crone who lives across the way, and starts following her about on the streets, and spying on her house, and her private life, through a crack in the tiles in his roof.
Why? Because he believes the Old Crone is a Witch! And that she is responsible for a spate of Hangings in the Inn across the street from the Painter's Attic Loft. And that the Old Crone is using Sympathetic Magick to bring about these Hangings.
And soon, The Painter of Landscapes is making use of the same Sympathetic Magick of the Old Crone to turn the tables on her.
A strange, unsettling story in the tradition of E.T.A. Hoffman, and a lot of creepy fun.
Nothing like picturing a Painter of Landscapes donning Old Crone Drag to give one the creeps.
What puzzles me is that we don't really know why the Old Crone is motivated to cause the deaths of the guests in the Inn. Is it just because she is an Old Crone?
I don't mind that so much, but what really makes me scratch my head is, how did The Painter of Landscapes become so knowledgeable in the ways of Sympathetic Magick. Is it something in the paints he uses.
I guess not all of Life's Mysterious will ever be explained.
Why? Because he believes the Old Crone is a Witch! And that she is responsible for a spate of Hangings in the Inn across the street from the Painter's Attic Loft. And that the Old Crone is using Sympathetic Magick to bring about these Hangings.
And soon, The Painter of Landscapes is making use of the same Sympathetic Magick of the Old Crone to turn the tables on her.
A strange, unsettling story in the tradition of E.T.A. Hoffman, and a lot of creepy fun.
Nothing like picturing a Painter of Landscapes donning Old Crone Drag to give one the creeps.
What puzzles me is that we don't really know why the Old Crone is motivated to cause the deaths of the guests in the Inn. Is it just because she is an Old Crone?
I don't mind that so much, but what really makes me scratch my head is, how did The Painter of Landscapes become so knowledgeable in the ways of Sympathetic Magick. Is it something in the paints he uses.
I guess not all of Life's Mysterious will ever be explained.
May 21, 2025
Darn, I should have wrote a review when I read this just a few days ago. Details are already fading.
I read it because this was the story upon which The Spider by Hans Ewers was based. And it's very clear that it was, with so many of the same elements.
This story, in comparison to "The Spider" was more fast paced and had a folk-lore feel to it but it was also a lot less symbolic. Ewers was nothing if not a man of many symbols, myths, and occult elements.
It was entertaining in and and of itself, and had that added umph because of the Ewers "remake."
I read it because this was the story upon which The Spider by Hans Ewers was based. And it's very clear that it was, with so many of the same elements.
This story, in comparison to "The Spider" was more fast paced and had a folk-lore feel to it but it was also a lot less symbolic. Ewers was nothing if not a man of many symbols, myths, and occult elements.
It was entertaining in and and of itself, and had that added umph because of the Ewers "remake."
May 20, 2024
3.5⭐
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January 23, 2025I’m on the side of the old lady. That town needed spicing up. Also the MC is a weird twisted sad little man. I have spoken.
February 7, 2013
An interesting short read from 19th century France. A painter living in an attic of a house discovers an old evil woman who can induce travelers to commit suicide. How can he stop her?
November 30, 2018
A fantastic short tale in the style of ETA Hoffmann regarding a sinister old woman and repeated hangings. Atmospheric and wonderfully written.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews