Nightmare Tales

by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

Elena Petrovna Gan (1831-1891), better known as Helena Blavatsky or Madame Blavatsky, born Helena von Hahn, was a founder of Theosophy and the Theosophical Society in 1875. She grew up amid a culture rich in spirituality and traditional Russian mythologies, which introduced her to the realm of the supernatural. She spent the years 1848 to 1858 travelling the world, and is said to have visited Egypt, France, Canada (Quebec), England, South America, Germany, Mexico, India, Greece and especially Tibet to study for two years with the men she called Brothers. She claimed to have become Buddhist while in Sri Lanka and to have been initiated in Tibet. She returned to Russia in 1858. Another unfounded account is that while in Cairo she formed the Société Spirité for occult phenomena with Emma Cutting. It was in 1873 that she emigrated to New York City, impressing people with her psychic abilities, she was spurred on to continue her mediumship. Throughout her career she claimed to have demonstrated physical and mental psychic feats.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fiction

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1892

About the author

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (Russian: Еле́на Петро́вна Блава́тская, Yelena Petrovna Blavatskaya, often known as Madame Blavatsky; 12 August [O.S. 31 July] 1831 – 8 May 1891) was a Russian occultist, philosopher, and author who co-founded the Theosophical Society in 1875. She gained an international following as the leading theoretician of Theosophy, the esoteric religion that the society promoted.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Paul Snowdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently this is Blavatsky in one of her lighter moments, some of it I found pretty difficult to grasp. A really great selection of mysterious stories, often set in far-off lands, not what I would call Nightmare Tales though. Recommended

[Darren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointingly flat/uninspiring tales (9 thereof) mostly involving mesmerism/reincarnation etc. Poe-esque "Ensouled Violin" half-decent, and "Karmic Visions" probably best written/entertaining. 2.5 Stars, rounding down.

[SyringaVulgariska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jak zawsze w przypadku wydawnictwa IX świetne tłumaczenie i wstęp. Same opowieści przyjemne i typowe dla literatury okresu.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A variable but overall solid collection of strange stories of the occult and supernatural, with a dash of Victorian melodrama. 'The Ensouled Violin' was the standout tale for me.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5
Una lettura piacevole, anche se non particolarmente spaventosa e gotica come piace a me. Mi ha colpito solo l'ultimo racconto, "Il violino umano".