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How Love Came to Professor Guildea
When is a ghost not a ghost? When it’s your repressed homosexuality!
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Robert Smythe Hichens (1864-1950) was an English journalist and novelist. He wrote lyrics for music, stories, and collaborated in successful plays. He is best remembered now, perhaps, for his satire on Oscar Wilde, The Green Carnation (1894), his novels that were made into films - The Garden of Allah (1904) and The Paradine Case (1933) - and the story How Love Came to Professor Guildea, which has been frequently anthologized. His novel Felix (1902) is an early fictional treatment of hypodermic morphine addiction. His other works include: An Imaginative Man (1895), Flames (1897), The Slave (1899), The Prophet of Berkeley Square (1901), Felix (1902), Black Spaniel and Other Stories (1905), Call of the Blood (1905), The Spell of Egypt (1911), The Way of Ambition (1913), Snake-Bite (1919), Spirit of the Time (1921), The Last Time (1924), The First Lady Brendon (1927), The Paradine Case (1933), The Power to Kill (1934), Daniel Airlie (1937), The Journey Up (1938), The Million (1940), Veils (1943) and Harps in the Wind (1945).
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Robert Smythe Hichens (1864-1950) was an English journalist and novelist. He wrote lyrics for music, stories, and collaborated in successful plays. He is best remembered now, perhaps, for his satire on Oscar Wilde, The Green Carnation (1894), his novels that were made into films - The Garden of Allah (1904) and The Paradine Case (1933) - and the story How Love Came to Professor Guildea, which has been frequently anthologized. His novel Felix (1902) is an early fictional treatment of hypodermic morphine addiction. His other works include: An Imaginative Man (1895), Flames (1897), The Slave (1899), The Prophet of Berkeley Square (1901), Felix (1902), Black Spaniel and Other Stories (1905), Call of the Blood (1905), The Spell of Egypt (1911), The Way of Ambition (1913), Snake-Bite (1919), Spirit of the Time (1921), The Last Time (1924), The First Lady Brendon (1927), The Paradine Case (1933), The Power to Kill (1934), Daniel Airlie (1937), The Journey Up (1938), The Million (1940), Veils (1943) and Harps in the Wind (1945).
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1900
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114 people want to read
About the author
Robert Smythe Hichens
245 books25 followersRobert Smythe Hichens was a satirist and critic, having studied at Clifton College, the Royal College of Music, and the London School of Journalism. He was a friend of Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas.
Also wrote as Robert S. Hichens and Robert Hichens
Also wrote as Robert S. Hichens and Robert Hichens
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 15, 2023
Story 2/72 from Black Water 1 (The Anthology of Fantastic Literature) read together with The Short Story Club
To be fair, How love Came To professor Guildea is more of a novella at its 46 pages or 2 hours of narration. It was written by Robert S. Hichens, an author that I knew nothing about. It seems he wrote three best-selling novels who are now almost forgotten. He is however still remember by this short story.
Professor Guildea likes to think but hates most people, especially the women. He avoids love and attachment. However, he develops a strange friendship with a priest, another celibate like him. One night, he sees a strange form seated on a bench outside his house and when he approaches to investigate, the figure disappears. Returned inside, he begins to feel an unseen presence who becomes more and more attached to him. He confesses about this presence to the Father, showing as proof the erratic behavior of the house parrot. The Father advises the man of sience to get out for a while but, when he returns, the “ghost” is still there, more affectionate than ever.
Some of the questions after reading the long story were: Is the Ghost real or is it a creation of Guildea’s imagination? Then, could this presence signify something else? I’ve read an article about this story and many critics shared the idea that the presence symbolises a repressed homoerotic attraction. I found the idea possible due to the repulsion Guildea has for women and their affection. Also, the presence of the Church through Father Murchison is also suggestive.
I can also see this story as another of a long list of works about mental illness represented woth the aid of supernatural. During that time, there were a lot of gaps in psychiatric knowledge and many illnesses, such a psychosis, could have appear surreal. Recently I’ve read a few short stories about mental illnesses with a fantastic touch.
To be fair, How love Came To professor Guildea is more of a novella at its 46 pages or 2 hours of narration. It was written by Robert S. Hichens, an author that I knew nothing about. It seems he wrote three best-selling novels who are now almost forgotten. He is however still remember by this short story.
Professor Guildea likes to think but hates most people, especially the women. He avoids love and attachment. However, he develops a strange friendship with a priest, another celibate like him. One night, he sees a strange form seated on a bench outside his house and when he approaches to investigate, the figure disappears. Returned inside, he begins to feel an unseen presence who becomes more and more attached to him. He confesses about this presence to the Father, showing as proof the erratic behavior of the house parrot. The Father advises the man of sience to get out for a while but, when he returns, the “ghost” is still there, more affectionate than ever.
Some of the questions after reading the long story were: Is the Ghost real or is it a creation of Guildea’s imagination? Then, could this presence signify something else? I’ve read an article about this story and many critics shared the idea that the presence symbolises a repressed homoerotic attraction. I found the idea possible due to the repulsion Guildea has for women and their affection. Also, the presence of the Church through Father Murchison is also suggestive.
I can also see this story as another of a long list of works about mental illness represented woth the aid of supernatural. During that time, there were a lot of gaps in psychiatric knowledge and many illnesses, such a psychosis, could have appear surreal. Recently I’ve read a few short stories about mental illnesses with a fantastic touch.
October 15, 2023
This was a curious one, but I enjoyed it. A middle-aged science professor and priest meet and immediately become firm friends, enjoying intellectual discussions over regular dinners. They’re opposites in many ways, but both are solitary celibates, and the professor explicitly fears intimacy of any physical kind, especially with women. Despite that, and the title, it didn’t go where I expected.
“I have no wish for affection. Reasonable liking, of course, one desires.”
Professor Guildea’s work benefits the human race he has no fondness for.
He has a parrot, named Napoleon, who is increasingly significant in the plot. Later, it’s casually mentioned that Father Murchison lives in Bird Street. I'd already thought of Flaubert's parrot (from his short story, A Simple Heart, which I reviewed HERE), but feel I missed some deeper symbolism.
Image: Contemporary image of a solitary person, sitting on a bench, seen from behind. (Edited from Source)
The other character is a presence of unknown gender - hence the story’s inclusion in an “anthology of fantastic literature”. Ambiguity is what makes this story so good.
Context
The anthology’s introduction to the story says that Hitchens was “Oscar Wilde's confidant”, which probably primed me to see it as about repressed homosexuality. I think that's the most likely interpretation anyway: Hitchens was gay but, unlike Wilde, never married. It was published in 1900 as one of five stories in Tongues of Conscience.
Quotes
The story is nothing like Wodehouse, but the butler is a little reminiscent of Jeeves:
• “He offered it gently, and retired like a shadow retreating on the wall.”
• “The butler retired, moving with a sort of ostentatious rectitude.”
Short story club
I read this in Black Water: The Anthology of Fantastic Literature, by Alberto Manguel, from which I’m reading one story a week with The Short Story Club, starting 4 September 2023.
You can read this story here.
You can join the group here.
“I have no wish for affection. Reasonable liking, of course, one desires.”
Professor Guildea’s work benefits the human race he has no fondness for.
He has a parrot, named Napoleon, who is increasingly significant in the plot. Later, it’s casually mentioned that Father Murchison lives in Bird Street. I'd already thought of Flaubert's parrot (from his short story, A Simple Heart, which I reviewed HERE), but feel I missed some deeper symbolism.
Image: Contemporary image of a solitary person, sitting on a bench, seen from behind. (Edited from Source)
The other character is a presence of unknown gender - hence the story’s inclusion in an “anthology of fantastic literature”. Ambiguity is what makes this story so good.
Context
The anthology’s introduction to the story says that Hitchens was “Oscar Wilde's confidant”, which probably primed me to see it as about repressed homosexuality. I think that's the most likely interpretation anyway: Hitchens was gay but, unlike Wilde, never married. It was published in 1900 as one of five stories in Tongues of Conscience.
Quotes
The story is nothing like Wodehouse, but the butler is a little reminiscent of Jeeves:
• “He offered it gently, and retired like a shadow retreating on the wall.”
• “The butler retired, moving with a sort of ostentatious rectitude.”
Short story club
I read this in Black Water: The Anthology of Fantastic Literature, by Alberto Manguel, from which I’m reading one story a week with The Short Story Club, starting 4 September 2023.
You can read this story here.
You can join the group here.
January 1, 2025
The Short Story Club
It is ambiguity and uncertainty that make 'How Love Came...' a brilliant story. It offers us a subtle creeping dread and the unresolved tension of a ghost story, intellectual depth of philosophical conversation and even a touch of humour but, above all, it is the exploration (as usual) of the human soul and its ability to love, receive love and exist without attachments.
It seems to me that this story can even be read as a parable illustrating the sayng that God's ways are inscrutable.
It is ambiguity and uncertainty that make 'How Love Came...' a brilliant story. It offers us a subtle creeping dread and the unresolved tension of a ghost story, intellectual depth of philosophical conversation and even a touch of humour but, above all, it is the exploration (as usual) of the human soul and its ability to love, receive love and exist without attachments.
It seems to me that this story can even be read as a parable illustrating the sayng that God's ways are inscrutable.
September 13, 2023
"How Love Came to Professor Guildea" is a supernatural horror story with psychological and sexual overtones. The story is included in the Black Water: The Book of Fantastic Literature anthology which I'm reading with the Short Story Club.
August 27, 2023
I’m beginning to think this stretch of the Short Story Club will be interesting given the ambiguity of at least these first two stories. Classic Faith/Reason debate leads to a presence. Is it the supernatural, madness or maybe just allegory? Bring your Trotsky and Timothy Morton to the table, we’ll decide in The Remains of the Day who has voice and to whom we might want to listen.
October 30, 2020
Easy to read, enjoyable good-old horror story. The ending was a great disappointment though. Also, in the beginning I kind of thought that there was some sort of gay love between the two heroes, but nah.It wasn't pretentious or serious-looking at all. It had a great pace, it kept me on my toes and it was a fun read. It makes the reader want to guess the ending.
It's not for everybody though, it's a typical story of its era and its genre, and if you're looking for serious scares or chills, this is not for you. It's like horror films from the 50s. They are obsolete, they do not scare anymore.
Other than the goddamn ending which was a major let-down (I guess that's why Hichens was considered a satirist), it was a really fun and mind-intriguing story.
Come to think of it, this may not be a horror story at all. This may be a satyre of the horror genre, a parody if you will. Hmmm...
It's not for everybody though, it's a typical story of its era and its genre, and if you're looking for serious scares or chills, this is not for you. It's like horror films from the 50s. They are obsolete, they do not scare anymore.
Other than the goddamn ending which was a major let-down (I guess that's why Hichens was considered a satirist), it was a really fun and mind-intriguing story.
Come to think of it, this may not be a horror story at all. This may be a satyre of the horror genre, a parody if you will. Hmmm...
November 1, 2015
Halloween (even though we Indians don't celebrate it) had me thinking of the most frightening stories (excluding novels) I have read - and this one made it into the top three. The story is absolutely chilling, because it is not malevolence but love that is oppressing us - the mindless love of an idiot.
This is one story that I have went back to, again and again - and felt the same chill always.
Please check out my blog also:
A Halloween Offering
This is one story that I have went back to, again and again - and felt the same chill always.
Please check out my blog also:
A Halloween Offering
September 9, 2023
What a stupid story.
September 10, 2023
“The Father pitied Guildea, in fact, because Guildea wanted so little.”
A priest and a professor become friends, right before the professor is visited by an unwanted spirit. A psychological ghost story; a bit too drawn-out, but pretty good.
Can be read here: https://intranet.royalholloway.ac.uk/...
Perhaps Mick was right. You don’t always get what you want, but you might find (like it or not) you get what you need.
A priest and a professor become friends, right before the professor is visited by an unwanted spirit. A psychological ghost story; a bit too drawn-out, but pretty good.
Can be read here: https://intranet.royalholloway.ac.uk/...
Perhaps Mick was right. You don’t always get what you want, but you might find (like it or not) you get what you need.
September 9, 2023
The professor, a bachelor with a poor opinion of women, has an ambiguous encounter in a park one night. This experience follows him home and haunts him.
His priest friend, ironically perhaps, advises the professor to embrace his fears.
In some ways, this is a “home invasion” narrative and reflects the danger (impossibility) of bringing an acquaintance (mysterious intriguing stranger) to your home.
Like all the best "ghost stories" this one is really about something more intimate and personal than a wispy bit of ectoplasm.
A layered short story written by a friend of Oscar Wilde, which is perhaps really about the crippling soul-destroying effects of resisting affection and denying inner feelings.
This author also wrote The Green Carnation — a title which screams "Oscar Wilde"!
His priest friend, ironically perhaps, advises the professor to embrace his fears.
In some ways, this is a “home invasion” narrative and reflects the danger (impossibility) of bringing an acquaintance (mysterious intriguing stranger) to your home.
Like all the best "ghost stories" this one is really about something more intimate and personal than a wispy bit of ectoplasm.
A layered short story written by a friend of Oscar Wilde, which is perhaps really about the crippling soul-destroying effects of resisting affection and denying inner feelings.
This author also wrote The Green Carnation — a title which screams "Oscar Wilde"!
September 13, 2024
Originally rated 3 1/2 to 4 stars but I have been thinking about this story ever since I finished it. Books like that get a 5 from me.
Multi-layered tale mixing the supernatural and psychological set against 1900 England social and cultural mores. It reminded me of The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton, which I review here.
The writing is engaging and the story is comprised primarily of conversations between an emotionally distant Professor, focused on intellectual pursuits, and a church Father who befriends him and comes regularly to visit. A somewhat mysterious parrot and a dutiful male servant round out the main characters.
I think it would work well adapted to a stage play because of the limited locations and characters, the interesting dialogue, and the opportunity to portray the psyche via atmosphere.
Multi-layered tale mixing the supernatural and psychological set against 1900 England social and cultural mores. It reminded me of The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton, which I review here.
The writing is engaging and the story is comprised primarily of conversations between an emotionally distant Professor, focused on intellectual pursuits, and a church Father who befriends him and comes regularly to visit. A somewhat mysterious parrot and a dutiful male servant round out the main characters.
I think it would work well adapted to a stage play because of the limited locations and characters, the interesting dialogue, and the opportunity to portray the psyche via atmosphere.
September 5, 2023
I wanted more of the parrot .
October 13, 2024
Love works in mysterious ways.
An interesting concept. Not at all bad, yet hardly great either.
Some VERY interesting spooky moments, others kinda dragged.
Somewhat unnecessarily extensive on the whole, and I'd have ended it differently.
RTC, some day.
It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.
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PERSONAL NOTE :
[1900] [64p] [Horror] [2.5] [Not Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
???????? The Dark Descent
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El amor obra de maneras misteriosas.
Un concepto interesante. Nada mal, pero tampoco nada especial.
Algunos momentos MUY interesantemente perturbadores, otros medio aburridos.
Algo innecesariamente extenso en su conjunto, y yo lo habría terminado de distinta manera.
RTC, algún día.
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1900] [64p] [Horror] [2.5] [No Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
An interesting concept. Not at all bad, yet hardly great either.
Some VERY interesting spooky moments, others kinda dragged.
Somewhat unnecessarily extensive on the whole, and I'd have ended it differently.
RTC, some day.
It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1900] [64p] [Horror] [2.5] [Not Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
???????? The Dark Descent
-----------------------------------------------
El amor obra de maneras misteriosas.
Un concepto interesante. Nada mal, pero tampoco nada especial.
Algunos momentos MUY interesantemente perturbadores, otros medio aburridos.
Algo innecesariamente extenso en su conjunto, y yo lo habría terminado de distinta manera.
RTC, algún día.
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1900] [64p] [Horror] [2.5] [No Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
August 30, 2023
Rather long but an excellent, haunting story that stays with you.
January 31, 2016
This short story was included in the anthology "Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Stories They Wouldn't Let Me Do on TV" published in 1951. Short stories chosen by Hitchcock never disappoint, and I expected extra creepiness from a story supposedly rejected by the network.
This story did indeed have the kind of subtle horror you would expect from a Hitchcock production, but it didn't seem to have any elements that you would expect the network executives or censors to be nervous about. Maybe they just didn't think it would work for TV in the 1950s.
This story can also be found in Hitchens' short story collection "Tongues of Conscience" which was published in 1900, is in the public domain, and available for free in digital format from www.gutenberg.org.
This story did indeed have the kind of subtle horror you would expect from a Hitchcock production, but it didn't seem to have any elements that you would expect the network executives or censors to be nervous about. Maybe they just didn't think it would work for TV in the 1950s.
This story can also be found in Hitchens' short story collection "Tongues of Conscience" which was published in 1900, is in the public domain, and available for free in digital format from www.gutenberg.org.
July 8, 2014
Online
Oh, man, that was horrible. In the best possible way, of course. A quiet, subtle tale of Edwardian gentlemen leading well-ordered lives. Recommended for a Halloween read.
Oh, man, that was horrible. In the best possible way, of course. A quiet, subtle tale of Edwardian gentlemen leading well-ordered lives. Recommended for a Halloween read.
October 28, 2025
Robert Smythe Hitchens' "How Love Came to Professor Guildea" is a ghost story about some spirit distressing a man's life where he no longer can stand this affection.
I listened to the Old Time Radio Radio city play house June 13, 1949, production which has a pretty close adaptation but enough differences that are noted. I prefer the story because it shows the true discomfort and the professor's attempts to cope with this.
Story in short- An idiot spirit loves a man who doesn't close companionship.
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert
In the story the priest who becomes friends prior to the spirit's coming to the professor's home. In the radio play the priest sees the professor at a lecture and he is distressed. The priest in the story knows that the professor does not like human contact in general before the spirit comes and even mentions to Guildea about his butler should be more a human friend to him but the professor refuses and when the time of crisis comes when he needs some help, the butler gives notice. In the radio play he leaves too but the more details are given in the story. The kind of professor is different in his study and the loss of the story one looking to cure people is a loss more for humanity. Another difference in the lecture, the story had the professor looking ill but not going to pieces as the radio version. The parrot that showed the spirit in mimicking the voice of the idiot spirit who loved the professor and kept on caressing him, the bird was sold but the spirit remained but left when the professor expressed hate. The professor died of a heart attack.
I listened to the Old Time Radio Radio city play house June 13, 1949, production which has a pretty close adaptation but enough differences that are noted. I prefer the story because it shows the true discomfort and the professor's attempts to cope with this.
Story in short- An idiot spirit loves a man who doesn't close companionship.
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert
In the story the priest who becomes friends prior to the spirit's coming to the professor's home. In the radio play the priest sees the professor at a lecture and he is distressed. The priest in the story knows that the professor does not like human contact in general before the spirit comes and even mentions to Guildea about his butler should be more a human friend to him but the professor refuses and when the time of crisis comes when he needs some help, the butler gives notice. In the radio play he leaves too but the more details are given in the story. The kind of professor is different in his study and the loss of the story one looking to cure people is a loss more for humanity. Another difference in the lecture, the story had the professor looking ill but not going to pieces as the radio version. The parrot that showed the spirit in mimicking the voice of the idiot spirit who loved the professor and kept on caressing him, the bird was sold but the spirit remained but left when the professor expressed hate. The professor died of a heart attack.
September 14, 2023
This was read as part of the Short Story Book Club's weekly reads.
This story was a bit of a conundrum for me. It was not particularly interesting, yet I was drawn to continue reading to see where it took me. It seemed to be a struggle, not only for me, but for the characters as well.
Father Murchison and Professor Guildea, two older gentlemen, strike up a friendship, and as their relationship blossoms their discussions become more involved and more personal. When the Professor becomes convinced that there is a new presence in his house, the two debate whether it is a real person, a ghostly being, or perhaps just mental fatigue. At this point their struggles begin to take over, particularly for the Professor who is just not certain of anything. The story has both a flavour of horror, as well as sexual overtones, which seems to reflect in the struggles of the Professor to resolve what is really taking place in his home. And all of this without direct references to the men's personal bent, one for religion, and one for science. I suppose, looking at that, I can find that to be what held my interest in reaching the end of the story.
The story could have ended in any number of ways, so the way the author chose to end it was not what I expected.
In that regard this was a good classic story to stimulate discussion and interpretation.
This story was a bit of a conundrum for me. It was not particularly interesting, yet I was drawn to continue reading to see where it took me. It seemed to be a struggle, not only for me, but for the characters as well.
Father Murchison and Professor Guildea, two older gentlemen, strike up a friendship, and as their relationship blossoms their discussions become more involved and more personal. When the Professor becomes convinced that there is a new presence in his house, the two debate whether it is a real person, a ghostly being, or perhaps just mental fatigue. At this point their struggles begin to take over, particularly for the Professor who is just not certain of anything. The story has both a flavour of horror, as well as sexual overtones, which seems to reflect in the struggles of the Professor to resolve what is really taking place in his home. And all of this without direct references to the men's personal bent, one for religion, and one for science. I suppose, looking at that, I can find that to be what held my interest in reaching the end of the story.
The story could have ended in any number of ways, so the way the author chose to end it was not what I expected.
In that regard this was a good classic story to stimulate discussion and interpretation.
July 30, 2024
This short novella, I really don’t like the term ‘novelette’, on the surface, is simple account of a workaholic, eminent but reclusive scientist who, despite the wise advice of his solitary friend, Father Murchison, rejects love, only to find himself pursued by a blindly affectionate spectre that invades all aspects of his life.
There’s a slow but necessary build up, as the reader is provided with an insight into the two characters and how their friendship develops.
Somehow though Guildea is able to banish the spirit, but it is at a huge cost, as he suffers a heart attack soon after.
The rational scientist has fought until the very end, but Hichens leaves us to ponder, against exactly what was he fighting, and why?
There’s a slow but necessary build up, as the reader is provided with an insight into the two characters and how their friendship develops.
Learn to give it your love and it may go.Murchison advises, but Guildea seems unable or unwilling to.
Somehow though Guildea is able to banish the spirit, but it is at a huge cost, as he suffers a heart attack soon after.
He should have lived differentlysays the doctor in attendance, while contemplating
the shocking expression of terror on his convulsed face.
The rational scientist has fought until the very end, but Hichens leaves us to ponder, against exactly what was he fighting, and why?
August 14, 2020
Gocé leyéndolo. La dinámica entre el cura y el profesor es muy fluida, natural y de respeto (me recordaba un poco a Troy y Abed de community 👀); creo que es algo que le da varios puntos extra por temas de credibilidad, de ambiente, además de ser agradable de leer . Era uno de los cuentos más largos de the dark descent (antología donde lo leí), pero de los que se me hicieron más cortos. El tema sobrenatural lo encontré interesante también, y me queda una duda: fue eso que pensaba el cura o él pensó lo que quería pensar, porque como es cura para él todo es “amor”? No habrá sido otra cosa, mucho más terrorífica de lo que parecía? Me dio la impresión que sí, sobre todo por unos detalles del final. Necesito comentar el cuento con alguien jaja 👀
*antes de que me acusen de trampa: Está en the dark descent, pero es una novelette y tener orden de las cosas más largas que un cuento es uno de mis pocos tocs. Necesito ponerlo en mi lista.
*antes de que me acusen de trampa: Está en the dark descent, pero es una novelette y tener orden de las cosas más largas que un cuento es uno de mis pocos tocs. Necesito ponerlo en mi lista.
September 11, 2023
This was certainly a different read for me. This spooky novella is from the anthology Black Water, The Book Of Fantastic literature that I'm currently reading for the short Story group.
Father Murchison and Professor Guildea are unlikely friends. The Father is about love and goodness and the Professor shows nothing but disdain for attachments of any kind. They do become friends and socialize often.
The Professor confides in the Fatherbyhe fact that he feels an unwelcome presence. One that speaks endearments in a creepy voice, through his pet parrot.
This story absolutely gave me the creeps. I could picture the house and the two men as the Professor’s health slowly deteriorated to an alarming level. I feel I will think about this story for a while and perhaps even jump at bumps in the night.
Father Murchison and Professor Guildea are unlikely friends. The Father is about love and goodness and the Professor shows nothing but disdain for attachments of any kind. They do become friends and socialize often.
The Professor confides in the Fatherbyhe fact that he feels an unwelcome presence. One that speaks endearments in a creepy voice, through his pet parrot.
This story absolutely gave me the creeps. I could picture the house and the two men as the Professor’s health slowly deteriorated to an alarming level. I feel I will think about this story for a while and perhaps even jump at bumps in the night.
September 14, 2023
A "weird" story about a Professor who experiences a ghostly haunting and the Priest friend who is uncertain whether or not to believe him.
Read it free here: https://intranet.royalholloway.ac.uk/...
Or it can be found in the collection Tongues of Conscience which is in the public domain.
Read it free here: https://intranet.royalholloway.ac.uk/...
Or it can be found in the collection Tongues of Conscience which is in the public domain.
November 7, 2020
Long, slow, deliberate, and boring as hell. A professor and a clergyman strike up a friendship. One is a confirmed bachelor with no interest in love or finer feelings and one is prevented to marry by his vocation. I found the premise that the bachelor was haunted by an entity because he renounced love totally absurd. The story did actually pick up towards the end and have some creepy moments, but it was far too late for me to find it anything other than a bore.
September 10, 2023
I don't want to parrot what anyone else is saying, but this just feels most engaging in some ethereal sense. Can't decide whether this is a rambling riposte on (self) homophobia, a clever 'parotty' of horror tales, a stab at "the real thing," or a mash-up of all-of-the-above. Less than subtle double entendre using ejaculated for describing the priest's outburst when seemingly asked whether he found Guildea attractive. It served as entertainment on the go all the same.
October 17, 2025
“Lei odiava l’amore. Lei metteva da parte con disprezzo i sentimenti umani. Lei non aveva, non desiderava avere affetto per nessuno. Nè desiderava ricevere amore da nessuno. Forse questa è la punizione”
December 3, 2019
Boring AF. I couldn't wait for this to end. Jesus Christ, I'm so glad we got the Internet.
March 4, 2023
Good!
Got goosepumps when the gray parrot Napoleon was imitating it... Ugh!
Got goosepumps when the gray parrot Napoleon was imitating it... Ugh!
May 11, 2023
Read:
How Love Came to Professor Guildea - 2/5
How Love Came to Professor Guildea - 2/5
November 10, 2023
I listened to this as part of the Classic Tales of Horror - 500+ Stories. It was very enjoyable 2023
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