Green Tea and Other Strange Tales

by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

From "Green Tea": "The evil spirits associated with man are, indeed from the hells, but when with man they are not then in hell, but are taken out thence. The place where they then are, is in the midst between heaven and hell, and is called the world of spirits -- when the evil spirits who are with man, are in that world, they are not in any infernal torment, but in every thought and affection of man, and so, in all that the man himself enjoys. But when they are remitted into their hell, they return to their former state. . . ."

"If evil spirits could perceive that they were associated with man, and yet that they were spirits separate from him, and if they could flow in into the things of his body, they would attempt by a thousand means to destroy him; for they hate man with a deadly hatred. . . ."

"Knowing, therefore, that I was a man in the body, they were continually striving to destroy me, not as to the body only, but especially as to the soul; for to destroy any man or spirit is the very delight of the life of all who are in hell; but I have been continually protected by the Lord. Hence it appears how dangerous it is for man to be in a living consort with spirits, unless he be in the good of faith. . . ."

"Nothing is more carefully guarded from the knowledge of associate spirits than their being thus conjoint with a man, for if they knew it they would speak to him, with the intention to destroy him. . . ."

*

Also included in this volume are "Mr. Justice Harbottle," "Madam Crowl's Ghost," and "The Dead Sexton."

Genres: Horror, Gothic

128 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2005

About the author

Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu was an Irish writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels. He was the leading ghost-story writer of the nineteenth century and was central to the development of the genre in the Victorian era. M.R. James described Le Fanu as "absolutely in the first rank as a writer of ghost stories". Three of his best-known works are Uncle Silas, Carmilla and The House by the Churchyard.

Reviews

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Horror really isn't my cup of tea. (No pun intended) Add Victorian to Horror and it gets even worse. It was okay. I slogged through it so I could claim points for it in the Reading With Style challenge, but I was really glad it it was a short collection of stories. I suppose I should give LeFanu some slack since he's an early writer in the genre and my 21st Century sensibilities might now be so jaded that this stories seem more quaint and a bit cumbersome rather than having the thrill factor they might have when first published.

[Stacey Kondla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Green Tea was ok, but fell a little flat. The monkey was not scary. Justice Harbottle was a better story - the main character was a horrible person and the narrative a bit disjointed at times, but I enjoyed his descent into madness and that karma got him in the end.

[Elizabeth]

So creepy...

[Matthew Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just like how you remember Jaws on your trip to the ocean or Psycho when you're showering in an empty house. Tea is good for you, in moderation.