The Willows

The Willows by Algernon Blackwood“It was as exactly as through we had disturbed some living yet invisible creatures at work.”Before J.J. Abrams captivated millions in the TV series Lost, there was The Twilight Zone. And before Twilight Zone, there was H.P. Lovecraft. And before H.P. Lovecraft, there was Algernon Blackwood, the original “ghost man.”Blackwood was born into a rigid, fearful environment. Raised by Evangelical Calvinists of some influence, he reached the age of twenty-one without having ever seen a movie or held a pack of playing cards, let alone having imbibed in alcohol or cigarettes. He escaped into his imagination and grew to become fascinated with mysticism, Buddhism, and the paranormal.“The Willows” draws upon Blackwood’s experience canoeing the Danube, long before its waters were populated with Viking River Cruises. The wild setting becomes a forceful character in this gothic horror tale, pulling us towards a stirring, intriguing crescendo of psychological depth.Please enjoy… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit classicsreadaloud.substack.com