Tartarus Press

publishers

The Strangers

by

Robert Aickman

 

Introduction by Heather Smith

 

The Strangers and Other Writings includes previously unpublished and uncollected short fiction, non-fiction and poetry by Robert Aickman. Dating from the 1930s to 1980, the contents show his development as a writer. Six unpublished short stories, augmented by one written for broadcast, follow his fiction from the whimsical through the experimental to the ghostly, with ‘The Strangers’ a fully-formed, Aickmanesque strange tale. The non-fiction samples Aickman’s wide-ranging interests and erudition: from the supernatural to Oscar Wilde; from 1940s films to Delius; from politics to the theatre; from Animal Farm to the canals.

 

Including: ‘Preface’, Fiction: ‘The Case of Wallingford’s Tiger’, ‘The Whistler’, ‘A Disciple of Plato’, ‘The Coffin House’, ‘The Flying Anglo-Dutchman’, ‘The Strangers’, ‘The Fully-Conducted Tour’, Non Fiction: ‘The Plays of Oscar Wilde’, ‘A Review of The Sporting Queensberrys’, ‘Are You An Anarchist Without Knowing It?’, ‘The Popular Poltergeist’, ‘Crime by Proxy’, ‘Crossfire: A Criticism’, ‘Gentleman’s Agreement’, ‘Ghost Story Anthology Introduction’, ‘Postscript to Harry Price’, ‘The Avon’, ‘Irving in The Bells’, ‘The Bells of Bealings House’, ‘Magnificence, Elegance and Charm’, ‘ “Ghoulies and Ghousties” of England’, ‘Some Notes on Delius’, ‘Review of Russell Kirk’, ‘Excerpts from Bulletin’, Poetry: ‘Pimlico’, ‘Thea’.

 

Accompanying The Strangers is a fifty-three minute DVD documentary ‘Robert Aickman, Author of Strange Tales’. Featuring rare film, photographs and audio recordings, the film sheds new light on Aickman’s role in the development of the ghost story, his interest in restoring the British canal system and his wider involvement with the arts. Jean Richardson and Heather and Graham Smith share their memories of Aickman’s friendship, and writers Jeremy Dyson and Reggie Oliver evaluate Aickman’s literary legacy.

 

Cover artwork by Stephen J Clark of The Singing Garden.

 

Reviews

Recommended summer reading in the Washington Post

'There are books, the publication of which represents a real literary event. This is the case with The Strangers...' Mario Guslandi, Nudge

'Featuring the first original short fiction collection of Aickman in three decades, The Strangers and Other Writings is the single most important release of the year by an independent publisher.' The Pan Review

'As a "behind-the-scenes" look at the evolution of a writer and a quasi-philosopher, this volume could hardly be bettered.' The Stars at Noonday

'Tartarus Press should be commended for this volume, which sheds so much light on Aickman’s development and missteps as a writer, as well as providing us with the fine stories The Coffin House, The Flying Anglo-Dutchman, and The Fully-Conducted Tour, along with the stellar, sublime, wonderful The Strangers.' James Everington

 

Also available:

We Are for the Dark (with Elizabeth Jane Howard)

Dark Entries

Powers of Darkness

Sub Rosa

Cold Hand in Mine

Tales of Love and Death

Intrusions

Go Back At Once

Night Voices

The Attempted Rescue

 

Robert Aickman: Author of Strange Tales: