Hieroglyphics (eBook)

Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh author and mystic, celebrated for his influential role in supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. Born Arthur Llewellyn Jones in Caerleon-on-Usk, Monmouthshire, he developed his unique literary voice in London, where he moved at the age of 19. His works often explore the intersection of the commonplace and the uncanny, revealing hidden realities lurking beneath the surface of the ordinary world. Machen's perspective on literature is vividly reflected in his seminal critique 'Hieroglyphics' (1902), in which he argues for an 'art of ecstasy' approach to distinguishing fine writing from mere reading material through an examination of what provokes a state of wonder. His literary style is marked by a rich use of language and an enduring interest in the mystical and the arcane—a style that has influenced generations of writers, including H.P. Lovecraft, who admired Machen's ability to evoke otherworldly terror and awe. Though less known today, Machen's work continues to be admired for its atmospheric density and its philosophical inquiries into the nature of reality and human perception. His contributions to weird fiction have earned him a lasting place in the pantheon of early 20th-century genre authors.