Review: The Face in the Mirror and Other Gothic Stories by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Review of the book “The Face in the Mirror and Other Gothic Stories” by Mary Elizabeth Braddon.

“The Face in the Mirror and Other Gothic Stories” is a collection of short stories by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, first published in 1971. Braddon is known for her ability to write stories of suspense and mystery, and this collection of short stories is an example impressive in its ability to create dark and chilling atmospheres.

Do you like horror stories with a gothic and Victorian touch? Do you want to discover an author who was one of the pioneers of the sensational novel and who scandalized the society of her time with her work and her life? Then don’t miss The Face in the Mirror and Other Gothic Stories, by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, an anthology published by The Carfax Library that collects six supernatural stories by this British writer.

Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1835-1915) was an actress and writer who achieved success with her mystery, intrigue, and romance novels, many of them published serially in literary magazines. She was the founder of Belgravia: a London Magazine, one of the most popular of her time, and she knew how to adapt to the changes in the publishing market by betting on Christmas publications. Her personal life was also the subject of controversy, as she was in a relationship with a married man and she had six children with him before she could legally marry after the death of his first wife.

In this anthology we can appreciate Braddon’s talent for creating disturbing atmospheres and complex characters who face supernatural situations. The stories that make up the book are the following:

– The Face in the Mirror (1880): A young couple embarks on a ghost hunt in the family mansion, which leads them to encounter a peculiar mirror that predicts death.
– Ella (1894): A sunny villa on the Italian coast hides in its hidden rooms a secret that curses its owners.
– The Shadow on the Corner (1879): A widow rents a haunted house where a crime of passion occurred and begins to suffer the apparitions of a vengeful specter.
– The Good Lady Ducayne (1896): A young governess accepts a job abroad in the service of an elderly aristocrat who seems to hide a dark secret about her longevity.
– His last appearance (1873): A famous theatrical actor is visited by the ghost of his deceased wife every time he plays the role that made her famous.
– Eveline’s Visitor (1867): A young orphan receives an unexpected visit from a distant cousin who turns out to be very different from what she expected.

These stories show us Braddon’s mastery of combining the supernatural with the melodramatic, the cruel with the fatalistic, the romantic with the macabre. Her stories do not limit themselves to scaring the reader with ghosts or vampires, but also explore the passions, fears, ambitions and conflicts of her characters, many of them women who break out of the Victorian mold. Furthermore, Braddon does not hesitate to criticize the hypocrisy, classism and machismo of the society of his time, as well as to show his interest in scientific and medical advances.

The Face in the Mirror and Other Gothic Stories is an excellent opportunity to meet an author who deserves to be more recognized and valued for her contribution to the fantasy genre and sensationalism. The edition of La Biblioteca de Carfax has a careful translation by María Pérez de San Román and original illustrations by Rafael Martín Coronel that accompany each story. If you like gothic stories with a different touch, don’t hesitate to get this book.

The collection consists of six short stories, each with its own gothic flavor and its own intriguing plot. “The Face in the Mirror”, the story that gives the book its title, tells the story of a man who becomes obsessed with the image of a beautiful woman in a mirror, and realizes that his obsession may be more dangerous than he thought. that I though. Another tale, “The Lady in the Long Coat,” follows a young man who becomes trapped in a haunted house, where he faces the menacing presence of a mysterious woman wearing a long coat.

The stories are set in dark and threatening places, from haunted houses to cemeteries and empty, dark streets. Braddon uses detailed and evocative descriptions to create an atmosphere of tension and mystery that keeps the reader in suspense as the plot unfolds.

The characters in Braddon’s stories are also fascinating, dark and complex, and in many cases, they have secrets and hidden motives. This makes it difficult for the reader to know who to trust, and increases the sense of tension and mystery in the story.

In addition to her ability to create compelling plots and intriguing characters, Braddon is also a skilled and talented writer. Her prose is elegant and rich in detail, and she uses a variety of literary techniques to create an immersive reading experience.

Overall, “The Face in the Mirror and Other Gothic Stories” is an impressive collection of Gothic tales that showcase Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s talent for creating dark and mysterious atmospheres, complex characters, and captivating plots. If you are a fan of the gothic genre and horror stories, this collection is a must-read.