Review: The Mask of Death and Other Stories by HD Everett

Review of the book “The Mask of Death and Other Stories” by HD Everett.

“The Masque of Death and Other Stories” is a collection of horror stories written by HD Everett, originally published in 1904. The stories in this book offer an intriguing mix of supernatural elements, unexplained events, and human evil.

If you like classic ghost stories, I recommend that you read the anthology The Mask of Death and Other Stories, by HD Everett, published by the Carfax Library publishing house. It is a collection of nine stories written by an English author who was very popular in her time, but who has fallen into oblivion with the passage of time.

HD Everett (1851-1923) was the pseudonym of Henrietta Dorothy Everett, a writer who published more than twenty novels and several short stories under different names. Her work is characterized by addressing themes such as love, war, spiritualism and the supernatural. Her ghost stories are inspired by the Gothic tradition and authors such as MR James or Sheridan Le Fanu.

The Mask of Death and Other Stories was his only anthology dedicated exclusively to the ghostly genre and was published in 1920, three years before his death. The stories that make up it are the following:

– The mask of death: A young painter becomes obsessed with the face of a woman who appears in an old portrait and on a death mask. His search for the truth will lead him to discover a dark family secret.
– The fingers of a hand: A woman receives a visit from her brother, who has returned from the war with a mutilated hand. However, she soon realizes that there is something strange about him and that his hand seems to have a life of its own.
– The telephone: A man installs a telephone in his house to communicate with his wife, who is sick in another city. But one night he receives a call that will make his blood run cold.
– Anne’s Little Ghost: A girl dies after falling down the stairs and her mother is devastated by the pain. But Anne’s spirit does not rest in peace and she keeps appearing to her family.
– The crimson curtain: A couple stays in a rural house where there is a forbidden room. Curiosity leads them to enter and discover a crimson curtain that hides a terrible mystery.
– The Lonely Road: A man travels to Scotland to visit a friend who lives in an isolated mansion. There he meets a mysterious woman who warns him of the danger he faces if he follows the lonely path.
– The Water Witch: A young woman falls in love with a man who lives near a lake where a water witch is said to live. Her love will be threatened by the evil presence of this creature.
– Mallory’s Pipers: A writer moves into a country house to work on his new novel. But he soon begins to hear strange bagpipe sounds that disturb him and make him suspect there is something supernatural going on there.
– The Whispering Wall: A woman inherits a house where her great-aunt lived, who was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake. Exploring the house, she finds a wall that emits disturbing whispers.

These stories have in common an elegant and subtle style, which creates an enveloping and oppressive atmosphere. The characters are believable and complex, and the plots are well constructed and maintain interest until the end. The ghosts that appear are varied and original, and do not always have a malevolent intention.

The book begins with the story that gives the collection its title, “The Mask of Death.” The story is a chilling story about a man who has died and is buried, but then returns to his house to take revenge on his family. The story uses an atmosphere of tension and mystery to create a feeling of unease and anxiety in the reader.

In the story “The Avenger”, a man driven mad by the death of his sister seeks revenge against the man who killed her. The story explores the idea of ​​how madness can lead to a dangerous obsession and the terrible consequences that can follow.

Another notable story in the collection is “The House of Spiders,” which tells the story of a man who inherits a house in which there appears to be a strange presence stalking him. The story cleverly uses setting to create a sense of paranoia and suspense in the reader.

In “The Black Cat,” a man is tormented by a black cat that seems to chase him relentlessly. This story is an exploration of guilt and remorse, as well as the influence that past traumas can have on the human mind.

Everett’s prose is captivating, and his ability to create a terrifying and disturbing atmosphere in each story is impressive. The attention to detail in character creation, as well as the careful construction of plots, allows the reader to feel immersed in the story and feel deeply disturbed by the events that unfold.

Overall, “The Mask of Death and Other Stories” is a collection of classic horror stories that offer a unique insight into the dark side of human nature. The stories in this collection are intensely evocative and will leave the reader feeling uneasy and reflective about the nature of madness, revenge, and evil.