H. S. H by Algernon Blackwood (1903)

Name: H. S. H
Author: Algernon Blackwood

H.S.H. is a novella written by Algernon Blackwood, first published in 1920. The story follows the journey of a young man named John Wren-Thomas, who is sent to the French Alps to recover from a mental breakdown. While staying at a remote chalet, John becomes increasingly obsessed with a mysterious figure known as "H.S.H.," whom he believes is haunting him. As the story progresses, John's grip on reality begins to slip, and he becomes convinced that H.S.H. is a real person who is determined to drive him mad. The novella explores themes of mental illness, isolation, and the blurring of reality and fantasy.

By Algernon Blackwood · First published 1903 · Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Mystery · 7,177 words

First lines

In the mountain Club Hut, to which he had escaped after weeks of gaiety in the capital, Delane, young travelling Englishman, sat alone, and listened to the wind that beat the pines with violence. The firelight danced over the bare stone floor and raftered ceiling, giving the room an air of movement, and though the solid walls held steady against the wild spring hurricane, the cannonading of the wind seemed to threaten the foundations. For the mountain shook, the forest roared, and the shadows had a way of running everywhere as though the little building trembled. Delane watched and listened. He piled the logs on. From time to time he glanced nervously over his shoulder, restless, half uneasy, as a burst of spray from the branches dashed against the window, or a gust of unusual vehemence shook the door. Over-wearied with his long day's climb among impossible conditions, he now realised, in this mountain refuge, his utter loneliness; for his mind gave birth to that unwelcome symptom of true loneliness that he was not, after all, alone. Continually he heard steps and voices in the storm. Another wanderer, another climber out of season like himself, would presently arrive, and sleep was out of the question until first he heard that knocking on the door. Almost he expected some one.

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H. S. H is listed on Textopian as a short story by Algernon Blackwood, dated 1903 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Algernon Blackwood
Date: 1903 CE
Language: English
Genres: Horror, Supernatural, Mystery
Length: 7,177 words
Structure: 1 section, 78 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering H. S. H?
How does this short story by Algernon Blackwood fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Horror first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Horror — Having been written by Algernon Blackwood, who is known for his supernatural stories, this work follows suit. It contains supernatural elements to create an atmosphere of dread and horror.
Supernatural — Supernatural elements and themes are a part of the book, fitting with Blackwood's writing style and themes across other works of his. The atmosphere and situations described are too far beyond the realm of natural to fit into any other category.
Mystery — The book contains elements of the unknown and puzzles to solve, but not in a typical detective-story way. Instead, the mystery lies in the supernatural elements and strange occurrences, suggesting this genre.