The Novel of the Black Seal
The Novel of the Black Seal is a horror novel by Welsh author Arthur Machen, first published in 1895. It tells the story of a young man, Edward Maitland, who discovers a mysterious black seal in a workshop. He soon finds himself embroiled in a sinister plot involving a secret society, a mysterious cult, and a powerful and ancient evil. The novel follows Edward as he investigates the mysterious black seal and its connection to a secret society known as the Order of the Golden Dawn. He soon discovers that the seal is a powerful magical artifact that can be used to summon a powerful and ancient evil known as the Great Old One. As Edward delves deeper into the secrets of the Order, he finds himself in a race against time to prevent the Great Old One from being unleashed upon the world. The novel is a classic example of the horror genre, and is considered to be one of Machen's best works. It is a gripping and suspenseful story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
By Arthur Machen · First published 1905 · Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery · 2 chapters · 15,510 words
First lines
'I see you are a determined rationalist,' said the lady. 'Did you not hear me say that I have had experiences even more terrible? I too was once a sceptic, but after what I have known I can no longer affect to doubt.'
'Madam,' replied Mr. Phillipps, 'no one shall make me deny my faith. I will never believe, nor will I pretend to believe, that two and two make five, nor will I on any pretences admit the existence of two-sided triangles.'
What this Textopian page supports
The Novel of the Black Seal is listed on Textopian as a novel by Arthur Machen, dated 1905 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Arthur Machen
- Date: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery, Gothic
- Length: 15,510 words
- Structure: 2 chapters, 446 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Novel of the Black Seal by Arthur Machen
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Novel of the Black Seal?
- How does this novel by Arthur Machen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Horror — The Novel of the Black Seal is a horror novel by Arthur Machen, featuring supernatural elements and a mysterious black seal.
- Fantasy — The Novel of the Black Seal contains elements of fantasy, such as the mysterious black seal and its supernatural powers.
- Mystery — The Novel of the Black Seal is a mystery novel, as the protagonist attempts to uncover the secrets of the black seal and its powers.
- Gothic — The Novel of the Black Seal is a gothic novel, featuring dark and mysterious elements, such as the black seal and its powers.
Tags
'but · Fantasy · Horror · Supernatural Fiction · Weird Fiction · ancient · beneath · black · boy · called · characters · children
Contents
- Chapter 1: Prologue
- Chapter 2: Novel of the Black Seal