The White People by Arthur Machen
The White People is a horror novella by Welsh author Arthur Machen. It tells the story of a young girl, named Violet, who discovers a mysterious book in her grandmother's attic. The book contains a strange and disturbing account of a secret cult of white people who practice a dark and ancient form of magic. As Violet reads the book, she begins to experience strange visions and dreams, and soon finds herself drawn into the cult's sinister world. As she delves deeper into the cult's secrets, Violet discovers a terrifying truth about her own past and the fate of her family.
By Arthur Machen · First published 1905 · Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery · 3 chapters · 14,431 words
First lines
'Sorcery and sanctity,' said Ambrose, 'these are the only realities. Each is an ecstasy, a withdrawal from the common life.'
Cotgrave listened, interested. He had been brought by a friend to this mouldering house in a northern suburb, through an old garden to the room where Ambrose the recluse dozed and dreamed over his books.
What this Textopian page supports
The White People 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, Romance
- Length: 14,431 words
- Structure: 3 chapters, 405 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The White People 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 White People?
- How does this novel by Arthur Machen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Horror — The White People is a horror novella by Arthur Machen, which follows a young girl's journey into a supernatural realm of fairies and other mythical creatures.
- Fantasy — The White People is a fantasy novella by Arthur Machen, which follows a young girl's journey into a supernatural realm of fairies and other mythical creatures.
- Mystery — The White People is a mystery novella by Arthur Machen, which follows a young girl's journey to uncover the secrets of a mysterious cult.
- Gothic — The White People is a gothic novella by Arthur Machen, which features a dark and mysterious atmosphere, as well as supernatural elements.
Tags
Fantasy · Horror · Supernatural Fiction · Weird Fiction · ambrose · beautiful · black · clay · cotgrave · dark · day · evil