The Haunted Author by Marcus Clarke
The Haunted Author is a classic novel by Marcus Clarke, first published in 1875. It tells the story of a young writer, John Merton, who moves to a small village in the English countryside to pursue his writing career. John soon discovers that the village is haunted by a mysterious figure, and he soon finds himself drawn into a strange and dangerous world of supernatural forces. As he investigates the strange occurrences, he discovers a dark secret that has been hidden for centuries. John must confront the evil forces that haunt the village and uncover the truth behind the mysterious figure. Along the way, he must also confront his own inner demons and come to terms with his own mortality. The Haunted Author is a gripping and suspenseful novel that explores the power of the supernatural and the fragility of the human soul. It is a timeless classic that will stay with readers long after they have finished the book.
By Marcus Clarke · First published 1881 · Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller · 1,594 words
First lines
'What can I do for you, sir?' I asked blandly, astonished. He was a tall broad-shouldered man in a rough pea-jacket, and scowled portentously.
'Put me into an honest livelihood,' he answered. It was such a strange request that I could only stare. 'Don't you understand?' he said, seating himself with rough vehemence, 'I want to become a reputable member of society. I want some honest employment.'
What this Textopian page supports
The Haunted Author is listed on Textopian as a short story by Marcus Clarke, dated 1881 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Marcus Clarke
- Date: 1881 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Science Fiction
- Length: 1,594 words
- Structure: 1 section, 54 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Haunted Author by Marcus Clarke
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Haunted Author?
- How does this short story by Marcus Clarke fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Water Spectre by Francis Lathom
- Ghosts by Arthur Gask
- The Judges House by Bram Stoker
- The Invisible Girl by Mary Shelley
- The Flayed Hand by Guy De Maupassant
- The Pale Ape by M. P. Shiel
Genres
- Horror — The title of the book implies a supernatural element, suggesting a horror genre.
- Mystery — The title of the book implies a mystery element, suggesting a mystery genre.
- Thriller — The title of the book implies a suspenseful element, suggesting a thriller genre.
- Fantasy — The title of the book implies a supernatural element, suggesting a fantasy genre.
Tags
horror · literature · ghosts · mystery · supernatural · fiction · psychological · gothic · suspense · author · haunting · dark themes