Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was born on this day, March 3. He is widely regarded as one of the most significant authors of weird fiction from the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries. The name Machen is actually a penname. His real name was Arthur Llewellyn Jones.

He was influential on Robert E. Howad, Frank Belknanp Long, Stephen King, and Karl Edward Wagner. H. P. Lovecraft, in his essay “supernatural Horror in Literature”, considered him to be one of four “modern masters” of supernatural horror. (The others were M. R. James, Lord Dunsay, and Algernon Blackwood.)

While I have a limited knowledge of his work because I’ve read about it, I’ve never actually read any of it. (Don’t judge me. There is only so much time in a day.) I’ve been intending to correct that for some time.

So, question for this post, where should I start? I’m leaning towards The Great God Pan, but I’m open to other suggestions. I’ve had some things going on that have made reading on a consistent basis a challenge lately, and I don’t think that will change for a while. (It’s dayjobbery and trying to get a house ready to sell. Nothing bad such as health issues or anything like that.) I’d prefer shorter works to novels.

What are your thoughts?

March 3 marks the birthday of Arthur Machen (1863-1947).  He is regarded as one of the influences on H. P. Lovecraft. among others.

I have a confession to make.

I’ve never read his work. (Don’t judge me.)

So rather than discuss a story I’ve read to commemorate Machen’s birth, I’m going to do something different. I’m going to ask what I should read.

Is there a particular Machen story that stands out among the others? Something that everyone who reads Machen should be familiar with? I ask this honestly, because I really don’t have a good idea where to start.

Let me know in the comments, and thanks in advance.