Goose of Hermogenes: A Gothick Fantasy [Paperback]

Ithell Colquhoun (Author), Peter Owen (Introduction), Eric Ratcliffe (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2003

Ithell Colquhon (1906-1988) was a painter, writer, and mystic, one of the best-known English women surrealists. A close friend of André Breton, she was also, for a time, associated with Aleister Crowley. Now back in print and in paperback, the heroine of her 1961 novel is compelled to visit a mysterious uncle who turns out to be a black magician who lords over a kind of Prospero's Island that exists out of time and space. Startled by his bizarre behavior and odd nocturnal movements, she eventually learns that he is searching for the philosopher's stone. When his sinister attentions fall upon the priceless jewel heirloom in her possession, bewilderment turns into stark terror and she realizes she must escape. An esoteric dream world fantasy derived from medieval occult sources, this gothic-surrealist tale remains as vividly unforgettable and disturbing as when it was first published over forty years ago.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Lurks somewhere between the territory of Beardsley and Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast . . . shudderingly enjoyable."  —Guardian

About the Author

Ithell Colquhoun was a painter and writer who, along with Eileen Agar and Leonora Carrington, was one of the best-known English women surrealists. A friend of André Breton, she was also associated with Aleister Crowley. Her writing has been compared to that of William Blake and Walter de la Mare—the latter being a fan of her work.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Peter Owen Ltd (September 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0720611776
• ISBN-13: 978-0720611779
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,147,648 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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