Klosterheim

[joysilence]

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY paul_holman)

I've just finished reading Thomas de Quincey's only original novel, Klosterheim; or the Masque: although it's not written in his most phantasmagoric manner, apart from a brief dream sequence evoking the horrors of war, and seems of its period in a manner which Suspiria de Profundis, for instance, avoids, it's a fine, densely plotted, breathlessly paced romance.

The paperback edition issued by the University of Michigan Historical Reprint Series cost me about ten pounds, including p&p: the novel can be read online in Volume 2 of Memorials and Other Papers at Project Gutenberg.

Sample under the cut:



"There stands he that governs Klosterheim by night!" thought every
cavalier, as he endeavored to pierce the gloomy being's concealment,
with penetrating eyes, or by scrutiny, ten times repeated, to unmasque
the dismal secrets which lurked beneath his disguise. "There stands the
gloomy murderer!" thought another. "There stands the poor detected
criminal," thought the pitying young ladies, "who in the next moment
must lay bare his breast to the Landgrave's musketeers."

The figure, meantime, stood tranquil and collected, apparently not in
the least disturbed by the consciousness of his situation, or the
breathless suspense of more than a thousand spectators of rank and
eminent station, all bending their looks upon himself. He had been
leaning against a marble column, as if wrapped up in reverie, and
careless of everything about him. But when the dead silence announced
that the ceremony was closed, that he only remained to answer for
himself, and upon palpable proof---evidence not to be gainsayed---
incapable of answering satisfactorily; when, in fact, it was beyond
dispute that here was at length revealed, in bodily presence, before
the eyes of those whom he had so long haunted with terrors, The Masque
of Klosterheim,---it was naturally expected that now at least he would
show alarm and trepidation; that he would prepare for defence, or
address himself to instant flight.

Far otherwise!---cooler than any one person beside in the saloon, he
stood, like the marble column against which he had been reclining,
upright---massy---and imperturbable. He was enveloped in a voluminous
mantle, which, at this moment, with a leisurely motion, he suffered to
fall at his feet, and displayed a figure in which the grace of an
Antinous met with the columnar strength of a Grecian Hercules,---
presenting, in its tout ensemble, the majestic proportions of a
Jupiter. He stood---a breathing statue of gladiatorial beauty, towering
above all who were near him, and eclipsing the noblest specimens of the
human form which the martial assembly presented. A buzz of admiration
arose, which in the following moment was suspended by the dubious
recollections investing his past appearances, and the terror which
waited even on his present movements. He was armed to the teeth; and he
was obviously preparing to move.