THE TERROR
THE BOWMEN
DR. STIGGINS
THE GREAT RETURN
HIEROGLYPHICS
THE HOUSE OF SOULS
Including THE GREAT GOD PAN and THE THREE IMPOSTORS
THE HILL OF DREAMS
THE CHRONICLE OF CLEMENDY
WAR AND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
THE SECRET GLORY
DEDICATION
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
NOTE
This is a book, my dear Turner, which I had in myheart to write for many years. The thought of itcame to me with that other thought that I was growing—rather,grown—old; that the curtain had definitelybeen rung down on all the days of my youth. Andso I got into the way of looking back, of recalling thefar gone times and suns of the 'seventies and early'eighties when the scene of my life was being set.I made up my mind that I would write about it all—someday.
Some day would undoubtedly have been Never;if it had not been for you. I had not spoken of theprojected book to you or anyone else; but one finemorning in 1915 you ordered me to write it! Youwere then, you will remember, editing the LondonEvening News, and as a reporter on your staff Ihad nothing to do but to obey. The book was written,appeared in the paper as "The Confessions of aLiterary Man," and now reappears as "Far OffThings."
So far, good. I enjoyed writing the book enormously;and, I frankly confess, I enjoy reading it.In a word, I am not grumbling. But there is onelittle point that I do not mean to neglect. My complacent[Pg 4]views as to "Far Off Things" may notbe shared by other and, possibly, more competentjudges. And what I want to impress on you is this:that if there is to be trouble, "you are going to haveyour share of it." You ordered the book to be written,you printed it in your paper, you have urged me toreprint it, not once or twice, but again and again.
Now, you remember Johnson on advising an authorto print his book. "This author," said the Doctor,"when mankind are hunting him with a canister athis tail can say, 'I would not have published, had notJohnson, or Reynolds, or Musgrave, or some othergood judge commended the work!'"
Now you see the purpose of this Epistle Dedicatory.It is to make it quite clear that, if there is to be anytalk of canisters and tails, the order will run:
"Canisters for two!"
Arthur Machen
One night a year or so ago I wa