Tartarus Press

Bibliography

 

1990-1995

 

1995:

 

19. WORMING THE HARPY and other Bitter Pills, by Rhys Hughes, 1995. Artwork by R.B. Russell. Contains: "Cat o' Nine Tales", "Worming the Harpy", "The Falling Star", "Quasimodulus", "The Good News Grimoire", "The Forest Chapel Bell", "Flintlock Jaw", "Velocity Oranges", "A Carpet Seldom Found", "The Chimney", "One Man's Meat", "The Man Who Mistook His Wife's Hat for the Mad Hatter's Wife", "Cello I Love You", "What To Do When the Devil Comes Round For Tea", "Arquebus for Harlequin", "Éclair de Lune", "Grinding the Goblin".

Reprinted:

19b. With an Afterword by Everett Bleiler. 10th February 2011, 231 pages. £14.95. Paperback printed on cream bookwove paper and bound by Biddles. ISBN 978-1-905784-31-8.

Reviews:

"Essentially literature in its purest form - wonderfully rumbustuous, humorous, word-magical fantasies, liberally peppered with honest-to-goodness horror. They remind me of Lord Dunsany, John Barth, Jorge Luis Borges, Jack Vance, involving fabulous traditions of surrealism, fairy stories and piquant wit . . . Rhys Hughes’ book is one that I had dreamed of reading but never thought I’d be so lucky ever to do so in real life.' Deathrealm

'Rhys Hughes is a very good writer . . . a fabulist whose sense of the absurd is peerless.' Grotesque

'The overall tone is one of disturbing, occasionally shocking surrealism . . . fans and others who are looking for something significantly offbeat in supernatural fiction will be delighted with this, his first book.' All Hallows

 

18. TALES FROM TARTARUS, edited by R.B. Russell & Rosalie Parker, 1995. Sewn hardback, printed and bound by Antony Rowe, 202 pages. Dustwrapper design and text in gold on black, laminated, artwork by R.B. Russell. 250 copies. ISBN: 1872621197. £14.95.

Contents: Introduction, by R.B. Russell/ The Forest Chapel Bell, by Rhys Hughes/ Saint 505, by John Clark/ Portrait of a Girl in a Graveyard, by Simon Clark/ Powers of the Air, by Dale Nelson/ As Gone as the Dead, by Jon Preece/ The Interview, by Colin Pink/ Do Bats Eat Cats?, by Alan Webster Lear/ Kruptos, by Mark Samuels/ Forbidden Fruit, by Elizabeth Brown/ The Paper, by William Charlton/ The Reverend Douglas Delves, by R.B. Russell/ The Lurker in the Room With a View, by Andy Darlington/ Talking Pictures, by Clare Johnson/ Napier Court, by Ramsey Campbell/ Completion, by Peter Vincent.

Reviews:

'The 16 tales here deal with the imaginative and fantastic. They all use language with care, knowing that the weight of words entraps the reader,pulling them into the mood of each piece not just by what they describe, but by how they describe it. That said, atmosphere, content and style vary just as you'd expect throughout a collection penned by 16 living authors brought together only by their enthusiasm for this project. Some of the names you'll have previously found only in desk-top published pamphlets, but a moody account of supernatural menace linked to emotional vulnerability from the pen of the ineffable Ramsey Campbell sets the seal of professionalism on the whole endeavour.' Dr Gail-Nina Anderson, Samhain

'More, please, Tartarus!” Roger Johnson, All Hallows

'As black and shiny as a beetle-shell, this original anthology of weirdness is an expressway to your skull!' The Edge

 

 

17a. THE SECRET OF THE SANGRAAL, by Arthur Machen, 1995

Contents: The Secret of the Sangraal: Introduction and Essay. The Stroller, When I Was Young in London, London Thirty Years Ago, The Joy Of London, Re-Discovery of London, Dog and Duck: Dog and Duck, Why New Year?, On Valentines and Other Things, On Simnel Cakes, 'April Fool!', The Merry Month of May, A Midsummer Night's Dream, July Sport: With Some Remarks on Young Mr Blueface, 'A Thorough Change', Roast Goose: With a Dissertation on Apple Sauce and Sage and Onions, Where are the Fogs of Yesteryears?, Martinmass, Christmas Mumming, A Talk for Twelfth Night, Some February Stars, March and A Moral, St George and the Dragon, The Poor Victorians, Stuff-And Science, On Holidays, Six Dozen of Port, The Custom of the Manor, The Vice of Collecting, Splendour, How to Spend Christmas, Adelphi: Fareewell!, The Art of Unbelief, Note. Dr Johnson's Disappearing Act. Notes and Queries: Guinevere and Lancelot, Shakespeare and Shakespere, A New Year Meditation, Casuistry, Superstition-or Instinct?, Imagination and Health, England and Revolution, Celtic Magic, The Holy Graal, Justice, Liberty-and Fallacy?, The Art of Divination, Our Absurd Education, The Cult of the Secret, Rouge et Noir-and the Unknown, The Moth and the Flame, Tom O'Bedlam and His Song, The Only Way. The Gray's Inn Coffee House. Bridles and Spurs: Bridles and Spurs, A Forgotten Book, The Strange Tale of Mount Nephin, Pictures on the Cards, The Ancient Speech, Mutterings in the Dark Grove, The Old Grammar School, Riddles and Symbols, The Holy Grail, The Bitter Impatience, Lost Books, True to Life. A Note on Poetry. Bibliographical Notes (from Danielson's Bibliography)

Reprinted:

17b. 6th February 2007. Second Tartarus printing. Hardback: 375 + vi pages. £35/$65. Sewn signatures, printed on 130gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Bath Press in blue cloth stamped in gilt, with silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 350 copies. ISBN 978-1-872621-18-0.

 

Reviews:

...this volume is . . . an indispensable addition to the library of not only the Machen reader but student of weird fiction in general. . . . A sense of pleasure is available in practically every memory or essay put forth. . . . While the pleasure and intellectual worth of such a volume as this should be immediately recognized, one of the chief uses of these writings is the chance for the curious to draw connections between Machen's fiction and life. . . . this carefully assembled collection depicts various sides of Machen's interests and composition styles in one convenient, reasonably priced volume. William Simmons, Infinityplus

 

1994:

 

16. XÉLUCHA and THE PRIMATE OF THE ROSE, by M.P. Shiel, 1994. Artwork by R.B. Russell.

 

15. UNDER THE LEADS, by Arthur Machen, 1994.

 

14. THE YELLOW SIGN, by Robert W. Chambers, 1994. Artwork by R.B. Russell.

 

13. EDGAR ALLAN POE AND ARTHUR MACHEN, by Arthur Machen & Mark Samuels, 1994.

 

1993:

 

12. CONTAINING A NUMBER OF THINGS, by Starrett and Millard, 1993.

 

1992:

 

11. THE NEW YEAR: Ancient Lights With Certain Modern Reflections, by Arthur Machen, 1992.

 

10a. RITUAL & OTHER STORIES, by Arthur Machen, 1992. Artwork by R.B. Russell.

Reprinted:

10b.

10c. 31st July 2004. 382 + xiii pages. £35.00. Third edition. Sewn hardback printed on 130gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Bath Press in red wibalin cloth stamped in gold, with silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 1872621279. Contents: The Priest and the Barber, The Spagyric Quest of Beroaldus Cosmopolita, The Town of Long Ago, Candletime, Cidermas, Over the Gate, Of the Isle of Shadows, A Further Account of the Academy of Lagado, Tales from Barataria, Sir John's Chef, Rus in Urbe, By the Brook, The Autophone, The Brook Farm, A Remarkable Coincidence, A Double Return, A Wonderful Woman, The Lost Club, An Underground Adventure, Jocelyn's Escape, The Red Hand, The Rose Garden, The Turanians, The Idealist, Witchcraft, The Ceremony, Psychology, Torture, Midsummer, Nature, Holy Things, The Young Man in the Blue Suit, The Soldiers' Rest, The Monstrance, The Dazzling Light, The Little Nations, The Men from Troy, The Light That Can Never Be Put Out, Drake's Drum, A New Christmas Carol, 7B Coney Court, Munitions of War, The Gift of Tongues, The Islington Mystery, Johnny Double, The Cosy Room, Awaking, Opening the Door, The Compliments of the Season, The Dover Road, The Exalted Omega, The Tree of Life, Out of the Picture, Change, Ritual.

Reviews of the 2004 edition:

"Stories of the macabre exert their pull from Hallowe'en onwards, such as the stories of Arthur Machen, republished by Tartarus Press in handsome editions, made for reading by a flickering fire." Suzi Feay, The Independent (29/10/05)

If you want an overall picture of Machen the man . . . secure a copy of Ritual from Tartarus while stocks last. - Reggie Oliver, All Hallows

Offering genuine emotion and passages that reach the ecstasy for which Machen so often attained, Ritual and Other Stories delights and disturbs in equal measure, embodying within its bewitching narratives an alchemist's brew of wisdom and wonder. - William P. Simmons, Cemetery Dance

10d. January 2006. 382 + xiii pages. £35.00. Fourth edition. Sewn hardback printed on 130gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Bath Press in red wibalin cloth stamped in gold, with silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 1872621279.

Contents: The Priest and the Barber, The Spagyric Quest of Beroaldus Cosmopolita, The Town of Long Ago, Candletime, Cidermas, Over the Gate, Of the Isle of Shadows, A Further Account of the Academy of Lagado, Tales from Barataria, Sir John's Chef, Rus in Urbe, By the Brook, The Autophone, The Brook Farm, A Remarkable Coincidence, A Double Return, A Wonderful Woman, The Lost Club, An Underground Adventure, Jocelyn's Escape, The Red Hand, The Rose Garden, The Turanians, The Idealist, Witchcraft, The Ceremony, Psychology, Torture, Midsummer, Nature, Holy Things, The Young Man in the Blue Suit, The Soldiers' Rest, The Monstrance, The Dazzling Light, The Little Nations, The Men from Troy, The Light That Can Never Be Put Out, Drake's Drum, A New Christmas Carol, 7B Coney Court, Munitions of War, The Gift of Tongues, The Islington Mystery, Johnny Double, The Cosy Room, Awaking, Opening the Door, The Compliments of the Season, The Dover Road, The Exalted Omega, The Tree of Life, Out of the Picture, Change, Ritual.

 

9. SHADY CUSTOMERS, by Bertram Rota, 1992.

 

8. ARTHUR MACHEN AND "THE SPHINX", by Julie Speedie, 1992.

 

7. RUS IN URBE AND OTHERS, by Arthur Machen, 1992.

 

6. A BIBLIOPHILE'S HOLIDAY, by John Gawsworth, 1992. Artwork by R.B. Russell.

 

(5. THE RED HAND, by Arthur Machen, 1992. Not an official Tartarus Press publication--produced for Carbonnek Books (Godfrey Brangham).)

 

1991:

 

4. CHAPTERS FIVE AND SIX OF THE SECRET GLORY, by Arthur Machen, 1991

 

3. MACHENALIA, by Divers Hands, 1991. Artwork by John Coulthart.

 

1990:

 

2. THE DIARY OF A SUCCESSFUL MAN, by Ernest Dowson, 1990. Artwork by R.B. Russell.

 

1. THE ANATOMY OF TAVERNS edited by R.B. Russell, 1990. Artwork by R.B. Russell.