"The Angels of Mons: The Bowmen and Other Legends of the War" by Arthur Machen is a compilation of short stories created during World War I that explores the intertwining of spirituality, legend, and warfare. Centered around the iconic tale of "The Bowmen," the collection tells of British soldiers in retreat who are saved by the ghostly archers of old, led by St. George, when one of them asked for heavenly help. These spectral figures unleash a volley of arrows, driving back the enemy. The other stories share similar ideas of the supernatural mixing with reality, capturing the mental state of people caught in the war. Machen's writing contemplates the need for hope and divine support during wartime, revealing how legends can emerge even in the worst circumstances.
The Angels of Mons: The Bowmen and Other Legends of the War
By Arthur Machen
In the face of crushing defeat, soldiers find salvation in a mythic force that emerges from the shadows of the past.
Summary
About the AuthorArthur Machen was the pen-name of Arthur Llewellyn Jones, a Welsh author and mystic of the 1890s and early 20th century. He is best known for his influential supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. His novella The Great God Pan has garnered a reputation as a classic of horror, with Stephen King describing it as "Maybe the best [horror story] in the English language." He is also well known for "The Bowmen", a short story that was widely read as fact, creating the legend of the Angels of Mons.
Arthur Machen was the pen-name of Arthur Llewellyn Jones, a Welsh author and mystic of the 1890s and early 20th century. He is best known for his influential supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. His novella The Great God Pan has garnered a reputation as a classic of horror, with Stephen King describing it as "Maybe the best [horror story] in the English language." He is also well known for "The Bowmen", a short story that was widely read as fact, creating the legend of the Angels of Mons.
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