The Great Return by Arthur Machen
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"The Great Return" by Arthur Machen is a supernatural novella written in the early 20th century, specifically during the 1910s. This mystical narrative explores themes of spiritual awakening and extraordinary occurrences in the small Welsh town of Llantrisant. Through a blend of folklore and the mysterious, Machen illustrates a world where the boundary between the ordinary and the divine blurs, inviting readers to ponder existential questions about faith, beauty, and the nature
of reality. The story centers around a series of miraculous events that unfold in Llantrisant during a time of war, starting from the curious ringing of a bell heard by a deaf old woman, which heralds a profound transformation in the town's inhabitants. As various characters experience anomalies—including a young girl’s miraculous recovery from tuberculosis and a lawyer's humbling reconciliation with a farmer—Machen weaves together elements of the fantastical and the sublime. The narrative culminates in a transcendent church service where the aroma of paradise fills the air, leading to a collective renewal of spirit among the townsfolk. Ultimately, "The Great Return" serves as an exploration of the mysteries of existence, suggesting that the divine can manifest in the most unexpected ways, resonating deeply with the themes of hope and redemption during tumultuous times. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Machen, Arthur, 1863-1947 |
|---|---|
| Title | The Great Return |
| Credits | Produced by Dave Haren and Marc D'Hooghe (From images generously made available by the Internet Archive) |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 70.7 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | Wales -- Fiction |
| Subject | Grail -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 35611 |
| Release Date | Mar 18, 2011 |
| Last Update | Mar 19, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 432 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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