Stuart Strauss remains an enigmatic figure in the world of weird fiction, with scant information available about his life. He is known for a limited body of work, including "The Shadow on The Moor" (1928), "The Soul Tube" (1928), and "The Clenched Hand" (1934). The use of a pseudonym and language suggesting potential unfamiliarity with British culture has led to the assumption that Strauss might be an American author.
"The Shadow on The Moor" is a tale that first appeared in the February 1928 issue of "Weird Tales." Its republication in the 2023 British Library anthology "Circles of Stone: Weird Tales of Pagan Sites and Ancient Rites," edited by Katy Soar, attests to the lasting intrigue and relevance of Strauss's work. The story captures a sense of foreboding in the British countryside, with standing stones taking on a malevolent presence.
Strauss's work, including "The Shadow on The Moor," reflects thematic elements akin to the cosmic horror pioneered by H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft's influence is discernible in the eerie atmospheres and otherworldly entities that often pervade Strauss's narratives. Additionally, Strauss, like Lovecraft, explores the theme of ancient cults in remote villages, inhabited by seemingly backward rural characters. The fusion of cosmic horror and folk-horror themes creates an unsettling and atmospheric reading experience.
The thematic exploration of ancient cults in Strauss's work aligns with Margaret Murray's witch-cult hypothesis, a theory that suggests accusations against witches in Europe were rooted in a clandestine pagan religion. Published in Murray's "The Witch-Cult in Western Europe" (1921), the hypothesis posits the existence of a pre-Christian religion centered around a horned god, symbolizing the cycle of seasons and harvests. The horned god's representation on Earth through chosen individuals, ritual sacrifices, and the preservation of this religion through secret covens are central elements of Murray's theory.
Strauss's incorporation of such themes in "The Shadow on The Moor" aligns with the broader cultural fascination with ancient rites and mysterious practices. The narrative, enveloped in cosmic horror and folk-horror, echoes the anxieties of a bygone era, reflecting the convergence of literary imagination and anthropological speculation.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Eye of The Cat by Ruskin Bond
A Night on the Borders of the Black Forest by Amelia B Edwards
The Catacomb by Peter Shilston
The Middle Toe of the Right Foot by Ambrose Bierce
Mean Mr Mullins by Cathu Sahu
The Secret of the Vault by J Wesley Rosenquest
The Call of Cthulhu by H P Lovecraft
They Bite by Anthony Boucher
The Crown Derby Plate by Marjorie Bowen
How Fear Departed The Long Gallery by E F Benson
The Hounds of Tindalos by Frank Belknap Long
The Sandman by E T A Hoffman
Out of the Deep by Walter de la Mare
The Music of Erich Zann by H P Lovecraft
Thirteen At Table by Lord Dunsany
The Crowd by Ray Bradbury
SO311. The Man Whom The Trees Loved by Algernon Blackwood
S03010 The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapters 16-20
S0309 The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapters 13-15
S0308 The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapters 10-12
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Psychic Elephant Radio Podcast
Museum of the Missing
Cryptids
Pollyanna
Grimms’ Fairy Tales
Welcome to Night Vale
Middle Aged and Creeped Out