Robert Hichens : Return of the Soul

Hi Folks,

I've recently been on (for tight-wallet me, anyway) a bit of a small
press spending spree (funded by good old ebay and a large clear out of
unwanted stuff).

One of the most impressive books I've thus purchased has come in for
very little attention here (I know 'cos I check the archives when I'm
looking for recommendations), namely Robert Hichens' "Return of the
Soul" (Midnight House; ed ST Joshi). So I figured I'd post off my
impressions of this book in the hope of drawing forth opinions from
others. (Note, this is a very informal "review", I don't even have my
book with me. But no-one else has come into work, and its cold, and I
have a sore throat, and look I just don't feel very motivated
work-wise today, ok ?)

Prior to reading this book, I'd only read the one tale by Hichens (and
you won't get many points for guessing which); I'm very glad to have
extended this reading to the remaining 7 stories in RotS. I very much
hope the planned follow up volumes appear some day.

I won't describe much in the way of the book's production, it looks
pretty much like the other MH books I have seen. But the stories
themselves left me highly impressed and pleasantly surprised.

There are 8 tales in the book:

The Return of the Soul (n)
A Tribute of Souls (n)
The Face of the Monk (ss)
Sea Change (n)
The Cry of the Child (n)
How Love Came to Professor Guildea (n)
The Lady and the Beggar (ss)
The Figure in the Mirage (ss)

5 of which are of novella length  and 3 short stories (n & ss
respectively above), not to mention an introduction by ST Joshi which
is informative, but as usual for STJ contains some degree of spoilers
for the stories. Hichens seems to be at his best in the longer tales,
all of which are of some merit and all but "the Cry of the Child" very
effective indeed. The shorter stories I found comparatively slight,
with the possible of "The Face of the Monk".

In his introduction STJ compares Hichens to Blackwood and Machen,
these strike me as very apt comparisons, although I was also reminded
in certain tales of Hogg and Onions (that's the authors, not some
rustic supper) through the emphasis on the psychological aspects of
the supernatural (Onions) and the setting and certain aspects of a
particular tale (Hogg). STJ also highlights certain recurring themes
in the stories, whose very recurrence I think strengthens rather than
weakens this collection (I don't want to be too specific and spoil the
stories).

The first story up is the titular "Return of the Soul", I'm guessing
that this is probably the 2nd most familiar of Hichens' tales via its
inclusion in one of the STJ Dover anthologies, but as I implied above
'twas new to me. It is a belter of a story in which  the main
protagonist, an honourable man, pays for the sins of his cruel
childhood. (I won't specify whether he pays through self inflicted
psychological angst or actual supernatural events).

The second tale "A Tribute of Souls" is set in rural Scotland and
involves a Faustian bargain struck by a sickly Laird. (Yes this is the
one which reminds me of Hogg). The tale perhaps follows a more well
worn path than RotS, but it is superbly handled and a real treat to
read.

"The Face of the Monk" is the first of the 3 shorts, and to my mind
the only really memorable one. The supernatural elements in this tale
are used as a fairly straightforward psychological metaphor, but it is
nonetheless a haunting if uncomplicated tale.

"Sea Change" is by far the longest story in the book and the one I
tackled last (I can be lazy that way). I found myself not fully
engaged with the opening sections of the story (coming to it after
"The Cry of the Child", which I read 2nd last,  I was worried about
the direction 'twould take) but the further I read, the more absorbed
I became. Once again, both  the psychological and weird elements of
the tale are strong and the tale gains in momentum as we are drawn
further into the web of deceit woven by the well intentioned narrator.
By the end of this tale I was thoroughly won over to its merits.

"The Cry of the Child" is the only one of the five longer tales that I
didn't care for, which isn't to say it doesn't have any interest. The
premise of the tale is intriguing and the beginning full of promise.
But rather than develop along the fraught psychological route of the
stronger tales in the volume this one veers into the territory of
Blackwood-at-his-worst (and I am generally a fan of Blackwood). All I
can say is that I believe Blackwood would have made an even less
satisfactory job than Hichens of the ending of the tale. This was my
only real disappointment in the book (and it all started out so well
too, sigh)

"How Love..." Well I don't want to say much here. I'm sure (almost)
everyone has read this, or at least owns a copy in an antho. And you
all either love it or hate it. Personally I love it.  I didn't on
first reading, though. But with each subsequent attempt this story
rises in my estimation. However, I reckon that both "Return" and
"Tribute" are of similar quality and perhaps less likely to polarise
opinions than "How Love". (Sea Change is also excellent, but at least
half again as long).

The book ends with 2 shorts which come perhaps as a bit of an
anti-climax. There is nothing wrong with either story, but there just
isn't very much to them either. "The Lady and the Tramp" features that
memorable spaghetti -eating scene in the Italian restaurant
where...hang on a minute, that *can't* be right…  "The Lady and the
Beggar" is a story dealing with guilt and the supernatural and thus
fits well enough into one of the books main themes. "Mirage" is a
brief weird tale set in the desert (no ?!) and similar to a short by
Borges whose name escapes me at present ("Soldier and the Maid"?).

Well that's about that. Not terribly insightful I don't suppose, but
this book really enthused me. I'm surprised that it has remained so
long in print (though, coming late to small press - appreciation, this
kinda suited me). Perhaps Hichens isn't held in the same affection as
Onions, Machen et al. But perhaps if more folks read this book a Sea
Change (sorry) in opinion would occur.

In summary, I highly recommend this one.

Best wishes -Chris