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The Fantastic Tales of Fitz-James O'Brien

Fully Annotated Edition
By Fitz-James O'Brien
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Brief Description
In the field of supernatural and fantastic literature, certain names come readily to mind – E.T.A. Hoffmann, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft – but the name of Fitz-James O’Brien has been unjustly overlooked and nearly forgotten since his premature death in 1862 during the American Civil... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$1999
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A unique collection of supernatural short stories by a forerunner of science fiction. It includes ‘What Was It?’, a story which served as a model for H.G. Wells’s The Invisible Man.

A unique collection of supernatural short stories by a forerunner of science fiction. It includes ‘What Was It?’, a story which served as a model for H.G. Wells’s The Invisible Man.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In the field of supernatural and fantastic literature, certain names come readily to mind – E.T.A. Hoffmann, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft – but the name of Fitz-James O’Brien has been unjustly overlooked and nearly forgotten since his premature death in 1862 during the American Civil War.

The Diamond Lens, O’Brien’s most famous short story, can be regarded as a forerunner of the science-fiction genre; What Was It? is alleged to have served as a model for H.G. Wells’s The Invisible Man; and The Wondersmith is a marvellous tale of Hoffmannesque invention. Taken together, O’Brien’s few surviving stories give him an important place in the development of American fiction and remain as fresh today as when they were first written more than a hundred and fifty years ago.

Contents: The Diamond Lens, The Lost Room, What Was It?, The Wondersmith, Seeing the World, The Pot of Tulips, The Dragon Fang possessed by the Conjurer Piou-Lou.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781847495198

Publisher: Alma Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 September 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Alma Classics

Contributors:

  • Volume editor Michael Hayes

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 191g

Pages: 208

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Classic Horror & Ghost Stories Fiction Fitz-James O'Brien General Fiction Horror & Supernatural Literary Fiction

About the Author

Born in Ireland, Fitz-James O’Brien (1828–62) was an American writer of poems and short stories who is considered by some as a pioneer in the science-fiction genre.

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