by Charles Wilkinson
Charles Wilkinson writes with a very classical and subtle touch - the quiet historical writing, the haunting weird tale, shot through with hints of deep strangeness and wildness, elegance and refinement. This is the type of writing that slowly seeps its way into your mind, and that pulls you in slowly until you find yourself deep in the strangeness of it all. Subtle and immersive. The January Estate presents a pair of stories that showcase the author's unique style.
Charles Wilkinson's The January Estate is the 17th chapbook in the Eibonvale Chapbook Line, which showcases stories written by original and talented authors who have unique voices of their own.
The January Estate is a small dose of beautifully written fiction. It's a fascinating chapbook the contents of which will linger on your mind for a long time after you've finished reading it.
The January Estate consists of two stories: Winter Both Ways and Doudle-Sided Haunts.
Winter Both Ways is a haunting tale about Alick Strang, an English teacher, who is trying to find a way to open a cupboard in his form room. His predecessor has kept it locked for some reason and nobody seems to be able to open it. This story is highly compelling due to the author's use of vivid vivid expressions and his uncanny way of writing about the protagonist's job and how he deals with it. Without giving away too many details about the story and its twists, I can reveal that the ending is both satisfying and intriguingly strange, because it fits the atmosphere of the story perfectly.
Doudle-Sided Haunts is a captivating and exquisitely crafted tale about Thomas Wall, his life and his memories. Thomas is intrigued about a house he used to visit when he was young. The recollections of the house seem to haunt him as do certain things about his school days. I am not giving away any more details about the story, but I will mention that this story is something special to readers who love beautifully written stories. In this story, the author masterfully conveys to his readers what happens to Thomas and what kind of things he has to deal with in his life.
I like the author's writing style, because he combines subtlety, weirdness and elegance in a highly refined and sophisticated way. Reading his stories immerses the reader in a world where subtle weirdness intertwines with literary storytelling. Although slightly different in style and tone, there is something in this chapbook that vaguely reminds me of such authors as Arthur Machen, Robert Aickman and M.R. James.
Charles Wilkinson's The January Estate is an enthralling reading experience that leaves you wanting more of the same. It offers the reader a perfect blend of literary storytelling and intriguing originality. Please, don't miss out on this little gem of a chapbook, but read it as soon as possible.