This month’s classic recommendation is going to be a little short. You see, the classic I’m recommending is also a little short, and I don’t want to give too much away! So sit back, relax, and prepare for a genuinely chilling horror story that you can read in a single sitting!
Classic of the Month:
“The Kit Bag” (1908) by Algernon Blackwood
Opening Words
When the words “Not Guilty” sounded through the crowded courtroom that dark December afternoon, Arthur Wilbraham, the great criminal KC, and leader for the triumphant defense, was represented by his junior; but Johnson, his private secretary, carried the verdict across to his chambers like lightning.”
“The Kit Bag”, Algernon Blackwood
What’s it all about?
After watching his employer lose a particularly grueling court case, young legal assistant Johnson prepares to go on vacation. But, perhaps the strain of the case is starting to wear on him, and he becomes increasingly paranoid that there is someone outside of his room.
Read this is you enjoy…
- Short stories
- Psychological horror
- Intensifying atmosphere
Interested? Check it out here!
Final Thoughts
This was one of the stories that first got me hooked on Algernon Blackwood’s horror writing. This short, punchy story really achieves quite a bit in a few pages, and I’ll freely admit that even in rereads, where I know what happens, I still feel those cold chills running up and down my spine! If you’re curious about exploring this author’s work or want to give the horror genre a try, this a great place to start, since it’ll take you less than half an hour to read the whole thing! Plus, it’s just a really thrilling story, not graphic, but a great sense of increasing dread.
