{"product_id":"denis-bracknel-9781939140975","title":"Denis Bracknel","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDenis Bracknel: A Gothic Masterpiece by Forrest Reid\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDenis Bracknel\u003c\/strong\u003e (1947) represents Forrest Reid's final literary achievement—an extensively revised version of his critically acclaimed 1911 novel \u003cem\u003eThe Bracknels\u003c\/em\u003e. This Gothic supernatural fiction follows young Oxford graduate Hubert Rusk as he arrives at the Bracknel family home to tutor fifteen-year-old Denis, an unworldly boy with disturbing connections to the occult.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eA Psychological Supernatural Thriller\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the tradition of Henry James's \u003cem\u003eThe Turn of the Screw\u003c\/em\u003e and Sheridan Le Fanu's atmospheric horror, Reid crafts a slow-building narrative of dread. Denis Bracknel performs bizarre moonlit rituals, and as tutor Rusk befriends the mysterious teenager, he uncovers horrific truths that threaten the boy's fate. The novel combines psychological depth with supernatural elements, creating an unsettling portrait of adolescence and the occult.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCritical Acclaim and Literary Heritage\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eContemporary reviews celebrated Reid's achievement. The \u003cem\u003eManchester Guardian\u003c\/em\u003e praised the author's \"extraordinary sympathy and penetration\" in depicting Denis, while the \u003cem\u003eDaily News\u003c\/em\u003e called it \"a work of rare distinction... accurate reproduction of an experience.\" The \u003cem\u003eDaily Chronicle\u003c\/em\u003e declared it \"as fine a piece of work as we have come upon for a long time.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe novel's admirers included literary giants E.M. Forster and D.H. Lawrence, cementing its place in early 20th-century British and Irish literature. Forrest Reid (1875-1947) devoted his final years to perfecting this work, resulting in a posthumous publication that showcases his mastery of Gothic atmosphere and psychological complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFirst-Ever Republication by Valancourt Books\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis edition marks the first republication of Reid's final novel, featuring a new introduction by Andrew Doyle and previously unpublished archival materials including rare photographs and letters. Essential reading for collectors of British Gothic fiction, Irish literature enthusiasts, and students of supernatural psychological fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePaperback format. Perfect for readers who appreciate atmospheric horror, coming-of-age narratives with dark undertones, and literary classics that explore the boundaries between reality and the supernatural.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Valancourt Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50493241622802,"sku":"9781939140975","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_5db81238-6452-48dd-b752-f3ffc84abd64.jpg?v=1730639945","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/denis-bracknel-9781939140975","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}