Balladeer’s Blog’s month-long celebration of Halloween continues:
THE WOLF IN THE GARDEN (1931) – Written by Alfred Hoyt Bill. This neglected novel is ideal for people who go in for horror tales set long ago. In this case the 1790s.
New Dordrecht, a town in New York’s Hudson Valley, becomes the home of the fallen Count de Saint Loup, a French aristocrat fleeing the guillotine during the French Revolution. Anyone who remembers that “loup” is French for wolf will immediately know that this figure will be our title werewolf. (Though his deadly hound DeRetz is a red herring at first.)
The Count transferred much of his wealth before fleeing his homeland so he is initially welcomed as a prominent new citizen in New Dordrecht. Unfortunately Count de Saint Loup soon displays the overbearing, snobbish airs that drove the French underclasses to overthrow the aristocrats in the first place.
People who get on the wrong side of the former “aristo” start to turn up dead after getting attacked by a monstrous wolf-like creature.
Among the many enemies that the Frenchman makes is Farrier, who turns out to be the hero of the story. Their enmity grows more intense when Farrier’s beautiful (of course) cousin Felicity moves to the town and the pair fight over her affections (eewww).
Saint Loup’s wealth makes him the favored suitor in the eyes of Felicity’s greedy, status-conscious father. The romantic rivalry plays out as the werewolf’s killing spree continues.
Our hero finds an ally in the form of the local minister, whose studies in the occult have convinced him that the Count is a lycanthrope. The duo’s suspicions are shared by Felicity’s Haitian maid, Vashti, who knows folklore about killing Loup-Garous or werewolves.
Farrier and company set out to kill the Count in his lupine form and this cat and mouse game carries the story to its conclusion.
Fans of Anne Rice or of Gothic Horror in general should enjoy the 1790s time period, with the New York State location adding some novelty to the proceedings. In my view The Wolf in the Garden makes for fun Halloween Season reading.
FOR ISABELLA OF EGYPT, FEATURING A GOLEM, A MANDRAGORE, A LIVING DEAD MAN, A GYPSY WITCH AND A JEWISH SORCEROR CLICK HERE
FOR MORE HALLOWEEN ITEMS CLICK HERE: https://glitternight.com/category/halloween-season/
© Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog 2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Pingback: LE DIABLE AMOUREUX (1772): HALLOWEEN STORY | Balladeer's Blog
Logged.
Pingback: HALLOWEEN STORIES OF RALPH ADAMS CRAM | Balladeer's Blog
Logged.
Pingback: MUMMY STORY FOR HALLOWEEN – IRAS: A MYSTERY (1896) | Balladeer's Blog
Logged.
Pingback: THE WIZARD OF THE MOUNTAIN (1867): HALLOWEEN STORY | Balladeer's Blog
Logged.
Pingback: THE GHOST GARDEN (1918): HALLOWEEN NOVEL | Balladeer's Blog
Logged.
Pingback: THE WERWOLVES (1898): HALLOWEEN STORY | Balladeer's Blog
Logged.
Pingback: NOUGHTS AND CROSSES (1891): HALLOWEEN STORIES BY Q | Balladeer's Blog
Logged.
Pingback: THE MONKS OF MONK HALL (1844-1845): HAPPY HALLOWEEN | Balladeer's Blog
Logged.
Pingback: Horror Tales
Logged.
Pingback: BEST OF OCTOBER 2019 | Balladeer's Blog
Logged.
Now that’s a fun story and would make a fun movie. All straight lines.
I agree! I can’t believe somebody didn’t make a movie version of this after the success of the movie version of Interview With The Vampire.
A graphic novel or comic book adaptation of this story would be beautiful!
I understand.
I love horror stories like this set in times with candles and fireplaces!
So do I!
Pingback: LA DÉCOUVERTE DES MORTS (1910) : Le mois d’Halloween se poursuit avec ce regard sur une œuvre écrite par Allen Upward. – La Sirène Communication
Logged.