About Arthur Machen

"Alas we dream in fire but work in clay" - Arthur Machen (1863-1947)

Arthur Llywelyn Jones Machen was born in Caerleon on 3rd March 1863 - the son of the Reverand John Edward Jones who added his wife's surname to his own in order to gain some legacy money. Arthur Machen was descended from a family of Welsh clergymen on his father's side - his mother's father had been a Scottish sea captain.

Whilst still a baby Machen moved to the Rectory at Llanddewi Fach near Llandegfedd when his father became the vicar there. As an only child, he was given to solitary walks in the Gwent countryside and a strong imagination. fed by the topography and folklore of his immediate surroundings.

As a school boy he boarded at Hereford Cathedral School - returning to Llanddewi each weekend and during the school hollidaus.

He became a Fleet Street journalist and feature writer in London in order to support his career as an author. He wrote Gothic Horror Novels and Short Stories, Fantasy Fiction plus essays on aesthetics and two volumes of autobiogarphy.

Famous in his lifetime his star waned thereafter, but has revived in recent years. Today he has something of a cult following.